Ultimate Guide to Hammam in Essaouira: Choosing a Local Experience.

Debating whether to try your first Moroccan Hammam in Essaouira? 

If you’re lucky enough to be wandering the windy blue-and-white streets of Essaouira, you’re in the perfect place to try your first Hammam. After months of traveling through Morocco, the weekly Hammam ritual has become a non-negotiable part of our routine. It’s more than just a bath; it’s an age-old tradition that leaves you feeling cleaner than you ever thought possible!

In Essaouira, you have a choice: the high-end private spas (similar to what you’d find back home) or the authentic, local public bathhouses. 

But for a true taste of Moroccan culture, we recommend going local.

Here is everything you need to know about Hammam in Essaouira. 

Private vs. Public Hammam in Essaouira

There are two types of Hammam in Essaouira: 

• Private Spas: These are found mostly inside the Medina. They are geared toward tourists, offer more privacy, and are more expensive.
• Local Hammams: Interestingly, almost all the truly local Hammams in Essaouira are located outside the Medina walls. These are the heart of the community, where locals go for their weekly deep clean.

We are admittedly bias. But we love the local, traditional Moroccan Hammam. We figure that we can get a Spa type experience back home anytime. But it feels like a real cultural experience to try a traditional Hammam in Morocco. 

Also, I’m not going to lie. We have become somewhat addicted and over the last eight months of travel in Morocco we have made the local Hammams part of our weekly routine all over the country! 

In Essaouira we tried two of the local Hammam, though there are many more. 

Local Hammams in Essaouira:

• Essaidi Hammam
• Hammam Mounia
• Laafou Hammam
• Ghita Hammam
• Gazhoua Hammam 

Ghita Hammam, Essaouira.

What Exactly is a Moroccan Hammam?

To understand the Hammam, you have to look back at history. Long before modern plumbing reached every home in the Medina, the public bathhouse was a necessity for hygiene. Based on the Roman bath model, the Moroccan Hammam consists of a series of rooms that progress from cool to warm to hot.

But unlike a dry sauna or a Finnish steam room, the Moroccan version is a wet heat. The rooms are filled with humidity, and the ritual centres on dousing yourself with buckets of water rather than sitting in a pool. 

The goal is to sweat out toxins and soften the skin so it can be exfoliated with a Kess (a sandpaper-like glove).

It isn’t as bad as it sounds; I promise! We love it. 

Planning Travel to Morocco During Ramadan? Read all about it.

The Three-Room Structure

Each of the traditional Moroccan Hammam in Essaouira is set up with a three room structure:

1. The Cold Room (The Vestibule): This is where you undress, leave your belongings, and—most importantly—in the larger Hammam, this is where you return to cool down and drink mint tea after the process is over.
2. The Warm Room: This is the heart of the Hammam. This is where most of the washing and scrubbing takes place.
3. The Hot Room: This room is designed to make you sweat. It’s where your pores open up, preparing your skin for the deep exfoliation to come.

The Experience: Hammam in Essaouira 

The traditional Moroccan Hammams in Essaouira are truly local style. These are pretty basic and frequented mostly by locals. 

But there are a few that are ideal to experience as a tourist – with a bit of a heads-up first on what happens. 

Step-by-Step

So, you’ve paid your entry fee and walked through the door. What now? If you’ve hired an attendant (which we highly recommend for your first time), they will lead the way. 

If not, follow this traditional sequence:

Step 1: The Warm-Up

Take off your clothes (leave your underwear on) and follow your attendant. 

Depending on the size of the Hammam, it will either have one large room or two smaller rooms – the warm and hot rooms. 

Enter the hot room first. Fill your buckets with hot water and douse yourself. (Your attendant will do this for you, so get comfortable and be ready). 

Sit on the floor (or your small mat) and let the steam do its work for 15–20 minutes. You want your skin to be pruned and soft.

Step 2: The Black Soap

Apply the Savon Beldi all over your body. It won’t lather like normal soap; it’s more of a film. 

Leave it on for 5–10 minutes while you sit in the steam. This is the secret to the Moroccan glow—the soap reacts with the heat to loosen the bond between your living skin and the dead cells.

Step 3: The Rinse

Rinse the soap off completely. This is crucial. If there is soap left on your skin, the exfoliating glove won’t grip, and the scrub won’t work.

I didn’t know this part of the Hammam first time and assumed you leave the black soap on to scrub and exfoliate. (As you would with a Western style exfoliant soap). 

But for the Savon Beldi you need to rinse it all off first. 

Step 4: The Gommage (The Scrub)

This is the part that shocks most first-timers. If you have an attendant, you will lie down, and they will go to town with the Kess mitt. They will scrub every inch of you—arms, legs, back, stomach.

Even if you think you are clean, the amount of debris that comes off in a Moroccan hammam is humbling. It’s not painful, but it is vigorous. If it’s too much, just say “Shwiya, shwiya” (A little, or more gently).

• A Heads-Up: You will see grey spaghetti style scraps rolling off your skin. It is disgusting! But this is the dead skin being removed. 

Step 5: The Clay Mask (Optional)

Apply the Ghassoul clay to your hair and body. It feels cool and soothing after the intense scrub. Let it sit for a few minutes before one final, thorough rinse.

Step 6: The Final Wash

Now is the time to use your regular shampoo and scented soap. Once you are squeaky clean, head back to the cool room.

The feeling in unreal. 

Choosing a Hammam in Essaouira 

You can choose between the two main types of hammam in Essaouira: the authentic public bathhouses and the private luxury spas. Both follow the same core ritual (steam, black soap, and vigorous exfoliation), but they offer vastly different atmospheres and service levels.

