Friendly Rentals
  • Barcelona
  • Madrid
  • Seville
  • Valencia
  • General
  • Book your apartment
Friendly Rentals
  • Barcelona
  • Madrid
  • Seville
  • Valencia
  • General
  • Book your apartment
29 July, 2013

Visit a Hamam in Istanbul

What to expect when you visit a Hamam in Istanbul

Experience a hamam in IstanbulWhat once formed the fabric of life during the Ottoman Empire has become a must for anyone visiting Istanbul. A place where you can step back in time, experience the Istanbul of old, leave the daily stresses at the door and indulge yourself with some luxurious pampering. We are of course talking about a visit to one of the city’s famed Hamams. The ritual of visiting a hamam in Istanbul can be quite daunting for the uninitiated, so before stepping through the door let’s go through what you can expect.

The first thing to do is talk with the receptionist and decided what kind of treatment you want; usually there are three options available Self-service, Traditional and Luxury. The first is pretty self explanatory, the second offers the authentic Hamam experience and the third involves a massage with oil. Once you decide on what you want the attendant will lead you to the changing room where you will get undressed and leave your things.

Your state of undress depends on you, men usually wear the pestemal, a small towel worn around the waist, and nothing else. Women can choose to go nude or wear bikini bottoms; again the pestemal is used to protect your modesty. You will then make your way into the hararet.

Hamam IstanbulThe hararet is the hot room where you will spend about 15 minutes building up a sweat, the idea is to open the pores and prepare you for your wash. The striking feature of the haraet is the raised marble platform, göbektasi, which is directly over the heat source. You are expected to loll around on it in preparation for the next stage of the hamam experience.

The keseci, bath house attendant, will then usher you over to the side of the göbektasi where the wash will begin. This process begins with you being doused with warm water and then given a very thorough scrubbing with the kese, a rough mitt. Depending on the skill of the keseci it can either be very painful or very pleasurable. Be warned, if you have been working very hard on getting a tan it will almost completely disappear during this step.

Hamam in IstanbulFollowing this step, every inch of you will be covered in a rich lather of soap, think of taking a bubble bath without being in the bath and you get the idea. After you will be rinsed off with cold water and left to your own devices. Once the process is finished you are free to stay and enjoy the hamam as much as you like or you can move into the cold or intermediate room before making your way out.

Two of the best Hamams in Istanbul

Cagaloglu Hamami: Built in 1741 it is one of the oldest in Istanbul. Well worth visiting for the amazing architecture alone.

Cemberlitas Hamami: Built in 1584, this hamam offers a truly authentic experience.

Other things you should know.

  • Most Hamams are strictly segregated with either separate bathing times or entrances for men and women. More tourist orientated Hamams are often mixed.
  • It is expected to give the attendant a tip, usually 10%-20%.

James – Marketing Team

Posted in Istanbul, Tourism in Istanbul
James
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Post navigation

   History of the Sagrada Familia Stop Motion Video
Discover the Roman Ruins of Baelo Claudia   

You may also like

Shopping in Istanbul

Continue Reading

Istanbul Gay Guide

Continue Reading

ABOUT US

FRIENDLY RENTALS

Friendly Rentals is a company based in Barcelona that specializes in short and mid-term rental of apartments.

