It was just terrific. They explained everything. You have to be comfortable with nudity, your own,…read moreand the scantily dressed woman who is scrubbing and helping you (if you are a woman). But I would do it again in a heartbeat, so relaxing.

The Suleymaniye Hamam was a cultural experience, that's for sure…read more I wanted to try a genuine Turkish bath, and the Sulimaniye Hamam is not only one of the oldest ones in Istanbul, it's also one of the few that allows co-ed bathing. In fact, it requires you come with a partner to partake. So I coerced my husband into coming along and made reservations for a Turkish bath. We arrived early but they took us right away. You are given a changing room (shared with your partner) and asked to dress in a bikini for women (they give you shorts and a top if you don't bring your own) and a towel for men. You're also given some very uncomfortable wooden sandals. A side note here: They made my husband leave his glasses in the changing room, which left him functionally blind. The glasses WOULD have steamed up in the bathing room, but I think that would have been preferable to him not being able to see at all, AND we saw another person wearing glasses in there. (OK, I saw another person wearing glasses in there--husband saw nothing.) So if you wear glasses and want them on your face for the bath, do it. After changing, you're brought into a large steam room for about 30 minutes to wait for your bath. There's a large heated marble square in the center of the room to sit on, and sinks around the perimeter of the room for you to fill bowls with water to splash yourself. Each of the four corners of the room is a treatment area, with two benches and two sinks. When it's your turn, the bathers will call you in to a corner and begin the treatment. The treatment consists of exfoliation with a loofah, followed by laying down on the table to be scrubbed all over with bubbles. They work on your back first, then your front. The scrubbing includes a little bit of massage, which was nice. Then, you are splashed with clean water to rinse the soap, and moved back to the area next to the sink where they shampoo your hair. Finally, you are splashed with progressively colder water until you're completely rinsed and soap-free. The last part of the experience is getting dry. The bathers bring you into a side room and wrap you in Turkish bath towels. They do not like it if you try to wrap yourself, I learned. Finally, you're brought into a room with benches and tables where you can order coffee, tea, water, or other refreshments. After our sweaty bath experience, all we wanted was water and more water. When you're done, you go back to your changing room, get back into your clothes, and that's it. You can pay for your refreshments on the way out (you pre-paid for the treatment) as well as leave any tips in a designated box. Pro tips: Bring something to hold back your hair if it's long. Bring makeup wipes since any makeup you're wearing will smear. Bring deodorant to reapply, as well as any hair products or makeup you might need, unless you plan on going straight back to your hotel. They do have blow dryers available for use at the hamam. As I said at the beginning, this was a cultural experience. I didn't find it relaxing exactly, especially since I wasn't sure what was going to happen at any given time. I'm glad I went, but I probably won't seek out a Turkish bath experience here at home.

I didn't have a Hammam scheduled but it was available and really close to the hotel, it's cultural,…read moreit was a long day of...you know what? I don't need an excuse to have a spa day on a nice vacation. It wasn't on my 'to-do' list so I didn't do a lot of research. I was expecting a more communal style affair-my only point of reference was a Korean style sauna since I got walked into a communal area where people were just chilling out. After being walked upstairs and into a changing room. The next room was a large steam room, but not oppressively humid, probably because it was surprisingly high ceilinged and laid down on a marble bench, another surprise, it was way more comfortable than it sounds. I lost all sense of time. The hammam was like a cross between a scrub, a wash and a massage. I never saw why Turkish towels were 'a thing,' but after this I was surprised at how absorbent and supple it was. After getting all the travel stress out of my system THAT was when I was given a robe and then taken up front to that cavernous common area with a nice cup of hibiscus tea.

