Hodjapasha — Attraction in Fatih

What a fantastic and amazing experience the Dervish show was. We booked online and were lucky to have 2nd row seats so we were very close to the performers. The theater looks amazing, and the show started on time. It lasted about one hour and it was super enjoyable to watch and really mesmerising. Unfortunately photos and videos are forbidden but that is totally understandable. I wish they would sell a recording of the show at least or if the organizers themselves take photos of the show so that we keep these nice memories. It was a bit difficult to find the place as it is quite tucked away but we managed after asking around. The negative points were that children are allowed in the show. Behind us was a couple with their children who kept nagging, complaining, coughing, making all sorts of noises, while the mother was having a conversation with one kid, the father was shushing them as if he is doing everyone else a favour. It was very annoying and disrespectful for everyone around them especially in a show like this. Children under 10 should not be allowed in this show. Second, they kept letting people in good 25 minutes into the show, and the theater has wooden floors so evertime someone new comes, they make so much noise, and stomp on the wooden floor while you are trying to enjoy a spiritual show. This is also something that shouldn't be allowed. It is a show aimed at tourists of course but if you are a tourist and book a ticket for this kind of show, you should at least try your best to be on time and the organizers shouldn't let anyone in after. They could issue a refund or give them a ticket for a show that starts later. Apart from that, the performers were exceptional, the show was fantastic, and this is an unforgettable experience and worth...

Maybe it’s no coincidence that the theater is a restored hammam because this ceremony felt like purification of the soul from the inside out.

I entered a skeptic but cried for 80% of the show. You might find the intro to be long and awkward, twenty minutes of craning your neck to read a slideshow that seemed out of place for such an esteemed performance. If your eyesight isn’t the best, bring glasses! This part drags but serves its purpose: teaching us the necessary context of the meditation.

And then, the dervishes enter. The performance itself is beyond words. Watching these men, twirl effortlessly not missing one step as if God himself is spinning them with his fingertips. The choir’s voices wrapped around the room, creating a sound bath that was both grounding and transcendent. Young and old men, each driven by a purpose so clearly beyond our understanding. My eyes were locked on them the entire time as I tried to not to disrupt with my sobs. I could’ve sat for an hour longer.

You could tell from the crowd it’s not a performance for everyone. But when someone got it, they got it.

The seating is arranged in an open circular layout with only a few tiered rows, so every seat offers a clear view. We sat in the back near the door, and it was perfect. After living in Istanbul for 2.5 years, I can’t believe I waited until after leaving to experience this. This is NOT your typical tourist trap—as I should know better that nothing in Turkey is typical—it’s a ceremony as rich and soul altering as the...

We went there with 3 kids (2+, 5 and 6 year old) and were made to feel highly unwelcome.

Although they don't say that kids are not allowed, we were 'told' that if the child cries we should step out. We stepped out when the youngest one made the slightest sound (not cried). Stayed out for a long while and when we were trying to go back the organizer there asked us if we were going to keep going in and out. He clearly was not ok with the kids being there. We told him that if they didn't want kids there, they should just mention it when selling the tickets. After which he said that it's a religious ceremony and so kids need to be quiet. We questioned where they leave their kids for religious ceremonies? To which he had no answer but asked us to 'GET OUT'. He was extremely rude and unapologetic about this whole situation. We told them that they could have simply put a board saying 'kids and women with kids not allowed' if they don't want them there instead of making money out of selling them tickets and then treating them disrespectfully. They wasted one entire evening of the 4 days we had in Istanbul, and that's what really annoyed us having come so far from India.

Summary is that this place is not kid and parent friendly at all. I would highly discourage anyone from going there given the deep under currents of chauvinist behaviour...