What Is a Peshtemal? 7 Ways to Use a Turkish Towel
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If you have ever wrapped up in a thin, striped towel at a Turkish hammam or on a Mediterranean beach, you have met a peshtemal. Light, absorbent and endlessly useful, it is one of the most practical textiles you can own—and one of the easiest to fall for.
What Is a Peshtemal?
A peshtemal (also spelled peştemal or pestemal, and often called a Turkish towel) is a flat-woven cotton cloth traditionally used in the Turkish hammam. Instead of thick loops like a terry towel, it is woven flat, which makes it thin, light and quick to dry while still absorbing water well. Most peshtemals have fringed ends and woven stripes or patterns.
NoaPure peshtemals are made from Turkish cotton and measure about 39 × 70 in (100 × 180 cm)—generous enough to wrap around the body.
Peshtemal vs Regular Towel
| Peshtemal | Terry towel | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Light, folds small | Heavy, bulky |
| Drying time | Fast | Slow |
| Feel | Smooth, gets softer with washing | Plush |
| Uses | Bath, beach, travel, home | Mostly bath |
7 Ways to Use a Turkish Towel
1. As a bath towel
Dries you well and dries itself quickly—useful in small or humid bathrooms.
2. At the beach or pool
Sand shakes off easily and it packs into a tote without taking over the bag.
3. For travel
A peshtemal can be a towel, a scarf on a cold flight, or a cover-up—one item instead of three.
4. In a home hammam ritual
Wrap up and rest after a warm shower, the way it is done in the hammam. See our step-by-step hamam guide.
5. As a throw
Drape one over a sofa arm or the foot of a bed for light texture.
6. As a picnic or yoga cloth
Flat-woven cotton lies flat on grass or a mat and is easy to wash.
7. For guests
Fold one into a guest room basket—it reads as thoughtful without being fussy.
How to Wash a Peshtemal
Before first use, wash it once; Turkish cotton becomes more absorbent and softer after a few washes. Use cool or warm water on a gentle cycle with similar colors. Skip bleach and fabric softener. Tumble dry low or line dry. Loose fringe threads can be trimmed rather than pulled.
Choosing Your Peshtemal
Pick by pattern and the room it will live in: the Classic Stripe Peshtemal for a timeless look, the Minimal Weave Peshtemal for calm, tonal spaces, or the Heritage Weave and Border Weave for more pattern. For thicker everyday towels, see our Turkish cotton towels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Turkish towels absorbent?
Yes. They absorb well despite being thin, and they become more absorbent after the first few washes.
Is a peshtemal the same as a Turkish towel?
Yes—“peshtemal” is the traditional Turkish name; “Turkish towel” is the common English name.
How big is a peshtemal?
Sizes vary, but a full peshtemal is usually around 39 × 70 in (100 × 180 cm), like NoaPure’s.
Shop peshtemals — free U.S. shipping on orders over $50.