The hammam — a communal steam bath — is a genuine pillar of Moroccan daily life, not just a spa treatment invented for tourists. Locals visit weekly to wash, socialize, and relax in a ritual that dates back centuries.
You have two options: a public neighborhood hammam (cheap, local, no-frills, same-sex sessions, bring your own soap and a scrubbing mitt called a kessa) or a private hammam at a riad or spa (pricier, more comfortable, often bundled with a black soap scrub and argan oil massage). Either way, expect to be scrubbed vigorously — the amount of dead skin that comes off in your first proper hammam is famously surprising.
It's a highlight many travelers rate above the sights — plan at least one session, ideally after a dusty day in the medina or the desert.
