Istanbul Whirling Dervish Ceremony, A Mystical Sufi Experience

This was a worthwhile experience. The storytelling through music and dance was fascinating and a little hypnotic. I would definitely recommend it if you're spending time in Istanbul.

To be honest I found the Dervish experience to be quite boring. I understand that it is meant to be a religious/cultural tradition, but as a spectacle it was entirely underwhelming. The performers seemed disinterested, and it was all very slow - we were 28 minutes into the 60 minute schedule before the first twirl. There was no light and no energy. Loads of people in the audience were on their phones. Overall a bit disappointlng.

This is religious Sufi ceremony that demonstrates Sema Sufi experience through music, recitation and whirling darvashis

A very informative, well presented ceremony. Lovely location and clear explanations through out the performance. Being seated so close to the performers was a bonus. Recommended.

No photos allowed which was understandable but disappointing. It was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. Very interesting and enlightening.

Fascinating and highly skilled , quite mesmerising. Not the easiest place to find, it’s down a lane off the main Ankara CD, near Sirkeci metro. On foot it is down a very steep hill . When you enter you go up a stair ( steep and narrow) to a museum area with historical explanations on the wall. Once called, the audience takes seats in circular performance room ( nice historic dome ) . Performance is in complete silence except for the music ( live instrumental group) . Group does a good number of whirling routines and associated rituals.

It was ok. The show was interesting for the first 5, maybe 10 mins. But then it gets quite repetitive, and could easily put you to sleep, esp since the lights are dimmed. Not recommended for families with kids.

Overpriced for this show…. Better buy tickets locally (27€)

Not what we expected and ridiculous prove for what it was. Fell asleep several times. Over half of the show was chanting only 15 minutes was display of whirling. Everyone in the audience seemed disappointed at the end of the show. Definitely do not recommend unless you need a nap.

No pictures or videos allowed period. Seems a little slow but remember it's a religous ceremony and not a Broadway play. If you find different religous ideas interesting you'll enjoy it. Get there a little early to enjoy the plaques and displays before the ceremony.

An incredibly spiritual and moving experience. I highly recommend. This is not a performance, but a spiritual journey.

An incredibly spiritual and moving experience. I highly recommend. This is not a performance, but a spiritual journey.

Not worth the money. Most of the performance was flute music and chanting with some twirling at the end…and after a couple minutes of twirling that was enough for us.

I did not know much about this until I experienced it. It was a great learning experience while in Istanbul!

What an experience ! The ambience of the atmosphere was wonderful. The lighting and verses that go along with the whirling dervish show were a nice touch

Beautiful experience that made me realise how spiritual the dance is and reason for it.Wonderful and excellent location

It is something personal, you need to experience it for yourself. This was my second time. You should try it.

WOW. WOW. WOW! What an AMAZING experience seeing the Whirling Dervishes was! I highly recommend this experience on every level - cultural, spiritual, or even just as a curious tourist. The fact that it was a full Whirling Dervish Ceremony (running approx. an hour) with singing, live musicians, and probably a good 45-minutes out outstanding whirling dervish movement (I hesitate to call it 'dancing,' because it's not - it's so much more meaningful and deeper than that) by 5 highly trained and professional Dervishes made for an evening we will never forget, and will absolutely return back to do again. As the Dervishes enter their trances, you can't help but get caught up in the moment. It's very hypnotizing and you're absolutely caught up in the moment. And the venue is PERFECT for this - it's authentic, unique, and every single seat has an amazing view. What an incredible evening. BTW, Tourmania did a wonderful job putting this experience together. They were awesome at answering any questions I had quickly, and made the experience so enjoyable. When you're in a new city seeing an event, you really want to be informed and kept in the loop of every detail, and they did just that. (PS - When you go, read the posters in the lobby area to get a little background on why the Dervishes whirl, and what the ceremony is about. It'll heighten your experience tenfold.)

Going to see the whirling dervish was an education. The map was very helpful to find the location. The event was approximately one hour in duration. The waiting area had many explanations about the people and the commitment required to participate. There was music and ceremonial carpets laid out for the dancers. Well worth the time to see such dedication to their religion. I left with a better understanding of the significance of the dance.

Rather tedious and monotonous performance. Perhaps I need more spiritual growth to enjoy it but cannot recommend. I saw a lot of people dozing off, one gentleman had a full fledged nap. There was some seat number system that made no sense. The edges were filled with people while the seats close to the stage were left empty.

A great way to either start or end your day. It was such a blessing to get to see this practice. It was beautiful and hypnotizing to see. The movements, singing, and music were enchanting. I also liked getting to enter the museum early to learn more before the whirling started. The cultural center was also a gorgeous venue. Do this before you leave!

