Turkish hammams heat up again

The ancient bathing ritual reclaims its place in modern wellness

ISTANBUL:

As the sun gently warms Sultanahmet Square, its rays first dance on the dome of the Hagia Sophia before guiding visitors to the historical Hurrem Sultan Hammam, tucked away in a corner of Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square.

Standing before the main entrance of the hammam, or bathhouse, one is greeted by a classical example of Ottoman architecture. It was designed by Mimar Sinan, or Sinan the Architect, at the request of Hurrem Sultan, the wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, in the 16th century. Despite the passage of centuries, its modest charm, arched windows, and iconic dome remain as impressive as ever.

Inside, the soothing sound of flowing water immediately takes you back to a bygone era, as if transported back to Ottoman times. With the soft glow of marble, the embrace of warm steam, and the rhythmic splash of water, for centuries, the Turkish hammam was the heart of cleansing, relaxation, and social life.

But after years of decline during modern times, this tradition is making a stylish comeback as young people rediscover age-old bathing rituals.

"The last 15 years or so, I see that there's a huge uprise again, and especially among the young people," says Elizabet Kurumlu, an Istanbul-based hammam expert and guide.

Outside the historic Hurrem Sultan hammam in Istanbul, a passionate Kurumlu recounted to Anadolu how henna parties - pre-wedding celebrations where brides and their friends gather at a hammam - have sparked a cultural revival.

"It all started with the henna parties," she explains. "Young girls want to get the henna parties, this is like our bridal party in Türkiye … You come to a hammam and you have your hand dyed with a henna. It's a very old tradition and I see that now, it's back on the scene."

A draw for foreign tourists

Kurumlu attributes the growing popularity of hammams to media coverage and efforts by the Turkish government to revive this cultural practice.

Nihat Katipzadeler, a board member of Hurrem Sultan Hammam, highlights the role social media in amplifying Turkish bath experience. "Young people have started to see content about Turkish baths more frequently on social media platforms due to social media and digitalisation," he says.

"Tourists and local hosts sharing hammam experiences on platforms like Instagram and YouTube are helping this culture reach a wider audience."

He adds that young people, in particular, are increasingly interested in connecting with their cultural heritage. "Hammams, which are an important part of Turkish culture, have started to gain renewed interest as a part of this heritage. Young people prefer to go to baths to take care of their cultural heritage and experience it."

Tourists to Türkiye are also attracted to this age-old tradition. "All the hammams are definitely full," Kurumlu observes, referencing not only well-known historical hammams but also smaller, lesser-known bathhouses. "We definitely need more hammams, that's for sure."

Katipzadeler agrees, noting that Turkish baths have become a major attraction for international visitors, whose interest helps preserve the bath culture. "Many Hammams are trying to renew themselves by combining their traditional fabric with modern spa and wellness practices. These types of hybrid structures better spark the interest of both domestic and foreign guests."

He also credits the influence of Turkish TV series, films, and international media for sparking global interest in Turkish baths, which have boosted the number of tourist-oriented baths.

A journey through time

The history of Turkish hammams stretches back through centuries, deeply rooted in various civilisations that have cleansed themselves in public bathhouses. Kurumlu explains, "Before Turkish baths existed, there were Roman baths … Anywhere you go in Anatolia, modern Türkiye, you will come across hammams.

"We got the idea from the Romans but the Romans got the idea from the Greeks. But before the Greeks, actually, we know as a fact from the excavations that the Hittites were utilising a bathing culture," she noted.

However, the Ottomans infused the practice with their own unique cultural elements.

The empire, stretching through the Balkans and the Middle East to North Africa, also saw the expansion and flourishing of hammams. Bursa, one of its early capitals, was renowned for its baths, Kurumlu said. "In the 14th century, there were 55 market hammams alone in Bursa."

The golden age of hammams came in the 16th century, under the reign of Sultan Suleyman. "It came to the peak era for hammams," said Kurumlu. "It was the golden times for the hammams."

For Kurumlu, another turning point in terms of Turkish hammam culture came in the "Tanzimat era," a period in the mid-19th century marked by reforms in the Ottoman Empire, when women gained greater access to hammams.

"Before the Tanzimat era, yes women had started already going to the hammams, but during the Tanzimat more and more women started going and women, before the hammams, had no social area outside their homes ... So that is how crucial the hammams are for women especially."

Fall and rise of hammams

The 20th century brought new challenges. The advent of indoor plumbing in the 1950s significantly reduced the need for public baths. "By the 1950s, plumbing for the first time came into the houses and people started having their own baths in their homes. Therefore, there was no need for a public bath. So that was the major decline point in our history for the Turkish hammams," she said.

Public perceptions of hammams also shifted, with some viewing the baths as unhygienic despite their original function as a place of cleanliness. "That was why the hammams flourished so much, but since you can become clean with your private bath in your home, there was no (longer any) need," said Kurumlu.

Despite the challenges, Kurumlu is optimistic about the future of hammams. Many new establishments are "popping up" in Istanbul, she says, some with a more modern take on the traditional concept. "I do see new hammams popping up everywhere. They're not necessarily historic buildings, but these are … on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, there's this huge complex, the hammam is only one part of it."

She continued, "I believe within the next 20 years, yes, it will change in some form but there will be more and more hammams popping up because now, people are getting aware that it's a very healthy thing to do." Anadolu Agency