Whirling Dervishes Ceremony: A Magical Experience

84 Ratings

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Experience the mesmerizing Whirling Dervishes Ceremony in Istanbul, where dancers enter a state of hyper consciousness and maintain outstanding balance. Don’t miss this magical and unforgettable experience!

Duration: 50 minutes

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Kızlarağa Medresesi - The Mevlevi Sema ceremony is a Sufi ceremony that symbolizes the degrees of the path to Allah, contains religious elements and themes, and has detailed rules and qualities in this form. Mevlevi was the son of Mavlana Jalaluddin Rumi. It was performed in a disciplined manner starting from the time of Sultan Veled and Ulu Arif…

What's Included

Whirling Dervishes Ceremony

Additional Information

Experiencing the spectacle of whirling dervishes can shift your ordinary state of awareness, opening a window to a mystical universe.
Observing these dancers, possessed by an elevated state of consciousness while sustaining extraordinary equilibrium, is a breathtaking sight. Being a part of the Whirling Dervishes and the Mevlevi ceremony is certainly an…

Location

Kızlarağa Medresesi

Hoca Rüstem Sokak

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.4

(84 Ratings)

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Jennifer_d

Sep 24, 2024

Mesmerizing - This was a very short show and it took us almost as long to Uber to the show as the show was long. Our Uber dropped us off a couple blocks away and a kind English speaking gentleman, Faruk, walked us to the show. As we were walking, all of the shop and restauranteurs tried to get us to come in. Faruk said he was friend of the presenters of Whirling Dervishes and made sure we had tickets. I got tickets ahead of time. The show was interesting. The musicians used only 3 instruments and chanted some music. There were 3 Dervishes and it was mesmerizing once they started spinning. One of them looked like he was ill and having trouble keeping it together. He made it through. I’m glad we experienced this show.

Review provided by Viator

Tawhidatanyae

Sep 16, 2024

Exquisite Grace - This was an exquisite rendition of the traditional Mevlevi Sheb-i Arus ceremony. The musicians were harmonious with the whirling dervishes who floated in air. All of it was pure grace and Beauty in the name of God. Highly recommended to all visitors of Türkiye.

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Janet_b

Sep 6, 2024

Must see event - Whirling dervishes were magnificent and the musicians accompanying were brilliant, s must see wvent if visiting Istanbul

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Isam_j

Sep 1, 2024

An exhilarating twirl of an experience - Very mesmerising, couldnt take our eyes or ear off the performers the entire time. A must try experience if in Istanbul. Location is central and absolutely worth the price you pay for

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Farshada274

Aug 19, 2024

A fantastic experience watching the mesmerising dance with the traditional music - The show was a great experience for me and my wife and my toddler daughter fell asleep watching the mesmerising dances of the dervishes. My wife notes that the introductory music to the dance was a bit long, but overall definitely recommend it. :-)

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Angela_j

Aug 12, 2024

Wonderful experience - Lovely ceremony. The music was melodious and powerful. The Sufi performers were clearly dedicated to this ancient ritual. I’m so grateful that they were willing to share it with us. The experience was one of the highlights of my trip. I got there early and got a good seat. We received tea and water, which I did not expect. The staff were very kind and welcoming. Some of us were annoyed by late-comers because they interrupted the quiet beauty of the ceremony. Please get there on time or even early, out of respect for this ancient tradition.

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Ramona_v

Aug 6, 2024

Great Cultural Experience - Witnessing an aged old 13th century sacred dance ritual combined with music and prayer/song. Drinks (tea/water/juice) provided before the ceremony. Tips: I would advise guests to (Google) read about the ritual prior to attending to appreciate the ceremony better. Also, arrive early if you want front seating.

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Sarah_m

Jul 18, 2024

Would do it again, in a heartbeat - This dance is one of the UNESCO events to see and it totally stands up to the hype. It was held in an old building with so much history. The performers were spectacular. The musicians were better than expected as their fingers moved along the strings.

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Mehju2014

Jun 30, 2024

Awesome experience - This was an awesome experience for our multi generational family. We got there early to get a good seat and met Kadir who helped us with amazing information about Istanbul. A must see experience in Istanbul. The only negative was the restaurants around the area kept annoying us to eat at theirs

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Mrmichaell_c

Jun 21, 2024

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE & GOOD VALUE - A great show. The musicians played for about 20 minutes then the three Dervishes entered and went through their ceremony. I advise anyone attending to arrive early to get a good seat. We sat just inside, to the left of the door but I think the best view would be from the end to the right of the door, not too near the center.

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Check Availability

From $21

up to 15 guests

1 Adult