Turkish bath in Şişli

All four venues offering a Turkish bath in Şişli are inside a hotel: TZL Suites in Nişantaşı, Delta Hotels Levent in Esentepe, Radisson Blu Şişli and the NEX Hotel on Dolapdere Caddesi. There is no historic hammam on the list; the spas at Delta and Radisson Blu share the same Qualia name, and at every venue the hammam is offered together with a sauna or massage.

What comes with the hammam

Muse and Life Spa is the only venue on the list offering kese (exfoliating scrub) together with foam massage; a body scrub, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and Balinese massage by Indonesian therapists are in the same place too. Qualia Spa at Delta Hotels Levent, with its VIP suites and couples' massage rooms, suits those who want to make the hammam part of a programme for two. Qualia Spa at Radisson Blu Şişli is on the hotel's 5th floor; it offers the hammam and kese together with a swimming pool and fitness area. NEX Spa, for its part, has a simple menu of just the Turkish bath and Swedish massage and also welcomes outside guests.

Questions to ask before booking

The arrangements for women and men at the four venues are not in our records. Ask whether the hammam is done in an area reserved for you or in a shared section, whether female guests are looked after by female staff, and whether swimwear or disposable underwear is required; the guide on what to wear in the hammam and spa also helps with this. Whether kese and foam wash, the peshtemal and towel, and use of the sauna are included in the price varies from hotel to hotel; apart from NEX Spa, admission for people not staying at the hotel depends on the hotel's policy. Pregnant women and people with blood pressure or cardiovascular problems should consult their doctor about how long to stay in the hot room. The steps of the ritual are on the Turkish bath page, and all the venues in the district on the Şişli page.