Most bookedHodjaPasha Whirling Dervishes Ceremony & Exhibition
Daily at 7pm in a 15th-century hamam by Sirkeci: 60 minutes of Sema, a booklet, water and a dervish exhibition.
The venue: A 15th-century Ottoman hamam by Sirkeci station
Eleven ways to see the Sema: Istanbul's hamam, lodge, college and cistern ceremonies, a ceremony with dinner, four in Cappadocia and HodjaPasha's folk dance show. Each has its own page.
The Sema in the old city and Beyoglu, from a 15th-century hamam to a working Mevlevi lodge.
Most bookedDaily at 7pm in a 15th-century hamam by Sirkeci: 60 minutes of Sema, a booklet, water and a dervish exhibition.
The venue: A 15th-century Ottoman hamam by Sirkeci station
Real lodgeA Mevlevi lodge from the 1620s in Beyoglu: the sheikh's bilingual introduction, the Sema, two exhibitions and a booklet.
The venue: Kasimpasa Mevlevihanesi, a Mevlevi lodge founded in the 1620s
Best value55 minutes of Sema on Alemdar Street by Hagia Sophia: live music, a host, tea or sherbet and an 8-language audio guide.
The venue: An event hall on Alemdar Street, steps from Hagia Sophia
Old cityAn hour of Sema in an Ottoman medrese by Sirkeci, with an audio guide app on your phone. Be there 15 minutes early.
The venue: Hoca Rüstem Medrese, an Ottoman college in the old city
A ceremony among the columns of a Byzantine cistern, or the Sema with a walk and a family dinner.
Cistern45 minutes of Sema underground among the marble columns of Binbirdirek Cistern, with traditional music and entry included.
The venue: A Byzantine cistern of a thousand columns
With dinnerA guided walk, a 60-minute Sema, five kebabs and künefe in a 140-year-old family restaurant, then a private car back.
The venue: A Sema, then dinner in a 140-year-old family restaurant
Ceremonies in caravanserai and cave halls, with hotel pickup or dinner as options.
CappadociaA 50-minute Sema in a cave hall 4 km from Goreme, 6pm to 7pm, with a guided option that explains the symbols.
The venue: A historical cave hall near Goreme
Lowest priceThe lowest-priced Sema on this site: 1 hour at Motif Kültür Merkezi, with serbet and an optional transfer.
The venue: Motif Cultural Centre's Sema hall in Cappadocia
Dinner optionA Cappadocia Sema with serbet, then dinner in a 140-year-old family restaurant and hotel pickup, by option.
The venue: Motif Cultural Centre, with dinner in a family restaurant
Hotel pickupA 40-minute Cappadocia ceremony with hotel pickup and drop-off included, rated by guests for calm and respect.
The venue: A Cappadocia Sema hall, with hotel pickup included
HodjaPasha's Turkish folk dance show, in the same hamam on other nights.
Cross-sellHodjaPasha's 65-minute Turkish dance show in a 15th-century hamam, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8.30pm.
The venue: The same 15th-century hamam as the Sema