Turkish Bath Experience in Istanbul

Turkish Bath Experience in Istanbul

Beautiful marble sinks, brass fixtures and a gravity-defying dome deliver the right ambiance in a Turkish bath so indulge yourself in an old Ottoman tradition originally absorbed from the Romans. 

Recommended as something to be done on the first day of your holiday, the process leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed while your posture relaxes.
Visitors first sweat it out in a sauna room and then are asked to lie on the marble stone in the centre. There, a masseur will cover your body in soapsuds followed by a good, long, hard scrub with a loofer. Optional extras after are to finish with an olive oil massage.
Ladies and Gentlemen
As a rule, no self-respecting Turkish woman would let a man scrub her. So if a woman finds herself in a situation where a man was going to do the scrubbing she would be well within her rights to ask for a woman. (Sorry men, your washer will always be a man!)

Recommended Turkish Baths in Istanbul

Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamami
Restored and re-opened this year, the building and interior are exquisite: white marble with golden faucets and very clean.
Address: Cankurtaran Mah. Bab-ı Humayun Caddesi No:1 Sultanahmet
Tel: 212 517 3535
Opening hours 9:00am to 12.00am

Cagaloglu Hamami
You get points if you can pronounce this tongue twister of a name! It is a wonderful Hamam with atmosphere, personality, and celebrity status! Scenes from the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were filmed here due to its exotic and glamorous setting. There are separate men and women’s sections.
Address: Yerebatan Caddesi 34, Cagaloglu
Tel: 212 522 2424
Opening Hours 8am-10pm

Cemberlitas Hamami
Where else can you relax under a 500-year-old marble dome built by Mimar Sinan - Chief Ottoman Architect to the Sultans? This bath is stunning and the lady masseurs are known to break into song while they scrub!
Address: Vezir Hani Caddesi 8, Cemberlitas
Tel: 212 522 7974
Opening Hours 6am-12am