Modern Hammam venues

A modern hammam is a type of hammam that keeps the core elements of the Turkish bath, such as the hot room, the navel stone, the kese (exfoliating scrub) and the foam wash, but offers them in a newly built facility fitted out with contemporary materials and design. Because it is not bound by the limits of a historic building, a modern hammam's temperature control, ventilation, lighting and changing areas can be planned around what people expect of a spa today.

What a modern hammam offers besides the hammam

A modern hammam is usually built as part of a larger spa. The example on the site is in the spa of a luxury hotel in Beşiktaş, Istanbul; alongside the hammam it offers a sauna, a steam room, deep tissue massage and skin care, and there are also suites set aside for couples. In this set-up the hammam is planned as the first step of a programme that continues with a massage or a treatment.

Who chooses a modern hammam

A modern hammam is a comparatively better choice for those trying a Turkish bath for the first time who want a session by appointment with a set length, for those who want to combine the hammam with a massage on the same day, and for those looking for a quiet setting rather than crowded shared areas. If domed architecture and a historic atmosphere are your priority, a modern hammam will not meet that expectation.

Comparison with historic and hotel hammams

The main difference between a modern hammam and a historic hammam is the age and architectural value of the building: in a historic hammam the place itself is part of the visit, while in a modern hammam the emphasis is on comfort and the range of services. Hotel hammams and modern hammams often overlap; the modern hammam on the site is also inside a hotel. The difference lies in the design: a modern hammam recreates the traditional ritual in a contemporary architectural language, whereas many hotel hammams are a small, functional room within the spa.

What to ask before your appointment

The modern hammam in Beşiktaş is used on a mixed basis and is also open to guests who are not staying at the hotel; this arrangement is not the same at every modern hammam. When making an appointment, ask whether women and men use it separately or together, whether swimwear is required, whether kese and foam wash are included in the price and how long you can use the wet areas. At a modern hammam the price is mostly determined by the length of the session, whether the hammam is booked on its own or as a package with a massage or treatment, whether use of the wet area is included, and whether it is a weekday or the weekend; details are in the guide to what determines spa prices. For clothing and privacy, see the guide on what to wear in a hammam and a spa.