Istanbul Kasımpaşa Mevlevihane Whirling Dervish Sema Ceremony Ticket

Experience an authentic Sema ceremony
in a 17th-century Sufi lodge

The Kasımpaşa Mevlevihane sits on a narrow backstreet of Beyoğlu, within walking distance of Galata Tower. Founded in the 1620s, it is one of the oldest Mevlevi Sufi lodges in Istanbul. After being closed for a long period in the 20th century, it was faithfully restored and reopened to visitors. Today it is run by a non-profit foundation dedicated to preserving Istanbul's Sufi heritage.

On arrival, staff will guide you to the ceremony hall, and you will receive an information booklet in Turkish, English, Arabic and Persian.

Hear the sheikh's introduction and watch the four selams

The whirling dervish ceremony is a spiritual practice that began with the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi, and UNESCO recognized it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. The ceremony starts with a short introduction in Turkish and English, explaining what the dervishes' garments mean, why they bow their heads, why one hand reaches up and the other down, and what the four ceremonial movements (selams) represent.

Then live Sufi music begins, the dervishes enter the hall and perform the four selams. It is not a stage show: there are no lighting effects and no applause, and it lasts about 1 hour in a quiet, reverent atmosphere.

Visit the lodge artifacts and dervish garment exhibitions

Before or after the ceremony, you can visit two exhibitions on site. The Tekke Artifacts Exhibition displays items related to the lodge's history, and the Dervish Trousseau Museum shows personal belongings used by dervishes over the centuries. Upstairs, the calligraphy and traditional arts gallery displays musical instruments, centuries-old manuscripts and traditional dervish household items.

※ Photography, filming and applause are prohibited during the ceremony.