It was just terrific. They explained everything. You have to be comfortable with nudity, your own, and 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. read more

The Suleymaniye Hamam was a cultural experience, that's for sure. 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. read more

Suleymaniye Hamam - Entrance - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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If you are in town and looking for a spa day, trust me and go here. My wife enjoys being pampered with that experience on most trips and I insisted that we forgo the usual luxury setting that she often books only to complain about a timid massuese and check out a traditional Turkish Bath instead. Glad I did because this was memorable. I did some research to get a better understanding of the experience and then found the Suleymaniye Hamam. It was perfect for us in that it doesn't accept single customers, yet caters to families and couples. It was also quite busy, so getting a booking ahead of time is a must. Look for the mosque up on the hill and you should have an easy time finding this place. Good shopping and prices on nearby streets. There is some history to the building as well. Built in 1557 by master architect Mimar Sinan, who this street is named after, it is a beautiful spa. My entire visit I just kept looking around at the domes, ceilings, walls, tiles and how the light filtered in. This is where Sultan Suleyman himself would go for his baths. I couldn't get that out of my mind. Walking past the huge mosque of the sultan, down the street named after the architect that built both of these structures to take a bath in the same place the actual sultan did centuries ago. Simply unreal. But, I digress. On to the Hendrix Experience. Check in at the desk, settle up (100 lira pp~$50) and you will be shown to your private changing room. Cover up in their wraps, lock up your belongings and waddle ungracefully in the clogs. You begin by loosening up on the large marble stone in the middle of the bathhouse. Staring up at the domed roof, this was where the impressive architecture really hit me. It gets steamy in here and you can step over to one of the nooks to cool off by the basins and soak yourself with bowlfulls of water. Our washers called us over to our little area and then got things started. I say washers because that more accurately describes the bath. There was some stretching and rubbing that felt like wrestling arm bars. Not so much of a massage, more of a car wash type scrubbing. And it was fantastic! Exactly what I needed and was looking for after a hot day seeing the sights of Istanbul. Pamper yourself. Cash money homie. read more

Suleymaniye Hamam - The Hamam of Sultan Suleyman - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Authentic and must-try Hamam experience! We were able to reserve a couple session (specially requested two masseurs) in the morning upon the opening hours of the Hamam, and were the only clients at that time. They offered a variety of lengths/services and were very accommodating to our schedule (which was our own loss since we only had 60-minute free). Nonetheless, we were able to experience the whole process. The Suleymaniye building is part of the Sulemaniye Mosque Complex (as described in their website, built in 1550's). From the reception areas to the bath rooms, one can truly experience the settings of and the authenticity of the 'Turkish bath' , feeling like in the palace of the Sultan: especially on the heated, grand marble slab (Göbektasi), transitioning to the peeling and hot/cold soapy body bath by the masseurs, then finally with the cooling and drinks of choice (APPLE TEA!). This is an experience not to be missed, if you can afford (pricing is very reasonable). They take cash - US dollars, Euro, Liras. The host was also very helpful in giving us walking direction to rush to Tokapi. There was quite some tiredness from the Istanbul trip (36-hours short only) , but the Hamam revived me - nurture and renewal to both body and soul. Highly recommended. read more

This hamam offers a great introduction to the traditional Turkish bath if you're not totally on board with getting mildly beaten up whilst naked in a room full of other strangers. At Suleymaniye Hamam they cater to couples and families, single males will be refused service, and ladies can keep their bikinis on, so there is no need to feel uncomfortable. Although it was my first time at a hamam, I knew what to expect but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. I loved it! Others have described the experience in depth, so I won't add much. Men are given a Turkish towel to wrap around their waist, so no need to bring a suit. Ladies, bring your own bikini unless you want an ill-fitting cloth bikini top and shorts. There is something to be said for laying on a hot, hot slab in a building from 1550, completely relaxed, watching sweat beading and dripping down your entire body, then willing yourself to get up and dousing yourself in cool water to slow your breathing down. And then getting doused, scrubbed, covered in suds, slip sliding around, getting massaged and slapped and contorted by a young Turkish guy who is also only wearing a towel and constantly dousing himself in cool water. If you're considering it, do it. It's a fantastic experience. Walk in appointments may be available but it is very easy to book an appointment online. Cash only! read more

