What Is a Hammam? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to the Traditional Bathing Ritual
A hammam is a traditional bathhouse and a bathing ritual. For centuries, communities across the Middle East and North Africa have used hammams for washing, relaxation and socialising. A visit often includes time in the steam room, a body scrub and, in many Turkish hammams, a foam massage. Here’s what happens during a visit and what to check before you book.
From Roman baths to Ottoman hammams
The hammam developed from earlier bathing traditions, including Roman and Byzantine public baths. These bathhouses gave people a place to wash, relax and talk. Over time, bathing customs changed as the tradition spread across the eastern Mediterranean.
The hammam took on new significance in Islamic societies, where bathing was connected with cleanliness and religious practice. Bathhouses became part of everyday city life, and many Ottoman hammams survive as historic buildings.
When the Seljuk Turks arrived in Anatolia, they brought bathing customs from Central Asia and Persia. These traditions blended with local Roman and Byzantine practices and with Islamic customs of cleanliness and purification.
After Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453, Ottoman builders added new hammams to the city. Bathhouses remained important places to wash, relax and meet other people.
Inside a traditional Turkish hammam
A traditional hammam has rooms at different temperatures. Bathers can change, warm up before their treatment and cool down afterwards.
Three common spaces in a Turkish hammam are the camekan (entrance hall), the sıcaklık (hot room) and the soğukluk (cool room).
In the camekan, bathers change and may receive a peştemal, a woven cotton towel worn around the body. Some hammams also provide wooden slippers called takunya.
The soğukluk is a cooler room where bathers can rest before or after the hotter part of the visit. Some hammams serve tea or water here.
The sıcaklık is the hot room. At its centre is the göbek taşı, a heated marble slab where bathers may lie before a scrub or massage.
What happens during a hammam visit?
The order and treatments vary by venue. Here’s a typical sequence for a visit that includes a scrub and a foam massage.
Arrival and preparation.
A member of staff will show you where to change. Ask the venue whether it provides towels and slippers and whether you should bring swimwear.
The steam phase.
You spend time in a warm, humid room before the scrub. In some Turkish hammams, you can lie on the heated marble slab. The time in the steam room varies by venue and treatment.
The kese scrub.
An attendant uses a textured mitt called a kese to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. If you have sensitive skin or prefer a gentler scrub, tell the attendant before the treatment starts.
The foam massage.
If your treatment includes a foam massage, the attendant covers the skin in lather and massages the body. In a traditional Turkish hammam, the attendant may use a cloth bag to make the foam.
The rinse.
The attendant rinses away the soap and any loose skin with water.
Time to relax
After the treatment, take a moment to sit down and have some water. Some hammams serve tea in a separate relaxation area.
Turkish and Moroccan hammam traditions
Turkish and Moroccan hammams share a tradition of bathing, cleansing and exfoliation. Their treatments, products and spaces vary by venue.
| Feature | Turkish hammam | Moroccan hammam |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Heated marble slab in many traditional hammams | Tiled or plastered steam and bathing rooms |
| Typical products | Soap, a kese mitt and a peştemal towel | Black soap, a kessa mitt and, in some treatments, rhassoul clay |
| Common treatments | Steam, body scrub and foam massage | Steam, black soap cleanse and body scrub |
Moroccan hammams
Moroccan hammams may feature tadelakt, a polished lime plaster. Many treatments use savon beldi, a traditional black soap, followed by a scrub. Some also use rhassoul clay or argan oil.
Historic Turkish hammams often feature marble floors, domed ceilings and a central heated slab. Modern spas adapt these features to suit their space and the treatments they offer.
In both traditions, hammams can be places to spend time with friends and family. Ask the venue what to expect if you prefer a private session or plan to visit as a group.
The hammam’s role in community life
Hammams have long served as places to wash, catch up with neighbours and mark special occasions.
Bathing rituals were sometimes part of preparations for weddings and religious holidays.
In the Turkish bridal hammam tradition, known as gelin hamamı, a bride visited the bathhouse with friends and relatives before her wedding. The gathering often included songs and celebrations.
Bathhouses also gave people a place to exchange news and discuss family or business matters.
For women in some communities, the hammam offered a place outside the home to meet friends, share news and maintain family ties.
How a hammam treatment can feel
Many guests enjoy the warmth and the chance to take a break. A scrub can leave the skin feeling smoother by removing dead skin cells.
Tell the attendant if the heat or pressure feels uncomfortable. If you have sensitive skin, ask which products the venue uses before you book.
If you’re pregnant or have a health condition that could be affected by heat or exfoliation, speak to a healthcare professional before booking a hammam treatment.
What to bring to your first hammam visit
Check what your hammam provides before you pack. Some venues supply a towel and slippers, while others ask guests to bring their own.
Consider bringing swimwear, sandals, a change of clothes and a hair tie if you have long hair.
Bring water to drink before and after your treatment.
Allow time to change and, if your booking includes access to a relaxation area, to sit down afterwards.
Tipping customs vary by venue. You can ask at reception if you’re unsure.
Hammams today
The hammam remains part of daily life in some communities, even where most homes have their own baths or showers.
Historic hammams still welcome visitors in Istanbul. In Moroccan cities such as Marrakesh and Fez, neighbourhood hammams continue to serve local residents.
Spas in cities such as London offer treatments inspired by these bathing traditions. Some use a heated marble slab and a kese mitt. Others adapt the treatment to a modern spa setting.
Read the package details before booking to see which parts of the ritual are included.
Frequently asked questions
How is a hammam different from a sauna?
A hammam typically uses humid heat and may include a scrub or foam massage. A traditional sauna generally uses dry heat.
What should a first-time visitor wear to a hammam?
Check the venue’s guidance before you visit. At Hammam Spa London, bring comfortable swimwear and ask whether you need a towel and sandals.
How long does a typical hammam session take?
Session length depends on the venue and the treatments included. At Hammam Spa London, packages range from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours.
Is a hammam suitable for everyone?
If you’re pregnant or have a health concern about heat or a treatment, ask a healthcare professional for advice before booking.
Book your treatment at Hammam Spa London