Hurrem Sultan Hamamı is a luxury historical hamam located between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Museum. This magnificient Turkish bath was originally built by the architect Sinan -the most famous Ottoman architect- for Hurrem Sultan, the legendary wife of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, in 1556. It was built where the ancient public baths of Zeuxippus (100-200 AD) used to stand (where once Temple of Zeus stood).

The hamam was operational until 1910, then it closed for many years. It was later used to house the convicts during times when the nearby Sultanahmet Prison was full. Subsequently it was a storage place for paper and oil. The Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam, one of the most beautiful monuments in Istanbul, was restored for the first time between the years 1957-1958 and was a carpet bazaar until 2007.

Although the hamam was built in the classical period Ottoman bath style, it was an innovation in Turkish bath architecture to have the sections for men and women constructed on the same axis as mirror images of each other.

At Hurrem Sultan Hamamı, guests are welcomed and provided with a locker within a changing room. Once ready, they are taken to the warm room and rests in the heat on the belly stone for about fifteen minutes until they are scrubbed and all the dead skin comes out. Following the scrubbing ritual, the guest is given a foam bath where the hair is washed as well. Then comes the resting time with fruit juice or herbal tea. It is a rejuvenating and relaxing experience.

There are several packages offered by Hurrem Sultan Hamamı. The one described above is the traditional one called ‘Pir-i Pak’, however there are also other services like ‘Keyf-i Hamam’ or ‘Zevk-i Sefa’ where a longer scrub or a one hour massage are included in the treatment.

Contact us for package details and reservation.