Turkish bath in Osmangazi

All three venues offering a Turkish bath in Osmangazi are linked to thermal water: a women-only historic hammam, a domed thermal spring hammam with a sulphurous thermal pool, and a thermal hotel in Çekirge with family hammams. Because of Bursa's long-established hot spring tradition, in the district you can warm up not only on the navel stone (the heated marble platform) but also in a thermal pool.

Three different hammam set-ups

Keçeli Tarihi Kadınlar Hamamı is a 14th-century building; it is open to women only, and its menu is limited to the thermal-water hammam, kese (exfoliating scrub) and foam wash. At Yeni Kaplıca Erkekler Hamamı, a thermal pool, sauna, kese, foam wash, family baths and a bridal package are gathered in the same domed building; the listing shows that use is divided by time of day. At Marigold Thermal & SPA Hotel, the hammam is part of a hotel spa, together with an indoor thermal pool, a sauna and the Pithia family hammams; Swedish and Sultan massage are on the same menu too.

What to look for when choosing

The first criterion is who you are going with. As Keçeli serves women only, women do not need to plan around set hours; at Yeni Kaplıca, however, you need to find out at what times women and men are admitted. Couples and families need to book a family bath or family hammam instead of the shared hammam; the length of use and booking terms for these private sections vary by venue. Before you go, ask whether the thermal pool is included in the hammam entry, whether a peshtemal and towel are provided, and whether people not staying at the hotel are admitted.

The historical background of the district's hammams is in the Bursa's historic hammams and thermal springs guide, the steps of the ritual on the Turkish bath page, and the other facilities on the Osmangazi page.