Taking a Sauna in Turkey
Hamam, Turkish bath
Hamam is a very enjoyable experience. If you are visiting Turkey, it is definitely worth going to a hamam, Turkish bath.
Turkish saunas are not very hot, but nicely steamy. In the shower rooms you can wear a bathing suit, or just your birthday suit – whichever you prefer. In traditional hamams there are separate sections for men and women, and the washers are of the same sex as the bathers. In hamams intended more for tourists, such as those found in hotels, men and women bathe together. In these mixed-sex hamams bathers always wear swimming costumes.
Bathing in a hamam
First the bather is taken into the shower room. The washer spreads a towel on to a warm bench, where after having a shower the bather rests lying down for about twenty minutes. Then the washer, dressed in a bathing suit, arrives with their bucket and begins scrubbing. First the front, then back. Piles of dead skin fall of like crispy autumn leaves. After the scrub the whole body is lathered up generously with a soaped sponge the size of a pillow. Afterwards the washer guides the bather on to a seat and washes their hair. Then, after taking a shower, the bather is wrapped up into a towel.
Massage after bathing
Then on to the massage table. The massager gives a good kneading to your calf muscles, goes carefully through the length of your spine, massages your scalp and gives a relaxing treatment to fingers and toes.
After the hour-and-a-half session, you leave the hamam feeling reborn.
Hamams preferred by locals are the best ones
Traditional hamams favoured by local residents are not usually as shiny and sparkly as the ones meant for travellers. In hamams attended mainly by locals the staff might not speak any English, but that doesn’t matter. The authentic feel of a Turkish bath can best be experienced in these traditional hamams, usually located slightly outside the tourist areas. The locals are glad to help a traveller find a traditional hamam, so don’t be afraid to ask.
One of the best hamams in Istanbul is Cemberlitas Hamami. It is visited by locals as well as the occasional traveller.
Address and opening hours:
Cemberlitas Hamami
Ismet Hilmi Balci Cad. No: 62.
Open Mon-Sun 06–24.
Steam sauna, body scrub, wash and massage: Adults 20 €, 6–12-year-olds 10 €, 0–5-year-olds free. Facial mask 5 €.
After an hour-and-a-half’s bathing session you leave the hamam feeling invigorated, almost reborn.
Picture: Cemberlitas Hamami, Istanbul.
Keywords: Turkish bath, Hamam, Turkish sauna, sauna turkey, hamam bath