Steam, scrub, soap lather and a silky massage. Ahhhh… Few bathing rituals in the world generate the pleasure (and the clean, creaky feel) of a hammam.
Spend time in one of the best hammams in Marrakech it is a must when visiting the city.
Organizing a holiday in Marrakech is the dream of many: the Moroccan ethnic swarm, the colors, the traditions, the food and the architecture make this splendid North African jewel a popular and very popular destination!
There are many things to see in Marrakech, as well as many trips to join and adventures not to be missed: fromcharm of the old city, the Medina, to the chaotic souks, temples of bargaining; from historic and precious buildings to characteristic and unique food; from visits to local places of worship, mosques, to characteristic and singular hotel structures, i Riad; give her excursions in the desert of Merzouga, to those on the Atlas Mountains and the Four Valleys.
If you are thinking, however, of alternating this whirlwind of wonders with a bit of healthy and well-deserved relaxation, there is no better place than the Moroccan city to indulge in quality time in a hammam.
You cannot visit Marrakech without indulging in the experience of spending a few hours in an authentic Moroccan spa!
Read also: what is the hammam, drive for your first time
In this post you will find some details on hammam practice and some tips on what they are the best hammams in Marrakech!
What is the hammam
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The hammam, if you didn't know by chance, is a very important spa for Muslim culture, whose birth is thought to date back to the XNUMXth century AD: a devoted observer of this religion should use the thermal bath five times a day to be truly pure and make oneself worthy to be able to practice the various moments dedicated to prayer.
The practice of the hammam has always been, over the centuries, a real moment of social aggregation, in which to meet and spend this purifying and regenerating moment in company.
How a hammam is structured
Generally, the hammam consists of three distinct rooms: a warm room, where the skin is prepared to be purified; a second hot room dedicated to massages and scrubs, to dedicate oneself to the removal of impurities and dead cells; a third room, this time cold, to finish the procedure and relax fully enjoying the benefits of the practice, sipping a good tea.
The hammam ritual: a real wellness path
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The hammam ritual is composed as follows: first of all, you will have to quickly rinse your body in order to access the first hot room, where you will be sprinkled with a black soap based on olive oil that prepares your body for the next exfoliating treatment.
In the second hot room, your body, sprinkled with black soap, will be exfoliated with a special glove and here you can choose whether to get help from a hammam attendant, without being scared if everything is done in a very energetic way!
After the exfoliation process, you will be sprinkled with a moisturizing mask, on the body and hair, to nourish your treated skin and, then, rinsed properly.
In the third and last room, you will find water and tea to quench your thirst and, if you wish, you can request a massage based on argan oil or other beneficial substances, even chocolate!
Purification for body and mind
The setting in which you will enjoy these regenerating practices is very suggestive, the light penetrates softly from small windows and everything is very relaxing, surrounded by candles and rose petals.
It is a purification process not only for the body but also (and above all) for the mind.
You get rid of thoughts and worries, focusing on yourself and your well-being.
What to bring with you
To access the public hammams you will need to have a towel, your bathroom items, a scrub glove, a bowl or small bucket for water, black soap and a change of underwear with you.
Personally, I recommend that you wear the slip of a swimsuit: it is very practical and you will feel a little more comfortable!
Keep in mind, however, that if you book your relaxing treatment in a private hammam, you will only have to bring your bathing suit with you: everything else, in fact, will be provided by the hotel as a courtesy kit.
The best hammams in Marrakech
In Marrakech you can find two different types of hammams: the traditional hammams he tourist hammams.
Traditional hammams are found in every neighborhood of Marrakech and are generally close to the city's mosques (they once shared the same water) for their pre-prayer purifying function.
Some of the most famous and popular traditional hammams in Marrakech are Hammam Dar el-Bacha (Rue Hatima Zohra), Hammam Bab Doukkala (located next to the Bab Doukkala mosque) and the famous Hammam Ziani (14, Rue Riad Zitoune jdid)
If you want to try a traditional hammam you will have to bring some things with you such as soap, exfoliating glove and towel (in addition to the costume of course): it will certainly be an experience that you will remember but you must know that not in all traditional hammams you will find a adequate hygiene. Choose it carefully before you venture out.
Tourist hammams are more than spas, and generally offer real wellness programs and beauty treatments. They are very clean, are generally more modern, and have facilities for mixed couples.
Most of the tourist hammams are located inside hotels or riads: reservations are required in advance.
Now that you are ready and know what to expect during an intense hammam session, here I am to advise you the best hammams in Marrakech!
