If you’ve been browsing for the perfect beach or bath towel lately, chances are you’ve come across the term “hammam towels” – and then, moments later, “Turkish towels.” You might have found yourself wondering: what is a hammam towel, exactly? And is it the same thing as a Turkish towel?
You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked here at Hammamas (and yes, our name is a bit of a clue). As hammam towels have grown in popularity across Australian homes, beaches, and travel bags, the terminology has become a source of genuine confusion. Some brands use one term, some use the other, and a few seem to use both interchangeably.
So let’s clear things up – with a little history, a little textile know-how, and a lot of love for the craft that’s been at the heart of our family business for over eleven years.
The Ancient Origins of the Hammam Towel
To truly understand what a hammam towel is, you need to step back – way back – to the traditional Turkish bathhouses known as hammams. For centuries, these communal bathing houses have been a cornerstone of daily life and social ritual across Turkey and the broader Ottoman Empire. They were places of cleansing, relaxation, and community – and they required a very specific kind of towel.
Enter the pestemal (pronounced pesh-te-mal): a flat-woven cotton cloth that bathers would wrap around themselves inside the hammam. Unlike the thick, bulky terry towels we’re accustomed to in the West, the pestemal was designed to be lightweight, quick to dry in the steam-filled hammam environment, and remarkably absorbent despite its slim profile. Woven from long-staple Turkish cotton on traditional looms, these cloths were as functional as they were beautiful – often finished with hand-knotted fringe and subtle, elegant patterns.
This is the textile that gave birth to what we now call the hammam towel. Centuries of craftsmanship, passed down through generations of Turkish weavers, shaped the towel you see today: a cotton hammam towel that’s flat-woven, incredibly soft, and designed to get better with every wash.
When you hear the word “hammam” attached to a towel, it signals a connection to this authentic tradition – a tradition we’ve built our entire brand around. In fact, the name Hammamas itself is derived from “hammam,” because this heritage is where everything we do begins.
Hammam Towel vs Turkish Towel – Are They the Same?
Here’s the straightforward answer: yes. Hammam towels and Turkish towels refer to the same textile tradition. Whether you call it a hammam towel, a hammam Turkish towel, a pestemal, or simply a Turkish towel, you’re talking about the same style of flat-woven, lightweight cotton towel that originated in the bathhouses of Turkey.
So why the two names? It largely comes down to how the product has been marketed in different parts of the world. In Turkey and across Europe, “hammam towel” (or “pestemal”) has long been the standard term. As these towels gained popularity in Australia, the US, and the UK, many brands began using “Turkish towel” as a more accessible, geographically descriptive label. Both terms are correct, and both point to the same key characteristics:
– 100% cotton – traditionally Turkish cotton, prized for its long fibres
– Flat-woven construction – no looped terry pile
– Lightweight and compact – a fraction of the bulk of a conventional towel
– Quick-drying – perfect for humid climates, travel, and beach days
– Highly absorbent – and increasingly so with each wash
– Versatile – functioning as a towel, wrap, sarong, throw, and more
Now, here’s where the distinction does matter: not every towel marketed as a “hammam towel” or “Turkish towel” is the real thing. The surge in popularity has led to a flood of mass-produced imitations – often made from inferior cotton blends, synthetic fibres, or low-quality short-staple cotton. These imitations might look similar at a glance, but they won’t feel the same, they won’t perform the same, and they certainly won’t last.
An authentic cotton hammam towel will be made from genuine Turkish cotton, feel soft and substantial (not thin and scratchy), absorb beautifully, and develop an even softer hand-feel over time. If you’re searching for the real thing, it’s worth looking past the label and asking about the cotton source, the weaving process, and the maker’s relationship with their Turkish producers. For a deeper dive into how hammam Turkish towels compare to regular towels, our comparison guide breaks it all down.
Why Cotton Quality Matters: What Makes the Best Hammam Towels
Not all cotton is created equal – and when it comes to hammam towels, the quality of the cotton fibre is everything. It’s the single biggest factor that separates the best hammam towels from forgettable ones.
