Where to See a Whirling Dervish Show in Istanbul & Is It Worth It?

The nearest whirling dervish experience to my accommodation, one of the hotels in Sultanahmet area, was the live show (and exhibition) at Hodjapasha Cultural Center. So, I could say that it was my main criteria of selecting the activity. Of course, along with its historical setting. As an architect, I really think that an amazing space greatly contributes in beautifully shaping a cultural performance. And Hodjapasha seemed to deliver that epic atmosphere I was looking for.

🎟️Buying the Dervish Show Tickets

I wish the story of that evening had begun on a more enchanting note. However, purchasing my tickets for the whirling dervish performance in Istanbul, though it may seem like the practical part of the tale, is just as essential as everything else—perhaps even more.

A week before the show, I got my tickets through Viator for a Saturday evening at 7 pm. They have this magical “reserve now, pay later’ feature, which it always felt like a blessing for me. I adjust my travel schedule a lot and it gives me enough freedom to plan my days and my budget accordingly.

And it really helped me this time also because I could easily change from Saturday to Sunday.

Viator sent me some digital tickets. And the organizer reached out via WhatsApp the day before. They shared the exact location and an entrance code, making the ticket redemption at the HodjaPasha counter seamless.

The seats were numbered, without being able to choose them myself. But luckily I was seated in the second row, perfectly positioned in the middle of the stage. The venue was full, so making the reservation in advance wasn’t a bad idea.

You will find HodjaPasha Cultural Center in the Sirkeci area of Istanbul, not far from the old Orient Express train station and Topkapi Palace. Right in the middle of the lovely noisy and bustling markets of Eminönü.

From the narrow, crowded Tarihi Hocapasa Lokantalari—a covered lane lined with historic fast-food restaurants and shops selling fruit and spices — a smaller street opens up alongside an old stone building, leading to the entrance of the Dervish Show venue. Can’t miss it!

I would say the place is pretty accessible even for first-time visitors, especially if you follow Google maps indications.

Hodjapasha Cultural Center is housed in this beautifully restored 550-year-old Ottoman Turkish bathhouse, once known as the Hocapaşa Hamamı. The building exudes an undeniable and timeless historic charm with its domed roof, red brick and stone walls, some of which have been already gracefully overtaken by tiny, creeping vegetation.

Only one window and a grand entrance pierce the main façade. Beyond the door, the magic begins. A ground floor, more like a corridor, decorated with geometric patterns and a wooden beehive shelf showcasing items for purchase, leads to a staircase at the end.

The stairs open up to a circular, stone-wall room, illuminated by a striking modern metal chandelier hanging above. There’s the ticket counter, a charming shop, and a small museum displaying artifacts and stories about Rumi, the Mevlevi Order, and their traditions, including the Sema Ceremony.

I highly recommend arriving 30–60 minutes early to explore the exhibits and gain some really valuable insights before the actual Whirling Dervish performance.

From the museum, to the right of the stairs, you can enter the performance hall—a small, intimate octagonal room with a domed ceiling. The space is softly lit, and the circular seating arrangement, consisting of 3-4 rows of chairs on different levels, ensures every visitor has a close view of the ceremony. There is a small area reserved for the band and a central stage where the dervishes perform. The domed ceiling and stone arches create exceptional acoustics.

The interiors blend the ancient air of the building itself with modern interventions such as show lights, seating rows and a central lit stage, without diminishing the historical strength.

📌 The Dervish Show at Hodjapasha

For me, it was something new and almost magical.

When I entered the performance hall, people were already whispering. A quiet anticipation was easily taking over the room as everyone settled into their seats and lights dimmed.

A short story of the Sema and the dervishes’ role within it began unfolding on the stone walls, while almost imperceptibly musicians were taking their own places in a corner. Then, the first notes of the ney, a traditional Turkish flute, floated through the space, paired with the steady rhythm of a drum. The music felt somehow haunting and deep, striving to pull the whole audience into a meditative mood.

The dervishes entered the room moving gracefully, wearing their tall, conical hats, and white flowing robes, covered with a black cloth. As they took their positions and removed the black coat, the head dervish performed a ritual bow to mark the beginning of the Sema.

For almost 45 minutes, the dervishes whirled, with their arms caught in the connection between the sacred and the mortal. The right hand pointed upwards, toward the heavens, and the left hand downward, toward the earth while whirling for divine love. Their robes billowed out as they turned effortless, as if they were defying gravity.

The whirling dervish experience can be profound. Or not. However, to fully grasp its depth, it is worth coming a bit earlier. After the show, the place closes almost immediately.

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