1 - Les jardins de la Koutoubia, in the heart of the Medina
I wrote before that the hammams in Marrakech are often located next to Muslim places of worship, precisely because of their primary function, namely purification before prayer.
Well, right next to the most important mosque in the Medina, the Koutoubia, you will find The gardens of the Koutoubia: in this splendid corner of bliss you can take advantage of rooms dedicated to the hammam, spaces reserved for individual and couple massages, without forgetting a splendid swimming pool, surrounded by deckchairs and palm trees, and areas for treatments dedicated to facial care .
In Les jardins del la Koutoubia there are also some rooms where you can relax, have a good tea and enjoy some Moroccan delicacies.
2 - La Sultana Marrakech, for those who love luxury
If you are looking for luxury, La Sultana Marrakech is the one for you! The location is decidedly lush with its marbles in shades of pink and green, while the atmosphere is made even more suggestive by candles and terraces as you would expect from a respectable five-star resort!
Hammam and balneotherapy are some of the treatments available to guests to which the management reserves the highest level of care and attention.
Massages, unique and special treatments, attention to detail and a dream location: it is certainly one of the best hammams in Marrakech, if you don't mind the expense and want to have the best it is the ideal place!
3 - Isis SPA, in the Kasbah, the hammam for families
Yes, you got it right: Isis SPA welcomes families! If you visit Marrakech with your spouse and children in tow, fear not: you too can enjoy a well-deserved moment of relaxation with your loved ones!
You can book a wellness program of about three hours for everyone, including children, and you will be guided by the friendly and qualified staff of the SPA.
Isis SPA is very renowned for the cleanliness and professionalism of its employees.
An excellent solution for those traveling with the family!
4 - Hammam de la rose, Medina
A suggestive and relaxing location that ofRose hammam, one of the most famous hammams in all of Marrakech.
Soft lights, rose petals and candles create a unique atmosphere, a small corner of paradise in which to treat yourself to relaxation and care for yourself.
Eucalyptus soap, henna, rose oil, palm oil hair treatments and black soap are some of the treatments used in this enchanting hammam.
5 – Click Spa Marrakech
Click Spa Marrakech it is an excellent traditional hammam, but elegant and well decorated. One of the best, if not the best, in Marrakech ..
The soap is the local black one, after which the scrub, shampoo and at the end a last rinse with an orange blossom soap will be done, all for 45 minutes, normal duration of a hammam
The oil used for the massage is pure argan oil, which has a very strong smell: do not worry, therefore, the products used, as well as being very local, are also of excellent quality.
You can book the Click SPA Marrakech HERE and also WHO su GetYourGuide.
6 - The baths of Marrakech
The baths of Marrakech it is famous, especially for the quality of the treatments carried out. It is considered the place to be of Moroccan hammams, surrounded by precious materials, fountains and gardens.
Here you will find not only the usual hammam practices but also numerous and various types of massages, pampered in body and spirit by the professionalism of the staff.
It is an enchanting and noteworthy place if you want to indulge in a few hours in an excellent wellness center!
7 – Royal Mansour
The best hammam in Marrakech is located inhotel Royal Mansour.
Although it represents the pinnacle of luxury, the treatment ofhammam di Mansour it's absolutely authentic: guests are laid out on the warm marble floor and sprinkled with water gently poured from hand-engraved silver buckets.
The products used are the best that Morocco has to offer: the scrub includes rose, basil, chamomile, eucalyptus, lichen, lavender and argan powder. There are various treatments and masks on offer depending on your skin type.
La reservation is required.
8 – Mouassine Hammam
THEhammam Mouassine it dates back to 1572 and is the oldest public hammam in Marrakech. Inside, it's pretty basic, with three rooms with ceramic-tiled floors and faucet-lined walls and domed tadelakt (plastered) ceilings.
Bathers sit on mats on the floor gossiping and washing each other.
This is the ideal place for those looking for an absolutely authentic experience (but you have to be prepared).
9 - Hammam Essalama
La small local SPA Essalama it is located just outside the medina, near the Jardin Majorelle.
Inside, the rooms are lined with modern tiles that mimic traditional zellij mosaics.
Few people speak English here, but they are friendly and helpful to beginners, and the treatments are well done. You will need to bring a towel, but you can find soap and gloves here.
This is also a traditional hammam.
Give yourself a few hours of relaxation in the best hammams in Marrakech: what better place to enjoy the benefits of this millenary practice?
