Every country has its own unique way of relaxing. The Japanese<\/a> have their onsen, the Finnish<\/a> have saunas, the Indians<\/a> have<\/strong>\u00a0Ayurvedic<\/strong>\u00a0 massage and the Turkish<\/a> have hamams \u2013 which feels like a combination of the first three, yet something entirely different. <\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to spoil yourself at the end (or even beginning) of a Turkish vacation, there\u2019s no better way to indulge than\u00a0with this quintessentially local experience.<\/p>\n Turkey sits at the crossroad of Europe<\/a> and Asia<\/a>, and the Turkish bath is the best example of eastern and western fusion. In Roman and Byzantine times, heated public baths served an important part of daily life. Baths were not only health <\/span>centres<\/span> and places to wash, they also played a part in important social events, such as weddings and funerals. The <\/span>hamam<\/span> was created when Turkic people combined their love of steam rooms (an Asian tradition) with Roman baths to create a new tradition: the Turkish bath. <\/span>Hamams<\/span> were very popular in the time of kings and conquests, but have become more of a luxury item among modern Turkish people.<\/span><\/p>\n EXPLORE OUR FULL RANGE OF SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES IN TURKEY HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A <\/span>hamam<\/span> bath involves <\/span>a number of<\/span> cleansing rituals across a variety of different rooms, including saunas, steam rooms, scrubbing rooms, wash rooms, salt rooms and pools. What makes <\/span>hamams<\/span> different to other types of saunas is the famous scrubbing process, where you\u2019ll be vigorously scrubbed with a <\/span>kese<\/span><\/i> (a type of rough mitt) to remove dead skin cells.<\/span><\/p>\n The exact combination of treatments, and what is involved, varies from bathhouse to bathhouse. Like any other type of massage, it\u2019s best to ask in advance what exactly your <\/span>hamam<\/span> experience will include, as just about every bathhouse will offer its own combination of extras (such as facials, pedicures and more).<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED:\u00a04 REASONS WHY TURKEY IS THE HOTTEST DESTINATION FOR WELLNESS TRAVEL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Men and women will typically be segregated at a <\/span>hamam<\/span> (for reasons that will become apparent soon), but some bath houses will allow genders to meet in some rooms, such as the sauna and steam room.<\/span><\/p>\n When you arrive at the <\/span>hamam,<\/span> you\u2019ll be led to gendered changing rooms and asked to undress and store your belongings in a locker. <\/span>Hamams<\/span> are typically experienced naked. Yep, nude. While you\u2019ll be offered a towel (called a <\/span>pe\u015ftamal<\/span><\/i>) to cover your modesty, if you\u2019re not comfortable with baring all in public it\u2019s best to ask if the bath house offers private treatments.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sauna in a Turkish hamam. Photo by rawmn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The first step in a Turkish <\/span>hamam<\/span> is to take a seat in the sauna. This is a chance to unwind, chat with your friends, and enjoy the numerous benefits of a sauna. \u2018Heat bathing\u2019 is considered one of the oldest beauty treatments for cleaning your skin, as it opens your pores and allows your body to remove dead skin cells, bacteria and dirt through sweat. <\/span><\/p>\n After 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna, you\u2019ll move to the second phase of treatment: the steam room. You might wonder what the difference is between a sauna and a steam room? They both involve sweating it out in a box, but the difference really comes down to the different types of heating. A sauna makes you sweat using dry heat, such as rocks or a stove, while a steam room uses boiling water.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because steam rooms involve inhaling water <\/span>vapour<\/span>, it is good for opening your sinuses and airways. Try periods of deep breathing to make the most of your time in the steam room.