HodjaPasha Culture Center · Sirkeci, Istanbul
The most booked Sema in Istanbul: an hour of Mevlevi music and whirling every evening at 7pm in HodjaPasha, a 15th-century double hamam a few minutes from Sirkeci station. Pick it for the dome, the daily schedule and a dervish exhibition that explains what you are about to see.
HodjaPasha Culture Center sits in a large double hamam, an Ottoman bath built with separate sections for men and women, on a side street between Sirkeci station and the old city. Per HodjaPasha, it takes its name from Hodja Sinan Pasha, tutor and vizier of Sultan Mehmed II, and the building dates from the 15th century. The Sema takes place under the hamam's high dome, as HodjaPasha describes it. The address on the listing is Hocapaşa Hamamı Sk. 3/B in Fatih.
The ceremony runs every day at 7pm and lasts 60 minutes, per HodjaPasha. Check in 30 minutes before. The listing sets out the order: a short concert of classical Turkish music, then the sheikh and the dervishes take their places and a chant praises the Prophet Mohammed. The kudum drum sounds, the black cloaks come off and the whirling begins, in the parts of the Sema that, per the listing, represent the birth of humanity. It closes with the Fatiha, a prayer for the souls of all prophets, martyrs and believers. Before or after, walk through the dervish exhibition: HodjaPasha lists dervish clothing, musical instruments, books, interactive Rumi poems, Sufi music samples, hyperrealist dervish statues and video.
Included: the Sema ticket, a program booklet and bottled water. There is no dress code, per HodjaPasha. Children under 7 are not admitted, the venue is not suitable for wheelchairs, and photography, video, talking and applause are not allowed during the ceremony. Seats go on a first-booked, first-served basis. A friendly tip: book early for a better seat, then still be there by 6.30pm for check-in.
Arrive 30 minutes before the start, per HodjaPasha. Seats are first booked, first served.
Clothing, instruments, personal objects, books, Rumi poems and dervish figures, with information panels on the ceremony.
The evening opens with a short concert, per the listing, as the hall goes quiet.
The sheikh and dervishes take their places, the cloaks are dropped and the white skirts open on the floor.
The ceremony ends with the Fatiha. Wait until the dervishes have left before you stand or clap.
★★★★★A fantastic experience that combines emotions, spirituality and physical challenge. I recommend it without hesitation.
★★★★★Absolutely mesmerizing! I loved every minute of this experience. The Whirling Dervishes are fascinating to watch, and the ceremony has a beautiful sense of spirituality, discipline, and symbolism. [...] I highly recommend experiencing this at least once.
★★★★★Highly recommend this Dervish experience - it did not feel like a tourist show - felt more authentic , genuine and overall quite a spiritual atmosphere for the one hour . [...] the information outside after is worth spending some time reading about the meanings and significance of Sufi Islam Rumi and all things related to the meaning of "Dervish"
★★★★★It was an exciting experience. The small orchestra accompanying the Derisi was exceptional. I don't know if it was the atmosphere, the singers' voices, or the music, but I was moved to tears.
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Every day at 7pm, per HodjaPasha. The ceremony lasts 60 minutes and check-in is 30 minutes before the start.
No. Photography and video are not allowed during the ceremony, per HodjaPasha, and the listing adds that talking and applause are not allowed either.
From age 7. HodjaPasha sets a minimum age of 7 for the Sema, and children under 7 are not admitted.
It starts from $32 per person on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The ticket includes the program booklet and bottled water.
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Every evening at 7pm: an hour of Sema in a 15th-century hamam, with a dervish exhibition.
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