Combos

Combo (Save 22%): Whirling Dervishes Ceremony & Mevlevi Sema Show + Basilica Cistern with Multilingual Audio Guide Tickets

Whirling Dervishes performing in Istanbul with musicians in the background.

Whirling Dervishes performing in a ceremony with an audience in Istanbul.

Pillars inside the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul with reflections on the water.

Medusa head column in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, part of Blue Mosque & Basilica Cistern tour.

Open today

09:00am - 10:00pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

4.2/5

(3,288)

Peter

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Buying the tickets was easy and convenient. Unlike other services, the tickets from Headout were delivered electronically right away rather than requiring me to go pick up tickets at a meeting point. The Headout app on my phone worked great to show the digital tickets and download the audio guide. (Be sure to download the guide before actually entering the Cistern as there is poor Internet below ground.) As for the Basilica Cistern itself, it was absolutely amazing--well worth cost of admission.

Tina

Oct 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Istanbul is an amazing city. So much to experience you get sensation overload! The Cistern is breathtaking and I wouldn't miss going to experience this. Lineups are quick and efficient so don't let that dissuade you. Haigia Sofia is beautiful however please note the audio tour is confusing. The flow of walking through does not align with how each landmark is noted in audio. I would get the audio ready and simply listen to each station as you approach it.

Anna

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

When we arrived at Basilica there was a really long queue... I'm very impatient so I decided to check if there is a fast track and we bought it. We skipped the line very fast, in 4 minutes we were inside basilica cistern. It was amazing! Beautiful, good audio guide. The most important fact is that a minute after we entered the rain started, so if we were in the line we wouldn't make it, so I really reccomend this fast track.

Experience Istanbul’s spiritual and historic wonders with one combo ticket, Whirling Dervish show and Basilica Cistern entry.

Both spots are just a 3-minute walk or quick drive apart, making it easy to visit in one day. Booking together saves time and ensures a smooth Budapest experience.

Witness the mesmerizing Mevlevi Sema ceremony, a centuries-old Sufi ritual performed with live music in Sultanahmet.

Skip the long lines at the Basilica Cistern and explore with a guided tour or a multilingual audio guide app.

Whirling Dervishes

Whirling Dervishes show tickets

Mevlevi Sema ceremony

Basilica Cistern

Skip-the-line entry to Basilica Cistern

Self-guided audio tour in English, Spanish, French, German & Italian

Instant mobile ticket

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.2
3,288 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Céliane
Nov 2025
Verified booking
3/5
All three monuments are well worth a visit. However, for the price I paid, I was expecting a much more detailed audio guide, especially for the Topkapi Palace, where there is no audio guide for the harem. What's more, in November, there was no real need for a line-up of tickets, so it would have been better for me to take my tickets on the spot. On the other hand, the guide to Saint Sophia is very comprehensive.
Armand
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Simple, effective and with no surprises. For St Sophie, enter directly outside TopKapi. No need to queue. Same for the cistern. The queue breaker is very pleasant. For TopKapi, it's very easy to find the place to meet the person who's letting us in. There's nothing to worry about, and it's a stone's throw from the site in a charming alley. I sincerely recommend it.
Patricia
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Buying tickets in advance avoids a long queue. Although there is one, it is shorter. Santa Sofia impressed me with the antiquity of its construction but it is in pretty bad shape and only the second floor can be visited. I highly recommend the cistern for its history and the work that has been done to make your visit enjoyable!
Ramnik
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Amazing authentic show with the explanation before the performance really enhancing the experience. The music and visuals were also stunning. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Also it was fantastic that this was a not for profit NGO dedicated to providing scholarships for students. Can't recommend this highly enough.
Patricia
Nov 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Very good to be able to enter directly for having bought the ticket online, the only point that should be taken into account is that the cistern does not offer Internet service and then the audio guide with the cell phone did not help me because it did not have data on the phone. Everything else, excellent

Whirling Dervish

Step into a serene 550-year-old cultural venue in the heart of Sultanahmet to witness the mesmerizing Mevlevi Sema ceremony, performed by the Whirling Dervishes. This spiritual performance, recognized by UNESCO, is rooted in the teachings of Rumi and offers a deeply moving insight into Sufi mysticism. As the dervishes whirl in flowing white robes, accompanied by traditional instruments like the ney (reed flute) and kudüm (drum), feel a sense of stillness and connection. The meditative atmosphere invites you to reflect on the themes of unity, love, and devotion that define this centuries-old practice.

Basilica Cistern

Discover one of Istanbul’s most intriguing historical sites with fast-track access to the Basilica Cistern, a subterranean marvel built in the 6th century during Emperor Justinian’s reign. Skip the long queues and step straight into this atmospheric structure, supported by hundreds of ancient columns and mysterious Medusa heads that capture the imagination.The included audio guide app, available in multiple languages, provides fascinating insights into the cistern’s engineering feats and its vital role in the ancient city’s water supply system. Explore at your own pace as you walk over wooden platforms suspended above still waters, soaking in the dimly lit, almost cinematic ambience.

Basilica Cistern

Monday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Tuesday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Wednesday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Thursday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Friday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Saturday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Sunday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm

What to bring

Whirling Dervish

It is allowed to bring baggage to the venue.

Basilica Cistern

Don’t forget your trusty earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip—the stone floor can be damp and slightly slippery.

Bring a light jacket or shawl; it stays cool underground even in warm weather.

What’s not allowed

Basilica Cistern

Flash photography is not permitted.

Tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed due to space and safety concerns.

Eating, drinking, and smoking are strictly prohibited inside the cistern.

Accessibility

Whirling Dervish

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Basilica Cistern

The site is partially accessible; there is a lift near the exit on Alemdar Street near the tram line, but the walking path inside may be uneven in places.

Wheelchair users may need assistance, especially around corners or where the lighting is low.

There are no elevators inside the cistern, and seating is extremely limited.

Additional information

Whirling Dervish

It is allowed to take photographs at the venue without flash or tripods.

Basilica Cistern

Your ticket allows you to skip the ticket queue, but all visitors must go through a security check.

Arrive early in the morning or visit in the evening to avoid crowds from cruise ship tours.

Don’t miss the Medusa heads tucked into the far corner. Walk around them to see both angles.

The exit leads out to a different street than the entrance; take note of your location before entering.

The lighting is intentionally dim—give your eyes a moment to adjust for better visibility and photos

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption point.

Ticket redemption point

Please check your final voucher for the redemption point details and specific instructions.