A few customs, not a rulebook
Hamam etiquette sounds grander than it is. Nothing needs rehearsing in advance. The customs come down to arriving in the right clothes, letting the staff set the pace, and saying what you would prefer before anyone has to guess.
It helps to know what a hamam has been. In this part of the world it served for a long time as a shared space, somewhere to sit, talk and rest together as well as to wash. The courtesies below are the practical side of that: consideration for the attendants and for whoever else is there with you.
None of this changes with the building. Which hamam you go to is decided by your hotel and its transfer area, so it may not be the building a friend at another hotel went to. The Basic programme stays the same wherever you are taken, and so do the customs on this page.
Swimwear, all the way through
Start with clothing, because the answer is short. Swimwear stays on for the entire programme, from the first warm-up in the sauna to the quiet time at the end. Being unclothed is never part of it; that is simply how the hamam works.
If you put it on at the hotel, under something light, there is one thing fewer to sort out at check-in.
Hamams differ in what they provide, so we cannot promise a place for your belongings. If that matters to you, ask us before the day rather than at the door.
Asking for a same-gender attendant
Three of the stages involve an attendant's hands: kese, foam and massage. It is natural to have a preference about who that is, and if you would rather be attended by someone of your own gender, you are welcome to ask.
Ask at the time of booking. The form has an optional notes field: put the request there and we forward it to the hamam selected for your area. Asking in advance gives the hamam notice, rather than leaving it until you arrive.
It remains a request, not a guarantee. We pass it on, but we cannot promise the outcome, and we would rather tell you that now than on the day.
Let the staff lead
There is no sequence to memorise. The attendants handle the hands-on stages, and the most useful courtesy is to go along with their directions.
In broad terms, the warmth of the sauna and steam room comes first. The kese scrub follows, then the foam, then the basic aromatic oil massage, which runs for roughly 20 minutes, and finally time to relax. Not every hamam keeps the same order or pace, and a busy session can shift things too, so take your cue from the staff rather than from this list.
Going along with them does not mean staying silent. If anything feels uncomfortable, from the scrub to the heat, tell the attendant straight away. Speaking up is part of the courtesy, not a breach of it.
Two things need to reach the right people in advance. An allergy should be with us before the oil massage, and the notes on the booking form are the easiest place to mention it. If you have a medical condition, such as blood pressure that runs high or low, something affecting your skin, or an operation or injury not long ago, ask your doctor's opinion first, and tell the hamam about it before anything starts.
Before you go: no alcohol, and a light meal
Two habits belong to the run-up to your session. Leave alcohol out before the hamam, and keep what you eat beforehand light.
For some guests the hamam is not recommended at all: during pregnancy, with a heart or circulatory condition, or for anyone who copes poorly with heat and humidity. It is better to decide that at home than on the day.
One more courtesy concerns the journey. We confirm your hotel pickup time once you have booked, before your hamam day. Times differ from one hotel to the next, and yours tells you when the vehicle comes for you; it is not when your hamam session starts. Being ready at your hotel by then keeps the day running smoothly.
Tipping, and what the fare covers
Tipping the attendants is customary in Turkish baths, but it is optional and sits outside the fare. We name no amount. Whether to leave something is for you to decide on the day.
One fare pays for the whole Basic programme, with the transfer there and back. Guests aged 11 and over pay €25, children aged 4–10 pay €12.50, and children under 4 are free of charge. Drinks and refreshments, photos and videos, tips and personal spending are not included. A longer or premium massage is also outside the Basic price, and none can be booked through this site. Check what the Basic programme includes, line by line, before you commit.
Nothing is charged online; you pay in person at the hamam on your hamam day. If your holiday plans shift, cancelling is free of charge up to 24 hours beforehand.
To go ahead, book the Belek Turkish bath through the form and write any request in its notes field. Anything else, from the programme itself to pickup in Belek, Kadriye and Boğazkent, is covered in our questions and answers.
Questions
Do I have to tip the attendants?
No. Tipping is a custom rather than a charge: it is optional and not part of the fare. Whether you tip, and how much, is your decision.
Is a same-gender attendant guaranteed?
No. You can request one in the booking notes and we send it on to the hamam selected for your area, but we cannot promise it will be met.
Is the etiquette the same whichever hamam I go to?
Yes. Your hamam depends on your hotel and transfer area, but swimwear stays on throughout, a same-gender attendant is a request rather than a promise, and tipping remains optional wherever you are taken. What can vary is the order and timing of the stages.
