Hammam, sauna and steam room: which one does what?

These three spaces sit side by side in the same facility and are often treated as interchangeable. In fact their temperatures and humidity differ sharply, and so does what they do to the body.

Sauna: dry, high heat

A sauna runs at around 80–100°C with humidity below fifteen per cent. Dry air speeds up sweating, the heart rate rises and blood vessels widen. Fifteen minutes produces a circulatory effect close to a gentle walk.

If you have high blood pressure, keep sessions short and always drink water between them. Used right before the hammam, a sauna speeds up the warming step.

Steam room: low heat, full humidity

A steam room works at 40–50°C but with humidity near one hundred per cent. Although the temperature is lower, the moisture makes the heat feel far more present on the body.

Its real benefit is respiratory. Warm, humid air eases the nose and throat and opens the pores. For anyone with winter congestion it can be a higher priority than the hammam itself.

Hammam: heated stone and ritual

The hammam differs by heating the stone rather than the air. The navel stone is warmed from beneath; lying on the marble, the body takes the heat through contact. Ambient temperature is far lower than a sauna, which is why you can stay much longer.

The hammam is also not simply a warming space but a ritual that includes the scrub and the foam. Sauna and steam room are preparation; the hammam is the treatment.

The right order

If you're using all three in one visit, the sensible order is: warm up in the sauna, open the pores in the steam room, then scrub and foam in the hammam, and finish with a massage. Don't leave without half an hour in the lounge.

At Lilyum all three are included free with every package; use them for as long as you like before or after your session.