What is a couples massage?
A couples massage is not a massage technique but a way of arranging a session. There are two massage tables side by side in the room, with a therapist at each. The therapists start in the same rhythm, progress at a similar pace and finish at the same time, so two people share one experience without being apart.
It should not be confused with a four-hands massage. In a four-hands massage, one person is on the table and two therapists work on them at once. The Mandara Four-Hands Massage (55 min) and Synchronised Abhyanga (55 min) on the Beatus menu are of this kind. The table below shows the difference:
| Couples massage | Four-hands massage | Two massages in separate rooms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is on the table | Two people, two tables | One person, one table | Two people, two separate rooms |
| Number of therapists | One per person | Two for one person | One per person |
| Shared space | Same room, same time | — | Only the waiting and relaxation area |
| Freedom of choice | Each person chooses their own pressure and oil | One person's preferences | Fully independent |
| Who it suits | People who want to spend time together | One person wanting an immersive, all-encompassing massage | People who come together but prefer to relax separately |
At a location without a couples' room, two people arriving together can usually have their massages at the same time in separate rooms and meet in the relaxation area afterwards. That is still a spa day spent together; only the massage itself is separate.
What happens during a couples massage? A step-by-step session
If it is your first couples massage, knowing how it unfolds helps you relax. Let us take a 55-minute session such as the Beatus Couples Massage as an example:
- Arrival (15–30 minutes before the session). The International SPA Association (ISPA) suggests arriving 30 minutes before your appointment to check in and get ready. You give your name at reception and are shown to the changing area.
- A short conversation. The therapists ask about your preferred pressure, any areas you would rather not have massaged or that feel uncomfortable, and any health conditions. If you would rather not discuss this in front of each other, you can tell your therapist separately.
- Getting ready. The therapists leave the room. You take off your robe and lie on the table under the sheet. How much you undress is entirely your choice; keeping on disposable underwear is perfectly normal.
- The massage. The Beatus Couples Massage begins at the feet and works up towards the head and face. You stay covered by a sheet throughout; the therapist uncovers only the area being worked on.
- Closing. The therapists finish at the same time and leave the room. You sit up slowly and get dressed without rushing.
- Relaxation. Sitting together for a few minutes in the relaxation area afterwards is a calm way to round off the experience.
To talk or not to talk?
Talking is not forbidden in a couples massage, but most couples fall quiet after a few words. ISPA also stresses that there is no obligation to talk at a spa. A whispered word or a glance at each other is enough. You can always speak up to your therapist, though: telling them when the pressure is too much or too little, when the room is cold or when the music bothers you is the most important advice ISPA gives first-time spa-goers.
Couples rituals at Beatus
The "Couples and Packages" section of the Beatus menu includes three rituals for two. All take place in the couples' room; the content and lengths are as on the menu. Prices and availability by location are shared when you book.
Beatus Couples Massage (55 min)
A session in the couples' room that starts at the feet and extends to a head and face massage. It is a good starting point for anyone wanting a short break together, or trying a couples massage for the first time.
Romantic Couples Massage (90 min)
It begins with a body scrub, followed by a foot, head and face massage, and ends with fresh fruit served in the relaxation room. It is designed for those who want to set aside more time to mark a day such as an anniversary or a birthday.
Infinity Duet (120 min)
Listed on the menu "for celebrations", this ritual has three parts: first, warming up in the steam room and sauna; then kese and foam in the hammam; and finally a foot, head and face massage in the couples' room. Because it brings the hammam and massage together in one flow, it is the option most often asked about by couples visiting Istanbul who want to try both a Turkish bath and a massage together. You can ask the spa how the hammam part is arranged when you book.
The three rituals compared
| Ritual | Length | What it includes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatus Couples Massage | 55 min | Massage from the feet to the head and face | A first try, a short break |
| Romantic Couples Massage | 90 min | Body scrub; foot, head and face massage; fresh fruit | Anniversaries, birthdays |
| Infinity Duet | 120 min | Steam and sauna; kese and foam in the hammam; massage in the couples' room | Celebrations, honeymoons, couples who want to try the hammam too |
You will find the full menu and our other massage options on our massage page.
Which locations have a couples' room?
According to our location information, two of our spas have a couples' massage room:
- Istanbul, Esenyurt–Beylikdüzü: our Euro Park Hotel spa is known for its tiled Turkish bath and couples' massage room; it is open daily from 09:00 to 22:00.
- Trabzon, Boztepe: our Radisson Blu Trabzon spa has a blue-tiled hammam, outdoor and indoor pools, a couples' massage room and a VIP room.
At our other locations, ask the spa when you book which options are available for a couples massage; you can find out about the room layout in the same message.
Hammam, massage or both?
This is the question we hear most often from couples. To help you decide:
- Massage only: if you are short of time or sensitive to heat. The Beatus Couples Massage or the Romantic Couples Massage.
- Hammam only: if you are curious about the ritual of the Turkish bath. The Pasha Hammam (40 min), Scheherazade Hammam (55 min) or Sultan Hammam (80 min); details are on our Turkish bath page.
- Both: the Infinity Duet. The order is always warming up and the hammam first, then the massage: moving on to a massage with a body that is already warm and washed in foam is the same sequence the packages on our menu follow.
