How to tie a hammam towel as a sarong: 6 styles step by step
Using a hammam towel as a sarong (or pareo) is the easiest way to switch from beach towel to outfit: wrap it around your hips, tie a knot – ready for the walk to the beach bar, the ice cream parlour or back to your accommodation. Most guides online mention the idea in just one sentence. Here you get six tying styles step by step, an overview of which style suits which situation, and honest notes on which towel really works for it.
Contents10
- Why a hammam towel works so well as a sarong
- Which towel for which look?
- Six styles: tying a hammam towel as a sarong, step by step
- Which style suits when?
- Tips to make your sarong stay put
- Sarong, beach towel, blanket: what the hammam towel replaces on a beach day
- Three typical mistakes when tying
- Care: keeping colour and shape
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why a hammam towel works so well as a sarong
A classic sarong is a large, light cloth wrapped around the body. That is exactly what a hammam towel is: flat-woven cotton, no thick terry, usually in a 180 × 100 cm format. The fabric drapes loosely, knots easily and adds little bulk. The big advantage over a pure fashion scarf: you only pack one item that is towel, lounger cover and piece of clothing at the beach.
Some of our models are explicitly described as suitable for use as a sarong in their product descriptions, such as the SULTAN hammam towel, the ADRIA hammam towel and the Manolia hammam towel.
Which towel for which look?
Not every towel drapes the same way. Size and weight are what matter. Light towels knot more easily and look airier; heavier towels drape more calmly but add more bulk at the knot.
| Model | Size | Weight | As a sarong |
|---|---|---|---|
| SULTAN | approx. 180 × 100 cm | approx. 270 g | very light, small knots, ideal for dress styles |
| ADRIA | 180 × 100 cm | approx. 290 g | light, clear stripes, good for a wrap skirt |
| Ocean | approx. 180 × 100 cm | approx. 400 g | medium, drapes more calmly, good for the long sarong |
| Manolia | approx. 180 × 100 cm | approx. 470 g | heavier, better for skirt and shoulder wrap |
| Mini Diamant | approx. 90 × 45 cm | approx. 120 g | too small for a sarong, but usable as a hair or neck scarf |
A note on size: the Manolia product description states that pure cotton can shrink by up to approx. 10 % in the first wash. If you are planning a hammam towel as a sarong for a specific length, wash it once first and then try it on.
Six styles: tying a hammam towel as a sarong, step by step
1. Short wrap skirt
- Fold the towel in half lengthways to make a long, narrow strip.
- Place it around your hips from behind and bring both ends together at the front.
- Twist the upper corners two or three times and knot them at the side.
Result: a skirt that reaches roughly to the knee depending on your height, with fringes at the hem.
2. Long sarong with side knot
- Hold the towel unfolded at full width across your back.
- Wrap it around your hips so that the ends meet at one side.
- Twist the corners and knot them at hip height. Shift the knot slightly to the side to create a slit for comfortable walking.
3. Halter-neck dress
- Place the towel across your back with the top edge under your arms.
- Bring both upper corners to the front and cross them over your chest.
- Take the corners up to the back of your neck and tie them there.
This style stays securely in place and works well if you move around a lot.
4. Strapless dress
- Wrap the towel around your upper body under your arms.
- Tuck the end in firmly or knot the upper corners at the front.
Quick to do, but less secure than the halter-neck. Ideal for a short walk.
5. One-shoulder dress
- Wrap the towel around your upper body, passing it under one arm.
- Knot both upper corners over the opposite shoulder.
6. Shoulder wrap
Fold the towel lengthways into thirds and drape it loosely around your shoulders. Ideal for cool evenings by the sea, against sun on your shoulders or in an air-conditioned restaurant.
Which style suits when?
| Style | Hold | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| Short wrap skirt | good | beach walk, beach bar |
| Long sarong | good | promenade, café, sun protection for your legs |
| Halter-neck dress | very good | longer walks, lots of movement |
| Strapless dress | medium | short walks, changing |
| One-shoulder | good | dinner at the beach |
| Shoulder wrap | loose | cool evenings, sun on your shoulders |
Tips to make your sarong stay put
- Twist the corners: Twist the corners several times before knotting. This makes the knot more compact and it slips less.
- Knot the fabric, not the fringes: Fringes are too thin for knotting – the knot comes loose and the fringes suffer.
- Double knot: A simple double knot holds reliably with cotton and is still easy to undo.
- Wear it dry: A wet towel gets heavy and slips. In our experience, a hammam towel dries again in about 30 minutes in the sun.
- Place the pattern deliberately: With stripes like the ADRIA, the skirt looks calmer when the stripes run horizontally.
Sarong, beach towel, blanket: what the hammam towel replaces on a beach day
Using a hammam towel as a sarong saves space in your luggage: in the morning it is your lounger towel, after swimming your towel, in the afternoon a skirt or dress and in the evening a shoulder wrap. For two people at the beach, a large towel such as the Coastline XXL beach towel at 240 × 200 cm can serve as a shared lying area, while each person uses their own hammam towel for drying off and dressing.
To be honest, this has its limits: once you have dried yourself with the towel after swimming, it is damp at first. If you want to wear a sarong right afterwards, it's best to bring two towels – one for drying off, one for wearing.
Three typical mistakes when tying
- Wrapped too loosely: If you just drape the towel loosely around your hips, you will constantly have to adjust it. Better wrap it a little tighter and only then knot it.
- Knot in the middle at the front: A thick knot right at the front presses when you sit down. It is more comfortable at the side of your hip.
- Too much fabric in the knot: With heavy towels, only take a short length of the corners, otherwise the knot gets big and comes loose more easily. If necessary, fold the towel lengthways once beforehand.
Care: keeping colour and shape
For our hammam towels such as SULTAN, ADRIA and Ocean, the care recommendation is: wash at 30 °C, no fabric softener and air dry. After a beach day, it is best to rinse out salt water and sun cream briefly with clear water. More on this in our guide to washing hammam towels.
Related reading: Hammam towel as a beach towel: the honest comparison with terry · Wrapping a sauna towel: 4 techniques for women and men that really hold · Hammam towel size: all formats from mini to XXL
Conclusion
Tying a hammam towel as a sarong takes less than a minute and turns a beach towel into a piece of clothing. For dress styles, light towels such as SULTAN or ADRIA are the most comfortable; for skirts and shoulder wraps, heavier models work too. With twisted corners and a double knot, every style holds reliably. You'll find all models in our hammam towels collection.
Frequently asked questions
What size does a hammam towel need to be for a sarong?
The common 180 × 100 cm format is enough for all styles in this article. Smaller towels such as 90 × 45 cm are too small for a sarong.
How do I tie a sarong so it doesn't slip?
Twist the corners several times before knotting, knot the fabric rather than the fringes and make a double knot. The halter-neck dress is the most secure of all the styles.
Is a hammam towel see-through as a sarong?
That depends on the towel, the colour and the light. Best try it at home in front of a window before your holiday. Heavier, denser towels usually look less sheer than very light ones.
Can I wear the towel as a sarong straight after swimming?
Possible, but a wet towel gets heavy and slips more easily. Better let it dry briefly in the sun or bring a second towel to wear.
Does a hammam towel work as a sarong for men too?
Yes, the long sarong with a side knot or a loose hip wrap work just as well – for example for the walk from the beach to your accommodation.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.