Hammams have a rich history dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods, when public baths were a central element of daily life. These opulent structures, adorned with glimmering marble and decked in delicate carvings, were quickly adopted by the Ottomans, too. Rooted in Islamic culture, which emphasises the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene, hammams reached their zenith during the 16th and 17th centuries. It's not difficult for modern visitors to imagine the citizens of times gone who made these communal spaces their own, taking part in hushed conversations, political discussions and even business transactions.
Whilst no longer the place for serious conversation, hammams still play an integral part in Turkish culture, with visits to a bathhouse customary before weddings and after the birth of a child. For travellers who like to immerse themselves in local culture, this is the perfect opportunity to experience centuries-old rituals firsthand.
It's probably best for first-time visitors not to venture in unprepared. Separated by gender, a hammam consists of a series of interconnected rooms, typically including a warm room (caladium), a hot room (hararet) and a cool room (soğukluk). Upon entering the warm room, bathers are encouraged to lay on heated marble tiles, where the body gradually relaxes as it acclimatises to the elevated temperature. This is followed by a session in the hot room, where guests are scrubbed and massaged by attendants known as tellak for men and natır for women. The scrubbing involves the use of a special mitt or kese. Often lasting about 40 minutes, this is an intimate experience designed to remove dead skin cells, promote circulation and also encourage spiritual purification. Afterwards, bathers move to the cool room and cover up, and you'll often find groups of friends and families cooling down as they chat over a cup of Turkish tea or coffee. If this age-old ritual sounds intriguing, here are some of our favourite hammams in Istanbul to visit.
Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı
Built in 1580, the Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı is one of the best to visit for classical architecture and a higher-end traditional hammam ritual. Featuring ornate domes with star-shaped skylights casting slivers of light into the hot rooms, the beauty of the building alone encourages relaxation. Upon arrival, you'll be served with elma şerbeti, a traditional home-made fruit syrup, before you're told to wrap yourself in a psthemal (cotton hammam towel). Attendants will guide you through the hammam process, including scrubbing, foaming, foam massage and a hair wash. Afterwards, you can relax in the resting hall, where food and tea is served. As you sit back and take in the sights around you, be sure to observe the social scene; sat in their towels, locals will lounge for hours casually talking, often oblivious to the architectural splendour surrounding them.
Zeyrek Çinili Hamam
Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, this hammam was commissioned in the 1530s by Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha, the Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy. Now, after a significant restoration project by the hotel chain, the Marmara Group, the original architecture and elaborate designs of the bathhouse have been uncovered once again. Although not open for bathing until March next year, Zeyrek Çinili Hamam is currently holding a one-off contemporary art exhibition titled Healing Ruins, which invites visitors to explore the history, mythology and architecture of historical bathhouse through art. This is also a rare opportunity to walk through the entirety of a hammam, with tour guides on hand to discuss the differences between the male and female sections of the space. For those who are unable to visit the exhibition before the hammam is used for its intended purpose, the permanent onsite museum and underground Byzantine cisterns are still well worth the visit. Hosting a range of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman artefacts that were uncovered during the excavation process, the museum is dedicated to the history of hammam culture and includes the remnants of the intricate tiles (Çinili) that gave the bath house its name.
Chi, The Spa
Traditional hammams are communal spaces where people of all ages and every social class are welcome to converge. Whilst this fosters a sense of community and solidarity, such public spaces can be somewhat daunting if you're more conservative or looking for a more intimate experience. At Chi, The Spa, visitors can pick either a public hammam experience or a private bath suite. If the latter appeals, we would recommend the private Lavender Escape Hammam Therapy, which uses traditional Turkish essential oils and lavender products grown in the spa's gardens to transport you to a more serene state. Unlike historic spas in the city, in which vigorous scrubbing techniques fully cleanse the body, the focus at Chi is relaxation; chilled lavender-flavoured towels, cooling milk body masks and delicate cups of tea will soothe and relieve any aches or travel weariness.
Cağaloğlu Hammam
In 1768, the construction of public bath houses was banned due to a scarcity of water and firewood in the capital of the time. Built in 1741, the Cağaloğlu hammam was the last of its kind to be built during the Ottoman Empire. Found in the historical Fatih district on a small side street next to Sultanahmet square, this is one of the few bathhouses yet to have been renovated. Staying true to its historical roots, the hammam offers a scenic atmosphere of aged marble decorated with baroque-style woodwork. The treatments mirror the historical ambience, with olive oil ayvalık soap, linden shampoo and a rigorous foam massage focused on deep cleansing. Be sure to try the sweetly flavoured Turkish delights and pay a visit to the small onsite shop that sells hammam products and ceramic ware by local artists.
The Stay Spa
If you're looking to combine a traditional hammam experience with modern and alternative therapies, The Stay Spa is the perfect place. In its hammam room, marble hot beds and brass sinks evoke the historic roots of Turkish bathhouses, with foam therapy used to cleanse and refresh the body. Afterwards, guests can indulge in a massage therapy of their choice, drawn from techniques around the world, including Asian deep-tissue massage, hot-stone therapies and traditional Balinese treatments; a fusion of different cultures that elevates this hammam ritual to new heights.
Hurrem Sultan Hammam
Commissioned by Hurrem Sultan, consort and wife of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, this bathhouse was once the centre of political and social life in Istanbul. Built between the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, the building was designed on the site of the ancient baths of Zeuksippos and intended for use between religious services. Owing to its location, it is a great place for weary visitors, who may be in need of refuge after dashing around the sites. Be sure to look up as you have your treatment, for no expense was spared in the construction of Hurrem Sultan's hammam; beautiful details such as golden epigraphs, stained-glass windows and painted palmettes are dotted throughout.