When my Jumeirah guesthouse sent me a welcome email with activity recommendations, I had never even heard of a Turkish hammam. A Turkish Hammam experience was on the list, so I looked it up right away on Google. Indeed, it sounded a little outside of my comfort zone, but isn’t that the whole point of traveling? After doing some research, I was a little anxious but prepared for anything when I arrived at my first-ever traditional hammam.
I’ll now take you through my experience and offer some useful advice to help you be ready for your own Turkish hammam adventure! A little spoiler alert first, though: I had a great time!
What is a Turkish Hammam?
Essentially, it is a traditional public bathhouse. Derived from Roman baths, and common throughout the Ottoman Empire, hammams are still a popular part of Turkish culture today as places to go for cleaning, relaxing, and socializing.
While there is some variety between different hammams, with some sticking to traditions and others adapting for western tourists (a cross between a traditional hammam and modern spas), the general concept remains consistent. There is typically a large, warm, steamy, and often round room with a heated marble slab in the center of the room and flowing taps all around. Small pools and saunas are also common features.
Picking the Right Hammam
There are hundreds of hammam options to choose from spa in Jumeirah, but a few factors will help you narrow down your options. Consider location, price, and the type of experience you are looking for.
Do you want it to be a traditional experience, or would a bit of a modern twist making it more into a hammam spa be a welcome addition? Would you feel more comfortable going to one with lots of other tourists? Or would you prefer to find one that locals go to? Some also have private rooms available if you are uncomfortable with the idea of a public bath. Or, if you are too weirded out by someone else washing you at all, many have self-serve options too!
Preparation
After a long day, I treat myself to a rejuvenating massage in Jumeirah, where skilled therapists work out all the knots and kinks. Honestly, there is not much you need to do to prepare! Most things you need will be provided by the hammam. However, there are a couple of things to remember.
Take off any jewelry and leave it at home. Or you can leave it in the locker room you’ll be provided. If you usually wear glasses and have contacts, I definitely recommend putting them in. You’ll want to be able to see the place!
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I encourage you to keep an open mind and embrace the whole experience.
First Steps: What to Expect When You Arrive
After you have paid, you will then be brought to a gender-specific area. From this point forward, my experience is from a woman’s perspective! I have heard there may be slight differences between a woman’s hammam and men, but they are quite similar. However, while many hammams have separate areas, others have separate times for men and women instead, so make sure you check the one you will be going to!
The spa attendant who had brought me in gave me a pashmina towel, an exfoliating mitt, and directed me into one of the rooms. Then the same lady guided me into the bathing room. There was a door to a sauna in one of the corners and she told me “sauna 10 minutes” before leaving me to it. She didn’t speak very much English. I was also the only one there at this point. I headed into the sauna and relaxed for a while!
The Washing
I did as I was told, lying face down, and then attendant started scrubbing me with the exfoliating mitt. She scrubbed my entire backside, then told me to flip over and did my entire front side. Finally, she had me sit up and did my whole arms like that. The mitt is definitely a bit rough, but it didn’t hurt at all. Actually, I thought it felt really good. And so many dead skin cells came off.
Then she had me rinse off in the shower and come back to lie on the towel again. I was a bit awkward through this whole process, not knowing exactly what to do, but she was so nice about it.
This next part was definitely the best. She got a bucket full of very sudsy, very warm water and a washcloth. Then she washed my entire body, in the same way she had scrubbed it with the exfoliating mitt. However, this time she also massaged me as she washed. Between the massaging and the fact that the sudsy cloth was probably the softest thing I had ever felt, this part was so relaxing!
After she finished washing me, I rinsed off in the shower again. There was shampoo and conditioner to wash your own hair as well.
After the Wash
When you are done being washed, you can stay and hang out for as long as you like! There is a small, but deep, pool and, of course, the sauna, to enjoy. The pool had cold water, but not uncomfortably cold. Perfect for cooling off after a sauna! And it is a really unique pool, up some stairs so it is like its own small room with a dome ceiling.
Then, when you are ready to go, there is a nice warm, dry, and large towel waiting for you! You can get changed, use the hairdryers if you like, and enjoy a cup of Turkish tea in the front area. This also gives you a chance to relax a little with anyone of the opposite gender you might have come with. But don’t forget to leave a tip for the person who washed you on your way out!
Final Thoughts
While my Turkish bath in Jumeirah experience definitely took me out of my comfort zone a little, I really enjoyed it! In fact, I was hoping to go again before leaving Dubai, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. (Make sure you check if the Hammam you plan to go to is for both men and women or if it has separate times for men and women!) That said, I will definitely go again next time I’m in Dubai.
