There’s a reason the word hammam has been synonymous with ritual bathing for centuries. Long before the modern bathroom existed, the Turkish hammam — the communal bathhouse at the heart of Ottoman life — was a place of warmth, cleansing, and quiet ceremony. And at the centre of every hammam experience was one essential object: the peshtemal, or what we now call the hammam towel.
At Hammamas, we didn’t just name our brand after this tradition — we built it around it. This guide covers everything you need to know about hammam towels: where they come from, what makes a genuine one worth owning, how to use them well beyond the bathroom, and how to care for them so they last for years.
The word hammam (also spelled hamam) comes from the Arabic hammām, meaning “spreader of warmth” — an apt description for both the bathhouse and the towel. Turkish hammams date back over a thousand years, reaching their peak during the Ottoman Empire when bathhouses became elaborate architectural landmarks and daily social rituals for millions of people.
The peshtemal — the flat-woven cotton cloth used in these bathhouses — was purpose-designed for the hammam environment. It needed to be lightweight enough to carry, absorbent enough to dry the body after steaming and scrubbing, and beautiful enough to wear as a wrap between the bathing stages. Woven on traditional handlooms from long-staple Turkish cotton, the peshtemal was a craftsperson’s product as much as a functional one.
Over centuries, the peshtemal evolved and travelled. Today’s Turkish hammam towels are a direct descendant of this tradition — recognisable by their flat weave, their fringed ends, their surprising lightness, and the way they seem to get better with every wash. They’re a world away from the thick terry-cloth towels most of us grew up with, and once you’ve used one, it’s difficult to go back.
Not all hammam towels are created equal. As the style has grown in popularity, the market has filled with imitations that borrow the aesthetic without the substance. Here’s what separates a genuinely great hammam towel from a mass-market copy.
100% Turkish cotton is non-negotiable. Authentic cotton hammam towels are made from long-staple Turkish cotton — specifically Aegean cotton grown in western Turkey, prized for its extra-long fibres. These longer fibres create a softer, stronger, more absorbent yarn. When you see a hammam towel made from short-staple cotton or cotton blends, it will feel rougher, absorb less, and deteriorate faster. Always check the label.
Flat-weave construction, not terry. A genuine hammam towel uses a flat-weave or low-loop construction — the same structure used in traditional peshtemal weaving. This is what gives hammam towels their characteristic lightweight feel and quick-dry performance. Terry-weave towels with a “hammam” label are essentially just thinner regular towels; the flat-weave is what defines the category.
Handloom heritage matters. Many of the best hammam towels are still woven on traditional or semi-traditional handlooms in Turkey’s Aegean region. The handloom process allows for tighter, more consistent weaving and produces the characteristic texture that improves with washing. At Hammamas, our towels are made in Turkey using authentic production methods — it’s not a marketing detail, it’s the foundation of the product’s quality.
Weight is a useful guide. A well-made hammam towel typically weighs between 300–450 gsm. Lighter than that and the weave may be too loose to be durable; heavier and it starts to lose the quick-dry advantage that makes hammam towels so useful.
Watch for “hammam-style” labelling. Products labelled “hammam-style” or “inspired by” are often made from inferior cotton in countries without a peshtemal tradition. If authenticity matters to you — and it should, given the price difference is often marginal — look for towels that specify Turkish manufacturing and Turkish cotton.
You can learn more about what distinguishes Hammamas towels from standard options in our Turkish towels vs regular towels guide and our roundup of the best cotton Turkish towels for 2025.
One of the things that makes a hammam towel worth the investment is how far beyond the bathroom it stretches. Here are five ways to use yours — especially relevant as Melbourne moves deeper into the cooler months.
1. A luxurious post-shower wrap. This is the original use, and it remains the best. After a hot shower on a cold winter morning, wrap yourself in a hammam towel and feel the difference between a towel that traps heat while it absorbs versus one that just pushes water around. The flat weave dries you efficiently without that heavy, damp-towel feeling.
