Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hamams & Spas
Succumbing to a soapy scrub in a steamy hamam (bathhouse) is one of
the city's quintessential experiences. Not everyone feels comfortable
with baring all (or most) of their bodies in public, though. If you in-
clude yourself in this group, a number of the city's spas offer private
hamam treatments.
Hamams
The concept of the steam bath was passed from the Romans to the Byzantines and then on
to the Turks, who named it the hamam. They've even exported the concept throughout the
world, hence the term 'Turkish bath'. Until recent decades, many homes in İstanbul didn't
have bathroom facilities, and due to Islam's emphasis on personal cleanliness, the commu-
nity relied on the hundreds of hamams throughout the city, often as part of the
külliye
(mosque complex) of a mosque. Now that most people have bathrooms in İstanbul, hama-
ms are nowhere near as popular, but some carry on due to their roles as local meeting
places. Others have become successful tourist attractions.
The city's hamams vary enormously. Some are dank dives where you may come out
dirtier than you went in (note: Turks call cockroaches 'hamam insects'); others are plain
and clean, servicing a predominantly local clientele. A small number have built a reputa-
tion as gay meeting places (we're talking truly steamy here), and an increasing number are
geared exclusively towards tourists. A few hotels in Sultanahmet have hamams that cus-
We haven't reviewed any gay hamams in this topic, as the current socio-political climate
makes their legal status ambiguous.
BATH PROCEDURE
Upon entry you are shown to a
camekan
(entrance hall or space) where you will be alloc-
ated a dressing cubicle (
halvet
) or locker and given a
peştemal
(bath wrap) and
plastik
çarıklar
(plastic sandals) or
takunya
(wooden clogs). Store your clothes and don the
peştemal
and footware. An attendant will then lead you through the
soğukluk
(intermediate
