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 527 reviews
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
Julia_F, Feb 2026
I contacted the office to say our plane was late. I asked where we can meet up and travel to the destination. The only reply I got was "can you come on Thursday" and I said no I'm leaving that day. I never received any help that night. I want a full refund for the tickets please.
Saleh_S, Feb 2026
Zeynep gave clear instructions for meeting time and location with location photos. We were greeted by Zeynep who introduced us to a funny local stand that served authentic appetizers. Next was a small tasting of Turkish sweets and even a rare local Turkish Delight that cannot be shipped abroad, eaten by the Sultan himself.
We were informed of the cultural and religious significance and background of the show we would be watching. Finally, we were driven by private car to a very old restaurant that seemed to be filled with locals. The restaurant was old but near it was a Roman water system that was the quintessence of the cities’ ancient roots.
The restaurant is a family business owned for over a 100 years with one of few underground ovens in the city. The dinner was a feast with nothing to spare. A plethora of garnishments displayed across the table with no open spaces. Great conversation with other guests in our small group ensued, as lamb dishes, kabobs, and speciality rice was delivered.
Lastly, an amazing surprise awaited us that was picturesque and astounded our eyes. The best pastry desert that was warm and buttery, melt in your mouth. We were then taken by private vehicle around our hotel area which is an additional benefit unbeknownst to us.
A great experience and company. The host gave a large list of recommendations that proved very valuable, also answering specific recommendations for each of us. I highly recommend and mostly for our tour guide Zeynep, who seemed to enjoy presenting to us all.
Andrew_S, Feb 2026
Exceeded expectations! I was hesitant to book because I always like to wing it and do things myself. Our host, Zeynep, was great so awesome. Was really easy to find the meeting place for the start. Took us to get street food from an entertaining character/restauranteur, then gave an informative introduction to Sufism and its history, then after the performance took us for kebabs at best restaurant I ate at my whole stay in Istanbul. She gave good explanations of all the food and drinks and great recommendations. Transportation took us back to a short walk from my lodging. 100% recommend this experience to anyone.
Mary_D, Feb 2026
Such a wonderful experience! The food, the dervishes, the transportation - all of it! Sule, was very warm and kind, sent the group clear instructions via WhatsApp on where to meet and what to expect. She picked the best restaurant and explained the menu, and gave us all kinds of recommendations. She even made us bags to take with us to remember the tour. Don’t get me started on the dervishes - such a mesmerizing and fascinating ceremony. She was a wealth of information about the meaning of the cycles they perform and what to take away from it.
Sonal_V, Jan 2026
This was my first time traveling solo and joining a guided tour. I was apprehensive at first, but I’m so glad I went for it! Our guide, Sule, was incredibly friendly and informative; she even introduced us to the best Lokum I’ve ever had. The entire experience was perfect and has encouraged me to book another trip. Huge thanks to Sule for making it so memorable!
William_L, Jan 2026
It's a wonderfully delightful tour with the dancing dervish experience emotionally and spiritually moving. Afterwards an enjoyable dinner with your travel group.
Caitlyn_Z, Jan 2026
Our guide, Zeynep, was incredibly kind and easy to talk to. From the start, she made us both feel comfortable and welcome, which really set the tone for the night. It felt less like a tour and more like being guided by a local friend who genuinely cares about your experience.
The dervish performance was unforgettable. Watching it up close was powerful. If you let yourself slow down and really take it in, it almost feels like a deep meditation. There was something incredibly grounding about the energy, the music, and the repetitive, intentional movements. It stayed with me long after it ended.
And the dinner!!! Honestly, it was by far the best meal we’ve had across two trips to Istanbul. Every dish felt intentional, comforting, and deeply flavorful, and you could tell this was a place loved by locals. It was the kind of meal you talk about afterward and compare everything else to.
Suzanne_S, Jan 2026
Zeynab was an excellent host and very personable. It was great to kick back and enjoy the curated experience and meal. Highly recommended!
Emily_G, Jan 2026
The guide was so nice and very knowledgeable about the city, and the food was delicious. I had a great time! I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Istanbul.
Peter_F, Jan 2026
Every stop on this tour showcased a different gem of Istanbul. From the food spots at the beginning, to the Dervish presentation, and finishing at a delicious restaurant, the entire experience was fantastic.
Zeynep was a friendly and personable guide, and only heightened the experience.
George_D, Jan 2026
Wow, a wonderful experience. Not what we expected. A real ceremony, not a show. Had a great time. Dinner was delicious. Our host, Zeynep made it a special and memorial New Year's eve experience that we will never forget.
Joanne_N, Dec 2025
Excellent tour with Zeynep. All arrangements were communicated very clearly before the tour. The dervish experience was fantastic and the meal delicious. Excellent transport to hotel area afterwards
Carron_K, Dec 2025
An hour of 5 men 'whirling' is a long time & something very specific, we didn't enjoy it & we weren't alone as looking around many were secretly looking at their phones (disrespectfully). I think this is an 'event' you really must want to see to, to be able to find enjoyment in it.
Greta_R, Dec 2025
This is a very authentic experience. It starts with a couple of local treats, followed by the dancing ceremony and then kebab dinner in a local excellent restaurant. Sule, my guide, was very knowledgeable and open to answer all sorts of questions. Highly recommend!
Patricia_M, Dec 2025
Save your appetite! The dervish dancers was a uniquely wonderful experience. Our guide then took us to eat very delish kabob at a local restaurant. She was very friendly and helpful.
From $107.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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