Venues offering Turkish Bath

The Turkish bath is a traditional bathing ritual that takes place in a hot, humid space around a heated marble platform called the navel stone. It is the form the Roman bathing tradition took in the Ottoman period, and in Turkey it lives on both in historic buildings and in modern venues such as hotel spas and thermal resorts. At the heart of the ritual are warming up, kese (exfoliating scrub) and foam massage.

The parts of a hammam

A classic Turkish bath has three main sections. The entrance section, where you undress and where you rest at the end of the ritual, is called the camekân or soyunmalik. The warm room is the transitional section where the body gets used to the heat. The hot room has the navel stone in the middle, marble basins (kurna) along the walls and, in some hammams, small private washing rooms called halvet. Hammams in hotel spas usually consist of a single hot room with a navel stone; changing and resting take place in the spa's shared areas.

The ritual step by step

1. In the camekân you wrap a peshtemal around you and put on slippers or wooden bath clogs.
2. In the hot room you warm up on the navel stone for 15-20 minutes; the aim is to sweat and to prepare the skin for the kese. In between, you pour lukewarm water over yourself from the basin.
3. The kese is done: dead skin is removed with a wet kese mitt.
4. Next comes the foam massage: the whole body is washed with plenty of foam squeezed out of a cloth bag.
5. Your hair is washed and you are rinsed at the basin.
6. You rest in the camekân; many venues offer tea, sherbet or fruit.

The kese and foam wash are given by attendants called tellak in the men's section and natir in the women's section. If it is your first visit, you can also read the guide that explains how to use a hammam step by step.

How long it takes

The full ritual, including kese and foam wash, takes 60-90 minutes. Using the hammam on its own can be done in 45 minutes; packages that add a massage run to 2 hours. Many hammams get busier at weekends, so making an appointment shortens the wait.

What to wear, what to bring, and arrangements for women and men

At most venues today you go into the hammam in a swimsuit or bikini with a peshtemal wrapped over it; full nudity is not usual, but the rules vary from venue to venue. A peshtemal, towel and slippers are provided at most venues; you may want to bring personal items such as shampoo, a comb and moisturiser.

Arrangements for women and men also vary by venue. The site lists, side by side, historic hammams that serve women only, thermal resorts that open to women and men at separate times, and mixed hotel spa hammams. Some places also have a private hammam option set aside for families or couples. Ask about the arrangements when you make your appointment.

What it does: realistic expectations

The heat of the hammam relaxes the muscles and temporarily increases blood circulation; because the kese removes dead skin, the skin feels smoother. Together, the heat and the bathing ritual can help you relax. What you lose through sweating is water: the hammam does not flush out toxins or make you lose weight, and the lost fluid is replaced by drinking water.

Who should take care

The heat and humidity of the hammam have a marked effect on blood pressure. Consult your doctor if you have cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, a respiratory condition or thyroid problems. It is not recommended during pregnancy. It should be postponed if you have a feverish illness, an active skin infection or an open wound, or have just had hair removal. Do not go in after drinking alcohol, on an empty stomach or straight after a heavy meal, and drink plenty of water. If you feel dizzy, leave the hot section immediately.

How it differs from a sauna and steam room

A Turkish bath, a sauna and a steam room may sit side by side in the same spa, but they are not the same thing:

The hammam is a bathing and care ritual, whereas the sauna and steam room are used only for warming up and sweating. If you are going to use all three on the same day, allow time in between to cool down and drink water.

What affects the price, and what to ask when booking

The price of a hammam visit depends first on what is included: whether it is entry only, whether kese and foam wash are included, and whether a massage or mask is added. The type of venue also matters; historic hammams, hotel spas and thermal resorts price differently. A location in a tourist area, use of a private or family hammam, refreshments and the products used, and weekend demand also affect the price. For an overview specific to Istanbul, see the guide to Istanbul hammam prices. When making an appointment, ask:

• How use by women and men is arranged; how the sections or times are separated
• Whether kese and foam wash are included in the price
• Whether a peshtemal, towel, slippers and shampoo are provided
• Whether there is a private, family or couples' hammam option