Madrid: Hammam Al Ándalus bath session with massage

3.98

(57 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I almost skipped the Arabian baths in Madrid because I thought, “How different can it be from a regular spa?” Turns out, it’s nothing like the usual. The moment I stepped inside Hammam Al Ándalus, the air changed — warm and heavy with that sweet herbal smell (mint? eucalyptus? something else I couldn’t place). There were candles everywhere, flickering along these tiled walkways that made me feel like I’d wandered into another century. My friend nudged me and whispered, “It’s quieter than a library in here.” She was right — even the water sounded soft.

We shuffled between the pools — hot, cold, then warm again — and honestly, my skin felt weirdly alive after each plunge. At one point I just floated on my back and watched the ceiling lights blur through steam. A local woman poured herself mint tea from this little silver pot and smiled at me when I tried to do the same (I spilled some; she didn’t laugh but her eyes did). Our guide explained how these baths have roots going back to Moorish times, which made sense given all the arches and mosaics. It’s easy to forget you’re still in Madrid city center.

The massage was only fifteen minutes but somehow felt longer — maybe because of the oils they used (something citrusy?). My masseuse didn’t say much except to check if the pressure was okay. Afterward my arms tingled for ages. We sat wrapped in towels sipping more tea before heading out into the streetlight glare. It took me a while to adjust back to normal noise and traffic — I still think about that quiet warmth sometimes when Madrid feels too loud.