Where is the spa in Mahmutbey, and do you have to stay at the hotel?
Beatus Spa Wanda Vista is in the Mahmutbey area of Bağcılar, on the ground floor of Wanda Vista Istanbul, and it also takes guests who are not staying at the hotel. You do not need to book a room; you only need an appointment.
The address is Mahmutbey Mahallesi, 2664. Sokak No:12/A. You enter the spa through the main hotel lobby, and the spa and gym are on the ground floor. The phone and WhatsApp line on this page belong to the spa location, not to the hotel. For a room, a stay or the hotel restaurant, speak to the hotel's own reception; for massage, hammam, pool and gym questions, use the spa line.
The name of the area carries a little history. According to the district history page of Bağcılar Municipality (in Turkish), Mahmutbey was formed from the merger of the villages of Bağcılar and Kirazlı and the Papasköy farm. It was one of the largest settlements in the region in the late Ottoman period and counted as a nahiye, a small administrative district. Its first name was Kalfaköy; in 1914 the village, which had more than 300 inhabitants, was renamed Mahmudiye and then Mahmutbey. So if you search a map for "Mahmutbey" you will see the neighbourhood, and for "Bağcılar" the district; both describe the same area. The location's registered address gives the district as Bağcılar and the neighbourhood as Mahmutbey.
Our second location in the district is in Güneşli. There the hammam is a single hammam closed off for each booking (we explain it in our article on hammam by appointment in Güneşli), and you can read how the two locations differ in our guide to the hotel spa in Güneşli. This article is only about Mahmutbey. All the details are on the Wanda Vista location page.
The spa opens at 08:00 and massage starts at 12:30: how to build your day
At Wanda Vista the spa and gym open at 08:00, but massage starts at 12:30; there are no massage appointments in the morning. This difference is the most common mistake we see among people looking for a massage in Mahmutbey: a guest who arrives in the morning asking for a massage has misread one of the time windows.
Through the day, the hours work like this:
| Time | What happens | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Spa and gym open | Sauna, steam room, hammam, pool and gym can be used |
| 12:30 | Massage starts | The first massage appointment is given from this time |
| 21:00 | Last time for bookings | For a later time, ask the location |
| 22:00 | Spa and gym close, massage ends | Check hours on public holidays and special days |
Read this table as a frame rather than a timetable. The three day shapes below help you think about what to ask for and when. They are not ready-made packages from the location, only planning examples:
- Morning and midday: Use the spa and gym areas in the morning, rest at lunchtime and put the massage in the first slots after 12:30. This suits people who want a quiet day.
- Afternoon: Come for the massage in the afternoon and use one of the wet areas before or after it.
- Evening: Come after work and put the massage in one of the slots available until 21:00. On busy days your preferred time may already be taken, so it is good practice to write a few days ahead.
There are two separate questions about the hammam, and it is worth not mixing them up. The first is use of the hammam area: according to the location, the sauna, steam room, hammam, pool and gym can be used in the morning. The second is the hours at which a hammam ritual such as scrub and foam is given. We cannot write that second answer in this article, because the location's ritual hours are not on record. If you want a scrub and foam ritual, the surest route is to ask on WhatsApp for the time.
Leave room for the total length of what you choose. Massage sessions on the menu run from a 30-minute targeted massage to a 90-minute signature massage, and the hammam rituals are listed as 40, 55 and 80 minutes. Ask the location which of them are offered in Mahmutbey. If you combine two services in one visit, add the two durations together and then time for changing, showering and resting. Our guide to hammam and massage on the same day covers order and breaks in detail.
What is in a 600 m² spa?
The Wanda Vista spa is about 600 m²; spa and gym together cover 2,600 m². The massage rooms, wet areas and pool are under one roof, on the same ground floor.
The facilities the location has told us about are:
- Four massage rooms
- One massage room set aside for couples
- A VIP room with a jacuzzi (the jacuzzi is only in this room)
- A separate sauna, steam room and hammam for women
- A separate sauna, steam room and hammam for men
- An indoor and an outdoor pool (shared)
- A gym with personal trainers
In the gym there are three personal trainers; there is no yoga, no pilates and no standard group class. If you wonder how to order training, pool and spa in one day, our guide to a gym with a pool in Bağcılar is dedicated to that. Here we stay with massage and booking rather than fitness.
The number of massage rooms is limited, so on busy days your preferred time may be full. Writing your time preference clearly in the message saves both your time and the location's. We do not publish figures such as how many guests a room holds; we pass on only what the location has said can be published.
What do separate wet areas for women and men mean?
