Coming Clean in Istanbul?

August 28, 2008 1:05 PM

I'm looking for a tourist-friendly, woman-friendly but authentic Turkish Bath in Istanbul - anyone have any 'can't miss' suggestions?

I'm travelling around Turkey for a couple of weeks, but am not going to have time to enjoy a Turkish Bath until my last few days in Istanbul. I've tried a few Turkish baths in Jordan, so I've had the basic experience, but I'm looking for the real deal while here in Turkey.

I'm a fairly adventurous woman travelling alone, and am looking for a place that is authentic but comfortable - a mix of locals and tourists would be nice, but not necessary.

Any suggestions? Any other tips on hamam etiquette would also be welcome.

posted by scrute to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

Cemberlitas Hamam, which is on the Divan Yolu, close to the Grand Bazaar. I was there in March and it was about 80% local, 20% tourists. I asked a lot of questions about what the hell I was supposed to do when I paid at the front desk and they were very helpful and spoke good English.

You pay, take your toggle that indicated you've done so along with the loofah they give you which is wrapped in plastic, into a change room. The lockers have keys which you can take into the bath with you as well as towels. No showering beforehand, but you can dunk in cold water once you're in there if you'd like. I went naked, but about 50% of the women had the bottoms of their bikinis on.

The room is gorgeous with a huge circular marble slab in the center, which you lie on and sweat. At some point (about 20 mins in for me), one of the women working in the room (there were about 6 women working in a room that had about 20 people in it at 5pm) came over and loofahed me down and scrubbed me silly. Then after being dunked in cold water, I lay on the slab for another 20 minutes or so and then went outside and changed. It was fabulous!
posted by meerkatty at 1:18 PM on August 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

A few years ago, I went to the "300 Year Old" Cağaloğlu Hamam, which might be more touristy than you like...can't really say, since I was pretty much the only guy in the men's side when I was there. (I wasn't bowled over by my experience either, but the two women I was traveling with said that the female attendant was fantastic.)
posted by kittyprecious at 1:39 PM on August 28, 2008

I can't speak for the female side, but I visited Cemberlitas in 2003 and found it to be a great experience. Gorgeous interior, friendly attendants, and seemingly many more locals than tourists.

I would add to meerkatty's suggestions above to remember to tip well. There should be a basket for tips outside the changing rooms.
posted by Paragon at 2:00 PM on August 28, 2008

2nding Cemberlitas Hamam. VERY old + authetic bath, clean + friendly... and its not totally full of tourists. Get the full treatment with the oil massage, totally worth it.
posted by outsider at 2:20 PM on August 28, 2008

I am a woman, and I went alone to Cagaloglu Hamam. I had an incredible experience. I am definitely not a fan of public nudity in general, but I felt very comfortable and relaxed. One thing that made me more comfortable was that the Ladies Who Bathe You were wearing swimming suits - not naked or topless as in some places. I went on my last day in Turkey after a summer there and wished I had gone a lot sooner!
posted by JennyK at 10:34 PM on August 28, 2008