Turkish Baths: Intimate Versions of Modern Day Spas

Almost everyone loves a good massage, a clean scrub, nice steam rooms and a warm bath. These are also offered by modern day spas, with package deals, though I always feel something missing from them, as if relaxation is a mandatory requirement, as if when you are in a spa, you have to have a relaxed face with calm breaths and all those symptoms of relaxation. I must say, I am not a big fan of them.

Hamams (or Turkish baths) are different. They are built to clean you, not unwind you, no one expects you to make that relaxed face at the end, they just expect you to smell of soap, and that relaxation persists. In Istanbul, there are many hamams, but never go to a mixed gender hamam. Traditional hamams are about bonding with your real friends under a historical dome, cleaning your soul together with cleaning your body. Unlike spas, no one expects you to be quiet in a hamam, instead, everyone reveal their hearts, and gossip, under that concealed space. As you might understand from the lack of people in the photos, it is strictly forbidden to take photos inside, these are taken from the websites of these hamams.

As I said, in Istanbul, there are many hamams, but go to a touristic one if you are a newbie. If you are willing to spend around 100-150 Euros for a scrub, lather and oil massage, choose Ayasofya or Kılıç Ali Paşa hamams. Though the treatment is not better than the others, they have those little details, like silk towels, variant beverages and eccentric rest areas. For around 50 Euros, you can have the similar experience in Cağaloğlu and Çemberlitaş (my favourite) as well, with less fancy towels. For avoiding the crowds, go in the mornings, during the weekdays. Try to visit their websites for a deal before you go, if you are short on cash.

Do not rush the process. Eat light, if you can do so in Istanbul, before you go, tell the bath attendants to come after you have at least spent half an hour inside, lay on the heated marble, enjoy the interiors and warm up. Afterwards, relax in the resting area by either enjoying a mineral sparkling water, soda pop or ayran to reclaim your lost water and minerals. You will feel your skin is soft, and clean like it has never been before. By the way, it is customary to tip the bath attendant who have attended you at least for 20 Turkish Liras (around 10 Euros). In some hamams, they won't leave you alone until you have tipped them, but in the touristic ones that I have written above, they are advised to leave the customers alone, so you should find them and tip them.

But do not forget, the most important element of this experience is who you go with. If you do not have a good companion to clear your soul together with your body, don't even bother going to a hamam. Turks are not meant to be solitary beings and their hamams are certainly not meant to be experienced alone.