Hammam Visit: How a Turkish Bath Works
For many people, a hammam visit is the highlight of a holiday in Turkey – and more and more German spas now have a hammam area too. Anyone going for the first time usually has the same questions: what exactly happens there, what do I wear, how long does it take, and what is a kese anyway? In this article we walk through a traditional Turkish bath station by station, explain the most important terms and give you practical tips for your first visit.
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What is a hammam?
The hammam is the traditional bath of the Orient, and in Turkey it has been a place for body care and socialising for centuries. Unlike the Finnish sauna, it works with humid, rather mild heat: the air is warm and steamy, and temperatures are well below those of a classic sauna. Instead of short, hot sessions, you spend a longer time in the warmth and are washed, exfoliated and lathered. How hammam, sauna, banya and onsen differ is shown in our overview Bathing cultures of the world.
The most important terms for a hammam visit
| Term | Meaning | When you come across it |
|---|---|---|
| Peştemal | flat-woven cotton cloth for wrapping | from changing to the relaxation room |
| Camekan | entrance hall for changing and resting | at the beginning and the end |
| Soğukluk | temperate transition room | for warming up and cooling down |
| Sıcaklık (also Hararet) | warm, humid main room | the heart of the visit |
| Göbek Taşı | large, heated marble stone in the centre | for lying on and for the treatment |
| Kurna and Tas | marble basin with water and a bowl for pouring | in between, for rinsing |
| Kese | rough glove for exfoliation | after warming up |
| Köpük | soap-foam wash with massage | after the kese |
| Takunya / Nalın | wooden clogs to prevent slipping | on wet floors |
A hammam visit step by step
1. Arriving, changing, peştemal
In the entrance hall you take off your clothes and receive a peştemal. Men usually wrap it around the hips, women mostly knot it above the chest. In a traditional hammam you do not walk around naked. You also get wooden clogs or bathing shoes, because the marble floor is wet and slippery. Whether and where swimwear is expected varies from place to place – if in doubt, simply ask at the reception.
2. Warming up in the warm room
Through the transition room you enter the Sıcaklık. Here you lie down on the warm Göbek Taşı or sit in one of the alcoves and let the humid warmth do its work. With the bowl you scoop warm or cool water from the kurna every now and then and pour it over yourself. This phase usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Your skin softens – exactly what is needed for the next step.
3. Kese: exfoliation with the glove
A male attendant (tellak) or female attendant (natır) scrubs you from head to toe with the rough kese glove. Small flakes of skin visibly come off. That surprises many people, but it is normal. If the pressure is too firm, just say so – a “yavaş” (slowly, gently) or a hand signal is understood by everyone. If you have a fresh holiday tan, be aware that part of the tan comes off with the flakes.
4. Köpük: the foam wash
Next, a cloth bag is dipped in soapy water and swung through the air until a thick foam forms. This foam is squeezed out over you and spread with a gentle massage. Finally, the attendant rinses everything off with warm water, often including your hair.
5. Resting with tea
To finish, you go back to a cooler room, wrap yourself in a fresh, dry towel and rest. There is usually tea or water. Many people stay lying here for quite a while before getting dressed.
How long does a hammam visit take?
The actual treatment during a hammam visit, with kese and foam wash, usually takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on the venue and package. Including arrival, warming up and resting, you should plan for around two hours in total. Many venues also offer an oil massage for an extra charge.
A hammam visit in Turkey and in Germany
In historic hammams in Turkey, men and women are usually separated, either in their own areas or at different times. Hotel hammams and spas in Germany, by contrast, often offer mixed sessions or private cabins. The atmosphere differs too: in Turkey the hammam is traditionally also a place to chat, while German spas are usually quieter. In tourist areas, a tip for the attendant is customary, and cameras and phones stay in the locker.
Tips for your first hammam visit
- Not on a full stomach: Humid heat is tiring after a big meal. A light snack an hour or two beforehand is enough.
- Drink enough: before, during the rest phase and afterwards.
- Not freshly shaved: The kese scrub is unpleasant on freshly shaved skin. Better to shave a day or two before.
- No sunburn: Irritated skin and a vigorous scrub do not go together.
- Take off jewellery: It gets in the way during the treatment and can get lost on the marble.
- Bring your own towel: Almost all venues provide a peştemal, but your own fresh towel for the relaxation room is pleasant.
- Health: If you have questions about circulation, pregnancy or skin conditions, consult a doctor beforehand.
The peştemal: the towel for your hammam visit
The hammam towel takes its name from the hammam – it is the classic peştemal. Flat-woven, light and quick-drying, it is easy to wrap around you and absorbs moisture in the relaxation room. What exactly a peştemal is and how it differs from a hammam towel and a fouta is explained in the article Peshtemal: meaning and origin.
If you would like to bring your own towel: the SULTAN hammam towel is handmade on the Aegean coast of Turkey from 100 % OEKO-TEX certified cotton with hand-knotted fringes, approx. 180 × 100 cm and only around 270 g. The MAHINA hammam towel (180 × 100 cm, approx. 440 g) is made exclusively for BeachAndSteam with stripes and a diamond pattern. You will find all models in our hammam towels collection.
A piece of hammam at home
A real hammam with a marble stone and an attendant cannot be recreated. However, individual elements such as a warm bath, a body scrub and a hammam towel to wrap yourself in can easily be brought into your own bathroom. How to do this step by step is covered in a separate article, Hammam at home.
Related reading: Hammam at home: the ritual step by step in your own bathroom · Peshtemal: meaning, origin and how it differs from hammam towel and fouta · Bathing Cultures of the World: From Sauna and Hammam to Onsen
Conclusion
A hammam visit follows a clear sequence: change and wrap yourself in the peştemal, warm up on the heated marble stone, exfoliate with the kese, enjoy a foam wash with massage and finally rest with tea. If you know the terms, do not arrive freshly shaved or on a full stomach and tell the attendant what feels good, you can enjoy your first visit in a relaxed way. And the right towel will accompany you to the beach and the sauna afterwards too.
Frequently asked questions
Are you naked in a hammam?
Not in a traditional hammam. You wear a peştemal, men usually around the hips, women above the chest. In some spas swimwear is common – if in doubt, ask beforehand.
How long does a hammam visit take?
The treatment usually takes 45 to 90 minutes. Including warming up and resting, plan for about two hours.
Does the kese scrub hurt?
It is vigorous but should not be painful. Tell the attendant if the pressure is too firm.
What should I bring to the hammam?
Peştemal and clogs are usually provided. It makes sense to bring your own dry towel, bathing shoes, a hair tie, skincare for afterwards and some cash for the tip.
What is the difference between a hammam and a sauna?
The sauna works with dry, very hot air and short sessions. In the hammam the air is humid and milder, but you stay longer and are exfoliated and washed.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.