Things to Know Before Going to the Turkish Hammam
Last month I visited Istanbul, Turkey with my partner for the first time. It was definitely a travel experience unlike any other I’ve had before.
While there are hundreds of things to do and places to see in Turkey, one of the items at the top of my bucket list was to visit a traditional Turkish hammam or public bath. In Turkey and much of the Islamic world, public steam baths are a very prominent part of the culture and are really popular with locals. Throughout history, since the Ancient Greek and Roman times, they have served as a place for rest, relaxation, social gatherings, and general hygiene. If you visit Turkey, or any other country in the Middle East or North Africa you will likely come across a hammam. I highly recommend you visit and have the best, most rejuvenating bath of your life (and a unique cultural experience along the way)!
I had a fantastic hammam experience, so here are some of the things you should know before you go:
Do a bit of research.
The hammam experience can vary a lot in terms of quality, comfort, and price depending on where you go. Some strictly separate men and women, and others (very few) allow couples and families to go together. Depending on what type of experience you are looking for, it is always a good idea to do some research on all the nearby hammams to see what is available.
No phones or cameras are allowed in the hammam
For obvious reasons, and to respect everyone’s privacy, there are no phones or cameras allowed inside the hammam. Soak up this wonderful opportunity to relax and disconnect, there will be plenty of photo opportunities later on.
Respect the proper hammam attire
Some public baths will require you to wear no outside garments, while others will give you a special set of bathing clothes to wear. The hammam I visited gave me some airy linen shorts and a matching bikini top to wear inside the bath, and I chose to wear bikini bottoms underneath the shorts to be more comfortable. If the hammam you choose is public you’ll be in a room with other bathers. Embrace the experience and don’t worry about feeling self conscious. For most local hammam visitors this is a normal part of their weekly or monthly routine, no one will be thinking about what you look like.
You will feel so rejuvenated!
The hammam experience will leave you feeling fresh, clean, and rejuvenated. We spent 45 minutes in a hot sauna room before receiving a full body massage, exfoliation, foam bath, and being doused with buckets of cold water. After the bath we changed into our normal clothes and could spend as much time as we wanted chilling in the comfortable sitting room, order some drinks, and just relax before heading back into the commotion of the busy city.
Hydrate!
You sweat A LOT in the hamman so it is advised that you hydrate before and after the bath. Drinking a lot of water is always important but especially on days you visit the hammam.
If you have been considering visiting a Turkish bath while in Turkey, do it! I think this was one of my favorite experiences from my trip and I would recommend that everyone tries it at least once. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
The hammam that I went to in Istanbul was the Suleymaniye Hammam. It was a little more expensive than the actual hammam, but this is because they allow men and women to visit the hammam together which is very hard to find in Istanbul.
Have you ever been to a Turkish bath? Any other tips I’m missing? Let me know in the comments below.