1h30

Instant confirmation

About this activity

Head inside Hodjapasha Dance Theater in the Sirkeci neighborhood of Istanbul, and enjoy a drink and some Turkish delight from the bar. The building itself dates back to the 15th century, when it was once home to Turkish baths, and is well known in the city as one of the top places to see traditional Turkish dances and ceremonies.

After enjoying your beverage, take a seat in the main hall to watch your 1-hour show, consisting of a 15-minute Turkish classical music concert followed by a 45-minute Mevleviye sema dance. Performed by a troupe of semazens (or whirling dervishes), the entrancing ceremonial dance is believed to date back as far as 800 years – a fact that helped the dance land a spot on UNESCO’s Intangible World Heritage List.

Watch as the whirling dervishes glide around the stage in a flurry of movement, dancing in time to Persian and traditional Turkish music played by the theater’s orchestra. The flute, kettledrum and cymbal music is accompanied by songs and the chanting of ancient Persian poems and prayers.

The full performance lasts roughly 1-hour, and when the dancing finishes you can stay inside the venue to enjoy more drinks, if you wish. All additional food and drinks are at your own expense.

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Included

Unlimited Tea, water and juice
Entry/Admission - Hodjapasha Cultural Center
Entry/Admission - Whirling Dervishes Istanbul
Guaranteed to skip the lines

Not included

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional food and drinks

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Minimum age is 6 years

Features

Tourism

45%

Cultural

45%

Aquatic

40%

Sport

25%

Reviews

4.1

87

I

Irene R

4 | 2019-09-17

I have never seen something similiar. It was very interesting. It would have only be great when they had told us a little bit more about the life of them today,...

U

Usman N

4 | 2019-07-25

Good experience .. one time only.. it becomes a little repetitive.. but performances are good.. not for younger ones

A

Akemi A

1 | 2019-07-22

I am very sorry to say this, but this was very slow and disappointing. Not dramatic or exciting as we hoped it for.

S

Syed Safder H

4 | 2019-07-03

Booked the show for my parents. They'd heard a lot about the Dervish's, perhaps had built it up too much in their minds. They though the ceremony was well organized and pretty great, but too long.

P

Philip M

4 | 2019-07-03

The historic venue was a great setting for this ceremony. While we had great seats, there were others that were not as favourable. Understanding the ceremony prior to the performance makes it easier to appreciate the show, however the "reception" room prior to entering the theatre itself was very crowded which made reading all of the background material / exhibits difficult.

J

Jonathan P

5 | 2017-12-08

A must-see experience in Istanbul.

C

Clayton K

5 | 2017-10-31

It was good for cultural experience.

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