Moroccan Hammam Guide: What to Expect and Etiquette

Few experiences are as Moroccan as the hammam. For centuries, these steam baths have been part of daily life: a place to get properly clean, to relax and to meet neighbors. For travelers, a hammam is one of the most memorable, and most relaxing, ways to experience local culture.

If you’ve never been, the idea can feel intimidating. This guide explains what happens in a Moroccan hammam, how to choose between a local bathhouse and a spa, and the etiquette to follow.

What is a Moroccan hammam?

A hammam is a steam bath, usually made up of a series of rooms that get progressively warmer. Unlike a dry sauna, the heat is humid, which softens the skin and opens the pores before a vigorous exfoliation. Traditionally, every neighborhood has its own public hammam, often near the mosque and the communal bakery.

What happens during a hammam

While each hammam is slightly different, the ritual usually follows these steps:

1. Warm up. You relax in the steam room and rinse with buckets of warm water.
2. Black soap. Your skin is coated with savon beldi, a soft, olive-based black soap, and left to work for a few minutes.
3. The scrub. An attendant, or you yourself in a public hammam, scrubs your skin with a kessa, a rough exfoliating glove. Expect to see a surprising amount of dead skin come off.
4. Rhassoul clay. In many hammams, a mineral clay from the Atlas Mountains is applied to the skin or hair, then rinsed off.
5. Rinse and rest. You finish with cool water and time to rest, often with mint tea.

Many spas then offer a massage with argan oil, produced from the argan trees of south-western Morocco.

Public hammam or spa hammam?

Public (traditional) hammams

Public hammams are inexpensive, authentic and very local. Men and women bathe separately, either in separate sections or at different times of day. You’ll need to bring your own soap, kessa, towel and flip-flops, or buy them at the entrance, and you can pay a little extra for an attendant to scrub you. Facilities are simple, and little English may be spoken.

Spa hammams

Hotel and riad spas offer a more private and comfortable version, often for couples, with products provided and a massage afterwards. It’s the easiest option for first-timers.

Hammam etiquette

• Clothing: in public hammams, people usually keep their underwear on. Women often wear bikini bottoms, men wear swim shorts. In spas, disposable underwear is usually provided.
• Separate spaces: respect the separation between men and women in public hammams.
• Water: don’t splash others, and be mindful when emptying buckets.
• Health: avoid the hammam if you’re pregnant, have heart problems or low blood pressure, unless your doctor says it’s fine. Drink plenty of water before and after.
• Timing: avoid a scrub just after sunbathing or waxing.

For more on local customs, read our guide to Moroccan etiquette and culture.

Argan oil, rhassoul and Moroccan beauty traditions

The argan tree grows almost exclusively in south-western Morocco, and the region’s argan forest is recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. Argan oil is still largely produced by women’s cooperatives, and visiting one, for example near Essaouira or Agadir, is a good way to buy authentic oil while supporting local communities. Rhassoul clay, rose water from the Dades Valley and black soap make excellent souvenirs too.

Hammam and wellness on our retreats

A hammam ritual is part of several Explore Morocco retreats, including our Marrakech Riad Wellness Escape and our Sahara Desert Wellness Journey. For couples, it’s also one of the highlights of a Moroccan honeymoon.