A word of care about heat: Harvard Health suggests staying in a sauna for no more than 15–20 minutes, cooling down gradually afterwards and drinking water, and advises people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease to check with their doctor before using a sauna. We explain the difference between the sauna, the steam room and the hammam in sauna vs steam room vs hammam.
Different preferences: when one of you likes light pressure and the other firm
This is the least-known advantage of a couples massage: because there are two therapists, you can have two different massages. One of you may want a slow, light-pressure massage while the other prefers firmer pressure. The choice of oil and areas of focus is individual too.
The content of the couples rituals is set on the menu, but the pressure and oil are adjusted to each person in every ritual. If you would like two completely different massages instead of a ritual (for example, the Beatus Signature Massage for one person and the Deep Tissue Massage for the other), ask the spa whether they can be arranged at the same time in the couples' room.
Some techniques may not fit the layout of a couples' room. Thai massage, for example, is traditionally given on a floor mat, in comfortable clothing and without oil; in 2019 UNESCO inscribed the "Nuad Thai" tradition on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Lomi Lomi, according to a publication of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), is a Hawaiian tradition built on long, flowing strokes with the forearms. If you would like to try these together, discuss availability with the spa. To get to know the different styles, see our guide to the types of massage.
Planning for special occasions
A couples massage is often chosen to mark a particular day. A few practical points make planning easier.
Anniversary
The Romantic Couples Massage and the Infinity Duet offer a long, unhurried flow. Mentioning "it's our anniversary" in your booking message helps the spa plan the session. If you have a special request, you can pass it on to the spa when you book.
Birthday
If you are planning a birthday surprise, make the booking in your own name and let the spa know it is a surprise. If you are unsure about your partner's health or massage preferences, it is best for them to mention these themselves in the conversation before the session.
Honeymoon
For couples honeymooning in Istanbul, an evening at the spa after a day of sightseeing strikes a good balance; you can compare locations on the page for our spas in Istanbul. For honeymooners on the Black Sea coast, the couples' room at our Trabzon spa and our Flora Uzungöl spa in Uzungöl (hammam, sauna, steam room and indoor pool) offer two different atmospheres. If you would like to add the lake and the highland pastures to your plans, our Uzungöl travel guide will help; all our spas in the region are on the page for our spas on the Black Sea coast.
Valentine's Day
Mid-February is one of the busiest times of year, so we suggest booking a few weeks in advance. For a weekend escape, our Wellwood Sapanca spa, set among the greenery of Sapanca, is an option with its outdoor pool and hammam.
As a gift
If you would like to give a couples massage as a gift, the simplest way is to plan the appointment as an outing you will take together: agree a date and time with your partner and message the spa.
Preparing for a couples massage
Preparing is not very different from a massage on your own, but as two people share the room, it helps to talk a few things through in advance.
What to wear
Comfortable everyday clothes are fine for the journey. According to ISPA's guidance, what you wear under your robe is up to you; during the massage you stay under a sheet and the therapist uncovers only the area being worked on. For rituals that include the hammam and sauna, such as the Infinity Duet, ask the spa about the dress code when you book. For more detail, see our article what to wear for a massage.
Privacy and draping
Even with your partner beside you, your privacy is respected: the therapists leave the room while you get ready, and a sheet is used throughout the massage. You can choose a female or male therapist at all our locations; mention your preference when you book, as ISPA suggests.
Phones and time
Leave your phones in the locker. Showering together before the session and spending a short time in the heat areas helps you start the massage more calmly. We suggest not starting a session straight after a heavy meal.
If you have a health condition
If you are pregnant, or have high blood pressure, a heart condition, recent surgery or a long-term illness, speak to your doctor first and tell your therapist at the start of the session. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) advises speaking to your health professional if you are unsure whether massage is right for you. In pregnancy, care is also needed in heat areas such as the sauna, steam room and hot tub: an NHS GP practice page notes that a significant rise in body temperature can be harmful, particularly in the first 12 weeks. In that case, an option without heat areas, with your doctor's approval, may be more suitable than the Infinity Duet.
Ideas for a couples escape, by destination
- Istanbul, European side: our Euro Park spa in Beylikdüzü–Esenyurt combines a couples' room with a tiled hammam. If you are staying in the city centre, our Ramada Plaza spa in Osmanbey and our Radisson spa in Harbiye have a hammam, sauna and steam room; ask about a couples' room when you book.
- Istanbul, Asian side: our Burgu Arjaan spa in Maltepe has a hammam, sauna, steam room and massage.
- Sapanca: for a weekend escape from Istanbul, an outdoor pool, followed by foam and kese in the hammam.
- Trabzon: our spa in Boztepe has a couples' massage room, a tiled hammam and outdoor and indoor pools. If you plan to explore the city, our guide to things to do in Trabzon will come in handy.
- Uzungöl: after a walk in the highland pastures, a warm hammam and a massage inside a timber hotel.
- Ordu: an indoor pool overlooking the sea, a Finnish sauna and a hammam.
A couples massage is not only for partners
Although "couples" has a romantic ring to it, the couples' room is for any two people coming together. Friends can mark a birthday, a mother and daughter Mother's Day, or siblings a long-postponed get-together with a couples massage. If you would rather not share a room, separate rooms at the same time can also be arranged.
If you are coming as a family, keep one thing in mind: if you are thinking of bringing a younger family member, ask the spa about age requirements before booking. If it is your first time at a hotel spa, our guide to visiting a hotel spa for the first time walks you through the whole process step by step.