Searchbox

Categories

  • Algarve
    • Events in Algarve
    • Sports in Algarve
    • Things to do in Algarve
    • Tourism in Algarve
    • Where to eat in Algarve
  • Amsterdam
    • Art and Museums in Amsterdam
    • Events in Amsterdam
    • Nightlife in Amsterdam
    • Shopping in Amsterdam
    • Things to do in Amsterdam
    • Tourism in Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
    • Art and Museums in Barcelona
    • Barcelona Bloggers
    • Events in Barcelona
    • FR Barcelona
    • Nightlife in Barcelona
    • Promotions in Barcelona
    • Shopping in Barcelona
    • Sports in Barcelona
    • Things to do in Barcelona
    • Tourism in Barcelona
    • Where to eat in Barcelona
  • Berlin
    • Art and Museums in Berlin
    • Berlin Bloggers
    • Events in Berlin
    • FR Berlin
    • Nightlife in Berlin
    • Shopping in Berlin
    • Things to do in Berlin
    • Tourism in Berlin
    • Where to eat in Berlin
  • Bilbao
    • Art and Museums in Bilbao
    • Events in Bilbao
    • Nightlife in Bilbao
    • Shopping in Bilbao
    • Sports in Bilbao
    • Things to do in Bilbao
    • Tourism in Bilbao
    • Where to eat in Bilbao
  • Buenos Aires
    • Art and museums in Buenos Aires
    • Events in Buenos Aires
    • FR Buenos Aires
    • Nightlife in Buenos Aires
    • Shopping in Buenos Aires
    • Sports in Buenos Aires
    • Things to do in Buenos Aires
    • Tourism in Buenos Aires
    • Where to eat in Buenos Aires
  • Cape Town
    • Events in Cape Town
    • FR Cape Town
    • Shopping in Cape Town
    • Sports in Cape Town
    • Things to do in Cape Town
    • Tourism in Cape Town
    • Where to eat in Cape Town
  • Costa Brava
    • Art and Museums in Costa Brava
    • Events in Costa Brava
    • FR Costa Brava
    • Shopping in Costa Brava
    • Sports in Costa Brava
    • Things to do in Costa Brava
    • Tourism in Costa Brava
    • Where to eat in Costa Brava
  • Florence
    • Art and Museums in Florence
    • Events in Florence
    • FR Florence
    • Nightlife in Florence
    • Shopping in Florence
    • Sports in Florence
    • Things to do in Florence
    • Tourism in Florence
    • Where to eat in Florence
  • General
    • Events
    • Friendly Rentals
    • News
    • Promotions
    • Sports
    • Things to do
  • Granada
    • Art and Museums in Granada
    • Events in Granada
    • FR Granada
    • Nightlife in Granada
    • Promotions in Granada
    • Shopping in Granada
    • Sports in Granada
    • Things to do in Granada
    • Tourism in Granada
    • Where to eat in Granada
  • Istanbul
    • Art and Museums in Istanbul
    • FR Istanbul
    • Nightlife in Istanbul
    • Shopping in Istanbul
    • Things to do in Istanbul
    • Tourism in Istanbul
    • Where to eat in Istanbul
  • Kyoto
    • Things to do in Kyoto
    • Tourism in Kyoto
  • Lisbon
    • Art and Museums in Lisbon
    • Events in Lisbon
    • FR Lisbon
    • Nightlife in Lisbon
    • Shopping in Lisbon
    • Things to do in Lisbon
    • Tourism in Lisbon
    • Where to eat in Lisbon
  • London
    • Art and Museums in London
    • Events in London
    • FR London
    • Nightlife in London
    • Shopping in London
    • Sports in London
    • Things to do in London
    • Tourism in London
    • Where to eat in London
  • Madrid
    • Art and museums in Madrid
    • Events in Madrid
    • FR Madrid
    • Nightlife in Madrid
    • Promotions in Madrid
    • Shopping in Madrid
    • Sports in Madrid
    • Things to do in Madrid
    • Tourism in Madrid
    • Where to eat in Madrid
  • Main
  • Majorca
    • Events in Majorca
    • Nightlife in Majorca
    • Shopping in Majorca
    • Sports in Majorca
    • Things to do in Majorca
    • Tourism in Majorca
  • Malaga
