The best Turkish traditional baths are in Istanbul, one of this city’s most spectacular historical attractions and the best choice for getting to know the culture of Turkey. Although many of these baths have been renovated throughout history and have lost their traditional atmosphere, you can still find baths in this city that have preserved their traditional texture. Each of these baths is related to a specific historical period, and visiting them is a must to learn about the ancient Turkish people’s history, architecture, taste, and culture.
Architecture of Turkish Baths
Each section in the Turkish baths was used with a specific purpose, and in all sections, the observance of Islamic points was considered. For example, in the baths built with Roman-style architecture, the cold room was made of cold water pools in the form of water tanks, but in the Turkish cold water baths, running water was used to comply with Islamic recommendations. In the best traditional baths in Istanbul, the hot room was used for massaging people, and the warm room was used for bathing and washing the body. Also, after bathing, people rest by going to the cold room.
Most of the traditional Turkish bathhouses in Istanbul have separate entrances for men and women, and there is also a section for a shower cubicle and a dressing room in most bathrooms. In the following section, we introduce 9 famous traditional Turkish baths every tourist should visit.
Top 9 Turkish traditional baths
- Hurrem Sultan Hammam
- Galatasaray Hamam
- Cağaloğlu Hamam
- Ağa Hamam
- Çemberlitaş Hamam
- Sofular Hamamı
- Mihrimah Sultan Hamamı
- Kadirga Hammam
- Çinili Hamamı
Hurrem Sultan Hammam
Hurrem Sultan Hammam is an old and traditional hammam in Istanbul. It was built in the 16th century by Senan, one of the great architects of the Ottoman government. This bath was built for the Hurrem Sultan and was used until 1910. Today, it is located in the center of the Blue Mosque and the place of the Hagia Sophia Museum, also known as the Hagia Sophia Bath.
After it was abandoned as a spa, Sultan Ahmed converted it into a jail. In 2008, the Turkish government requested that a team of architects restore this bath to make it one of the historical sites available to visitors. The public may enjoy a portion of what is widely considered the most magnificent and opulent bath in Turkey and Istanbul.
Special packages for visitors are available in this area. The bathrooms are furnished to the same standard as those in five-star hotels, down to the massages, silk towels, gold-plated bowls, 100% olive oil soaps, serving of guests, etc. It costs roughly 160 Euros per hour to use this bathroom’s services.
Galatasaray Hamam
Galatasaray Hamam is one of the other historical Turkish baths in Istanbul. This bath is also known as Galatasaray Beyoğlu Bath due to its location in Beyoğlu district. The construction of the Galatasaray bath was ordered in 1481 AD by Sultan Bayezid II. Unlike other Turkish bathhouses, this bathhouse has wholly preserved its traditional texture due to the direct supervision of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism. The texture of this bathroom is so old that upon entering it, you will think that you have entered one of the buildings of the Ottoman period.
Cağaloğlu Hamam
Cağaloğlu Hamam is another spectacular and traditional bath in Istanbul. This bathhouse is so astonishing that its name has been included in the list of must-see places in Istanbul many times, the most important of which is the 1000 Places to See Before You Die book. The sums received from the customers of this bath were used to prepare books for the Hagia Sophia Mosque library and the mosque’s ancillary costs. This mosque was designed by Suleiman Agha, one of the royal architects of the Ottoman court, but Abdullah Agha, another famous Ottoman royal architect, finally built this mosque.
Ağa Hamam
Among the other baths that can be mentioned as one of the best traditional baths in Istanbul is traditional Ağa Hamam. This bath was built by order of Sultan Mohammad Fatih and was one of his and his children’s private baths. Of course, Ağa Hamam was not in Istanbul at that time and was built in an area called Beyoğlu, which was the Sultan’s hunting ground. Still, today, with the expansion of Istanbul, it is considered one of this city’s traditional and historical baths.
The interesting thing about the traditional Ağa Hamam is that an American purchased it. This work was done at the beginning of the Republic of Turkey, and the bath was made a historical place for tourists by buying it. Today, this bath can be used by tourists, and it offers 4 types of packages that cost between 100 and 180 liras.
Çemberlitaş Hamam
In the list of the best traditional baths in Istanbul, Çemberlitaş Hamam is another spectacular and important bath built by Memar Senan. This bath is not only a place for tourists to visit but also a place that many researchers, students, and researchers visit yearly. This bath, located near the Mosque of Mohammad Pasha and Sultan Ahmed Mosque, charges less than other Turkish baths. Choose a sunny day if you decide to see and use this bath. On sunny days, in addition to using the washing packages in the bathroom, you can enjoy sunbathing on the göbektaşı.
Sofular Hamamı
Sofular Hamamı is another old bathhouse in Istanbul in one of the city’s old neighborhoods, which has a traditional texture and is used by most people. If you want to get to know Turkish culture, choose this bathhouse in the best way, because to reach it, you have to pass through the old houses and local markets of Istanbul. In addition, the cost of using this bathroom is very reasonable; a complete package in Sofular Hamamı costs about 50 lira.
Mihrimah Sultan Hamamı
Mihrimah Sultan Hamamı can be mentioned among other traditional and spectacular baths in Istanbul. This bath was also built by the architect Senan, the oldest and most famous architect in Turkey, especially for the daughter of Sultan Suleiman, Mihrimah Sultan. This bathroom has two parts, one for women and one for men. This bath is the venue for special ceremonies such as the bride and groom’s bath, which were mentioned earlier.
Kadirga Hammam
Kadirga Hammam, one of Istanbul’s most remarkable traditional baths, was erected in 1734 under the direction of Minister Yahya Pasha. The Ottoman Navy utilized this ancient bath for a long time, and since it was near the sea, shipmen also used it. This bathroom is one of several that have been refurbished throughout time, and its look is vastly different from the bathroom’s initial appearance and design.
Çinili Hamamı
Many baths in the city of Istanbul are an exceptional experience to visit and use, but among them, Çinili Hamamı, also known as the tiled bath, is one of the baths that all tourists should visit. This particular bath was built in 1640 AD by the order of Kusham Sultan, one of the most influential women in Turkey. The entire bathroom is tiled, and although many parts have been destroyed over time, the healthy parts are still beautiful and spectacular. This hammam also has the highest ceiling among the hammams in Istanbul, which makes for better air for its interior.
