My wife and I had a wonderful experience in Morocco but as we will be visiting Istanbul soon, we would like recommendations from personal experiences about authentic local Turkish baths. We are not interested in the tourist focused one.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Sorry, can't help you with Istanbul... but if you make it to Ankara, definitely check out http://www.sengulhamami.com/Anasayfa-11.html

Well, there were certainly other tourists here, but it seemed reasonably authentic: http://www.cemberlitashamami.com/index.php?dil=en

If you want more authentic, I can recommend one in Bodrum (odd, because the town itself is quite touristy).

But you need to define what you consider to be the difference and why it matters.

When we went to Cemberlitas, it was packed. So the experience was not the greatest and we were kind of pushed through. I didn't realize how touristy it was until we went to similar bath in Amman which was fantastic.

I can't, though, recommend an alternative. It was the only bath we tried in Istanbul.

Julie - may depend on when you're there. When I went it was November and I didn't run into a lot of foreign tourists in Istanbul then.

Try Galatasaray Hamami, just off istiklal Street, next to Galatasaray High School, on street on the Taksim side of the school.

Mind, I've never been there but it is definitely old and traditional and local. Has different hours or days for men and women.

Near Sultanahmet, there is also Cagaloglu Hamami and one other one I remember having been mentioned as more authentic. You may wish to check Trip Advisor for reviews.

Agree Thursdaysd. It seemed to be a nice bath, but in a very busy time of year.

Thanks for the help. Having traveled to many countries around the world, I do know the difference between those amenities that are designed for tourists and those that local people use. One can attribute a similar approach to restaurants. Some of my most memorable meals have been in little out of the way restaurants that few if any tourists visit. As an illustration of what I mean, most visitors to a foreign country if faced with two restaurants, one filled with tourists and the other with locals, would pick the one with tourists whereas I go in the other direction and follow the obvious endorsement of locals. And you usually pay a more realistic price too.
I really appreciate all your input.

otherchelebi's recco is a good one - I went there on advice of hotel desk clerk and it turned out to be be quite good and not overrun by tourists. Seemed to be mostly local patrons when I was there.

My daughters and I had a great experience at the Cemberlitas Hamami. I doesn't look like much from the outside, but it was designed by Sinan in 1584, and was amazing inside. There were hawkers standing outside drawing people in, but it didn't seem commercial to us, and it wasn't too crowded.

I guess you know what to expect? We had to get over our modesty, but we were giggling through the experience and felt fantastic afterwards! We were splashed and scrubbed by the attendants in an amazing ancient setting. We didn't know we had so much dead skin. After we came back to the US I tried to find Turkish baths at home because I want my skin to feel like that again!

Thanks mhutch196.
As I mentioned earlier, we had a great experience in Morocco and like you on returning home tried to find one that compared. No such luck in Western Canada.

HI,

I was wondering if you have gone on your trip yet....and if so, where you ended up bathing? We will be going shortly ourselves and I'd love to hear your feedback. I would love to try the baths, but at a local, affordable price.

Places we will visit include: Istanbul, Alacati, Pammukkale, and Goreme

Thanks!
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