The Moroccan Hammam Ritual, Explained Step by Step
A complete guide to what happens during a traditional Moroccan hammam — what to bring, what to wear, what to expect, and what NOT to do.
Whether it's your first hammam or your fiftieth, knowing the etiquette makes the experience infinitely more enjoyable. Here is the complete ritual, broken down step by step.
Before you go
Bring flip-flops, a swimsuit (in tourist hammams) or underwear (in traditional ones), a towel if not provided, and a hair tie. Avoid eating heavily within two hours of your appointment.
The five-step ritual
1. **Acclimatize.** Spend 10–15 minutes in the warm room to let your body adjust and your pores open. 2. **First rinse.** Buckets of warm water are poured over you to clean the surface. 3. **Black soap application.** Savon beldi is massaged into the skin and left for 5–10 minutes. 4. **Gommage.** The therapist uses a kessa glove to exfoliate vigorously. Brace yourself. 5. **Final wrap.** Ghassoul clay is applied, rinsed, and often followed by an argan oil massage.
Tipping
10–20% is standard in tourist-oriented hammams. In traditional neighborhood hammams, 20–50 MAD is appreciated.