”Istanbul”- is a magical location. Name it and you can find it in Istanbul, right from great food, excellent hospitality, warm people to refreshing Turkish bath experience. We were in Istanbul in Nov 2019 and had the chance to experience the rejuvenating Turkish bath. If you are planning to visit Istanbul then add this in your bucket list.
The currency in Turkey is Turkish Lira(TL) 1€~6.2TL and 1TL~12₹.
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Where did we go
We chose the ”Kadirga Hamam” and it is one of the oldest Hamam which is in operation in Istanbul since 1734.
The interiors were nice and there was a huge dome decorated with colourful small glasses on top. There are no windows. The only ventilation is the small holes on the roof.
Prices and timings
It is open from 8.00 am-9.00 pm on all 7 days. No prior appointments are needed. Hamam is usually crowded during the evenings. Visiting in the afternoon helps you have a great experience.
We opted for Hamam, Kese and foam massage and paid 75TL per person~12€.
For FAQs, scroll down to the bottom. I hope it helps.
What is Hamam
Hamam, also known as the Turkish Bath is a traditional way of cleansing the body which is in practice since the Ottoman period. Originating from the Arabic word ”Hamma” Hamam means ”heating up”. It is the best way to detox and clean off after a long day of exploring. The main benefits of Hamam are to clean the pores, remove the dead cell, fight acne, reduce stress, and rehydrate your skin.
Turkish bath mainly emphasizes on higher humidity and lower temperatures, unlike sauna. It also focuses more on water rather than steam. Turkish baths take place in a complete marble room with marble basins and elegant bronze taps.
Our experience
We saved the Turkish bath for the end of the day because we wanted to relax and enjoy the massage after walking around Istanbul. It was raining outside and very cold. The moment we entered the Hamam reception area, we could immediately feel the temperature difference; it was extremely warm.
There are separate sections for men and women. The staff escorted us to the Ladies Hamam area. It had a huge reception area, with glass changing rooms on the first floor. We paid 75TL to the lady and they handed us a towel and also footwear. We, a group of 3 girls got into our bathing suits ready to have a great experience.
Tip: Your belongings are safe in the changing rooms even though they don’t have a lock. In the men’s section, separate locks are available for each room.
There were 4-5 attendants in the women’s area and all of them were in their mid 40’s. In the men’s section, there were about 4 attendants all ageing 50+. They speak zero English but it was not very difficult to interact with them.
There are three rooms; a hot room for steaming, and a warm room for scrubbing and a cold room for relaxing.
Hot room for the steam
We first entered the hot steam room. It was a small room with wooden benches where you can either sit or sleep. The temperature is maintained between 70-80°C. You sweat due to the heat. Sweating opens up the pores and helps cleanse the outer skin. Steam rooms may help to remove toxins from the skin and are popular for improving skin health.
Our steam room was similar to this with wooden benches placed spaciously. I could not capture a picture because other girls were sitting inside.
Tip: It is advised not to spend more than 20 mins in the steam room. If you feel a little uncomfortable then don’t hesitate to step out and breathe.
The attendant was busy with another customer. So I spent about 15 mins in the steam room with a small nap. After her, it was my turn to enter the warm room for scrubbing.
For FAQs, scroll down to the bottom. I hope it helps.
Warm room for scrubbing
The scrubbing area was huge and completely made of marble. It had a high raise platform centrally where two people could be scrubbed easily.
The attendant had a special scrubbing glove called the ”Kese” which is a traditional exfoliating bath glove that has been in use for several centuries. This glove is wet and slightly dipped in soap.
Kese (Image from Google)
She asked me if I was comfortable going topless to which I politely declined. At first, I slept on my stomach and she scrubbed my back and buttocks with great force. I felt uncomfortable when she started scrubbing my buttocks, but later I did not think too much.
The back scrub lasted for about 5 mins. I turned around and she then scrubbed my hands, legs, stomach, and even my neck. The lady was even entertaining us by singing Turkish songs.
