A guide to the world's best bathhouses, from saunas to jjimjilbangs

Many Americans hear “bath” and think “tub,” perhaps picturing a claw-footed vessel brimming with bubbles. But in countries around the world, “bath” connotes an entirely different—and often much more communal—practice.

In Ancient Rome, when personal hygiene was in its infancy and few could afford private bathing facilities, the city’s famously grandiose bathhouses were important social centers that welcomed citizens of all genders and backgrounds. Over time, the tradition spread to other countries and around the globe, becoming an indelible part of places as far ranging as Turkey, Morocco, and Japan. Read on to learn the specifics of bathhouse culture in different parts of the world—and find out where you can have a similar experience stateside.

One thing to know: in most bathhouses around the world, full or partial nudity is the norm—and in some places, like most Japanese onsens, required—and rooms are separated by gender. Pack a bathing suit just in case, and don't be afraid to ask spa staff about the local protocol before heading in.

Derived from Roman baths, Istanbul’s stunning marble hammams came into prominence during the Ottoman period. Many facilities that date back centuries—some as far as the 1400s—are still in use today. Once inside a Turkish bath, you can expect plenty of steam, along with a full-body scrub-down by a same-sex attendant using a special exfoliating cloth called a kese. Next, you’ll lay on a hot marble slab and soak in the frothy foam of local olive oil soap before rinsing off and emerging with baby-soft skin.

The 17th-century Çırağan Palace Kempinski hotel, situated in a scenic spot on the Bosphorus River, offers a signature treatment that’s as authentic as they come. It starts on a göbek taşi marble slab, includes a circulation-enhancing scrubbing and frothing, and finishes with an aromatic oil massage.

Like in Turkey, hammam culture has deep roots in Morocco. (In fact, Morocco was one of the first countries to adopt the Roman bath trend, building hammans beside mosques so that worshippers could bathe before praying to cleanse both their bodies and souls.) Where the two countries diverge, however, is in the products they use. In a Moroccan hammam, the attendant first applies a purifying black soap, then exfoliates with a loofah-like kessa glove. They also apply a mineral-rich rhassoul mud to draw out impurities and, depending on the facility, may or may not perform an argan oil massage. Typically, the ritual concludes with a refreshing cup of Moroccan mint tea.

At Marrakech’s opulent Royal Mansour hotel, the 10-room spa has its own hammam, where guests can indulge in one- and two-hour treatments incorporating the traditional black soap and kessa glove, plus locally sourced ingredients like energizing clay from the Atlas Mountains and rose water from Kalaat M’gouna (a city that’s known as the rose capital of Morocco).

Historically, Japanese onsens (mineral-rich springs heated by volcanic activity) were reserved for emperors and samurai recuperating from battle, but now they’re open to anyone in search of healing and relaxation. You’ll often find them at ryokans, traditional small inns that also feature details like tatami mats, floor chairs, and shoji screens. Before entering a hot spring, bathers are expected to have cleansed themselves according to the onsen’s specific protocols, so be sure to review the guidelines prior to taking the plunge. Note: If you have any tattoos, you'll need to do a little extra planning as many onsens deny access to tattooed visitors (historically, tattoos have been tied to Japanese crime syndicates). If you have a small tattoo, you can likely cover it with a bandage before arriving, while those with larger body art should consider a tattoo-friendly onsen (like Jakotsu-yu in Tokyo or Hoheikyo Onsen in Sapporo) or a private bath.

Kai, an elegant ryokan brand, boasts several properties with spectacular, Japanese-inspired architecture, including KAI Poroto, where cone-shaped bathhouses pay homage to Hokkaido’s Ainu culture. At Tokyo’s minimalist-chic resort Hoshinoya, a gender-separated rooftop onsen draws hot saline water from some 4,900 feet below ground, creating an open-air oasis in the middle of the city.

