Zeyrek Çinili Hamam has opened for bathing following a meticulous 13-year restoration

The bathing experience combines traditional Ottoman rituals with contemporary art and design. A collection of bespoke clothing and accessories designed by acclaimed fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, for hammam guests and staff, draws inspiration from the hammam’s unique architecture. The hammam’s accompanying museum showcases the building's fascinating history and Ottoman bathing culture.

Commissioned by Hayreddin Barbarossa, the Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy, this hammam is one of Istanbul’s landmark heritage sites built between 1530 and 1540 by the famed Mimar Sinan at the height of the Ottoman Empire. Once again, the public can step inside this cultural treasure and experience the traditional bathing ritual amidst its opulent interiors. Collaborations with leading creatives, including bespoke clothing and accessories by fashion designer Hussein Chalayan and site-specific furniture by artist Theodore Psychoyos, give the bathing experience a contemporary twist.

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam is a ‘double bath’, with one section originally designated for men and the other for women, each with its unique design. Conservation work has restored many of the building’s original features, including fragments of intricate Iznik tiles, wall paintings, and the hammam’s hidden Byzantine cisterns. When the baths reopen, access to the men’s and women’s sections will rotate, allowing everyone to appreciate these newly uncovered details fully.

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam offers a variety of signature bathing experiences ranging in duration from 25 to 100 minutes. “The Original”, a modern interpretation of the centuries-old ritual, begins with warm marble therapy where guests relax on the central stone (known as göbektaşı), under a magnificent starry dome, preparing and softening the skin. Hammam therapists (natır for women and tellak for men), then care for each guest individually, gently scrubbing the skin, before a foam massage and hair washing ritual using local natural products.

This communal ritual, which dates back more than two millennia, is known to have healing properties, alongside boosting the immune system, nourishing the skin, relaxing the mind and the body, and offering spiritual purification. Zeyrek Çinili Hamam offers different combinations of personalized therapies with additional treatments including foot massages and face masks. A bridal bath is also available for groups looking to honour the tradition of bathing as a bridal party in preparation for the wedding ceremony. The hammam complex also offers the possibility of hosting private and corporate events in the spectacular function garden overlooking the domes and the interior spaces.

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam is unique in Turkey in placing creativity and craftsmanship at the forefront of the bathing experience, working in collaboration with leading contemporary artists and designers. Renowned fashion designer Hussein Chalayan has created a bespoke collection for hammam visitors and staff including peshtemal towels and nalıns (clogs) as well as clothing inspired by the building’s architectural details. Guests can experience therapies unique to Zeyrek Çinili Hamam in site-specific marble massage units exclusively conceived by the Athens-based artist Theodore Psychoyos. Meanwhile, tailor-made ceramics by Santimetre Studio will be used to serve traditional refreshments and house sherbets made of seasonal fruits, enjoyed in the cold room after bathing.

The Zeyrek Çinili Hamam complex also offers a contemporary art trail that will grow over the years. Hammam-goers can bathe alongside a site-specific marble sculpture by New York-based Turkish artist Elif Uras, situated in the hot section featuring the historical İznik tiles. Other works invite visitors to reflect on the layers of the hammam’s history, including Turkish artist Ayça Telgeren's installation situated at the entrance and a site-specific commission by Swiss artist Adrian Geller, drawing inspiration from the historic ship graffitis found on the walls of the Byzantine cisterns. The hammam will continue to host an active program of contemporary art installations and events.

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam is also accompanied by a purpose-built museum, which opened in September 2023. The museum explores the hammam’s history, including archaeological finds from the building’s restoration such as fragments of Iznik tiles and Byzantine artefacts dating back to the 5th century AD. It looks at the role of bathing in Ottoman culture, a time when hammams acted as an important social space, particularly for women. Zeyrek Çinili Hamam and Museum is located in Istanbul’s Zeyrek district, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.