Is a hammam worth doing as a tourist?

I rarely push an experience as hard as I push the hammam, because it is one of the few things in Morocco that is simultaneously deeply authentic, genuinely good for you, and unlike anything most visitors have done before. At its heart it is a steam bath and a vigorous full-body exfoliation with black soap and a coarse kessa glove, and the physical result is remarkable — you leave softer, lighter and cleaner than you have ever felt, with skin you did not know you had. Beyond the physical, it is a centuries-old ritual woven into Moroccan life, so doing it connects you to the culture in a way sightseeing cannot. For almost every traveller, yes, it is worth it.

The real decision is which kind of hammam, because they are wildly different experiences. The public neighbourhood hammam is the authentic, communal, cheap version: a few dollars, separate sessions for men and women, locals chatting, you bring or buy your own kit, and an attendant scrubs you (or you scrub yourself) on the hot tiled floor. It is raw, sociable, unglamorous and the real thing. The spa hammam is the polished version — a private or semi-private room, soft lighting, an attendant who does everything, often followed by an oil massage, for considerably more money. Neither is better; they answer different wants.

It is honest to flag what gives some travellers pause: nudity and intimacy. In the public hammam you are largely undressed (underwear typically kept on) in a communal space, and the scrub is hands-on and thorough — not painful, but not shy. For many people this is liberating and matter-of-fact, exactly as Moroccans treat it; for others it is a step too far, and that is a perfectly valid reason to choose the private spa version instead, where you control the privacy. The spa hammam delivers most of the physical benefit and the ritual in a setting that suits the more reserved traveller.

My honest verdict: do a hammam — it is one of the most rewarding and characteristic things you can do in Morocco, and you will be evangelical about your skin afterwards. Choose the public neighbourhood version for genuine cultural immersion and a great story, or the spa version for comfort, privacy and pampering, depending on your temperament and budget. The only travellers I would not push are those genuinely distressed by communal undress, and even they can enjoy the private spa route. Bring or buy black soap and a kessa glove for the public version, and check the spa's offering and price before booking.