Istanbul Traditional Turkish Dinner and Dervish Experience
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Istanbul, Turkey
- 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Istanbul has a thriving food scene, but it can be hard to know where to find an authentic Turkish experience. Enjoy an evening immersed in Istanbul's traditional culture with dinner at a historical family restaurant loved by locals, complete with a dervish performance—an 800-year-old tradition that's Unesco Heritage listed. Plus, transportation back to your hotel is included at the end so there's no hassle of flagging a taxi.
- Eat like an Istanbul local with 10 delicious dishes unique to the area
- Meet like-minded travelers from around the world
- See a traditional dervish performance up close without having to move from your dinner venue
- Enjoy the peace and privacy of a private vehicle transfer to your accommodation afterwards
What's Included
- Dinner5 different types of Traditional Turkish Kebabs, Traditional Soup, 5 types of Meze, Dessert. Food & drinks will be unlimited. Many options for the vegetarian. Ayran, Şerbet, Turkish Coffee, Tea
- Dervish Performance Ticket
- VEGETERIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE options are available, please inform us after reservation
- Private transportationAfter the experience we will drop you off Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Galata, Taksim and Cruise Ports.
- THIS IS AN ALL INCLUDED TOUR. YOU WILL NOT PAY ANY EXTRAS.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
- Sirkeci, Hobyar, 34112 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
After the experience is over, we will drop you off close to your hotel.
Itinerary
1
Sirkeci
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Kadinlar Pazari
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Sirkeci Station
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Deidre_G
This was a highlight of my trip through Turkey and Greece. The whirling dervishes offered a profound experience and the food was phenomenal. Our guide, Eylül, was very well informed, friendly, and conscientious of our needs and interests. She helped me navigate the meals since I am gluten intolerant and got all of my needs met. She even gave each participant a special gift at the end. I highly recommend this experience and this guide!
Reviews
4.9
based on 557 reviews
Yoshiko_S, May 2026
Awesome tour! The Dervish ceremony was so beautiful and spiritual. Our tour guide Zeynep was knowledgeable and speaks very good English. She took us to a street food and Turkish delight tasting. After that we had a delicious dinner at ground oven restaurant. They served us so many different kind of traditional Turkish dishes. Everything was great . At last Zeynep gave us a little gift!! Thanks you Zaynep for everything. I highly recommend this tour!
Kurt_P, May 2026
The Dervish experience was very disappointing. I should have researched prior to purchasing as I thought it was a dancing exhibition of talented Turkish dancers. They explained that it is supposed to be a deep religious experience for the dancers as they attempt to attain selflessness, shedding their materialism and desires in order to become one with the divine by spinning in circles for an hour. Our guide was wonderful, highly educated and shared some of her favorite culinary treats with us which was worth the price alone however. Just want others to be aware of what they are signing up for.
Response from Host, May 2026
To be honest, the attitude started long before the experience itself. When we first contacted you before the tour, you blocked us on WhatsApp without even a simple greeting or reply. Then, 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, you suddenly sent a message asking where we were. Despite this confusing communication, we still greeted you professionally and did our best to make the evening enjoyable.
It is also interesting that, despite there being no problems during the experience itself, the review initially appeared as 3 stars during the night and later changed 2 stars the next morning:)
Until your review, our previous 90 reviews had all been 5-star ratings, which reflects how the vast majority of our guests understand and appreciate the experience we provide.
As explained throughout the evening, the Whirling Dervish ceremony is not a commercial dance show, but a spiritual ritual dating back centuries, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Guests who attend with curiosity, humility, and cultural openness generally understand and appreciate this distinction very well.
Nevertheless, we are happy that even in your review you appreciated our guide, hospitality, and dining experience.
We sincerely wish you more positive, respectful, and open-minded cultural encounters in your future travels.
Dan_S, May 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A perfectly curated introduction to Istanbul food and culture
My wife and I had a fantastic evening with Zeynep, our host, who made the entire experience feel effortless from start to finish.
The tour was exceptionally well organized and thoughtfully paced. We began with a fun introduction to local street food, which was an easy and approachable way to start the evening.
We then attended a Whirling Dervish ceremony, which was a meaningful and memorable cultural experience. Zeynep provided helpful context and background, giving us a much better understanding of the symbolism and tradition behind what we were experiencing.
