The Turkish hamam (also Turkish bath) is the Turkish variation of a steam bath, which can be categorized as a wet relative of the sauna. They had played an important role in Ottoman culture, serving as places of social gathering, ritual cleansing and as architectural structures, institutions, and (later) elements with special customs attached to them.

In Western Europe, the Turkish bath as a method of cleansing the body and relaxation was particularly popular during the Victorian era. The process involved in taking a Turkish bath is similar to that of a sauna, but is more closely related to the bathing practices of the Romans.

Taking a Turkish bath firstly involves relaxing in a room (known as the warm room) that is heated by a continuous flow of hot dry air allowing the bather to perspire freely. Bathers may then move to an ever hotter room (known as the hot room) before plunging themselves into a cold pool. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to the cooling-room for a period of relaxation.

In Turkey, the advent of modern plumbing systems, showers, and bathtubs in homes caused the importance of hamams to fade in recent times. The word "hamam" simply means "bathroom" or "toilet" in many dialects of vernacular Arabic.

Swimsuit, bikinis and swimming trucks are required as everyone mixes together as in a sauna. On the lower floor there are changing rooms for women and men with lockers for personal items and change of clothes. On arrival, after changing, you enter the warm room which resembles a Finnish sauna. Most people will remain there for around 10 minutes until sweating profusely so the pores of the skins are open. You then move on to the the  hot room where you can lie on the marble table and relax. Later the masseurs will take you to special table and begin scrubbing your skin with harsh mitten from head to toe. You will be scrubbed front and back. After this is normal to take a shower and rinse away all dead skin cells. And again back to the table for a washing with soap foam. Once through with this treatment people normally move on to a cooler place next to the bar having been wrapped in three layers of towels.

Outside there is also swimming pool which you are welcome to use. Downstairs there is a barber shop and beauty salon. Men should have their hair cut at least once during their holiday if only for the experience of having the hair on their ears burnt off with an open flame - quite an experience the first as it is done without warning. The beauty salon offers a full range of services including pedicure, manicure, trimming and colouring your eyebrows and eyelashes. Enjoy the full service program and treat yourself to a very nice relaxing experience.  A visit to the Haman at the beginning of your holiday you will ensure a longer lasting more even tan.

Armutalan Haman is open all season from early April until the end of October. It is open daily from 0900 to 2200 hours (9:00 AM - 10:00 PM).  It's is very easy to visit the  Armutalan Hamam: - take the blue Armutalan Number 4 dolmus in front of Tansas or just call them and they will pick you up - see link to map for location!

Armutalan Haman is the second largest in Turkey having three hamam rooms and 2 saunas, a large massage area and two jacuzzi. It was established in 1996 by the owner, Mrs Nuray, who learned her trade from her Grandfather.

If you are interested in a visit to a Turkish Bath the Armutalan Hamam is absolutely the right place and well worth a visit.

Price examples:

Basic packet: Sauna, hamam, scrub and washing             - 12 €

Whole packet: sauna, hamam, scrub, washing, jacuzzi,
                    oil massage and natural face mask             - 28 €