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Stepping through the marble doors and into the lingering steam, visitors feel as if they are touching the very breath of a centuries-old tradition – the hammam, Turkey's iconic public bathhouse. More than just a place for cleansing the body, the hammam is a social ritual inherited from ancient Roman times and flourished during the Ottoman Empire. In Türkiye, there were once over 230 bustling hammas in operation, and today around 60 establishments still keep the flame of this ancient bathing ritual alive.
In Istanbul alone, it's estimated there are over 230 street hammam baths, although only about 60 are still in operation. Each one has its own amenities, offering relaxing spa treatments for users.
Today, Turkish baths are still frequently visited by locals and can be found in many places throughout the country.
Hammam was an important social gathering place, especially in the past, as it was one of the few spaces where women could socialize outside their homes without asking permission, escaping their roles as housewives or even searching for future brides for their sons. Women from wealthy families often brought elaborate personal items such as tası (carved water bowls) and pestemal (hand-embroidered cotton towels), signifying their status and respect for the bathing ritual.
Although called a bathhouse, a traditional hammam doesn't actually have a bathtub but is designed as a journey with at least three areas, each designed to enhance the customer experience. The changing room (camekan) is the first entrance, always with a fireplace, where visitors change clothes, store personal belongings, and relax after bathing.
The soothing sounds, the soft light filtering down from the dome onto the marble surfaces, and the gentle murmur of flowing water in the steamy atmosphere create the mystical ambiance of Turkish public baths (hamam).
In the intermediate room (sogukluk), a small door leads to the next room, with a toilet and a separate kurna (marble basin) for filling with water. The main hot room (sicaklik), this is the largest and central area of the hammam. The room is usually circular, with a high vaulted ceiling, and is heated by a furnace located under the floor. In the center of the room is a high, circular marble platform called a göbek taşı (naval stone) – where visitors lie down to feel the heat and where scrubbing and massage therapies take place. Around the walls are numerous kurnas where visitors can fill themselves with warm and cold water as desired.
The architecture of the hammam is given special attention. The two main hot rooms always have vaulted ceilings that are taller than they are wide. The openings in the vaults not only allow steam to escape but also contribute to a mystical atmosphere, as soft light shines down on the marble surfaces and steam rises. Cultural expert Ahmet describes this effect as if you are "gazing at the universe" with "stars in the sky." The melodious sounds, the flowing water, and the sparkling steam blend together to create a feeling of absolute relaxation.
The heart of the hammam experience lies in the kese (body scrubbing) and bubble massage services performed by professional "bathing attendants" (tellak for men and natir for women). This is an art form passed down through generations. Elif Tamtartar, a female bathing attendant with 25 years of experience at Zeyrek Cinili Hamam, says she learned kesecilik (the art of body scrubbing) from her mother and grandmother since she was a child.
Customers will experience an incredibly relaxing bubble massage.
After changing into their usual disposable underwear or swimwear, guests are wrapped in peştemal towels and led to lie on warm göbek taşı (stone baths). The heat from the stones, combined with the hot air, induces sweating, opening pores and promoting deep relaxation. Bath staff use kese gloves, similar to coarse sandpaper (in the past, pumice stone), to scrub the entire body. While the sensation may be slightly rough, it thoroughly removes dead skin cells and dirt, an experience guests will likely not forget as they watch the black grime peel away.
Once the skin is clean, the bath attendant will create a rich lather by rubbing soap (often made with olive oil to preserve the skin's natural oils) onto a soft, wet cloth, inflating it, and gently gliding it over the body for a massage. This process helps to soften and refresh the skin, preventing aging and accelerating cell regeneration.
Bath staff advise customers to eat a light meal and avoid alcohol before arriving, and to refrain from using lotions or oil-based products beforehand, as this will reduce the effectiveness of the kese. Most bath staff have experience communicating with foreign guests through body language, so visitors can easily signal if they feel too much pressure.
Try visiting a Turkish hammam once to enjoy the unique atmosphere in the ancient building and truly relax your body and refresh your senses.
After the scrubbing and massage are complete, guests will have their hair washed and then gently step out of the warm room. An important rule is not to leave the hammam too abruptly. The body will be dried and wrapped in a towel, then guests return to their original relaxation area to lie down, enjoy tea, and slowly regain their balance.
Hammam is more than just a body cleansing therapy. It's a place where people wash away their worries, allowing the energy of the water, the warmth, and the gentle touch of hands to blend in a tranquil space. When these energies harmonize, the natural healing process unfolds. Hammam is an ancient ritual of relaxation, rejuvenation, and self-care – providing a refreshing feeling for both body and mind, making it a unique cultural experience that anyone visiting Türkiye should try at least once.
