Show sheet · Whirling dervishes in Istanbul

Hodjapasha whirling dervishes ceremony

The most-reviewed sema in the catalogue: daily at 19:00, one hour, no photos, minimum age 8. From €26.

What the evening is

This is a sema, the Mevlevi ceremony, and both the venue and the catalogue say plainly that it is not a dance show. Hodjapasha Kültür Merkezi occupies the domed hall of a 15th-century hammam in Sirkeci, restored in 2008. The venue lists the ceremony every day at 19:00 with this running order: a 5-minute introduction video, a 10-minute concert of Sufi music, then 45 minutes of whirling.

The ticket also covers an exhibition in the foyer with dervish clothing, instruments, books and video displays. The catalogue lists water as included and nothing else to eat or drink. A city guide gives the room 220 seats around the floor. On 4 October 2026 the venue's own booking page showed 42 US dollars for an adult, against a catalogue price from €26.

The facts

Venue: Hodjapasha Kültür Merkezi
Type of room: Theatre
Duration: 1 h
Room capacity: 220 seats
Dinner: Not included
Drink: Not included
Usual start times: 19:00
Minimum age: 8 and over
Dress code: Not published by the venue
Seating: Assigned by the venue
Wheelchair access: No
Cancellation: Free up to 24 h before
Price: from €26
Where: Ankara Caddesi, Hocapaşa Hamamı Sokak 3/B, Sirkeci, Istanbul

Checked on 4 October 2026. Lowest adult price in the catalogue on 4 October 2026.

Who it suits

First-time visitors who want the ceremony itself, not a dinner show, with the largest review base of the two semas and a refund option.

The catch

Photography is not allowed, and the age rule differs by source: the catalogue says minimum 8, the venue says no children under 7. The theatre is not suitable for wheelchairs. At 8.3 out of 10 the score is solid, not exceptional.

What the ticket includes

Ticket to the one-hour sema ceremony
Exhibition on the dervishes in the foyer
Water

Before you go

Ankara Caddesi, Hocapaşa Hamamı Sokak 3/B, Sirkeci. The venue asks you to arrive 30 minutes early and allocates seats in the order of booking. The catalogue says the door closes at 19:00. The venue admits latecomers during the first 10 minutes only and counts anyone more than 15 minutes late as a no-show.