Turkish cotton is renowned worldwide for its exceptionally long fibres (known in the industry as “long-staple” or “extra-long-staple” cotton). These longer fibres create a smoother, stronger yarn that translates directly into a towel that’s softer against your skin, more absorbent, and significantly more durable than towels woven from shorter-staple cotton. It’s why high quality Turkish towels feel like a completely different product to the budget options you might find in a discount bin.
The difference is something you can genuinely feel. A premium cotton hammam towel has a fluid, almost linen-like drape when it’s new, and it softens into something truly luxurious after a few washes. A cheap imitation, by contrast, tends to feel stiff or plasticky, may pill quickly, and often loses its shape and absorbency within months.
At Hammamas, we’ve spent more than eleven years building direct relationships with our Turkish makers – skilled artisans and family-run mills who share our commitment to quality. We don’t source through middlemen or chase the cheapest option. We work directly with the people who weave our towels, which means we can guarantee that every Hammamas towel is made from 100% premium Turkish cotton, woven with care, and finished to the standard we’d want in our own homes.
This is what makes genuine Turkish towels worth the investment. They’re not a product you replace every season – they’re a product that becomes part of your daily life, getting softer and more beautiful the more you use them. If you’re looking for guidance on the very best options available right now, our best cotton Turkish towels for 2025 roundup is a great place to start.
5 Ways to Use Your Hammam Towel This Spring and Beyond
One of the most wonderful things about a hammam towel is its sheer versatility. This isn’t a single-purpose product that lives on your towel rack and nowhere else. Here are five of our favourite ways to use yours – especially as Melbourne shakes off winter and spring starts to show its (admittedly unpredictable) face.
1. As a Beach Towel
This is the classic. A hammam beach towel takes up a fraction of the space in your bag compared to a bulky terry towel, dries remarkably fast between dips, and shakes free of sand with a single flick. Whether you’re hitting the coast for a weekend escape or just squeezing in a quick after-work swim, it’s the smarter choice. Explore our full range of beach towels to find your perfect match.
2. As a Bath Towel
Swap out your heavy, slow-drying bath towels for a hammam towel and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. They’re beautifully absorbent, they dry quickly between uses (no more musty bathroom towels), and they look stunning hanging on a hook or towel rail. Perfect for smaller bathrooms where space is at a premium.
3. As a Sarong or Wrap
Heading from the beach to a café? Throw your hammam towel around your shoulders or tie it as a sarong. The flat-woven fabric drapes beautifully and feels lovely against sun-warmed skin. It’s the kind of effortless versatility that makes packing lighter and living easier.
4. As a Picnic Rug
Spring in Melbourne means spontaneous park sessions the moment the sun appears. Your hammam towel doubles perfectly as a lightweight picnic rug – easy to spread out on the grass, easy to shake off, and easy to fold back into your tote when the clouds inevitably roll in.
5. As a Travel Companion
Whether you’re heading interstate or overseas, a hammam towel is the ultimate travel companion. It rolls up to almost nothing, weighs next to nothing, dries overnight in any climate, and serves as towel, blanket, pillow cover, and privacy screen on planes. One towel, endless uses.
The beauty of a hammam towel is that it adapts to your life — not the other way around. And as spring warms into a Melbourne summer, you’ll find yourself reaching for it more and more.
Find Your Perfect Hammam Towel at Hammamas
Now you know the story – the ancient hammam tradition, the craftsmanship behind every thread, and why the terms “hammam towel” and “Turkish towel” point to the same beautiful textile. The only question left is: which one is yours?
Our name, Hammamas, was chosen deliberately. It’s a tribute to the hammam heritage that inspires everything we create. For over eleven years, our Melbourne-based family business has been importing authentic Turkish towels made by skilled artisans in Turkey, bringing that centuries-old tradition to Australian homes, beaches, and adventures.
Whether you’re drawn to the timeless stripes of our Original range, the vibrant hues of our Bold and Fiesta collections, or the generous size of our Jumbo towels, there’s a Hammamas towel waiting for you. Browse our full collection and discover why over 100 Australian stockists – and thousands of happy customers – trust Hammamas for the best hammam towels in Australia.
Curious about our story and the Turkish makers behind our towels? Learn more about us – and if you’re dreaming of Turkey itself, take a peek at our guide to the best beaches in Turkey for a little wanderlust inspiration.
Experience the tradition for yourself. Once you try a genuine hammam towel, you’ll never go back.
