Hotels near Cağaloğlu Hamamı

A traditional Turkish bath is the best way to warm up on a cold, wet Istanbul day. Cağaloğlu Hamamı, built in 1741, was one of the last great hammams of the Ottoman era and still has separate marble halls for men and women. You lie on the göbek taşı, a heated marble platform, before an attendant scrubs you with a rough kese mitt and finishes with a soap-foam massage.

Packages with scrub and foam massage usually cost about €50-100, and towels and a peştemal wrap are provided. For a different setting, Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı in Tophane, designed by the architect Mimar Sinan in the 1580s, has been carefully restored and is popular with couples and small groups.

Pro Tip: Book a late-afternoon session after a day of sightseeing, and allow time to rest in the cooling room with tea afterwards. Do not schedule anything strenuous straight after.