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Istanbul Insider

Istanbul travel guide and advice by locals.

What To Expect When Visiting a Turkish Bath or Hamam?

Last updated: January 10, 2022

Before you can decide whether you hate or love going to a Turkish bath or hamam, you need to experience it at least once. If it’s your first visit to a hamam, entering a Turkish bath can be a daunting experience. By describing my last visit to the Çemberlitaş Hamamı, you will get a nice impression of the Turkish bath process and customs, so you know what to expect.

Picture of the Turkish bath or hamam of Cemberlitas in Istanbul.
Inside the Çemberlitaş hamam. © Photo by Çemberlitaş Hamam

Selecting a Hamam and Service

First you need to decide whether you want to visit a historical hamam or a Turkish bath in a hotel. Next, upon entering the establishment, you have to select and pay for the service of your choice. Possible options are:

  • Self-Service — you bathe yourself and bring your own soap, shampoo and towel. This is obviously the cheapest option and will cost you around 375 TL. I wouldn’t recommend this for your first visit.
  • Traditional Style — pick this one if you want the real Turkish bath experience. An attendant will wash and massage you for about 15 minutes, and you don’t have to bring any of the equipment. This service will set you back for about 600 TL.
  • Other Styles — They have several other services such as aromatherapy oil massage, reflexology, Indian head massage, and facial clay mask, too. Please check their website if you are interested in those.

Regardless of the service you choose, you are allowed to use the facilities for as long as you wish. I picked the traditional style service, was handed a carton box containing a new scrubber and led into the camekan — a splendid entrance hall with several stories of wooden cubicles.

An attendant guided me to a personal dressing cubicle (some just have lockers) on the first floor, and gave me sandals and a peştemal — a colorful checked cloth to be tied around the waist for modesty.

Will I Be Bare Naked?

Yes and no. There is some strict hamam etiquette to be followed. For starters, there is no mixing! Either the Turkish bath has two sections, one for each sex, or it admits men and women at separate times of the day.

Men usually completely strip down and wear nothing underneath the bath-wrap. Make sure you remain clothed with the bath wrap at all times — flashing is frowned upon. Women on the other hand mostly keep on wearing their underwear ( but often not their bra) underneath the bath-wrap. The choice is yours.

So I undressed, donned the peştemal and slipped into the sandals. Afterwards I locked the door, took the key together with the scrubber and went back downstairs where my masseur led me through the soğukluk (the cooling down room) into the hararet (the hot room).

Getting a massage and scrub in the Çemberlistaş Hamam in Istanbul.
Getting a massage and scrub. © Çemberlitaş Hamamı

Bath Procedure

The masseur didn’t follow me into the hot room. First you need to relax and loosen up for a while, and most importantly sweat! A great time to explore the architecture of a Turkish bath. In most cases an impressive room completely covered in marble featuring a big dome, several basins and an impressive göbektaşı — the central, raised platform above the heating source.

After 15 minutes of sitting and lying on the göbektaşı, the masseur entered the room. The first part of the service took place on the side of the central platform, while shifting positions all the time. The attendant soaked my body with warm water and lathered me with a sudsy swab. At the same time, being all slippery and wet, I received the massage. The words “no pain – no gain” flashed through my mind on some occasions. Probably the reason why “most masseurs are men of few words but many pounds”, as Michael Palin put nicely.

After the washing up and massage, it was time for the scrubbing. The place of action was shifted from the central platform to one of the basins. The attendant took the modern synthetic equivalent of the original Oriental hand-knitted wash cloth out of its carton box, and started scrubbing – or should I say sandpapering – my body.

After being embarrassed by the amount of dirt I had on me (although I shower at least once a day), I received another soapy wash up followed by a rinsing session with … cold water!

Cooling Down

This concluded the 15 minute service. The masseur left the hot room, but you can stay and relax some more if you want to. I decided to stay a bit longer before moving to the cold or intermediate room. This room also houses the showers and toilets, which were spotlessly clean. I was handed a new, dry bath-wrap and a towel before heading for the showers.

Afterwards, I went back to my cubicle. Some visitors decide to relax a bit on the bed first, order a drink or even take a nap. In case of the latter, tell the attendant when he should wake you up. But since I had been in there for over an hour by then, I got dressed and tipped/thanked my masseur on the way back down. I felt great and extremely clean.

Some More Tips

  • Hamams are open from as early as 6 a.m. till somewhere around midnight
  • The masseur and scrubber will be of the same sex as you are
  • Standard soap is used. If you have sensitive skin or are allergic to some products, bring your own soap
  • You need to wash your private parts yourself
  • You’ll get drenched, so women may want to get rid of their make-up first. Also, don’t forget to bring the necessary toiletries.
  • Women may want to bring dry underwear along too
  • There is no way you can avoid tipping the attendant(s), so make sure you have some cash money on you. You normally tip 10 to 20% of the total amount
  • If you care about your (new) tan, maybe visit a hamam at the beginning of your city trip or holiday

Hamams I Like

For an overview of my favorite hamams (I prefer the authentic ones over the hotel versions) as well as a bit of extra advice, check out some extra things you didn’t know about Turkish hamams.