The word “sauna” literally means “bath” or “bathhouse” in Finnish, so it’s no surprise that sweating it out is a beloved bathing ritual in Finland. While the heat-seeking tradition stretches back thousands of years, it’s stronger than ever today—there are reportedly two saunas for every five Finns. The sauna experience can vary depending on where you are in Finland (or other parts of Scandinavia), but there are some things you can always count on: namely heat, with simmering stones to warm the space, increase blood flow to the skin, and relax busy minds. Sometimes, there will also be a cold stream or lake nearby for contrast therapy.

Finland has some incredibly unique sauna concepts, including versions on gondolas in Ylläs and glass-walled renditions in Lapland designed to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. For a more traditional take, head to Löyly in Helsinki. The wood-burning sauna facility sits on the Baltic Sea and features striking architecture alongside an outdoor swimming pool, a sprawling terrace, and a restaurant.

In South Korea, a traditional bathhouse is called a jjimjilbang, which translates to “heated rooms.” Inside, you’ll find a choose-your-own-adventure sanctuary of hot and cold pools, dry saunas, massage tables, and communal areas to lounge, eat snacks, or even sleep. The origins of jjimjilbang go back to 15th century Korea, when saunas called hanjeungmak were maintained by Buddhist monks for medicinal or religious purposes. Later, these facilities evolved into mogyoktang (public bathhouses where visitors could have their skin scrubbed) and, finally, the modern, more comprehensive jjimjilbang.

Seoul’s Insadong Spa is open 24 hours a day, with a traditional pine sauna and multiple treatment rooms for everything from salt rubs and cucumber facials to oil massages and scalp scrubs. The space is located just a short walk from bustling boutique- and cafe-lined Insadong Street.

A type of sweat lodge named after the Nahuatl word for “house of heat,” the temazcal originated in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica as a ceremonial venue to bring about total rejuvenation. Indigenous cultures including the Aztecs, Mayans, and Zapotecs used them after physically depleting events like childbirth or as a symbolic place of transition for priests, warriors, and other important figures, who were believed to exit the igloo-shaped structures reborn.

In the center of each temazcal are red-hot coals, rocks, and herbs like sage and copal, which create an intense heat—especially when the curandero (medicine man or woman) leading the ceremony throws water on the pile to release scented steam. A temazcal ceremony can be a one-on-one or group event, but either way, expect chanting and plenty of sweat. Afterward, depending on the location, you might plunge into a cenote or the ocean (or take a cold shower) to lower your body temperature.

Temazcal facilities can be found across Mexico. Rosewood Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya offers a 150-minute temazcal purification program that incorporates herbal-infused water and volcanic rocks, a body scrub, and a restorative massage, while One&Only Mandarina on the Pacific Coast performs a range of ancient healing treatments in a temazcal surrounded by rainforest.

The Salt Spa at The Reeds at Shelter Haven features a Turkish hammam complete with a heated marble table and a hand-painted tile mosaic. Treatments inside include exfoliating salt scrubs, body masks, and a self-applied mud ritual.

Moroccan Hammam & Day Spa offers immersive hammam treatments for solo guests and couples, incorporating steam room therapy, black soap suds, multiple varieties of Moroccan mud, an argan oil scalp massage and, of course, Moroccan tea.

Like many Korean spas in the U.S., Wi Spa is open 24/7, and there’s no limit to how long a person can stay to decompress. The best part, however, is the multi-level jjimjilbang, which includes the requisite baths, plus progressive sauna rooms, a fitness room, a restaurant, a rooftop terrace, and a kids’ zone. Guests can book massages, body scrubs, and facials, too.

The adults-only wellness retreat at Sensei Lanai is nestled in a lush garden studded with tropical flowers, Japanese rock gardens, and sculptures. On site, there are 10 private onsen-inspired structures, each equipped with a plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers, and a Japanese ofuro soaking tub.

Get a Scandinavian spa experience at High Country Motor Lodge, which has private saunas decked out with fire pits, icy showers for flushing toxins, and electrolytes to drink after alternating between hot and cold for 50 minutes.