2. A cosy throw on the couch. Hammam towels are genuinely beautiful objects — the fringed ends, the subtle stripe patterns, the texture that comes from quality weaving. Drape one over your couch or armchair on a winter evening and it doubles as a lightweight throw. It’s thin enough to feel elegant rather than bulky, and warm enough to actually be useful.
3. A yoga or pilates mat towel. The flat weave gives just enough grip when slightly damp, and hammam towels are the right size and weight for laying over a mat. They pack down to almost nothing in a gym bag — far more practical than carrying a separate, bulky yoga towel.
4. A lightweight travel companion. For weekend getaways or longer winter trips, a hammam towel is one of the most space-efficient packing choices you can make. It replaces a full-size bath towel, works as a wrap or sarong if you end up somewhere warmer, and dries overnight if you need to wash it.
5. A sarong or wrap for warmer days ahead. While it’s winter now, a hammam towel bought today earns its keep year-round. The same properties that make it a cosy wrap in July make it the ideal beach or pool sarong come summer — lightweight, fast-drying, and far more stylish than a standard towel thrown over a shoulder.
One of the most common questions people have before buying a hammam towel is whether they’re delicate. The honest answer is: they’re more durable than they look, and they actually improve with proper care.
Washing. Machine wash on a warm cycle (30–40°C) with a gentle detergent. Avoid fabric softener — this is important. Fabric softener coats the cotton fibres and reduces their natural absorbency over time. Your hammam towel will soften on its own; it doesn’t need help from a product that ultimately makes it work less well.
They genuinely get softer with every wash. This is one of the most appealing things about quality cotton hammam towels, and it’s not a sales line — it’s how long-staple Turkish cotton works. The fibres relax and open up with washing, which is why a hammam towel you’ve had for two years will feel noticeably better than the day you bought it.
Drying. Line drying is ideal when possible — the air and sun are gentle on the fibres and preserve the weave. If you’re using a dryer, keep it on a low heat setting. High heat can tighten the fibres and damage the fringe over time.
Fringe care. Give the fringe a gentle shake before drying to keep it from tangling. If any loose threads appear, trim them rather than pulling — pulling can unravel the edge of the weave.
Storage. Store folded rather than rolled if possible, and avoid damp storage areas. A clean, dry linen cupboard is all they need.
For more detail on our towels and what to expect, visit our FAQs page.
When you’re ready to buy hammam towels that carry genuine Turkish craftsmanship, Hammamas is the place to start. Our name isn’t coincidental — it’s a statement about where we come from and what we stand for.
The Original range is the classic choice for anyone who wants a pure hammam experience — traditional flat-weave construction, authentic peshtemal proportions, and that clean simplicity that works in any bathroom.
The Home and Plush ranges bring hammam-style weaving into a slightly heavier, more indulgent format — ideal for bathrooms where a more luxurious feel is the priority.
The Calypso and Boho ranges are for those who want the substance of a hammam towel with a more expressive, design-forward aesthetic. Rich colours, bold stripe patterns, and a personality that works beyond the bathroom.
Explore the full collection at Hammamas, browse the Calypso range, or learn more about us and the tradition behind the brand.
What is a hammam towel? A hammam towel (also called a peshtemal or Turkish bath towel) is a flat-woven cotton towel originating from Turkish bathhouse culture. Made from long-staple Turkish cotton in a lightweight, fast-drying weave, hammam towels are more absorbent and durable than their feel suggests, and they soften with every wash. They’re used for drying, wrapping, and — increasingly — as versatile everyday textiles beyond the bathroom.
How do you wash a hammam towel? Machine wash on a warm cycle (30–40°C) with a mild detergent. Do not use fabric softener, as it reduces the natural absorbency of the Turkish cotton fibres. Line dry when possible, or tumble dry on low heat. Hammam towels get softer with each wash, so regular use only improves them.
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