This was a great excursion! It was very respectful of the culture and my husband and I were thrilled that there was absolutely no videotaping/photos/applause. It allowed us to appreciate the entire ceremony! A small note…go early to find out where it is before it starts and to view the things in the museum. The cultural center is located down a narrow side street. Best to be sure where you are going! (We walked from the cruise ship port since we were overnight in Istanbul…it was a bit of a hike…but totally worth every step!)

This was incredible. It was a Sufi religious experience so it’s the only authentic way for tourists to see the “true” whirling dervishes. The venue was atmospheric and the visual display during the service (in English and Turkish) helped us know what part of the ceremony we were up to. The audience was very respectful so apart from the occasional cough you could hear a pin drop. Make sure you arrive early so you can read the philosophy of Rumi and see the artefacts on display.

We were very impressed by the Whirling Dervish ceremony and the story of Rumi which was inspiring Make sure you allow extra time to read all about the history and see the artefacts. The projection during the service explaining what stage it was at was in English and Turkish which was great for us. The venue was atmospheric and added to the occasion. The entire audience was very respectful and you could have heard a pin drop. The bathroom facilities were clean but only one toilet for women and one for men

The phamplet and the displays before the performance explained the performance. Also, the displays during the performance announced each part in English which was very helpful. Unique performance!

Ceremony was well performed. Good history of Sufi presented on posters in the lobby—worth getting to venue early enough to view.

This was a serious show in a specialized theatre. It didn’t feel like actors. I’ve heard many of the Istanbul boat cruises or other shows didn’t feel real. This one delivered. There were several live musicians and 5 members of the order who demonstrated the actual trance like state they’re in during the ceremony. The double screens wall projections provided the audience members with more information on what is happening. This show is not recommended for small children as the audience is in complete silence out of respect for ceremony. I remember growing up hearing the term whirling dervish and I always wondered what exactly it was. I absolutely loved the show and was profoundly moved by the experience. Highly recommend!

We appreciated the explanations that accompanied each stage of the dance. With their devotion to God the dancers seemed to get into a trance as they danced. It was a spiritual experience for us.

This was a very interesting and diffrent experience to any other I have experienced. Well worth a visit if you can spare an hour when visiting Istanbul

No Pictures or Videos allowed. Otherwise a great experience. A drink was served beforehand. Nice little exhibit in the hall.

From the start until the end, all I can say is perfect and wonderful experience! The staff was helpful and thank you for the extra discount given by the Klook Apps. Love the show by Dervishes!

A unique experience with local whirling dance. You have to be quite at all time, and that gives you a time for concentrating on their very special storyline. Highly recommended.

This experience is educational, not 'entertainment'. The experience was wonderful, but can be dry for some.

Amazing experience Great show Very antique venue Service was great Higher recommend to watch this show and enjoy the unique experience

Divine Must go if in Istanbul It's so soulful, you'll forget all your worries and troubles.. if in Istanbul you should go and experience it.

A captivating show immersing you in spirituality, where cultures, dance, and mysticism beautifully meet. Nice experience.

It was perfect, we loved it! We had never seen anything like this😀 Great for everyone, good atmosphere and nice people.

The monks' Sufi dance connects them with God. Their right arm represents the sky, the god's left arm represents humanity, and their bodies connect with the sky and the earth. The more they circle, the more they connect with God. It was a beautiful and reverent moment, and a beautiful performance.

Enjoyed the one hour ritual, and booking till watching it is a smooth process. Booked via Pelago and the actual agent will contact you prior to confirm and provide key information. Good seat allocation too (Front row middle)

very repetitive, somber. It is a religious dance and while it has cultural heritage meaning, I would highly suggest seeing the belly dancers would have been much more entertaining.

⸻ This was an incredible cultural experience. I believe anyone visiting Türkiye should take the time to witness this mystifying and deeply beautiful part of traditional Turkish culture. The music was soothing and immersive, and the gentlemen performed with such grace, intention, and spiritual presence. Their movements were mesmerizing to watch, and it truly felt like a window into something sacred. Overall, it was peaceful, captivating, and unlike anything I have ever experienced. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to connect with the heart of Turkish tradition.

It was amazing, so spiritual. I’ve been wanting to see them for 20 years and finally got my chance!!!

It was a wonderful experience, very authentic and impressive. The staff was very helpful and it was easy to find the venue.

Overpriced for what it is. The singing and background was somewhat interesting but the performance was quite mediocre and objectively not worth the price tag. Going back would’ve definitely booked something difference at this price level.

The show was excellent and we enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend. The ceremony was enlightening and would have liked it to be a bit longer if possible.

It was great to see! Additional background information about the Dervishes before the ceremony started would have been interesting and provided more context.

Authentic demonstration of this dance ritual. Great evening. Wonderful staff and venue was easy to find. Highly recommend.

A unique and mesmerising cultural experience for the whole family. The tour organisation was excellent and overall it was great value for money.

Get there early to read the information about the whirling dervishes. Mesmerising, and culturally it was educational and wonderful.