The idea of a steam and a scrub in a hammam spa is amazing but most hammams you’ll find in Turkey are either modern bathhouses or touristy, sub-hygienic experiences.

The best hammam in Bodrum (which is in my mind the best seaside resort town on the Aegean Sea), or even the best hammam in Turkey, is at the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum.

Why? Because the hotel delivers modern facilities in a white marble setting that takes you so close to the true old-school hammam experience without the questionable waft of mould.

You can book a massage as well, but a session inside a hammam -- with a therapist scrubbing you down -- is a massage in and of itself. Now this is a very important tip. The therapist will ask you if you want oil at the end - and the answer is absolutely not.

After leaving a hammam your skin will be so soft and clean. It will feel like marble. If you douse yourself with oil you will lose this feeling completely.

If you want to feel like Venus of Milo leaving the hammam, make sure you do say no to the oil.

Oil is for tourists.

KEMPINSKI ADDRESS

Kempinski Hotel

Barbaros Bay Bodrum

Kizilagac Mahallesi

Hacigiden Caddesi No: 33/1

CONTACT

Official Site

LEAD-IN IMAGE (COMPOSITE)

Hammam - Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum and Booking.com / Venus de Milo - Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay