Several historic Turkish bath houses (hamams) operate within the old town, some in buildings dating back to the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. A Turkish bath is one of the genuine cultural experiences available in the city and worth doing at least once: the sequence moves from hot room (hararet) to warm room (ılıklık) to cold room, with scrubbing (kese) and massage available as extras.
The Balıkpazarı Hamamı and the Sefa Hamamı are among the older establishments in Kaleiçi. Check that the hamam you choose actually offers the traditional kese scrub service rather than just being a tourist spa. Prices are higher in Kaleiçi than in local neighbourhood hamams; the experience is largely the same.