<\/span><\/p>\n After opening your pores, it\u2019s time to move on to the bathing and scrubbing room. This is the most iconic part of the <\/span>hamam<\/span> experience and when you\u2019ll most likely be separated from the other sex. You\u2019ll be led into a room, called the <\/span>g\u00f6bekta\u015f\u0131<\/span><\/i>, which features a hexagon-shaped heated marble table in the middle, with a line of benches and basins on each wall. A pillow will be <\/span>provided<\/span> and you\u2019ll be asked to lie down on the marble table. <\/span><\/p>\n RELATED:\u00a0WHY I LOVED SAILING TURKEY\u2019S TURQUOISE COAST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n From here your attendant will wash you by pouring warm and cold water over your body and scrub you down using a special scrubbing mitten called a <\/span>kese<\/span><\/i>. After rinsing, they\u2019ll also pile a blanket of bubbles on you (which is as luxurious as it sounds) and massage it into your skin. Some attendants will ask you to sit or stand up as they shampoo your hair or provide a shower using a metal cup (called a\u00a0<\/span>ma\u015frapa<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n With the core part of the <\/span>hamam<\/span> now complete, it\u2019s time to <\/span>customise<\/span> your experience with extras. Many bathhouses will offer additional services such as massages, pedicures, facials and more. How much \u2013 or little \u2013 you do is entirely up to you (and your budget).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A traditional tiled hamam in Turkey. Photo by Elnur.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n By this point you\u2019ll be feeling refreshed and <\/span>pummelled<\/span> in equal measure, which is why it\u2019s now time to indulge in some post-<\/span>hamam<\/span> bliss. With your treatments done, you\u2019ll be led to either a salt room (a small room covered in salts on the floor and a deck chair to sit in), a lounge or a pool to relax at. Allow some time to linger with a glass of cay (Turkish tea) and soak in the relaxing ambience.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Mihrimah Sultan<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Built by Sultan Suleyman in 1565 and named after his daughter, <\/span>Mihrimah<\/span> Sultan, this historical <\/span>hamam<\/span> in <\/span>Edirnekap\u0131<\/span> is housed inside a mosque. Soak in the benefits of a traditional stream room while admiring the 16th-Century architecture.\u00a0<\/span> 2. \u00c7emberlita\u015f<\/span><\/b> Hamam\u0131<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Just a short walk from Istanbul\u2019s Grand Bazaar, and marked by a great grey dome, you\u2019ll find <\/span>\u00c7emberlita\u015f<\/span> Hamam\u0131<\/span>. In addition to the usual <\/span>hamam<\/span> experience, <\/span>\u00c7emberlita\u015f<\/span> also offers aromatherapy oil massages and Indian head massages. Look out for the columns in the hot room with baklava-shaped heads.\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>\u2018New\u2019 is a relative term in a country as old as Turkey, but <\/span>Ca\u011falo\u011flu<\/span> is certainly one of the younger <\/span>hamams<\/span> in town. Built in 1741, the later construction means this <\/span>hamam<\/span> has more Ottoman characteristics, such as the lofty lounge and illuminated central water feature.\u00a0<\/span> 4. K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7<\/span><\/b> Ali <\/span><\/b>Pa\u015fa<\/span><\/b> Hamam\u0131<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Originally constructed to service the Ottoman navy, this recently renovated <\/span>hamam<\/span> in <\/span>Karakoy<\/span> is now one of Istanbul\u2019s most luxurious establishments. <\/span>K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7<\/span> Ali <\/span>Pa\u015fa<\/span> Hamam offers a wide range of remedial massages.\u00a0<\/span> 5. Galatasaray <\/span><\/b>Hamam\u0131<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Galatasaray\u2019s doors have been open for almost 550 years, making it one of the oldest <\/span>hamams<\/span> in Istanbul. It has a fascinating history, thanks to its dual function as a mosque and its connection to nearby schools, where <\/span>hamams<\/span> once played an important role in education.\u00a0<\/span>What is a Turkish hamam?<\/h3>\n
What does a hamam involve?<\/h3>\n
![\"Sauna](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Haman-01.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStep 1: Sweat it out\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Step 2: Scrubs and bubbles<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Customise your hamam<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Haman-02.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStep 4: Relax and unwind<\/h3>\n
Top 5 hamams to visit in Istanbul<\/h3>\n
<\/span>www.mihrimahsultanhamami.com\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/span>www.cemberlitashamami.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Blog-Banner-Option-3.jpg\")
<\/a>3. Ca\u011falo\u011flu<\/span><\/b> Hamam\u0131<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
<\/span>www.cagalogluhamami.com.tr<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/span>kilicalipasahamami.com\/tr<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/span>www.galatasarayhamami.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n