Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

İstanbul’s Top 10 Visiting a Hamam

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In life, there aren’t too many opportunities to wander seminaked through a 16th-century Ottoman monument. Unless you visit İstanbul, that is. The city’s world-famous hamams offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in history, architecture, warm water and soap suds all at the same time. A hamam treatment offers a relaxing finale to a day spent pounding the city’s pavements and gives a fascinating insight into the life and customs of Ottoman society. You can surrender to the steam at baths on both side of the Galata Bridge.