Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

incorporate added extras such as facials, foot massages, hair treatments and body wraps. Some also offer remedial massages.

NEED TO KNOW

Opening Hours Most of the tourist hamams and hotel spas are open from 8am to 11pm or midnight. 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 treatments. 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.

Lonely Planet’s Top Choices

Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus The best of the luxury spas.