A Trip to the Hammam

A Trip to the Hammam

The following hammams and spas are open to all (even nonguests, if in a hotel).

Public Hammams

Hammam el Basha (The Pasha's Bath). As far as public hammams go, this is one of the largest and most accessible (it's 10 minutes north of Djemâa el Fna). Even in its current rundown condition you get a good sense of how impressive this hammam must have been in its heyday. Instead of the typical series of small low rooms, here you bathe in large, white-tiled chambers that give a pleasant sense of space. After your bath, dry and dress in a huge domed hall skirted with inset stone benches.[. 20, rue Fatima Zohra. No phone. 10 DH. Daily: men 4 AM-noon and 7:30-11 PM; women noon-7:30 PM. No credit cards

Hammam Majorelle/Es Salama. This is a clean and modern hammam located 165 yards from the famous Majorelle Gardens in Guéliz [. 57, Quartier Rouidate, off Ave. Yacoub el Mansour. No phone. 10 DH. Daily 6 PM-10 PM. No credit cards

Private Hammams

Hammam Hilton. A short petit-taxi ride (15 DH-20 DH) will bring you to an upscale private hammam in the Targa district of Marrakesh that few tourists know about. In addition to the hammam, it also offers massage (100 DH).[. Ave. de Targa. 024/49-31-29. 40 DH. Daily 6 AM-10 PM. No credit cards

Hammam Ziani. Sister to Casablanca's Ziani, this hammam is highly recommended, and is located not far from Palais Bahia in the medina. Both men and women are welcome. It's traditional without being in the slightest bit down-at-heel. The full hammam and gommage works cost 60 DH, while a 270 DH package includes hammam, scrubbing, massage, and an algae wrap.[. 14, Riad Zitoune Jdid, near Palais Bahia. 062/71-55-71. www.hammamziani.ma. 50 DH. Daily 8 PM-10 PM. No credit cards

Hotel Hammams

Hotel Nassim. Right in the city center, opposite Café des Negociants in Guéliz, the small but smart Nassim is a convenient place to take a hammam.[. 115, ave. Mohammed V. 024/44-64-01. 130 DH, including exfoliation. Daily, by appointment. MC, V

La Sultana Spa & Boutique Hotel. La Sultana is in the Kasbah district, close to the Royal Palace, and offers bath therapy, affusion showers (showers with lukewarm water combined with hand massage), hammam, Jacuzzi, and sauna.[. 403, rue de la Kasbah. 024/38-80-08. www.lasultanamarrakech.com. 350 DH DH for hammam, 385 for massage. Upon request. AE, MC, V

Les Couleurs de l'Orient. This hammam is in a riad near the Djemâa el Fna, with affordable prices from 50 DH for massage and hammam. Relax with a mint tea on the terrace.[. 22, Riad Zitoune Lakdim, Derb Lakhdar. 024/42-65-13. No credit cards

La Maison Arabe. Worth a try, especially in order to visit this charming hotel, a morning or afternoon spent in this hotel's hammam will make you feel like royalty. The tayebas may not scrub you quite as hard as you like, but the hammam room is beautiful and the small pool filled with roses is just for you. It's popular, so call at least two days in advance.[. 1, Derb Assehbe, Bab Doukkala. 024/38-70-10. www.lamaisonarabe.com. 650 for hammam and massage. By appointment. MC, V

Spas

Caravan Serai. Converted from an enclave of Berber houses with an encircling mud wall, this stylishly simple inn has a divine spa that offers desert-sand exfoliating treatments with orange-flower water, jasmine, rose, and amber oils, hammams with rhasoul wraps, aromatherapy massage, argan oil facials, and shiatsu.[. 264, Ouled Ben Rahmoune. 024/30-03-02. www.caravanserai.com. 400 DH hammam plus treatments. By appointment. MC, V

Jnane Tamsna. An oasis of calm and lush vegetation, this is the perfect place for total relaxation. The hammam is situated in an aromatic garden, and has two massage rooms. Treatments include scrubbing, aromatherapy, massage, mud facials, and meditation.[. Douar Abiad, Circuit de la Palmeraie. 024/32-94-23. www.jnanetamsna.com. Complete hammam 450 DH. By appointment. AE, MC, V

Kasbah Agafay. Situated just outside Marrakesh on the road to Agadir, this spectacular spa is in the Kasbah's grounds, with fountains and aromatic herb gardens. You can book a hammam, massage, clay mask, henna, and yoga.[. 20 km (12 mi) on Rte. de Guemassa. 024/36-86-00 or 024/42-09-60. www.kasbahagafay.com. Treatments from 300 DH. By appointment. AE, MC, V

Riad des Eaux. In the simple elegance of this renovated riad just a few steps south of Djemâa el Fna you can relax in an apricot-color tiled hammam and be treated to clay beauty masks and massaged with essential oils from plants gathered in the Ourika Valley.[. 24, Derb Lakhdar, Riad Zitoune Lakdim, Medina. 067/66-18-55. www.ryaddeseaux.com. 150 DH hammam, treatments from 250 DH. By appointment. MC, V

Riad Mehdi/Les Bains de Marrakech. The spa annex of this opulent riad includes milk baths with orange water and rose petals, massages with argan oil, body treatments with essential oils, and rubdowns with mint-steamed towels.[. 2, Derb Sedra, Bab Agnaou, Kasbah. 024/38-47-13 or 17. www.riadmehdi.net. 150 DH hammam. By appointment, 2-3 days in advance. MC, V

-Pamela Windo