10 Best Hamams in Istanbul + Where to Eat After Your Bath

Every hamam visit ends the same way: you walk out scrubbed clean, warm to the bone, and hungrier than you expected. This guide covers both halves of the afternoon. It ranks the 10 best hamams in Istanbul, explains what happens inside and what to wear, and tells you where to eat when you come out, because most of these baths sit in two clusters and a good meal is a short walk from either.

Turkish baths, or hammams in Turkey, are an important part of Turkish culture that has been around since the 16th century. The hamams in Istanbul are where the tradition lives on, and they will leave you feeling refreshed after your first (or fifth) visit.

While the hammams were first built to offer a place for having a bath, they evolved into gathering spots. Women and men had access on different days of the week, and the hamam became a social meeting place where people could spend hours, relax, clean up, and talk to their neighbors. It’s no wonder the hammams were always full.

Today, the hamam culture has not changed much in Turkey. Most hammams in Istanbul have different sections or different hours of the day for men and women and follow the traditional rituals. Most offer about 45 minutes of washing: a traditional body scrub with a handwoven washcloth (kese), a foam wash, and a massage.

What happens in a Turkish bath?

Preparation

The first thing that’ll happen is that the men in your group will be separated from the women. (There are a few hammams in Istanbul where it is mixed.) There are separate sections for the sexes. If you pay a little extra, an attendant will guide you through the process. The locker rooms are the first spot your tellak (male attendant) or natır (female attendant) will take you to.

Though you are visiting a public bath, you may be pleased to know that complete nudity is not common in Turkish baths. Covering the bottom bikini area is a general rule and most people will be wrapped only in a peshtemal. There are private cubicles to get changed in. You’ll be given slippers and a peshtemal, a colorful cotton towel that is highly absorbent, and you’ll be expected to cover yourself with it before the scrubbing starts. If you’re uncomfortable with any nudity, you may wear a bikini; however, you may be the only one.

It’s also unusual to go through the bathing experience with makeup still on. You’ll have the opportunity to place all your personal items in a locker, wrap the key around your wrist, and head into the hararet.

Inside the hot section

The hararet is the marble-covered hot room. You’ll recognize it as it’s the only room that’s portrayed when talking about Turkish baths. You’ll find a marble slab called the göbektaşı in the middle of the room. On the sides, you’ll see the basins mounted on the walls.

At this point, your attendant will leave you to relax for about 15 minutes. The idea is that you begin to sweat everything out and your skin softens. When you’ve completely relaxed, your attendant will pop back in and guide you to the göbektaşı. You’ll lie there with the peshtemal, and the attendant will splash some warm water upon you.

They’ll then begin washing and scrubbing you. If you’re new to the experience, it may feel a little uncomfortable. However, the kese (it works like a loofah) helps remove all the dead skin, dirt, and grime that even a body scrub can’t reach. If you’ve paid for anything extra, like a short neck massage, it’ll happen then. (If you have purchased a longer massage, they usually take you to a separate massage room once the hamam ritual is done.)

You’ll be dowsed in soapy suds and given a foam massage, one to two minutes long. Think of it as a big bubble bath. Then you’ll be led to the marble basins, where your attendant will wash you down with cold water. When all is done, your attendant will leave you to relax for as long as you wish. At this point, you’ll notice the way the light hits the steam, and it’s worth lingering for.

Are we done yet?

When you’ve had enough, you can make your way to the soğukluk (cooling room), which will have toilets and showers, and you’ll be given a fresh, dry peshtemal. Some luxury hamams in Istanbul also have pools and jacuzzis that you can use for free.

When all is done, you’ll be offered refreshments such as Turkish tea or sherbet. You can stay as long as you wish, and the whole experience will have you feeling so clean that you’ll feel like a new person.

What to wear at the hamam?

If you’ve opted for the self-service route, you’ll need to bring pretty much everything from soaps to towels. (Most hammams do not offer self-service nowadays.) However, if you’re opting for the traditional experience, you only need to bring a spare set of underwear and bikini or swimwear to wear after you’ve dried off. Most hamams in Istanbul will provide all the materials you might need (peştamal, slippers, towels, shampoo, and soap) during your stay.

