No trip to Istanbul is complete without two quintessential experiences: devouring a street-side kebab while fending off a posse of determined street cats, and lying stark naked in a marble bathhouse while being scrubbed, slapped and rinsed into oblivion.
Wellness is far from a fleeting fad in Turkey. Today, tourists can choose from a wide range of renowned spas and skilled massage experts, offering an experience that feels like stepping into the past. In the most traditional hammams, men and women are typically segregated, although some bathhouses now offer mixed-gender areas, such as saunas and steam rooms.
A hammam visit typically involves a series of cleansing rituals in various spaces, including saunas, steam rooms, scrubbing rooms, washrooms, salt rooms, and pools.
What sets hammams apart from other saunas is the famous scrubbing ritual, where a masseur or tellak vigorously exfoliates the skin with a kese , a coarse mitt designed to remove dead skin cells and leave you feeling reborn. The exact combination of treatments varies from bathhouse to bathhouse, with many offering extras like facials, pedicures, and other indulgences to complete your wellness experience.
In addition to beautiful massage rooms, the spa offers an in-room service for hotel guests. There is a whirlpool and a heated outdoor infinity pool that is open all year round with stunning views of the Bosphorus Strait. Located in an Ottoman palace, the spa has a historic hammam that offers treatments worthy of a sultan. Hot steam in the hammam helps loosen the muscles in preparation for an exfoliating and cellulite-reducing scrub.
