Istanbul Guide

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loosening dirt you never suspected you had. After a massage (these yo-yo between being enjoyable, limp-wristed or mortally dangerous) comes a shampoo and another dousing with warm water, followed by one with cool water. When the scrubbing is over, relax in the hararet or head to the camekan, where you can get dressed or have a rest; at some hamams you can order something to eat or drink. The average hamam experience takes around one hour. Spas Most of İstanbul’s five-star hotels have spas where a hamam exists alongside facilities such as saunas, steam rooms, plunge pools and rain-shower rooms. Hamam treatments in these spas are private and often incorporate added extras such as facials, foot massages, hair treatments and body wraps. Some also offer remedial massages. Lonely Planet’s Top Choices Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus (p184) The best of the luxury spas. Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı (p146) Magnificently restored 16th-century hamam in Beyoğlu. Ambassador Spa (p90) An expert masseur makes this modest place worth considering. Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı (p90 ) Dating to 1556 it offers the most luxurious traditional bath experience in the Old City. Best Hamam Interiors Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı (p146) Magnificently restored 16th-century hamam in Beyoğlu. Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı (p90) Built by order of Süleyman the Magnificent, and meticulously restored. Cağaloğlu Hamamı (p90) The most beautiful of the city’s Ottoman hamams. Çemberlitaş Hamamı (p111) An architecturally splendid Ottoman hamam.

NEED TO KNOW Opening Hours

Most of the tourist hamams and hotel spas are open from 8am to 11pm or mid night. Local hamams with only one bath have one set of hours for females and another for males; generally they close earlier than the tourist hamams. Practicalities Soap, shampoo and towels are provided at all of the hamams we’ve reviewed. If you’re only having a bath, you’ll need to pay for the soap and shampoo separately; it’s always included in the cost of full treat ments. You’ll get drenched, so make sure you take a comb, toiletries, make-up and (if you choose to wear underwear during the massage) a dry pair of replacement underpants. There are usually hairdryers available for customer use. Modesty Traditional Turkish baths have separate sections for men and women, or have only one set of facilities and admit men and women at different times. Bath etiquette requires that men remain covered with a peştemal at all times. Most women wear a bikini or a pair of knickers (Turks tend to do the latter). Some tourist hamams don’t mind women baring all. During the bathing, everyone washes their private parts themselves, without removing the peştemal or underclothes. In tourist areas there are a couple of hamams with only one bath area that allow foreign men and women to bathe together. In these cases, women should wear a bikini. Tipping This is discretionary. Don’t feel obliged to tip if your treatment was cursory or substandard.

PLAN YOUR TRIP HAMAMS & SPAS