Spas, hammams and massage in Erzurum

The two venues listed in Erzurum are quite different from each other: a historic hammam in Yakutiye and a hotel spa at the Palandöken Ski Centre. Set on the high plateau of Eastern Anatolia, Erzurum is known for its long, snowy winters and the ski slopes of Palandöken. You can choose between a traditional hammam in the city centre and, up on the mountain, a hotel spa combined with a ski holiday.

Muratpaşa Hamamı: a single hammam in Yakutiye

Muratpaşa Hamamı is a historic hammam behind the Murat Paşa Mosque in Yakutiye, built, according to its description, in the 1570s as an endowment of Kuyucu Murad Paşa. The building is a single hammam with four halvets (private bathing cubicles); in other words, instead of two separate sections for women and men, it has a single bathing section. In single hammams it is common for women and men to use this section on different days or at different hours, but the arrangement at Muratpaşa Hamamı is not in the records. The only listed service is the Turkish bath; ask before you go whether kese (exfoliating scrub) and foam wash are offered and whether a peshtemal and towel are provided.

A ski hotel spa at Palandöken

Gul Sise Spa is a ski hotel spa inside the Dedeman Ski Lodge at the Palandöken Ski Centre. Its description says it offers spa and relaxation areas to holidaymakers staying in Erzurum; details of services such as a hammam, sauna, pool or massage are not in the records. If you plan to use the spa after a day on the slopes, you need to find out in advance which wet areas and massage options there are and whether the spa is open only to hotel guests. Whether it operates outside the ski season is also among the things to ask.

If you are going into the sauna or hammam after a full day of skiing, it is recommended to drink water first and keep the first session short. People with heart or blood pressure problems and pregnant women should get a doctor's approval before entering the high-heat areas. In Erzurum's harsh winter, a practical precaution is not to go outside after the hammam until you have dried your hair thoroughly, dressed and warmed up. If you are wondering how long to stay in the hammam and how hot the sections are, see the guide that answers practical questions on hammam time and temperature.