Hammam in Marrakech: public, spa or at home, which to choose?

The hammam, a Moroccan tradition

In Morocco, the hammam is part of everyday life. People go to wash in the steam, scrub their skin and catch up. The ritual rests on three steps: black soap, a scrub with a kessa glove and rinsing, sometimes followed by a clay such as rhassoul.

The public neighbourhood hammam

This is the most authentic experience: a shared hot room, with separate hours or areas for women and men. Entry is cheap, and you can ask one of the hammam attendants to do the scrub for you.

• Pros: a real slice of local life, a very small budget.
• Cons: a shared space, little privacy and customs to learn. Bring your own black soap, glove, towel and sandals.

The spa or riad hammam

Spas and some riads offer a private hammam with a steam room, often combined with a massage. The experience is comfortable and well supervised.

• Pros: a real hot room and a polished setting.
• Cons: a return journey, time slots to book and a higher budget.

Hammam at home

The ritual comes to you, in your bathroom or your riad's or villa's private hammam. There is no steam room, but every step is there: black soap, kessa, clay, rinsing, then argan oil.

• Pros: complete privacy, a female therapist just for you, no journey.
• Cons: no steam; you need a shower with hot water.

The full sequence is explained in our guide hammam at home: what to expect.

Which one should you choose?

• You want to live the city like a local: the neighbourhood hammam, with someone who knows the place.
• You want steam and a spa setting: a spa hammam or your riad's.
• You want privacy and no travelling, or you are with family, a partner or friends: the hammam at home.

Tips for your first hammam

• Avoid waxing in the 24 hours before or after the scrub.
• No scrubbing on sunburn.
• Drink water and plan a quiet moment afterwards.
• Pregnant? Ask your doctor before any hammam; see our guide massage and pregnancy.