    • Art and museums in Malaga
    • Events in Malaga
    • Nightlife in Malaga
    • Shopping in Malaga
    • Sports in Malaga
    • Things to do in Malaga
    • Tourism in Malaga
    • Where to eat in Malaga
  • Miami
    • Events Miami
    • Shopping in Miami
    • Things to do in Miami
    • Tourism in Miami
    • Where to eat in Miami
  • Milan
    • Art and Museums in Milan
    • Events in Milan
    • Nightlife in Milan
    • Shopping in Milan
    • Things to do in Milan
    • Tourism in Milan
    • Where to eat in Milan
  • New York
    • Art and Museums in New York
    • Events in New York
    • FR New York
    • Nightlife in New York
    • Shopping in New York
    • Things to do in New York
    • Tourism in New York
    • Where to eat in New York
  • Osaka
    • Tourism in Osaka
    • Where to eat in Osaka
  • Paris
    • Art and Museums in Paris
    • Events in Paris
    • FR Paris
    • Nightlife in Paris
    • Shopping in Paris
    • Sports in Paris
    • Things to do in Paris
    • Tourism in Paris
    • Where to eat in Paris
  • Prague
    • Art and Museums in Prague
    • Events in Prague
    • Nightlife in Prague
    • Shopping in Prague
    • Things to do in Prague
    • Tourism in Prague
  • Puerto Vallarta
    • Events in Puerto Vallarta
    • Sports in Puerto Vallarta
    • Things to do in Puerto Vallarta
    • Tourism in Puerto Vallarta
    • Where to eat in Puerto Vallarta
  • Rio de Janeiro
    • Events in Rio de Janeiro
    • Sports in Rio de Janeiro
    • Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
    • Tourism in Rio de Janeiro
  • Rome
    • Art and Museums in Rome
    • Events in Rome
    • Inside FR Rome
    • Nightlife in Rome
    • Shopping in Rome
    • Things to do in Rome
    • Tourism in Rome
    • Where to eat in Rome
  • Salamanca
    • Art and Museums in Salamanca
    • Events in Salamanca
    • Nightlife in Salamanca
    • Things to do in Salamanca
    • Tourism in Salamanca
    • Where to eat in Salamanca
  • San Sebastian
    • Events in San Sebastian
    • FR San Sebastian
    • Nightlife in San Sebastian
    • Shopping in San Sebastian
    • Sports in San Sebastian
    • Things to do in San Sebastian
    • Tourism in San Sebastian
    • Where to eat in San Sebastian
  • Seville
    • Art and Museums in Seville
    • Events in Seville
    • Nightlife in Seville
    • Shopping in Seville
    • Things to do in Seville
    • Tourism in Seville
    • Where to eat in Seville
  • Sitges
    • Art and Museums in Sitges
    • Events in Sitges
    • FR Sitges
    • Nightlife in Sitges
    • Tourism in Sitges
    • Where to eat in Sitges
  • Tarifa
    • Art and Museums in Tarifa
    • Events in Tarifa
    • Nightlife in Tarifa
    • Shopping in Tarifa
    • Sports in Tarifa
    • Things to do in Tarifa
    • Tourism in Tarifa
    • Where to eat in Tarifa
  • Valencia
    • Art and Museums in Valencia
    • Events in Valencia
    • FR Valencia
    • Nightlife in Valencia
    • Shopping in Valencia
    • Sports in Valencia
    • Things to do in Valencia
    • Tourism in Valencia
    • Where to eat in Valencia
  • Venice
    • Events in Venice
    • FR Venice
    • Nightlife in Venice
    • Shopping in Venice
    • Sports in Venice
    • Things to do in Venice
    • Tourism in Venice
    • Where to eat in Venice

Popular

First Friendly Playlist: Sounds of Barcelona

23 June, 2010

Concern about what you eat? Top 5 places where to find organic and traditional products in Barcelona

11 August, 20103 May, 2018

Opening of the Poliorama Theatre this 2010 with a performance from Maria Pagés

2 September, 2010
  • English
    • Español (Spanish)
Cargar más...
Síguenos en Instagram

© Copyright Friendlyrentals.com. All Rights Reserved.