Istanbul: Whirling Dervishes Ceremony and Mevlevi Sema

The location instructions were easy to follow, and we arrived at 6:40pm, and the place was already absolutely jam packed. We luckily got the last 2 seats that allowed a fairly good view. If you want front row, or second row seats, get there around 6.15pm (45 minutes before the show starts). A lot of people had to stand around the perimeter, so it was definitely over-sold, and the venue appeared to not have fire sprinklers, which was a bit concerning given the number of people in attendance. Unfortunately, the amazing performance of the musicians and the dervishes was slightly tarnished by the obvious commercial aspect. Also not a show suitable for pre-school aged children!