Hammam

A visit to a hammam or bath house is one of of the genuine cultural experiences for those who travel to Morocco - as real as the souks and the medinas. The heat in North Africa seeps into you and leaves you drained by the end of the day when you travel in Morocco. The desert dust gets into everything. Some need to take frequent rest-stops in bars and cafes to refresh. Others take a siesta and a cold shower to re-energize their weary bodies. And the smart ones go to the hamman (bath house) for an experience of a lifetime.

For a few bucks and a friendly attitude you get access to unlimited buckets of steaming water at a Hammam in Morocco. You also get a scrub down that will leave your skin as soft as a babe’s and a unique cultural experience you’ll never forget.

The hammam, descended from the Roman bath, is the Moroccan version of a Turkish bath - very hot, lots of running water, but less steam - and is used by most Moroccans at least once a week.

Public hammans in Morocco are a great place to mingle with the locals and to participate in one of their important customs. Most hammams are segregated – some have special hours for men and for women.Those who travel in Morocco have two choices, they can go the authentic route and visit a real hammam in the medina or take the more luxury option of a fancy hotel’s upscale version. The public Moroccan hammam doesn’t have any frills. These hammams are part of the social life of the city. They are a place for meeting and gossip as well as bathing.