I felt the scrubbing was too hard on my thighs and it got a little rashy. So I asked her to mellow down the force. I could see the dead skin and dirt coming off my skin. I already felt so clean. The complete scrubbing process lasted for 10 mins.
Massage time
Once the scrubbing was done, I moved to the other side of the marble platform for massage. For me, the bubble massage is the highlight of this experience.
A traditional bubble bag also called ”Torba” which is made of 100% Turkish cotton is used in Hamam for centuries to create magical, relaxing foams. The bubbles are created by dipping this bag multiple times in a copper bowl filled with original olive oil soap and essential oils. But we did not have copper bowls instead of plastic bowls were used.
She gently placed the foam on my body. I was completely soaked in bubbles in no time. The attendant massaged my back first gently moving her fingers on circular motion and I was in heaven. Then I turned around, she repeated the same procedure on my hands, legs, stomach, neck and also foot. The experience was different from the one in Pattaya.
The massage is the most relaxing element. But I was slightly disappointed that it did not last long. It was all done in less than 10 mins. I was still settling and suddenly she said,’It’s over’ 🙁
Cold room for relaxing
Once the scrub and the foam massage was over, the attendant washed the platform thoroughly for the next person. The relaxing room is supposed to be cold but in our Hamam, the relaxing room was just next to the scrubbing platform.
I sat down for a while looking at my skin shine. 😀 I then shampooed my hair and rinsed it with hot water continuously flowing into the marble basin from bronze taps. You can find these traditional taps only in Hamam. One tap had ice-cold water and the other one had piping hot water flowing through it.
I spent 15-20 mins just pouring hot water on me as it was very relaxing. I did not want to leave this place because it was so warm and cosy. We spent around 45 mins in the Hamam and it was time to leave.
On completion, the staff gave us a fresh set of towels. There was a dressing table and also a hairdryer.
Tips for a great experience
- Always wear a dark shade of underwear so that it doesn’t become transparent.
- Carry an extra pair of inners.
- They may ask you to go topless, don’t do it if you are not comfortable.
- Tell the staff if you want to spend more time in the steam area.
- Prepare yourself as the attendant might move your bathing suit while scrubbing.
- Yes, you can go to Hamam even during your periods. Just inform the attendant about the same and make sure you use good underwear.
- Ignore all the Hamam reviews from the internet. Go with zero expectations and enjoy the experience.
Final verdict
Overall it was a great experience with Kadirga Hamami in Istanbul. It was not very luxurious and the best but it was good enough to soothe us after a long day. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole rejuvenation as I went with zero expectations and an open mindset. Happy Hamam..!
Overall experience: 
out of 5
FAQs
1. Is it hygienic?
Yes, it is hygienic. The water is continuously flowing, cleaning the marble platform after every use.
2. Is there is a separate section for men and women?
Yes, there is an entirely separate section for men and women. Men massages men and women for women.
3. Do they provide towels?
Yes, they provide 1 towel before you enter Hamam and another one after Hamam to wipe your body and hair. You can ask for an extra one.
4. Is the shampoo provided?
Yes, but they provide only shampoo. But you are welcome to carry your skincare products inside.
5. Is it slippery?
No, it looks slippery but it is not slippery. The footwear they provide also adds to the grip.
6. Do they give underwear for ladies?
No, they do not have any inners for ladies. But only towels are provided.
7. What to wear?
For ladies, prefer a bikini, or any swimwear. For men, underwear or shorts are mandatory.
8. Are clothes material-specific?
No, you can wear any material of your choice.
9. Is it suffocating inside?
No, it is not suffocating but very comfortable and warm inside.
10: Are the towels clean?
Yes, they are clean, washed, and neatly stacked.
11. Are there washrooms?
Yes, there are washrooms in both men’s and women’s areas.
Time of visit: November 2019
I travel because I’d rather look back at life, saying ‘I can’t believe I did that’ instead of ‘if only I had’