I highly recommend this hamam. I was able to book a reservation using WhatsApp while in Istanbul…read moreand communicating directly with the hamam. This is a nice touch since I'm using my US cell phone. The hamam itself is immaculate. I booked a session for me and my 2 daughters. We were given 2 changing rooms. Each room has a dyson hair dryer and q-tips etc. to use after your Turkish bath. Each room locks automatically and you are given a bracelet which unlocks the door. Very convenient and secure. The hamam experience is comparable to other experiences I've had - very good! I do like that for the bubble/massage portion, you are laying down on the marble. I've been to another hamam where they do this part while you're sitting. Here, my girl did a great job to get the knots out of my back. The experience is so relaxing and calming. You can take your time and chill in the relaxation room after your Turkish bath. With this hamam being co-ed/couples, you can bring your own 2 piece bikini which is convenient and comfortable. I've been to non-coed hamams where you eventually end up taking your bikini top off, but not here. It's really no biggie but just wanted to mention the differences. This is a great hamam for first timers or seasoned hamam goers. This is a great part of the Ottoman/Turkish culture to experience.

Did you really go to Istanbul if you didn't go to a Turkish bath? Although you could enjoy this…read morecity/country without having been to a hammam, I think going to one really completes your experience. Those that I have asked personally and travel bloggers always express how much they loved their experiences at Turkish baths, so I decided I had to get one to see for myself. Having searched Yelp and comparing the ratings and facilities, I decided to come to this one because it seemed the most authentic and it had great reviews regarding service and employees. This business divides their hours of operations between females and males. The women get the earlier hours and men get the later hours. I think men started at 4-11pm. Because I was in a foreign country, I emailed, rather than called, them to book my appointment. They responded within minutes with my confirmation. I loved how quick they were - it shows that they're attentive to their clients. My appointment was booked for 6pm, but I showed up earlier at around 530pm. Upon arrival, they enthusiastically welcomed me in just like family members do to their loved ones. They seated me to fill out some paperwork and provided complimentary juice. Afterwards, they led me up to the changing room. And now, the real experience begins. I walked into the bathing area where they seated me and threw a bucket of water on me prior to being washed. Then I was led to the center of the room where there's a circular marble table that everyone lays on while waiting to be washed. It was therapeutic because the table was heated - I almost fell asleep lol. Then Alaatin called me to his station to get washed. Buckets of warm water, soap, and deep scrubbing were in full effect. I've never seen so much dirt on my skin. I felt like I was exfoliated to the point where I had new baby skin. It was amazing. On top of that, Alaatin was massage my back and shoulders as well. Throughout my experience, he made sure I was comfortable and even made conversation when appropriate. He is an ideal employee to work with - I loved it. Afterwards, they take you out to the lounge area where you can hang around until close. They have Wifi, phone chargers, and drinks/snacks to purchase. I hung around for probably 3 hours just laying there appreciating my new skin lol. Honestly, I was a bit weary about doing this because I didn't know what to expect and I'm like "I can shower myself." My advice is to give this place a try and you'll really be able to experience a spa treatment like no other, and also get to realize how bad you are at cleaning yourself lol. I'm so glad I chose this place - amazing service with the best employees. Still dreaming of when I'll be able to go back.

A historic (from the 1500s) Turkish bathhouse is beautiful which was clearly aimed for tourists and…read morea bit pricier than a traditional spot. But it was nice. I felt calm and relaxed after, and I got exactly what I paid for (though I paid a lot). Service is good, but they should clarify what is extra cost and what's included.

This was by far my favorite activity I did while I was in Istanbul. I went for the full Ab-i Hayat…read morepackage, but they were doing a special of 10% off appts before 1:00 pm so it ended up being $315 dollars. My partner in the process was Selda and she was AMAZING!!! Honestly she made the entire experience. She was respectful but funny and really helped me feel confident and lose my nervousness since it was my first time and I had no idea what to expect. They also gave me a full bar of their soap plus a Turkish towel in a cute bag. After the "wet" portion of the experience, before the oil massage upstairs, I sat in a nice little relaxing area and was brought some sherbet tea, water, and Turkish delight while I rested. Services i got: - Traditional full body scrubbing in the warmest quarter. - Organic Lavender Extract and Sea Salt Refreshing hand and foot peeling. - full body clay mask. - Relaxing bubble wash ritual on the warm marble stone. - Hair wash ritual with redbud scented shampoo. - Aromatherapy Massage with redbud scented oil in the private massage room. - Fresh and dried fruits to finish off the experience. Overall the entire experience took about 2.5 hours and left me feeling so refreshed.

