ISTANBUL HAMAMS

DOs and DO NOTs

DO 

Go to a hamam.

You will do no better than Kılıç Ali Paşa. 

For about 50 bucks, you will get a full treatment. 

An ill-advised road widening demolished the women’s bath.

So now it’s females sun up till 4 p.m., males 4:30 p.m. till an hour before midnight.

It is clean, comfortable, authentic and designed by Sinan, the greatest Islamic architect of all time.

It’s next to a fabulous mosque and footsteps from the Tophane station of the T1 tram line.

Some very artsy, creative restaurants are between Ali Pasa Hamami and the nearby Bosphorus -- for that limonata and tost after the pampering Turkish Bath experience.

DO NOT

Go to the Turkish Bath on Sultanahmet plaza.

It caters only to tourists.

The cheapest treatment is about 100 USD and it’s over before you know it.

The well-located bath is beautiful inside and out, but skip it.

Also avoid the Galatasaray Hamam.

It is convenient on the Beyoglu side of town, but is a tourist trap.

Staff will rush you, then nail you for a 30 USD tip when a Turk is giving them a less than 30 Turkish Lira tip.