Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Kasımpaşa Mevlevi Lodge Ticket

About the Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Kasımpaşa Mevlevi Lodge

The seating arrangement for the event is unnumbered.

A Mevlevi Lodge Hidden in the Heart of Beyoğlu

Turning away from the hustle and bustle of Beyoğlu into a narrow street, you'll come across a place most guidebooks skip: the Kasımpaşa Mevlevi Lodge. Founded in the 1620s by Abdullah Dede, the sheikh of the Galata Mevlevi Lodge, it was Istanbul's third Mevlevi lodge. Restored during the reign of Mahmud II, it remained silent for a century after the closure of the lodges in 1925, and has now been reopened in its original form.

Located within walking distance of the Galata Tower, but completely away from its crowds, this place is alive both in its architecture and its operation.

Not a Show, but a Living Tradition

The Mevlevi lodge's Sema hall opens at 5:00 PM on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Sema is a spiritual journey initiated by Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi in the 13th century. Academically, the ceremony is called " Mukabele "; popularly, it is known as " Sema Show ," "Sema Ritual," or "Semazen Ceremony." All refer to the same ceremony. UNESCO included this ceremony in its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2008.

You will learn why the whirling dervishes spin, what the music tells, and what the symbolic costumes represent. Then, accompanied by live Sufi music, the whirling dervishes enter the hall and spin for the four traditional "salutations."
This is not a staged performance. What the commentators have repeatedly emphasized is that the venue is not "touristy": there are no light effects, no applause, the atmosphere is meticulous and simple.

Exhibitions and Traditional Art Workshops

Before and after the ceremony, you can visit the Mevlevi Lodge's Artifacts Exhibition and the Dervish Dowry Museum. Upstairs, there is a gallery of calligraphy, miniatures, and traditional Turkish arts. Musical instruments, centuries-old manuscripts, and everyday items used by dervishes are displayed here.

Our foundation

The Kasımpaşa Mevlevi Lodge is operated by the Human and Wisdom Foundation. The foundation also operates the Sünbül Efendi Tekke, the oldest Mevlevi lodge in Istanbul. Our priority is to preserve this heritage properly, without turning it into a commercial spectacle.

What it includes:

• Narrated whirling dervish ceremony
• The upper floor houses a gallery of calligraphy and traditional arts.
• Access to the exhibitions "Tekke Artifacts" and "Dervish Dowry".

Highlights:

• In a real Mevlevi lodge
• There is an elevator and disabled access.
• Multilingual information brochure (Turkish, English, Arabic, Persian).

Capacity: Max: 43

Sessions:

• Wednesday , Friday , and Sunday afternoons at 5:00 PM

Duration: 1 hour

Languages: Turkish, English

Price: 1,300 TL

Event Rules

• The event lasts 1 hour.
• Photography, video recording, and applause are prohibited during the ceremony.
• Put your phone on silent, or turn it off if possible.
• Respectful attire is requested. Shoulders and knees covered are preferred.
• The hall is wheelchair accessible; an elevator is available.
• Tickets purchased are non-refundable and cannot be cancelled.
• You can submit your change requests by emailing bilgi@bilet.com or through our call center.