Istanbul Hamam Guide: What to Expect at a Turkish Bath

A traditional Turkish bath (hamam) is a centuries-old bathing ritual of heat, steam, exfoliation and foam massage.

How a hamam visit works

You warm up on the heated marble stone, then an attendant scrubs you with a kese mitt and covers you in olive-oil foam before a cool-down.

Bring nothing but yourself. Towels (pestemal), soap and the scrub mitt are provided at historic baths in Istanbul.