The three types of hammam
- The public (beldi) hammam. Every neighbourhood has one, often next to the mosque, sharing its furnace. Tiled rooms of increasing heat, buckets, locals washing. 10–20 MAD entry, 50–100 MAD for a kessal (scrubber) to do the work. Separate hours or entrances for men and women. Nobody speaks English, you bring your own kit, and it is the real thing. Best with a local friend the first time, or at a hammam used to visitors (Hammam Mouassine's public side, Hammam Dar el-Bacha).
- The tourist hammam. The same ritual in a prettier building, performed on you by an attendant, with a massage after and tea before. 250–600 MAD for 1–1.5 hours. Mixed sessions, couples rooms, English spoken, towels and disposables provided. This is what most visitors mean by "hammam" and it is excellent value.
- The hotel spa. La Mamounia, Royal Mansour, Es Saadi, the Palmeraie resorts. The hammam is one room in a spa with pools, gardens and a two-hour programme. 1,000–3,000 MAD. Worth it as an event; not necessary for the experience.
What actually happens, step by step
- Undress to underwear bottoms (public) or the disposables they give you (tourist). Lockers or a basket for your things.
- The hot room. 10–15 minutes of steam to open the pores. In a public hammam you fill buckets from the hot and cold taps and pour them over yourself; in a tourist hammam the attendant does it.
- Black soap (savon beldi). A dark olive-oil paste spread over the whole body and left for 5–10 minutes.
- The scrub (kessa). A rough glove, rubbed hard over every surface. Grey rolls of dead skin come off; this is normal and oddly satisfying. 10–15 minutes.
- Rinse, then ghassoul. A mineral clay from the Atlas, mixed with rose or orange-blossom water, applied as a mask to body and hair. 10 minutes, rinse.
- Hair wash and final rinse with cold water in a public hammam (bracing), warm in a tourist one.
- Rest. Mint tea, a towel, a quiet room. In a tourist hammam, the argan-oil massage comes here, 30–60 minutes.
Prices 2026
| Option | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Public hammam, entry | 10–20 MAD | Hot rooms, buckets; bring soap, glove, towel |
| Public hammam with kessal (scrubber) | 60–120 MAD | Entry + a full scrub by an attendant; tip 20 MAD |
| Tourist hammam, basic ritual | 250–350 MAD | Steam, black soap, scrub, ghassoul, tea; 45–60 min |
| Tourist hammam + massage | 400–600 MAD | Ritual + 30–45 min argan massage; 1.5 h |
| Couples package | 800–1,200 MAD per couple | Private room, ritual, massage, sometimes lunch |
| Hotel spa (La Mamounia, Royal Mansour…) | 1,000–3,000 MAD | Hammam, massage, pools, garden, 2–3 h |
| Hammam kit at a souk stall (soap, glove, ghassoul) | 40–80 MAD | Take it home; the glove is the useful part |
Checked October 2026. Tourist hammams quote in dirhams on site and in euros on the platforms; the platform price is usually the same or 10% higher but includes pickup or free cancellation.
Where to go
- Mid-range, reliable, central: Hammam de la Rose (Rue el Ksour), Les Bains de Marrakech (Kasbah, the most photographed), Hammam Mouassine (the oldest, both a public and a tourist side), Heritage Spa (north Medina, quieter), Hammam Ziani (near Bahia, large, busy, cheap). All 250–600 MAD.
- Public, visitor-friendly: Hammam Mouassine's public hammam, Hammam Dar el-Bacha, the hammam by the Bab Doukkala mosque. Ask your riad which one the staff use.
- Splurge: La Mamounia (the most famous, book well ahead), Royal Mansour (the most beautiful), Es Saadi Palace (a bit cheaper, huge). Non-guests can book treatments.
- In your riad: most mid-range and upper riads have a small hammam and bring in a therapist on request, 300–500 MAD. Convenient, private, less atmosphere.
Etiquette and tips
Go after the Medina, not before. Late afternoon, when you are tired and dusty, is when a hammam makes sense. Then a slow dinner. Do not plan anything energetic after.
- Public hammam rules: separate sexes, bottoms on, bring flip-flops, a towel, soap, a kessa glove and a small bucket (the souks sell kits for 40–80 MAD). Do not stare, do not photograph, keep your voice down. Pay at the door; tip the kessal.
- Tourist hammam rules: arrive 10 minutes early, no jewellery, tell them about allergies (argan, rose, essential oils) and sunburn. Tipping 20–50 MAD per attendant is appreciated, not required.
- Mixed or separate? Public hammams are always single-sex. Tourist hammams are mixed by default, with private rooms for couples; ask for a female attendant if you prefer one.
- Timing: 1 hour for a ritual, 1.5–2 hours with a massage. Do not eat a big meal right before; drink water after.
- Children: most tourist hammams take children from about 6 with a parent, with a gentler scrub. Public hammams are full of local kids; yours will be welcome.
- Fits in the plan: see day 2 of the 2-day itinerary. The Kasbah hammams are 5 minutes from Bahia and Badi.
Hammam in Marrakech: frequently asked questions
How much does a hammam cost in Marrakech?
Three price bands: a public neighbourhood hammam is 10–20 MAD entry plus 50–100 MAD if you pay someone to scrub you; a tourist hammam with scrub and massage is 250–600 MAD; a hotel spa (La Mamounia, Royal Mansour, Es Saadi) is 1,000–3,000 MAD. The middle band is what most visitors want.
Do I need to book a hammam?
Public hammams: no, walk in. Tourist hammams: yes, a day ahead in high season, same day otherwise; the good ones (Hammam de la Rose, Les Bains de Marrakech, Hammam Mouassine, Heritage Spa) fill their late-afternoon slots first. Hotel spas: book several days ahead.
What do I wear in a hammam?
Public hammam: underwear bottoms, nothing else; women's and men's sessions are separate. Tourist hammam: they give you disposable underwear; men and women are usually treated in the same hammam at the same time, with a mixed couples option. Hotel spas: swimwear or disposable underwear, your choice.
What is the difference between a hammam and a spa?
A hammam is the hot steam room ritual: heat, black soap, a vigorous scrub with a kessa glove, ghassoul clay, rinse. A spa adds a massage, a pool, a robe and a relaxation room around it. In Marrakech, "hammam" on a sign can mean either; the price tells you which.
Is the scrub painful?
Vigorous, not painful. The kessa glove takes off a startling amount of dead skin; tell the attendant "doucement" (gently) if it is too much. Skip the hammam if you have fresh sunburn, open cuts or are pregnant without checking first.
