Turkish Hamam in Alanya – Sauna, Kese Scrub and Foam Massage

If you have never been to a Turkish bath, the idea of being scrubbed by a stranger can sound a little daunting. In practice it is one of the most soothing hours of a holiday – and very easy to enjoy. You keep your swimwear on, the attendants guide you from one step to the next, and all you have to do is lie back while the heat and the massage do their work.

What happens inside

First you spend some time in the dry sauna and the steam room so the warmth can open your pores. Then you move to the göbek taşı, the heated marble platform at the heart of the hamam, where an attendant goes over your skin with a coarse kese mitt – most people are amazed at how much it removes. After a rinse comes the part everyone remembers: you are covered in thick clouds of soap foam and given a gentle massage. An oil massage and a glass of Turkish tea in the rest area complete the ritual.

Good timing and add-ons

A hamam early in the holiday is a popular trick: with the old skin scrubbed away, your tan often comes out more even. It works just as well at the end of a long excursion day, when tired legs need it most. If you want more, the hamam offers extra treatments on site – aromatherapy, hot stone, Thai or reflexology massage, facials or a salt peeling – for roughly €15 to €100.

Practical details

We pick you up from your hotel in Alanya, Mahmutlar, Kestel, Oba, Konakli, Turkler, Avsallar or Okurcalar at the time you choose and drive you back afterwards; allow about three hours in total, of which 1.5–2 hours in the hamam. Adults pay €20 and children aged 3–11 €10, with the treatments adapted for them. Bring your swimwear and a photo of your passport on your phone – everything needed for the treatments is provided. Skip the scrub if you have fresh sunburn, and if you are pregnant or have heart problems or high blood pressure, ask your doctor first. Fancy a lazy day next? A pirate boat cruise along the coast makes a perfect follow-up.