Turkish baths (hamams) are a great escape for all seasons - in winter when it is freezing outside. the promise of a nice long and warm shower/bath is just too good to pass up, in the spring, just as everything is blossoming, one feels the desire to get oneself cleansed of winter blues, summer is the time to enjoy the luxury of a bath that promises to invigorate, while in the autumn, one tends to be more reflective as the winter is coming, mother nature is winding down to prepare for the winter, one can enjoy a bath that gives one a sense of relaxation in a historical place of beauty and art to ponder about life. Turkish baths came about in the Roman and Byzantine ages where the religion of Islam has strict emphasis on cleanliness, hence the construction of these communal bath houses. What is involved in a Turkish bath you ask? A classic bath usually has three parts/rooms: changing rooms (where you decide on the type of service), a hot room and a cold room. After entering the hamam and exchanging one's clothes for a towel (pestamal), you then proceed to the gobek tasi, a large heated stone/marble slab where you perspire and are rubbed down by a bath attendant (natir if it is a woman and teliak if it is a male). If the heat proves to be too much, you can retire to a cooler room (cold halvet which usually is the coolest room furthest from the kulhan/boiler room) To enjoy a Turkish bath while in Istanbul, one can visit : 1) Old Hamam - the oldest domelike bath in Istanbul, very authentic and preserved in its original form 2) Cagaloglu Hamami - very popular with tourists esp. the luxury Ottoman package which includes music, belly dancer and a buffet 3) Cemberlitas Hamami - great tea and also very popular with tourists Tip/hint : please dont forget to bring along a tip on your visit as it is not included in the price and it is an expected gesture. Also, recently some hammams started charging for towels. Bring your own if you have it (borrow it from the hotel).