You will be expected to cover the bottom bikini part of your body in the hamam at all times. It is usually acceptable to be half-naked inside. However, if you feel uncomfortable, you can always bring a bikini or swimming trunks. Some hammams provide bikinis too.

The 10 Best Hamams in Istanbul

1. Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı

Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı is named after the sailor who commissioned the most famous architect of the Ottoman era. Initially created to serve those in the Ottoman navy, the idea was that this hammam would still be standing centuries after it was built. It’s known for its dome, perhaps the largest in all of the hammams in Istanbul, and the service today lives up to the building.

The moment you enter, you’ll be greeted with a warming glass of sherbet while your attendant explains the process. Give yourself a minute to look up before you head in.

Kılıç Ali Paşa is a rare example of a hammam that allows your children to accompany you for half the price. When you’re done, you can eat something at the café on site while you relax, and the souvenir shop near the entrance sells sesame and goat’s milk soap if you want a gift to carry home. If the café is not enough, the hamam sits in Tophane, a short walk from the restaurants of Karaköy.

Just beware: reservations are recommended, and the hammam is open during the morning and noon for the ladies and the afternoon and night for the gents.

You can read more about their pricing and make a booking at Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı here.

2. Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı

This is another popular hammam that was built by the famous architect Mimar Sinan, this time at the request of Hürrem Sultan. The bath lies between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, close to Topkapı Palace in the old city. It is also the only Turkish bath built on the ruins of an older bath: the Baths of Zeuxippus from the Byzantine era.

Their packages start from a 30-minute wash. If you choose to go all out, you’ll get to go home with a cute goody bag at the end and you can chill at the vitamin bar. All packages include the natural olive oil soap, kese (the loofah mitt), shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel in addition to the usual freebies.

It also keeps long hours, from early morning to late night. If you really wish to pamper yourself, you can get a variety of massages from your face to your feet.

You can make a reservation at Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı here.

3. Ağa Hamamı

If the hammam experience doesn’t get you excited by itself, the Ottoman history in this location may do the trick. It has only been renovated twice: in the 1980s and in the Ottoman period by Sultan Abdulmecid. This hammam has a rich history dating back to the times of Mehmet the Conqueror. It is the oldest Turkish bath on our list, constructed in 1454. Built for Sultan Mehmet and his sons, one year after the conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul), this is the first Turkish bath in Istanbul.

The cheapest package includes the traditional body scrubbing, and this hammam is one of the more affordable options among the more prominent historical baths. You do have the option to mix and match packages; however, the most expensive may last up to 3 hours. This is one of the rare hammams that permit men and women to enter the steam room together. You’ll be separated when you get scrubbed, but you can enjoy sweet apple tea together later.

You can read more and make a reservation for Ağa Hamamı here.

4. Cağaloğlu Hamamı

After exploring Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia in the old city, why not follow up with a nearby hammam if you want to unwind?

Though this is one of the last major historical Turkish baths, Cağaloğlu Hammam is an international favorite. Choose this hammam and you’ll be in the same league as Florence Nightingale, German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm, and even famous actor Omar Sharif. It’s also the only hammam featured in the New York Times bestseller ‘1001 Places to Visit Before You Die’. If that isn’t sweet enough for you, the Turkish delight served with the tea will be. They really do have everything here. You can get a manicure and leave with a goody bag of cosmetics and cologne.

If you are getting married in Istanbul, they have a bridal hammam package if you wish to pamper up before the big day.

You can read more about their pricing and make a reservation at Cağaloğlu Hamamı here.

5. Çemberlitaş Hamamı

This one is like the child of Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı. You already know the favored architect of the Ottoman Empire: Mimar Sinan was commissioned to construct this hammam by the royal family. This time it was the wife of the incumbent sultan, Selim II, known for being the son of Hürrem Sultan. The 18th-century Indian Hammam-e-Qadimi was constructed in the style of this Turkish bath. Once you know that fact, you won’t be surprised that this bath offers a selection of international massages like Indian Head Massage, Shiatzu, or Thai (women only).

Men’s and women’s sections are separated in this Turkish bath, and it is located near the Grand Bazaar, so you can combine the scrub with a wander through the oldest shopping streets in the city.

You can read more about their services, different massage packages, and pricing here.