Afterward, we headed to one of her favorite local restaurants for a full Turkish dinner. The variety of dishes was outstanding - far more than we would have ever ordered on our own - and it gave us a true sense of the range and depth of Turkish cuisine.
Our group was small (six guests plus Zeynep), which made the evening feel personal and relaxed. We especially enjoyed getting to know the other travelers over dinner - everyone was enthusiastic, and the atmosphere was lively and welcoming.
Zeynep was incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all things Turkish food. She made the entire experience feel warm and welcoming. We wished we had done this on our first night in Istanbul, as it would have been a helpful introduction to the local cuisine.
Communication was excellent throughout. Zeynep coordinated with the group via WhatsApp and followed up after the tour with a detailed list of the dishes we experienced, restaurant recommendations, and photos from the evening - a thoughtful and much-appreciated touch.
This was an easy, enjoyable way for us to experience Istanbul - from street food to a meaningful cultural ceremony to an abundant local dinner - all in one well-curated evening.
Thank you, Zeynep - teşekkür ederizm
Georgiana_W, May 2026
We had a great Turkish dinner experience at a local restaurant with Zeynep and two other couples. We could not have found this beautiful restaurant and enjoying the delicious food, with a wonderful, small group. Before the dinner we had two stops to try local food and Turkish delights and an authentic Dervish ritual. Big thanks to Zeynep for taking good care of us.
steven_s, May 2026
Nice pace…a little taste before the whirling dervish event and then an authentic dinner at a great old town restaurant….highly recommend!
Nicole_G, May 2026
This was the perfect way to kick off our stay in Istanbul! The mini food tour at the beginning was a fun way to start the evening, the Dervishes were hypnotizing, and the dinner... 🤤 we're still talking about the food! Sule was an incredible tour guide - very knowledgeable & approachable! She gladly answered any questions we had and provided lots recommendations. Highly, highly recommend.
Sandra_B, Apr 2026
We were met promptly and had great communication with our guide, Zey. She took us to the best delights and explained in detail every place we visited and those along the way. We were so pleased we could totally understand all she had to tell us. She also made sure we were happy with the items tasted and any other options we might like. All the excursions were very nice.
Russ_K, Apr 2026
Excellent experience, great insight into a different culture followed by yummy local food. We recommend this tour for all persons
Frank_S, Apr 2026
We just had a fantastic time. Zeynep walked us to her favorite places and it was just a wonderful experience. Great food, fun times and experiencing the whirling dervish ceremony was fantastic
Kathie_S, Apr 2026
This is a must-do in Istanbul. Zey, our fantastic guide, introduced us to traditional Turkish foods, enlightened us on life in Turkey and explained the Dervish ceremony we watched. She was delightful. I'm so glad we had this experience.
Gill_L, Apr 2026
Informative fun and a great guide who chose a perfect restaurant for dinner after the show.
Highly recommend
Zach_R, Apr 2026
Fantastic experience with Zey. She was knowledgeable and engaging with both the food and ceremony. I would highly recommend
Krista_M, Apr 2026
Our international flight was 3 hours late and with Istanbul traffic, we dropped our bags and ran to public transportation as it was faster than car. We were in touch with Zey the whole time.
While we missed the first part of the experience with Turkish coffee, Zey met us at the stop and rushed us into the Whirling Dervish ceremony. We made it by seconds. Thrilled as it was relaxing and mesmerizing to watch.
We gathered with our small group and Zey then and took a van to dinner. Along the way, Zey treated us to the Turkish Delight that she kept for us due to us missing that first part. She explained the two different types and it was fantastic.
At dinner we chatted companionably with our group as Zey explained the dishes and it was delightful. We left with bellies full and cheer. Afterwards, the van brought us near our hotel and we crashed after all the travel.
Despite the late arrival, it was the perfect way to kick-off our first time in Turkey.
Zey sent us in WhatsApp the explanation of what we ate and other Istanbul recommendations.
We cannot say enough good things about Zey and this experience.
Christine_H, Apr 2026
Zeynep was a wonderful guide. She told us fascinating facts mixed with personal family stories. Over an amazing dinner, she told us many stories about the local foods and what we should try later.
Zarin_A, Apr 2026
We loved the tour with Şüle in January. Though it was a cold night, she made us feel very welcome and cozy and all her recommendations were spot on. Still dreaming about the Turkish delight place! And the explanations and context behind the whirling Dervishes and cultural practices were very well explained.
