Should you book a hammam at a spa or go to a local one?

It depends on what you want: a spa hammam is private, comfortable and includes everything (products, towels, often a massage), while a local public hammam is cheap, authentic and communal but basic — many travellers try a local one for the experience and a spa one for the pampering. Neither is "better," they’re different.

Choose a local hammam if you want the real, inexpensive ritual used by Moroccans, don’t mind a no-frills, single-sex bathhouse, and are happy to bring your own kit or pay a small scrub fee. Choose a spa hammam for privacy, luxury, a gentler intensity and a hands-you-everything treatment.

For a first time, a mid-range spa hammam eases you in; for authenticity and value, the local version is unbeatable. Doing one of each is a great plan if you have time.