Hamam guides
Kese and foam, explained
Saunas and steam rooms are in every spa. What makes a Turkish bath is what comes after them: the scrub and the foam. Here is what each one really is.
Last updated September 26, 2026 · Murat Atalay Travel Agency, TÜRSAB No. 11294
Short answer
Kese is the hamam's traditional scrub: once you are warm, an attendant works over you on the warm marble with a mitt of coarse woven cloth. The foam follows — soap foam is piled over you, washed and worked in, then rinsed off. Both are in the Basic Hamam, and a basic oil massage of about 20 minutes comes after them.
Kese: the scrub
A kese is a mitt of coarse woven cloth, and the scrub takes its name from it. An attendant does it, on the heated marble, after the sauna and steam room have warmed you through — a full-body exfoliating scrub, done by hand.
All you do is lie still and turn when asked. If it is too much, say so.
Foam: the wash
Traditionally the foam is made by filling a cloth with soapy water and drawing it through the air, so that it billows into a thick foam. It is spread and worked over your body by the attendant, and then rinsed away.
Where they come in the programme
| Step | What happens | In the Basic Hamam |
|---|---|---|
| Sauna | Dry heat, to warm up | Included |
| Steam room | Warm, steam-filled air | Included |
| Kese | Full-body scrub with the coarse mitt, on the warm marble | Included |
| Foam | Soap foam worked over the body, then rinsed | Included |
| Oil massage | Basic aromatic oil massage, about 20 minutes | Included |
| Longer or different massages | Offered by the hamam on the day, at its own prices | Not included — paid at the hamam |
Inside, the sequence and the timing can vary a little between hamams, and with how busy a session is.
How this differs from a spa sauna
The sauna is hot and dry, the steam room warm and full of steam, and both belong to the hamam too — but only as the warm-up. The kese and the foam wash, done for you by an attendant, are what make the visit a Turkish bath and not simply time in the heat.
Good to know
- Swimwear stays on for the kese and the foam as well.
- Would a same-gender attendant suit you better? Mention it as you book.
- Not recommended during pregnancy or with heart or circulatory conditions. Sensitive to heat or humidity, or under medical care? Check with a doctor beforehand, and let the hamam staff know when you arrive.
Questions guests ask
Are kese and foam both included?
Is the foam made from soap?
Does the kese hurt?
Ready for the hamam?
A date, your hotel and your party — that is all it takes, and the total is shown before you confirm.