Deborah_S, Apr 2026
Guide was great and made it a fun evening. The dancing was almost hypnotic.
The food was wonderful in authentic family restaurant.
schwenkeb, Apr 2026
Sule was an amazing tour guide who showed us the very best of what Istanbul had to offer. Not only were we amazed with the mystique of the Dervish Dancers but we had a delicious and authentic Turkish meal. We highly recommend Sule!
Brenda_F, Apr 2026
Zey was outstanding. She was very personable and knowledgeable. The street foods were delicious, her explanation of the Dervish experience was very informative and the restaurant and food selections were perfect. Finally she went out of her way to make sure we were able to find our way back to our hotel. This was a great tour and Zey was a wonderful guide.
Deborah_C, Apr 2026
Sule was a great guide. She shared a lot of interesting info with us and the restaurant we went to for dinner was amazing. She had pre ordered a delicious selection of dishes for us to try. I wish we had a little more time to read all of the information in the lobby of the Dervish performance but everything else was great.
Justin_L, Apr 2026
Had a lovely tour with Zeynep.
Started with street food and Turkish delights which were delicious and kept tummies happy till dinner at around 8:15pn. Some really handy local tips and knowledge.
The Dervishes were a genuinely spiritual experience and amazing spectacle- remember no clapping - was really tough to resist!
Dinner was an amazing feast in a really popular (it was full of locals) family run restaurant next the Roman aqueduct. We tried so many local specialities, all explained by Zeynep who was a lovely host. Couldn’t have eaten another bite!
Would highly recommend the entire evening
ClausEndrigat, Apr 2026
Zeynep was such a great tour guide! She was very genuine and knowledgeable about this experience. While the whole tour program was fantastic, she was our favorite part because of how passionate she seems to be about the content.
Kriti_S, Mar 2026
Zeynep was an amazing host! Our family of 4 got very lucky to be the only group with her. We were contacted to see if we could change our day to another time but we were unable to make the accommodation. However, the company still honored our initial reservation and we were paired up with Zeynep. We were able to try street food after our meetup. After which, it was a short walk to the Dervish experience - amazing! We loved the explanation and mysticism surrounding the experience and would highly recommend doing this once! We were then driven to our restaurant by private car. We had the most amazing dinner and lovely conversation. It was a treat to try so many new things to us with an explanation. Our children were engaged and interested throughout and I can’t say enough about Zeynep’s hospitality. She even made sure we were back at our hotel safely and gave us numerous tips and recommendations about Istanbul! Great introduction to the city and would request Zeynep as your guide if you can!
Ben_I, Mar 2026
This is a combo experience, including a slice of street food, a taste of Turkish delight (way better than childhood memory of stuff available back home), exposure to sufism via whirling dervish ceremony, followed by gastronomic assault of tasty and gargantuan proportions.
Wendy_Y, Mar 2026
Sule’s hospitality made us feel like we were having an evening out with an old friend. The food she shared with us was all delicious, and she introduced us to what life is like in Turkey. My girls love all of the cats we see in the street so she even gave us cat food to feed the cats. The Dervish was an interesting cultural experience, but the kids got bored. Overall, a worthwhile tour that we highly recommend.
Ollie_D, Mar 2026
The tour was fantastic and organised really well. The food was absolutely delicious and Zeynep was a great guide!
Martha_B, Mar 2026
Zey, our tour guide, made all the difference. Dinner was spectacular with a selection of delicious Turkish dishes. We had an unforgettable night
Jeongah_R, Feb 2026
Thank you for the wonderful tour. Our tour guide Zeynap was very infromative and fun. She was attentive to our questions and the itinerary was perfect. And we loved the family style authentic food and the restaurant !!!
Megan_H, Feb 2026
Zeynep was very prompt and professional with communication and the meet up spot was easy to find. She made us feel like we were meeting up with a friend, tasty dinner, and interesting cultural show. I didn’t know much about the whirling dervishes and the ceremony was very meditative- just know before you go that it’s a spiritual / religious ceremony not a dance show.
Would def recommend!
Philip_B, Feb 2026
Never contacted me, meeting point was unreachable ignored my phone calls and messages through app thanks for wasting a day of my vacation
Kaia_N, Feb 2026
Zeynep was amazing!! Made us feel like part of her Turkish family!! We loved the ceremony and each tasting
From
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$100.58
per personWas $107.00
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Istanbul Traditional Turkish Dinner and Dervish Experience
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