I went to this centuries old bath house alone before they made it for couples and families only, so unfortunately I can never go back. It was absolutely the highlight of my visit to Istanbul. As my KLM flight landed in Istanbul the entire city was blanketed with snow, so the warmth of the bath was especially welcome. Istanbul itself is an assault on your senses, everywhere you turn someone is aggressively trying to sell you something, carpets in particular, but also candy, and everything else you can think of. So being inside the Hamam is like an oasis of peace. Fortunately my masseur spoke English. I told him I wasn't your typical tourist, that he could be himself with me. And he was, he sang to me in the most magnificent voice I ever heard. As if an angel were serenading me. Of course singing is not typical of your experience at a Hamam. I loved the way he kneeled in front of me and gave me a body scrub from head, to toe. If only I could start every day this way. I got a package deal, $25 for the treatment including a taxi from my hotel. I of course loved being in such an ancient and historic building, as if the Sultan was still ruling the Ottoman Empire. If you have the opportunity to experience Suleymaniye Hamam don't pass it up. read more

Great for couples...its a true and historic hamam but its meant for tourist. You will not see locals as its really meant for couples. DEFINITELY GO ON THEIR WEBSITE! I didn't do that and just walked in. I got lucky because it wasn't busy but if it was, I couldn't have enjoyed the experience. We walked up the hill from the metro stop, its a true journey as is just about everything else in Istanbul. But they do have signs posted on the streets so watch for that. I'll never forget the experience, it felt like a dream. I'm not going to explain the details and ruin for you. If you want a Turkish bath and want your girl/man with you while you do it, this is the only reasonable priced place. 35 Euros. read more

While in Instanbul, my wife and I went to Suleymaniye Hamam since it was the only one we could find that allowed couples together. I didn't know exactly what to expect at a Turkish bath since it was my first time but it was fantastic. Not only was it an amazing experience for the sauna and soapy massage, but also for the historical aspect of the hamam - It was built in the 1500's as part of the complex around the nearby Suleymaniye Mosque. In fact, one of corners of the steam room says that was where the sultan would go about his hamam experience. My time here was definitely one of the my highlights of both Istanbul and Turkey as a whole. read more

This beautiful hamam was built by Sultan Süleyman, the Magnificent in 1557 and designed by Architect Sinan. It is located nearby the Suleymaniye Mosque. This is the only hamam in town where men and women mix. For that reason, you won't find locals here. But, it's a good place to go if you're travelling with your opposite sex partner. The building itself is spectacular. The massage and scrubbing were very good. I'd go again and it makes for a very enjoyable way to pass time. Be sure to make reservations and remember that the hamam only takes cash! read more

Despite the yelp description, this place does NOT accept credit cards, cash in euro or lira only, and they are upfront about this. The place is clean, the staff friendly, and cost a tad less than another bath house my fiance and I were considering, but the real kicker was the couple's-only experience. Only couples are allowed, so you know there's no funny business. Bring a swim suit, but they will provide appropriate clothing for both you and your gal if you just walk in. During busy times, expect to wait in the stream bath for upwards of 45 minutes. I highly recommend you ask for a bottle of water when to take in with you to keep yourself hydrated for which they charge a very reasonable 4 lira per bottle. This is a fun experience, though as a guy, I'd rather get a massage than a scrub down that my fiance seemed to enjoy more than me. Tipping is completely optional, but as an American, is feel guilty not leaving something for good service. read more

Our first Turkish bath, and it was great. The service was excellent and friendly (although I sometimes couldn't understand what they wanted me to do because instructions were minimal). We were able to walk in without a reservation. It was easy to find - we walked there from the spice market. We explored the mosque nearby afterwards, and then shopped on the street nearby (and got great prices for tea sets and lidded boxes). It made for a great afternoon! read more