Here are the ones we recommend – and one traditional Hammam in Essaouira that we reckon is perfect for a first time! 🙂

Azur Spa

Located in the heart of the Medina, Azur Spa is the premier choice for travellers who want the traditional Hammam ritual without the communal no-frills atmosphere. This is a refined, boutique environment with high-quality organic products, and Morocco’s famous Argan Oil.

• Best for: First-timers, couples, and those seeking a tranquil, private spa day.

Hammam Essaidi

If you are looking for a traditional Moroccan Hammam in Essaouira – this is the one we recommend. 

Right in the heart of the old city Medina, Hammam Essaidi is a classic neighbourhood spot that has become a favourite for travellers. (Albeit those brave enough to get naked and truly experience a Moroccan Hammam!). 

It offers a very real experience but is known for being slightly more approachable and cleaner than the most basic public baths.

• Best for: Those who want a traditional experience that feels safe and manageable for a non-local.

Hammam Mounia

Often referred to as the ‘Two Doors’ (because it literally has two doors: one for women and one for men), Hammam Mounia is a good balance between a local bathhouse and a tourist-friendly spa. 

It has the traditional architecture and heat of a classic Hammam but with the cleanliness international visitors appreciate.

• Best for: Travellers who want an authentic feel with a bit of hand-holding from experienced attendants.

Hammam Laafou

For the truly adventurous, Hammam Laafou (near the Bab Doukkala gate) offers a raw, unfiltered Moroccan experience. This is a public neighbourhood hammam where locals go for their weekly deep-clean. 

There are no fluffy robes here—just buckets, steam, and the lively chatter of the community.

• Best for: Budget travellers and cultural purists who don’t mind public nudity and a vigorous scrub – for just a few Dirham!

Gazhoua Hammam 

This one is located just a short drive outside the city centre in the village of Ghazoua. We were in Essaouira in our motorhome and went here several times during each trip. 

It is less crowded than the Medina spots and is often used by expats and locals living in the surrounding areas. But once again, it is a truly local Hammam in Essaouira. 

• Best for: Those staying outside the city walls with own transport. It is a great and truly traditional local experience. 

Cost: Hammam in Essaouira

One of the best parts of a local Hammam in Morocco is the price. 

Unlike luxury spas that can cost 400Dh+, a local experience is incredibly budget-friendly:

• Entry / Self-Scrub: ~15 Dirham
• Exfoliation Massage (Gommage): ~100 Dirham

What Do You Wear: Hammam in Essaouira

The question of what to wear to a Moroccan Hammam is the most common concern for first-time visitors. 

It is a valid question and concern! 

But the answer is simpler than you might think: wear what makes you feel comfortable within the local cultural boundaries. 

While the environment is communal, there is an etiquette for both the men’s and women’s sections.

For Women

In the women’s section, nudity is normalised and non-judgmental. (It is nothing like our shyness in the West!). 

Most women wear only their underwear bottoms (knickers).

While you can wear a bikini top if you feel more secure, it is rarely done. Simply because a top makes it very difficult for you (or an attendant) to properly exfoliate your back and chest.

• Note: Be prepared for the fact that the woman scrubbing you will also likely be working in her underwear. Just a heads-up! 

For Men

The rules for men are slightly different and more conservative regarding full nudity.

Men must wear underwear, boxer shorts, or swim trunks.

Total nudity is strictly forbidden in the men’s section. Even when changing, men typically use a towel to shield themselves.

• Tip: Bring a spare pair of clean underwear to change into after your bath. You don’t want to walk back to your Riad in the damp pair you wore during the scrub!

Take With You: Hammam in Essaouira

While luxury spas provide everything, at a local Hammam, there are a few things you need to bring. 

You can buy these items at the small kiosk at the entrance if you don’t have them, and sometimes they are included in the ‘Gommage’ (Scrub) Hammam package: 

1. Savon Beldi: The traditional thick black olive oil soap.
2. Kess: The famous (and slightly abrasive) exfoliating mitt.
3. Toiletries: Your own shampoo, soap, and a hairbrush.
4. Clothing: A change of clothes, a towel, and a clean pair of underwear (you wear underwear during the scrub).
5. Extras: Plastic jandals (flip-flops).

Note: You can usually leave your bag behind the counter at the entrance, but it’s best to leave valuables at your Riad.

Do It: Hammam in Essaouira 

Embrace the modesty (or lack thereof). In the women’s section, it is perfectly normal to see women of all ages and sizes bathing together. It is a very body-positive and communal environment.

It gets hot in there! Drink plenty of water before and after.

And allow yourself at least an hour to truly enjoy the process.

The local Hammam is one of the most humbling and authentic experiences you can have in Morocco. You’ll walk back into the Medina feeling like a brand-new person!

Final Thoughts?

So, do you recommend braving the traditional and local Hammam in Essaouira?  

Heck, yes! It is a totally unique and awesome experience. 

Travelling is about stepping out of your comfort zone, and there is no place more ‘outside the zone’ than a Moroccan Hammam. It challenges our Western notions of privacy and beauty, replacing them with a sense of communal care and ancient tradition.

Not to mention that you will go in feeling like a dusty traveller and come out feeling like a whole new you. 

I know I keep saying it. But I have never felt so clean in all my life! 

You will leave behind your dead skin (sorry), your travel fatigue, and perhaps a bit of your modesty—but you will gain a story you’ll tell for the rest of your life. 🙂

Travel Planning for Morocco & Beyond

These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. 
• 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online. 
• Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
• GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance before embarking on all the great things to see and do in Morocco!