BEST EXPERIENCE EVER! This is seriously a MUST in Istanbul. You will not be disappointed…read more I did a decent amount of research on the best hammam to try in Istanbul, and there's a reason this is so beloved. LOCATION This is prime location near Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque, and this hammam building itself has a TON of history. It's stunning! OFFERINGS They do massages as well, but the main thing here is the hammam experience. If you don't know, it's a communal style body washing experience that typically means washing on hot marble stone with running water sinks, being soap-foam massaged and scrubbed by an attendant, and bathhouse style ambiance. PRICE They have tiered pricing options from 110-330 euros, and we opted for something in the middle that included the hammam experience being scrubbed and bubble soap foam massaged by the attendant, a face mask and hair wash, and treats post-experience. EXPERIENCE This was pure luxury! You start in the stunning lounge area and get changed into the robe in the changing rooms that have a traditional look. The space is large and even with a few others during the same time and an attendant, it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable at all. It started with being washed and washing myself, then a face mask, then a face mask and hair wash + scrub with a sandpaper-like glove by the attendant in a more private section. Then, I came out to the main area on the central marble slab for the soap foam massage which was amazing - I've never felt more exfoliated and clean! I ended with a face mask sheet and treats including sherbet drink, tea and Turkish delight in the main room. I got to take home the soap and scrubber glove complimentary as well. A treat from start to finish!

This was the best spa experience of my life. I had a Turkish bath with a Swedish massage. Having…read morenever had a Turkish bath, I did not know what to expect. The women were so gentle and polite. I quickly felt at ease and like I dropped into a new world of pampered delight. The bath was fantastic, as I was scrubbed from head to toe, covered in soft bubbles and rinsed at every step. The room was all white marble with a soft glow, like being inside an egg. After the extensive bath and short rest, I had the best Swedish massage of my life, again in an egg shaped room,but dark and shadowy with soft Turkish music with a hint of California whales. Kind of Turk CA fusion. I was there almost 2 hours an am almost, but not quite, relaxed enough to skip dinner. Ha, not a chance.

First experience at the hammam and loved every bit of it! Wish I had a whole day to spend at the…read morespa ! Everything is super clean and the whole experience relaxing! Going to try out their massages next trip!

I had a wonderful time here. The Hamam looked very clean and a very relaxing experience. You run…read moreinto these tours in istanbul that charge you almost an arm and a leg to take you to the Hamam and then you gotta pay extra for other service while you can just walk in here and have the Hamam experience of your lifetime!

In all my travels, my experience here was one of the worst I've ever had. I selected their full…read morestandard option (spa, scrub, massage), and things started off fine. I've been to hammams before and enjoyed my nap on the hot stone. The problems started when my attendant came back. I've traveled a lot in places where people spoke no English and I've learned to get by with smiles and nods and gestures. This man, though, seemed to think I was the world's greatest moron for not understanding Turkish. He yelled at me over and over again. When I still didn't understand him, he would just push me where he wanted me to go. I was completely disgusted by the scrub once I realized that he was using the same glove on the rest of my body that he'd used on the bottoms of my feet. The worst part, though, was the massage. On my first leg, he massaged me so hard that I laughed from the absurdity of it. On my second leg, I couldn't take it anymore and yelled out in pain, at which point he did stop. Later, on my back, he was using his elbow on my spine, which scared me to no end. I should say, too, that as part of the massage, he went after some spots on my shins that were visibly and deeply bruised from before the trip. Nothing helps bruises heal like deeply massaging them! At the end, he left me a bar of soap to clean for a few minutes. He came back quickly and, satisfied with my progress, promptly took the bar of soap and left. I didn't even have soap to use in the cold shower. I ended up dressing as quickly as I could and scooting back home to my rental so I could shower off the foot-filth he'd spread across my whole body. My whole stay at this hammam lasted about 40 minutes. I think they claim the massage alone is 20 minutes, plus 20 minutes on the stone...so how there is also time for a scrub, I don't know. I would have liked to stay longer on the stone, but I was so grossed out by the body scrub that I felt I had to leave. Awful, awful time in every way.