Gay hammam

Visiting these spaces not only rejuvenates the body but also offers a cultural insight into the city’s heritage and modern social life.

By exploring different atmospheres — from quiet, marble-lined chambers to dynamic, modern saunas — travelers can choose experiences that align with their preferences. I am simply a man and this is my honest experience of my first ever hammam, which was very similar to the others as I searched for the best Turkish bath Istanbul had to offer.

Let’s dive right in.

Question: What’s worse than having a language barrier when you don’t understand what’s going on?

Answer: Having a language barrier when you don’t know what’s going on, while you’re naked and there’s another guy wrestling and throwing you about!

While public affection remains taboo in conservative corners, Istanbul revels in dynamic gay nightlife if you know where to look.

Make your way to the central Beyoğlu district, the longtime pulse of Istanbul's gay scene. I have no problems at all with being naked (in fact, I prefer it over the oppressiveness of clothes on the best of days) but there’s something that feels inherently awkward getting manhandled in such a fashion whilst in the nuddy when you don’t speak the same language.

After feeling like I’d just gotten to third base with someone who I knew nothing about I was then dragged over to the sink, where I received the most rigorous of sponge baths, accompanied by the guy’s howling chuckle.

The laugh, which he let out pretty much every 30 seconds, while repeatedly affirming; “gooood, goooooooood,” added to the unpleasant feeling I felt during the whole ritual.

Nobody said the Turkish bath Istanbul-style encounter would be easy, no one ever said it would be this hard…

The experience was far from pleasant and I’m pretty sure after this (and a few other cracks of the whip) I will never have a Turkish bath ever again.

Toiletries for post-bath use are also advisable.

Nearby neighborhoods like trendy Cihangir and artsy Karaköy also mix gay-friendly cafés and lounges into their eclectic landscapes.

Follow the subtle rainbow flags to find venues ranging from cheeky drag bars to posh lounges. They do this by filling the cloth with air, dipping it into a bucket of warm soapy water and squeezing out a scurry of bubbles onto you.

As a man, you’ll also be expected to be naked but to keep your pestemal (a checked cloth to tie around your midriff) around your waist while you’re walking around. 

You’ll need to remove this and use it to lie on when it’s time for your massage. For a more relaxed experience, weekday mornings or early afternoons are ideal. You can stay here for as long as you want, or as long as it takes to get your head around what you’ve just experienced. 

Turkish Bath For Men: My Experience Having a Hammam

Now we have gotten the ‘typical’ Turkish bath experience out of the way, let’s get into mine.

The employee then flipped me over ten minutes after, onto my back and it was more of the same, with him throwing me about and aggressively poking away at me. 

My towel came off and I was naked a lot of the time. Bringing flip-flops, a towel, and a small toiletry kit is recommended, though rentals and supplies are usually available.