At Wanda Vista the women's and men's sauna, steam room and hammam are in separate sections; only the pool is shared. So there is no "women-only day": while the spa is open, both sections are in use.
This arrangement is not new; it is a modern version of an old hammam tradition. The "Hamam" entry in the Turkey Tourism Encyclopaedia (in Turkish) classifies hammams as single or double depending on whether they have separate sections for men and women. According to the same entry, single hammams were opened to men and set aside for women at certain hours, while double hammams consist of two adjoining baths, one for men and one for women. The TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam says the Turks built double hammams made of two adjoining buildings for men and women. Two sections side by side but separate is, in other words, a familiar hammam arrangement.
In practice:
- For the sauna, steam room and hammam you go to your own section.
- For the pool you need a swimsuit and cap, because the pool is shared by women and men.
- There is no swimming pool reserved for women or for men.
- In the gym, too, there is no area or time reserved for women.
There is no single rule on the choice of massage specialist; it varies from location to location. If you have a preference, the simplest course is to ask the location when you book. Settling anything that helps you feel comfortable before the appointment is also something the International SPA Association (ISPA) recommends: it advises calling the business before you go, asking all your questions and expecting the spa to answer them gladly.
Which massage should you choose?
You choose by pressure, duration and technique. The options on the menu are a Relaxing Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Signature Massage and Targeted Massage. Which of them are offered at this location is something to ask when you book.
On the Beatus menu the massages are separated like this:
| What you want | Menu item | Menu time |
|---|---|---|
| A short break, one area | Targeted Massage | 30 min |
| Slow rhythm, light pressure | Relaxing Massage | 40 min |
| Strong pressure | Deep Tissue Massage | 55 min |
| A balance of firm and gentle techniques | Beatus Signature Massage | 55 or 90 min |
For the origin and technique of Thai massage, see what is Thai massage, and to see all the types side by side, our guide to types of massage. ISPA recommends loose, flexible clothing for Thai massage.
Keep two things in mind when you choose. First, each massage description is an account of an experience; it does not promise a result. Second, you can change the pressure during the session: asking your specialist for "a little lighter" or "a little firmer" is entirely normal. ISPA also says you are free to talk during a session, and that silence is a choice too. If you have a concern about your health, tell the specialist at the location rather than writing it in a message, and ask your doctor first if necessary.
For two: the couples' massage room and the VIP room with a jacuzzi
Wanda Vista has one couples' massage room and a VIP room with a jacuzzi; because both are single rooms, they need to be planned ahead. The couples' room is where two people have a massage in the same room; the VIP room has an extra feature, the jacuzzi.
Since each room is a one-off, two couples asking for the same time may have to wait their turn. If you are coming for a special day, writing a few days ahead raises your chances of getting the day you want. All you need to say is how many of you are coming, which day and time, whether you are thinking of a couples' massage or the VIP room, and whether you will use the hammam or pool on the same visit.
How long the VIP room can be booked for and with which services is something we cannot write here; that is set at the location. For what a VIP room means, what it can include at other locations and what to ask when booking, see what is a VIP spa room. To see the flow and preparation for a session for two, our couples massage guide helps. One distinction matters: the VIP room is not a swimming pool; a jacuzzi is a hot-water tub that you sit in. For swimming you go to the shared pool.
The pool: indoor all year, outdoor from 15 June to 15 September
At Wanda Vista the indoor pool is used all year, and the outdoor pool is open from 15 June to 15 September. A swimsuit and cap are required in the pool; you bring the swimsuit and the cap is sold at the spa.
A peştemal and towel are provided at the spa, so for the pool you only need to bring your swimsuit and personal care items. The pool is shared by women and men. Outside the season, from 15 September to 15 June, the indoor pool covers your swimming; if you are planning the outdoor pool, make a note of the dates.
For pool rules, it is not only Beatus that has expectations; Turkish regulation does too. The Ministry of Health's Public Health General Directorate page on pool water says that, under the Regulation on Health Principles for Swimming Pools (dated 6 March 2011, no. 27866), pools are inspected regularly every month. The same page says facilities must have places where all users can shower and disinfect their feet before entering a pool, and that indoor pools, including the changing areas, must be heated in winter. Showering before you get in is therefore not just good manners; it is part of the facility's health rules. For a more general pool guide, see our hotel pool etiquette guide.
If you use hot areas and the pool on the same day, remember the general precautions on Harvard Health Publishing's sauna page: do not stay in for more than 15 to 20 minutes in one session, cool down gradually afterwards, drink cool water after the sauna, avoid alcohol, and do not go in if you are not feeling well. These are general courtesies, not medical advice; if you have a health condition, ask your doctor.
