Turkish bath near Sirkeci: three historic hamams and what to expect

Three of Istanbul's best-known Ottoman bathhouses are within a short walk of our door. This guide covers which one to choose, what happens inside, the etiquette and how our front desk can book it for you.

Three historic hamams on foot

Cağaloğlu Hamamı, about 7 minutes from the hotel, was built in 1741 on the orders of Sultan Mahmud I. Hürrem Sultan Hamamı, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, was designed by the architect Sinan in 1556–57 for Hürrem, the wife of Süleyman the Magnificent; Çemberlitaş Hamamı, by the Grand Bazaar, is another Sinan building, from 1584. The last two are about 10 minutes on foot.

Men, women and couples

All three have separate sections for men and women — at Hürrem Sultan the two halves mirror each other. If you are travelling as a couple or a family, ask when you book: arrangements differ from one bathhouse to another.

What happens inside

You change in a private cubicle and wrap yourself in a peştemal, the thin cotton cloth provided. In the domed hot room you lie on the göbek taşı, a heated marble platform, for 10 to 20 minutes; then an attendant scrubs you with a kese, a coarse mitt, washes you in a mound of soap foam and rinses you with warm water. Afterwards you rest in the cool hall, usually with a glass of tea.

Etiquette and good sense

The peştemal stays on; women usually wear a bikini bottom or underwear beneath it. The scrub can be vigorous — say 'yavaş' (gently) and the attendant will ease off — and mention any sunburn, fresh tattoo, recent shave or skin condition before they start. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, ask your doctor before using the hot room. Weekday afternoons are the calmest time; evening slots at the famous houses fill up, so book ahead.

Booked by our front desk

Tell us which hamam and what time suits you: our front desk, open 24 hours, books it with the bathhouses and operators we work with, and can suggest a quieter slot. Towels and the peştemal are provided, so you need bring nothing but a change of underwear.

More Istanbul guides

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• Three days in Istanbul on foot from Sirkeci
• Football in Istanbul: a visiting fan's guide
• Istanbul in winter: what to expect from November to March
• Istanbul in summer: what to expect from June to September
• Istanbul in spring and autumn: April, May and October
• Istanbul layover: reaching the old city from the airport

Landmarks on foot from Hotel Marius

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