This is the most famous of Istanbul's many hamams. It has remained more or less unchanged since it was built on the orders of Sultan Mahmut I in the mid-18th century. It's a favorite for the makers of TV ads, who consider it an essential element when selling their soapy wares! Celebrity bathers are rumored to have included the likes of Franz Liszt, Florence Nightingale and Tony Curtis. These days, locals make up the majority of its patrons. After a good steaming and massage, there's a pleasant bar café where you can sip a bracing glass of tea. There are separate hours for men and women.
Cemberlitas Hamami is the one of the most pleasant of all Istanbul hamams. You can stretch out on the huge round navel stone and dreamily gaze at the diffracted shafts of daylight through the steam. The sounds of splashing water and muffled chatter echo around the dome and throughout the hamam. Mimar Sinan built the baths in 1584, after they were commissioned by Nurbanu, wife of Sultan Selim the Grim. They have been in continuous service to the public ever since. There are separate sections for men and women. If you've never set foot in a Turkish bath before, this is the perfect place to explore the tradition.
Hürrem Sultan Hamam, appropriately sandwiched between Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, is a storied Istanbul institution that has been treating locals and visitors to its grand bathing complex since 1556. Designed by Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect, the baths were renovated in 2008 after a century as a prison and rug bazaar. Visitors first enter the cold room to change and store their belongings. From there its on to the hot room, ranging from 42 to 47 degrees, to relax the pores in preparation for the body scrub in the warm room. The massage packages consist of traditional procedures designed to relax stress using local tinctures and techniques. If you emerge from your treatment peckish, there is a restaurant and cafe on the grounds offering a wide array of traditional Ottoman dishes and home made beverages. For the ultimate luxury hamam experience, Hürrem Sultan Hamam is nearly impossible to beat.
The Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex is a beautiful series of 16th*century buildings. Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam is one of them. Named after its namesake Grand Admiral who was Italian in origin and was a former pirate, Kılıç Ali Paşa was the one who ordered this complex to be built. Similar to Roman baths, the hamam got prominence during the Ottoman reign. Ottoman baths had both cold and hot water that wasn't available anywhere else in the world. This beautiful and serene hamam is a great place to experience this culture. Children are also allowed in with parents. You can also lounge in the lounge area and enjoy a tasty bite from their cafe menu. If you want more pampering, then massages are available after the hamam session. Soak in the grandeur of this historic building as you indulge in a rejuvenating session.
Dating back to the late Middle Ages, Ağa Hamami was built as a hunting lodge for Fatih Sultan Mehmet. The hamam was built on the third level and was a private hamam for Mehmed the Conqueror and his male offspring. In the 19th Century, Abdulmejid I (Sultan of the Ottoman Empire) renovated it extensively. This hamam was used by the Padshahs (monarchs) till end of the Ottoman reign. It is said that Aga Hamami was the first of its kind in Istanbul. It has been a public bath house since 1923. Enjoy the traditional hamam experience at this historic place with a choice package. They also offer oil massages.