Coming by car, and access: car park, valet, wheelchair access
The open-air car park at Wanda Vista is free of charge, and there is no valet service. The spa is on the ground floor, you enter through the main hotel lobby, and the spa and gym can be used in a wheelchair.
We do not put public transport lines or walking times from stops on the page, because that information has not been confirmed with the location. Instead, do this: the directions link on the location page shows the current route from where you are in Google Maps. Typing "Wanda Vista Istanbul" into the map also works. If you like, write "I'm coming by car" or "I'm coming by public transport" in your booking message, and the location will tell you the entrance that suits you.
On languages: the location has staff who speak Turkish, English and Chinese. WhatsApp messages written in Arabic are answered in Arabic. The location's WhatsApp line usually replies within about a minute, so writing your message and waiting on the page is often easier than phoning.
How is the price of massage and hammam set?
We do not publish prices on this site. You get the current price and a suitable time for Wanda Vista from the location's WhatsApp line. The main factors in the price are the type of service, the length of the session and how many people are coming.
The same logic applies to pool, sauna, steam room or gym use. Memberships are available for a day or for 3, 6 and 12 months, and they cover the gym, the indoor and outdoor pools, the sauna, the steam room and the hammam. The location will tell you which option suits which need, and the current terms.
To learn availability and the price in a single reply, write the name of the service, the duration, the number of people and the day and time you want. Our article how massage and hammam prices are set explains in a wider frame why figures are not on this page and what prices generally depend on, which helps you prepare your questions.
Booking: what to write on WhatsApp
The quickest way to book is to put the day, time, service and number of people in one message; with those four details the location can tell you availability at once. We do not put the number in the text; the call card at the top of the page links to the Wanda Vista line, and the same line is on the location page.
Before you tap phone or WhatsApp, have these answers ready:
- Which day and time? (For a massage, choose a time after 12:30.)
- Which service? (A massage, a hammam, both, or pool and sauna?)
- How many people are coming?
- Are you thinking of a couples' massage or the VIP room?
- Are you coming by car?
Here are examples you can copy and edit:
For a massage for one:
Hello, I would like to book a massage for one person on Friday around 17:00. I'm thinking of a medium-pressure massage. Which types and lengths do you offer, and is that time available? Also, can I use the sauna and steam room before the massage? Thank you.
For two people:
Hello, I would like to book for two people on Saturday evening. Is there a suitable time in the couples' massage room? If possible we would also like to use the hammam after the massage. Which times are available and how long are the sessions?
For a spa day:
Hello, I'm planning a spa day on Sunday afternoon. I'd like to use the sauna, steam room and pool first, then have a massage. What is the earliest time available for the massage? At what times is the scrub and foam ritual given? Do I need to bring anything besides a swimsuit for the pool?
If you prefer Arabic (the location replies to Arabic messages in Arabic):
مرحباً، أود حجز موعد مساج ليوم الجمعة الساعة الخامسة مساءً. هل الموعد متاح؟
When you write, avoid one thing: do not put your health condition or any medication in the message; you tell your massage specialist those in person at the location. You can ask about the price; the location will give you current information itself. For busy days, write a few days in advance. Once the reply arrives, confirming the day, time and the exact name of the service by writing them out again prevents misunderstandings.
If you prefer to phone, keep the same list of questions in front of you. ISPA's guide also suggests asking about the cancellation or change terms during the call; those differ from business to business, so ask Wanda Vista directly.
On the day: what to bring and what to do
For Wanda Vista you only need a swimsuit, your personal care items and comfortable clothes; the peştemal and towel are provided at the location. Arriving a little early is good, so you can change and start calmly.
This short list works for most visits:
- Swimsuit and cap: Bring a swimsuit if you will use the pool; a cap is required and sold at the spa.
- Peştemal and towel: Provided at the location; you do not need to bring them.
- Arrive early: ISPA suggests arriving about 30 minutes before the appointment for paperwork and transitions. That is a general courtesy to start the visit calmly, not the location's own advice.
- Clothing: If it's your first visit, don't hesitate to ask the location what to wear. ISPA also suggests asking staff at the first session.
- Jewellery and phone: ISPA recommends removing jewellery before a session and avoiding phone use and loud conversation in the spa area.
- Water: Drink cool water after the hot areas, and dress without hurrying.
- Talking and pressure: According to ISPA you don't have to talk during a session, and if the touch is too firm or too light, it is normal to say so.
The next step is simple: choose the time and service you have in mind, and use the call card at the top of the page to reach Wanda Vista on WhatsApp or by phone. The Wanda Vista location page also has the address, map and directions.
