While in Istanbul we went to a traditional Turkish bathhouse. It was one of the most refreshing, incredible experiences I've ever had and worth the price of the entire trip. Mind you this was NOT a gay bathhouse where everyone lays around having sex. This was the real deal in an old Byzantine-looking building with surly, fat and hairy Turk masseurs who knead your body like dough. It's unisex but the mens area is completely separated from the womens. You wear a towel the whole time and the masseurs do not wash your genitals (pity).
You start by coming into this huge communal sauna room where you lay on this giant heated marble slab in the center for a few minutes along with all the other customers. Then one of the gruff masseurs comes over and washes your body with these special mittens that exfoliate your skin. They put these giant sudsy things all over you and then throw buckets of warm water over you. Then comes the massage where they pull and rub and it's borderline abusive but really incredible and fucking hot. They also continue with your head and face at special washstands. All the while you can peek at the other customers getting their massages. At the end they swath you in towels. Afterward you cool off in a private room with a cot. When it's all done you feel like a million bucks. I would fly all the way back just to do it again.