It is impossible to leave Istanbul without going at least once to the famous Turkish baths famous all over the world, the hammams. As a result of Roman and Byzantine influence, the Ottoman Empire is indeed the cradle of the hammam, and you can find magnificent traditional hammams everywhere in the city.
If you are traveling as a couple, don’t forget that traditional hammams very rarely (Islam obliges) offer mixed rooms.
Discover Best Hammams In Istanbul:
Table of Contents
1. Cagaloglu Hammam
Built in the 18th century by Sultan Mahmut I, the Cağaloğlu Hamamı is one of the most beautiful and spectacular traditional hammams in the city. With its rooms all in white marble topped with huge domes letting in the rays of the sun, it is the ideal spot for a relaxing return to the time of the Ottoman Empire.
Personalities as diverse as King Edward VII, Franz Liszt or more recently Tony Curtis would have had their habits in this magnificent hammam.
The only downside is that the prices are somewhat high for the services offered (simple service and basic massages). You can therefore settle for simple access without care (30 euros) to enjoy the beauty of the place, without regrets.
Also, note the presence of a pleasant courtyard where you can drink tea after the treatments.
Address : Alemdar Mh., Cağaloğlu Hamami Sk No:34, Fatih, Istanbul
2. Kiliç Ali Paşa Hammam
It is in the Tophane district that the Kiliç Ali Paşa complex is located, named after an Italian slave who became Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Empire. This complex built by the famous architect Sinan (him again) includes a mosque, a madrassa , a turbe, a fountain, and above all a very beautiful hammam , today open to all, notably famous for its magnificent 18-meter high dome.
Unlike some very touristy hammams whose service has notoriously deteriorated, this is a top-of-the-range experience that awaits you. Don’t hesitate to indulge yourself by choosing the Hamam Ritual treatment (50 euros) which will give you access to the hammam and the complete experience delivered by the natır (for women) or the tellak (for men).
Address : Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mh., Hamam Sk No:1, Istanbul
3. Hurrem Sultan Hammam
Also in Sulthanhamet, located between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, the Hürrem Sultan Hamamı is a historic hammam , originally built for the wife of the legendary Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1556. After closing for almost a century, between 1910 and 2008, it was the Faculty of Architecture of Kocaeli that implemented the renovation of the building and enabled the reopening of this fabulous hammam, certainly one of the most impressive in the city, after three years of work.
It is therefore in a luxurious decor (omnipresent Marmara marble, 26-meter dome) and very recently renovated that you will be invited to take your place for treatments, which here are always impeccable and up to the prestige of the establishment.
Address : Cankurtaran Mahallesi Bab-ı Hümayun Caddesi No:1 34122 Sultanahmet – Istanbul
4. Çemberlitaş Hammam
Çemberlitaş Hammam is located in Sultanhamet, on the eponymous stop of the tram line, between Sultanhamet and Grand Bazaar stations. A very central location, in the heart of historic and tourist Istanbul, which has earned it sustained attendance throughout the year.
It is one of the oldest hammams in Istanbul since Sultan Nurbanu ordered its construction at the end of the 16th century. Like its famous neighbor, Cağaloğlu Hammam, Çemberlitaş offers a grand experience for the senses: magnificent marble room, luminous dome, multiple treatment rooms. Don’t forget to go up for coffee on the rooftop, to finish your relaxing time.
Address : Mollafenari Mh., Vezirhan Cd No:8, 34440 İstanbul
5. Suleymaniye Hammam
Near the majestic Süleymaniye mosque, the eponymous hammam is the work of the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who delivered the building in 1557, only one year after the inauguration of the Hürrem Sultan Hamamı , which he had built for his wife.
Turned into warehouses for decades, the hammam has now been restored to its original splendor. Certainly less impressive than Cağaloğlu or Çemberlitaş, this hammam offers three main advantages: a place less popular with tourists and therefore more authentic, good value for money, and above all a mixed room, extremely rare in Istanbul , which allows a couple to enjoy the whole place. For this reason, moreover, the hammam is only accessible to couples and families, single men or women cannot enter.
Address : Süleymaniye Mh., Mimar Sinan Cd No:20, Istanbul
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