Istanbul Whirling Dervishes Show

4.8
(685 Reviews)

About this activity

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Duration: 1 hour
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Experience Highlights

Immerse yourself in the mystical Mevlevi Sema ceremony in Istanbul and witness the fascinating dance of the Dervish Gyrovagi, a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Site. For approximately one hour, you will witness this ancient ritual that represents man's spiritual ascent to perfection through mind and love.

The performance takes place at the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre (located in the city centre, near the Sirkeci tram stop), a space that will envelop you with a live Turkish orchestra and video projections, creating a uniquely immersive experience.

Before the ceremony, you can explore an exhibition that includes information about the dervishes, their traditions, personal artefacts, musical instruments and hyper-realistic statues. For further information, a multilingual brochure will be available with everything you need to know.

Please note that children under the age of 7 are not allowed and photography is prohibited in order to maintain the sacred atmosphere of the event. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive at the theatre 30 minutes before the show starts.

  • Witness the authentic Mevlevi Sema ceremony and be mesmerised by the dance of the Whirling Dervishes.
  • Enjoy a live Turkish orchestra and video projections that enrich the show.
  • Explore a unique exhibition on Sufi traditions, Rumi's poetry and historical artefacts.
  • Immerse yourself in a 750-year-old tradition, recognised as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

What’s included

  • Whirling Dervish Show in Istanbul
  • Bottle of bottled water
  • Multilingual information leaflet

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Step by Step

Come to this show where you will see the Dervish Whirling Dervishes dance live. This is a traditional dance where you will see the Dervishes whirl like whirlwinds as their skirts fly in the air. It is so old that it has even been declared an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

This ticket will give you access to the Mevlevi Sema ceremony, where in addition to the dancers, there will also be a live Turkish orchestra. To help you learn about this culture and the origins of this dance, a multilingual booklet is included at the beginning of the show.

The origin of this dance is spiritual, so the Dervishes perform a mystical and spiritual ritual during the dance, which lasts approximately 1 hour. Along with the dancers, various videos will be shown to make the experience even more immersive.

Food is not included, however, to ensure that no one goes thirsty during the show, a bottle of bottled water is included.

Reviews

4.8
· 685 Reviews
  • O
    O.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I recommend reading about the dervishes, SEMA, rituals, etc. beforehand. It made us understand the reason for the show and we enjoyed it very much.
  • R
    R.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    Impeccable way of representing spirituality and culture in Turkey.
  • A
    A.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The order was very well maintained from the moment we started. I went with a group of friends, all of different nationalities, and to see how each of us was drawn to the show in a different way was great.
  • D
    D.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    A unique show in Istanbul. Highly recommended.
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