6. Süleymaniye Hamamı

This is one of the oldest baths, built in 1554 by the most well-known architect of the Ottoman Empire, Great Architect Sinan (Mimar Sinan).

Another bath constructed for the Ottoman sultans; this time, it was for Sultan Suleiman.

Süleymaniye Hammam, unlike other historical baths, accepts couples for the whole bathing experience, every day from 10 am to 10 pm. This is the best Turkish bath to book for an anniversary or even a Valentine’s Day gift.

Süleymaniye Hamamı may also be the only Turkish bath in Istanbul with a women-only time slot. If you are a single woman, every Sunday from 7 am to 9 am is reserved for women only. You can read more and make a reservation here.

7. Çukurcuma Hamamı

Of all the Turkish baths in Istanbul, Italian/Turkish director Ferzan Özpetek chose this one for his first feature film: Hamam: The Turkish Bath.

Unlike the other baths on this list, Çukurcuma hammam has a monochromatic hararet, which gives it a more contemporary spa feel. Once you get there, you’ll find that they provide everything from one-use bikinis to makeup remover.

Çukurcuma Hamamı is another mixed hammam in Istanbul where couples can bathe together; however, children under 12 are not permitted.

This hammam is within walking distance of Istiklal Street and Taksim Square, which makes it an easy add-on to a day spent around Beyoğlu.

Çukurcuma Hamamı has a great website where you can learn more about their services, prices and make a reservation: https://www.cukurcumahamami.com/en

8. Çatma Mescit Hamamı

This Turkish hammam is proud of its organic products. If you pay a little extra, your bubble bath will have invigorating aromatherapy oils. This may be the best Turkish bath for a moisturizing treatment, because you’ll end up smelling as sweet as honey. Unlike some other baths, you can choose from a wide range of peels, such as brown sugar, sea salt, or rose. If you want the traditional Turkish bath experience but also want a hot stone massage, this is your stop. You can make a booking here.

9. Mihrimah Sultan Hamamı

Mihrimah Sultan, the only daughter of Sultan Suleiman and his wife Hürrem Sultan, commissioned the chief architect Sinan to build another hammam in Istanbul.

The prices are much lower than other baths on this list because this is the traditional Turkish bath that the locals prefer. That means you may struggle to communicate with your attendant. Fortunately, the staff is accommodating, and, for a fraction of the price, it’s worth it.

Women’s and men’s sections are completely separate. This bath can be a great choice if you are a large group of friends since it is not very busy.

10. Acemoğlu Historical Bath & Hammam

This Turkish hammam is located in the Istanbul old city and has been around for a little while. If you want to really let go during your bubble bath, this may be the best Turkish bath to do so in. We say that due to the soft pink lights that help you really unwind.

This hammam also offers hot tea with sweet snacks, and the spread is good: dried fruit, Turkish delight, and chocolate-covered nuts. Though the exact history is unknown, this Turkish bath has been around for centuries.

Where to eat after your bath

You leave a hamam clean, overheated, and seriously hungry. Plan the meal by neighborhood:

• Old city baths. Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan, Cağaloğlu, Çemberlitaş, Süleymaniye, and Acemoğlu all sit in or near the old city. Our guide to the best restaurants in Sultanahmet covers where to eat within walking distance of the Hagia Sophia area.
• Beyoğlu baths. Ağa Hamamı, Çukurcuma, and Çatma Mescit are on the Beyoğlu side of town. When you come out, head for the best restaurants around Taksim.
• Kılıç Ali Paşa. Eat at the hamam’s own café, or walk down to Karaköy’s restaurants covered above.

And if the wash leaves you ready for a nap rather than dinner, a strong cup from one of the city’s best Turkish coffee houses is the fix. For everything beyond the bath, our Istanbul food guide sorts the city’s eating by dish and by neighborhood.

Final words

We hope you have enjoyed our list of the best Turkish baths in Istanbul. A hamam visit is a bath, yes, and it is also two hours inside Turkish culture: the marble, the steam, the kese, the glass of tea at the end. Pick the bath that fits your day, old city or Beyoğlu, and walk to dinner from there.

The eating half of that culture is our job. We have run Istanbul food tours since 2013, in groups capped at 10 guests, and the morning Taste of Two Continents tour pairs well with a hamam booked for later in the day. You’ll have earned the scrub.