Built in 1481, for almost 500 years this hamam was for men only. A small women's section was finally added in 1963. Little else has been altered. The camekan is particularly fine, and there's some beautiful tilework at the entrance to the men's steam room.
Unlike other hamams, the Galatasaray has marble slabs in the soĸukluk where you can have a massage in semi-privacy. Because it's used largely by locals, the steam room is hot, hot, hot - towels have to be laid on the göbektaşı before anyone can lie on it.
Staff are shameless about hustling for tips, but at least they give a good massage. To find the place, take the side-street off Istiklal Caddesi immediately north of the Galatasaray Lycée.
Area Istanbul
Telephone 0212 men 252 4242, 0212 women 294 4342
Open Men 7am-10pm daily. Women 8.30am-8pm daily
Admission YTL50; YTL75 with massage.
Recommended by a local as the cleanest and one of the best. My wife was disappointed with the massage part while mine was positively brutal, in a good way. Females need to make it clear if they prefer a strong hard massage. On the whole, a great Turkish experience.
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