Wellness Centre venues

A wellness centre is a centre that offers spa services such as massage, hammam and sauna under the same roof as exercise programmes such as fitness, pilates and yoga. What sets a wellness centre apart from a classic spa is that it is designed for regular use rather than a one-off visit to unwind: visitors come several times a week for classes or workouts and use the wet area and massage as part of that routine.

What you find at wellness centres

Most of the wellness centres listed have a sauna and a Turkish bath; steam rooms, jacuzzis and swimming pools are also common. The massage menu is broad: medical, aromatherapy, Swedish, Balinese, deep tissue and hot stone massage are the most common; sports massage, Thai massage, Ayurvedic massage and lymphatic drainage massage are also offered at some centres. Couples' massage, kese (exfoliating scrub) and foam wash treatments and facials are common too. On the exercise side there are gyms, pilates classes including reformer, and yoga and meditation sessions; one centre runs a semi-Olympic indoor pool. A centre in Bodrum combines outdoor sports areas with a sauna and a cold pool.

Who a wellness centre suits

A wellness centre suits those who want to combine exercise and relaxation in a single habit. Typical users of this type are people who train regularly and use the sauna and sports massage to recover, those who want to use the hammam after a pilates or yoga class, and those who back up a weekly exercise programme with massage for back and neck tension from desk work. Because many centres offer couples' massage, they are also an option for couples who use the centre together. For those who just want a one-off massage, however, a day spa or a massage centre may be more practical than a membership-focused wellness centre.

How a wellness centre differs from similar types

Wellness centres are often confused with other types that bring spa and exercise together. The difference lies in where the emphasis is and how the place is used:

In the listings these boundaries often overlap: more than half of the wellness centres operate inside a hotel and are also tagged as a hotel spa; some are also listed as a hammam or a fitness club. When choosing, which of the centre's areas are included in the membership or session tells you more than the name of the type.

Membership and use at a wellness centre: practical information

Wellness centres work on different models: some sell only monthly or annual memberships, some also offer classes and massages as single sessions, and those inside hotels apply separate terms to hotel residents. Ask in advance what the membership includes (pool, sauna, hammam, group classes) and whether massages are charged separately; finding out whether a trial class or a day pass is available makes the decision easier. Classes and massages are by appointment. You will need to bring sportswear, trainers, swimwear and slippers; towels are usually provided, but it is still worth asking. At the centres listed, the facilities are mostly mixed or the arrangement is not stated; if you are looking for women-only hours or a women's section, ask the venue. Replace lost fluids before going into the sauna or cold pool straight after a workout; if you have cardiovascular disease or blood pressure problems, or are pregnant, consult your doctor about sauna and cold water treatments.

What to look for when choosing a wellness centre

Since you will use a wellness centre over a long period, what matters when choosing is how well it fits your daily routine rather than a single visit:

• Class timetable: the times of pilates, yoga and group classes, class sizes and the instructors' experience
• Peak hours: how crowded the wet area and changing rooms are after work
• The massage side: which types of massage the therapists work in, and how far ahead appointments need to be made
• Membership terms: rules on freezing, transferring and cancelling
• Location: whether you can get there regularly from home or work

Cities with wellness centres

The great majority of wellness centres are in Istanbul, spread across both sides of the city: on the European side Beşiktaş, Şişli, Sarıyer, Bahçelievler, Başakşehir and Arnavutköy stand out, and on the Asian side Üsküdar and Maltepe. Outside Istanbul there is one centre each in the Çankaya district of Ankara, in Yalıkavak in Bodrum (Muğla) and in Didim (Aydın).