Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hammam: Sinan's bathhouse between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
The Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hammam (Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı) fills a stone-and-brick building a few steps from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, in the heart of Sultanahmet. Built by Mimar Sinan in 1556-1557 for Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana), the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, it worked as a bathhouse until 1910 before being restored. It is a double hammam, with one section for men and one for women: one of the most beautiful baths in the city, and also one of the most expensive. To compare, see the Çemberlitaş hammam and the Cağaloğlu hammam.
Highlights
Sinan's domes
The bath is built in alternating courses of stone and brick, crowned with plain domes that stand out against the gardens of the square. You visit it mostly from the inside, but the outside is worth a look.
The hot room
Under the dome you lie on the heated stone (göbek taşı) in the middle of the room, in the light that falls through small openings pierced in the vault.
The packages
The bath offers scrub, foam wash and massage packages, from a short treatment up to a longer ritual. Durations and contents are specified when you book.
The setting
Men and women are kept separate, with staff of the same sex.
Practical info
Tips
- According to the sources we consulted in October 2026, prices start at around €70 to €90 per person depending on the package; they differ from one source to another, so confirm them when you book. Booking is strongly recommended. To compare the offers sold online, see our guide hammam in Istanbul: which offer to choose; resold offer: Istanbul: Hurrem Sultan Hammam Experience. To choose between several baths, read the best hammams in Istanbul and the works of Sinan in Istanbul. A swimsuit is optional; a loincloth and towel are provided.
How to get there
Ayasofya Meydanı No: 2, Cankurtaran, Fatih, Istanbul, on the square between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Tram T1, Sultanahmet stop, about a 3-minute walk. Close by: the Hippodrome, the Basilica Cistern and the Arasta Bazaar.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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