Hamam guide
Hamam foam massage: what happens
After the kese scrub comes the foam: you are washed in foam and massaged through it. Here is what happens, how it differs from the oil massage that follows, and what a booking on this site covers.
In short
A hamam foam massage is a wash and a massage in one: after the kese scrub, an attendant washes you in foam and then massages you through it on the warm marble. It is a separate stage from the aromatic oil massage of about 20 minutes that comes next. Both are part of the basic programme booked on this site, together with a round-trip hotel transfer, from €25 per adult.
The foam stage, step by step
The foam comes straight after the kese, the full-body scrub with a textured mitt. The kese mitt and the foam wash are what set a Turkish bath apart from a sauna or a steam room, and on this programme you have both.
First the foam wash: the attendant covers you in foam and washes you with it. Then the foam massage: the attendant massages you through the foam while you lie on the warm marble — the heated platform called the göbektaşı.
After the foam comes the aromatic oil massage, and after that you rinse, rest and change. The exact order and timing can vary with the hamam and how busy the session is.
What it feels like
The kese is a scrub with a textured mitt; the foam stage is a wash and a massage by hand, through a layer of foam.
As with the scrub, if anything feels uncomfortable, tell the attendant. If you would prefer an attendant of your own gender, mention it when you book — a same-gender attendant can be requested, though not guaranteed.
Foam massage and oil massage compared
The basic programme includes two massages, and they are easy to mix up. This is how they differ:
| Foam wash and foam massage | Aromatic oil massage | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Straight after the kese scrub | After the foam stage |
| What happens | You are washed in foam, then massaged through it | A massage with aromatic oil |
| How long | Part of the session; no separate time is quoted | About 20 minutes |
| Included in the booking | Yes | Yes |
The order shown is the usual programme sequence; it can vary with the hamam and how busy the session is.
What's included, and what isn't
Every booking on this site buys the same basic programme: round-trip hotel transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle within our service areas, sauna, steam room, the kese body scrub, the foam wash and foam massage, an aromatic oil massage of about 20 minutes, a peştemal wrap, towel and slippers, and local insurance.
Longer or upgraded massages are not part of the booking, and we don't sell them on this site. The same goes for extra treatments such as clay or aroma masks, drinks, herbal teas and refreshments, professional photos and video, and personal expenses. Tipping the attendants is customary but optional, and not included.
What to wear for the foam
You wear swimwear throughout — a swimsuit, trunks or a bikini — and nobody is naked. You change into it when you arrive, and you are given a peştemal wrap, a towel and slippers.
Your swimwear will be wet and foamy by the end, so bring a change of underwear for the ride back, and a hairbrush or comb. The full list is in what to wear and bring to a Turkish bath.
Health and children
A hamam is not recommended during pregnancy, with heart or circulatory conditions, or if you are sensitive to heat or humidity. If you have a medical condition, high or low blood pressure, a skin condition, or a recent operation or injury, speak to your doctor first and tell the hamam before your session.
The massage stages are designed for adults. Children may join a parent in the hamam — just tell us their ages when you book. More in Turkish bath with children and as a couple.
Booking the foam massage in Antalya
The foam wash and massage come with every booking on this site; there is nothing to add. We book hamam visits in Antalya city, Belek and Kemer, and your hotel decides which of the three hamams you visit, with the transfer included.
Find your hotel among every hotel we collect from, or start on the home page. Reserving is free, you pay at the hamam on the day, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before your visit. We confirm the pickup time and the hamam's address with you before the day.