Further Recommended Reading

  1. Turkish Customs and Etiquette
  2. Where to Stay in Istanbul – Beyoğlu or Sultanahmet
  3. Istanbul Money Strategy: Cash Or Credit Card?

Filed Under: Attractions, Places to Visit Tips, See & Do, Tours & Shows, Travel Tips Tagged With: Customs, Etiquette, Hamam, Massage, Scrubbing, Turkish Bath

Comments

  1. Sanket Parmar says

    August 27, 2024 at 10:54 am

    What if man need female masseuse. ? Do they ask for extra service like Thailand?

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      August 29, 2024 at 2:16 pm

      No such thing in traditional hamams.

      Reply
  2. Shane says

    September 7, 2021 at 9:45 pm

    So we are currently in Istanbul and my wife did a hamam at the hotel itself on the very first day we got here just to try it out. After she was done I asked her how it was and she said that she had a male masseur and that she was basically naked except for her lower part. He massaged her breasts as well. I found that a bit surprising considering some of the videos I had seen on YouTube show different sections for men and women.

    She said she asked the male masseur if it was ok for her to receive a massage from a man and he said it is “very very common here”. Including the man massaging the woman’s breasts. Just wanted to know if that’s the case or we were lied to.

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      September 8, 2021 at 8:18 am

      Hi Shane,

      In actual hamams, the women and men sections are definitely separate. In hotels, the same section can be used by both, but normally not at the same time. As for the masseur, it is not uncommon that a male masseur operates in the female section, but massaging the breast is certainly not done. Breasts aren’t muscles.

      Reply
  3. Larissa says

    December 19, 2019 at 8:02 pm

    Hi Erlend,

    May I ask you in which Hamam I can get the traditional style service for the 95tl you mentioned above?

    I’ve checked your other article where you list your favourite Hamams and checked the prices of them all, and the cheapest for the traditional style is Çemberlitaş at 255tl, which I find a bit pricey…

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      December 20, 2019 at 10:44 am

      Hi Larissa,

      You’re absolutely right, I forgot to update prices on that page it appears. The prices you found are the correct ones. I updated the page as well, thanks for pointing it out.

      I’m afraid though that Çemberlitaş is among the cheapest hamams.

      Reply
      • Larissa says

        December 22, 2019 at 10:09 pm

        Hi Erlend,

        Thanks for the reply.
        It seems like the prices inflated a lot :/ but thanks for clarifying! I might try Çemberlitaş.

        Reply
    • Osman Tariq says

      August 11, 2022 at 11:43 pm

      Hey Larissa,

      I recommend you don’t go to any Hammas in areas like Istanbul or Cappadocia.
      I visited Turkey in August 2022 and went to Bursa. There a found the best hammams as told by the locals and they charge you 150tl for an hour of Traditional Style service.

      I have been to many Hammams and this one was by far the best hammam for me.
      They don’t speak much English, but they are professionals who have been doing this for a long time. The name is Cakir Bath. You can find it on google maps.

      Reply
  4. John says

    November 6, 2019 at 2:21 am

    So basically the turkish bath is having a bodybuilder wash you and beat the shit out of you. Cool.

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      November 6, 2019 at 10:18 am

      More or less, if you mean that they rub the dirt off you.

      Reply
  5. Ana says

    October 5, 2019 at 7:03 pm

    One of my concerns is that the massage and washing is very hard on the touching, is it really optional to choose a person of your own sex to perform it? I’ve seen videos of men doing it on women and I have to admit looks very very awkward. I would like to take my mum and that would not be a nice experience.

    Also de nudity, you mention is optional as well? Like we could be wearing a bikini?

    An this is in Çemberlitaş Hamamı?

    Regards

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      October 6, 2019 at 5:14 pm

      Hi Ana,

      In real, historical hamams, so not hotel hamams, the rule of thumb is same-sex scrubbers. If you want to be really sure, ask before you go in. It’s common for women to keep on their bikini, especially the bottom part. For the scrubbing, it may be easier without the top. But again, feel free to ask what is expected before you go in. Scroll to the bottom of this post for my favorite historical hamams.

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Aluicious says

    September 3, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    Very informative. Seems to cover all the necessary things I would’ve asked. Hope to try out a hamam in Istanbul tomorrow.

    Reply
  7. Paula Berlowitz says

    July 28, 2019 at 4:47 am

    Well, well, based on your text me and my boyfriend went to a Turkish bath and the same woman who performed my bath performed my boyfriend’s. I must confess I haven’t felt very comfortable about it, but at least now he cannot complain if I find a male masseur for our next session. 😉

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      July 28, 2019 at 2:19 pm

      Hi Paula,

      May I ask, what hamam did you go to?

      Reply
  8. Hannelie says

    June 22, 2019 at 6:37 pm

    Great you really helped me a lot I was a bit worried how private the experience would be.
    Istanbul see you soon!!
    Kind Regards
    Hannelie

    Reply
  9. Julius Rosen says

    June 1, 2019 at 1:38 pm

    Great blog, very well written with real info . Thanks

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      June 1, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      Hi Julius,

      Thanks a lot for the compliments. Much appreciated!

      Reply

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