Spas, hammams and massage in Kastamonu

Both venues listed in Kastamonu are historic hammams: one in the city centre, the other in the Tosya district. In Kastamonu, known for its castle, mosques and old mansions, the hammams are also part of this historic fabric; both buildings are listed today as offering a Turkish bath. The list includes no hotel spa, massage centre or thermal facility; what Kastamonu offers is built around the traditional hammam experience.

Araba Pazarı Hamamı in the centre

Araba Pazarı Hamamı in central Kastamonu is a double hammam that, according to its own description, was commissioned by Nasrullah Kadı in the early 16th century and is still in use. A double hammam is the name given to a type of hammam with separate sections for women and men, where the two sections can operate separately within the same building. As the sections may keep different hours, it is useful to ask in advance about the hours of the women's section. Its listed services are the Turkish bath and kese (exfoliating scrub); additional services such as foam massage or a sauna do not appear in its listing, so you need to ask on site whether they are offered.

Tekke Hamamı in Tosya and practical notes

Tarihi Tekke Hamamı in Tosya's Hocaimat neighbourhood is, according to its own description, a building commissioned by the Tosya-born Sufi Sheikh İsmail-i Rumi, and it is known for its lion-headed fountain. Its only listed service is the Turkish bath; treatments such as kese and foam wash, the arrangement for women and men and the opening days need to be checked in advance. At both historic hammams in Kastamonu, the essence of a visit is the same: sweating and relaxing in the hot room, having dead skin removed with the kese and washing. Do not expect a pool or an extensive massage menu as at hotel spas; it is practical to ask whether a peshtemal and towel are provided and to take your own kese mitt. Moving from the hot room to the cooling room without hurrying, not going to the hammam straight after a heavy meal and drinking water throughout the visit help you adjust to the heat in historic hammams too. Before a first visit, reading the guide explaining how to use a hammam lets you know the order of hot room, kese and washing in advance.