Whirling dervishes near Taksim and Galata: getting to the lodge
Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi is at Keramet Sokak 17 in Beyoğlu, about 15 minutes' walk from Şişhane metro station on the M2 line, 16 minutes from Galata Tower and 20 minutes from Taksim Square, down steep lanes towards the Golden Horn. A taxi to the gate is the easiest way, especially after dark or if walking is hard. Staff meet guests at the main gate on Keramet Sokak.
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The address
Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi, Keramet Sokak No: 17, Sururi Mehmet Efendi Mahallesi, 34435 Beyoğlu, Istanbul. The entrance is the main gate on Keramet Sokak, where staff welcome guests. The building is the large pale wooden-clad lodge with stone steps; its gate is one of the few parts of the old lodge that survived the 1979 fire.
Open in Google Maps or OpenStreetMap. Coordinates: 41.03611, 28.97105.
On foot
| From | Walk |
|---|---|
| Şişhane metro station (M2) | About 15 minutes |
| Galata Tower | About 16 minutes |
| Taksim Square | About 20 minutes |
The walk is downhill on the way there and uphill on the way back, through narrow lanes that are steep in places. Guests who walked from Taksim metro say it took them 15 to 20 minutes. If you have trouble with hills or steps, take a taxi to the gate. Allow ten minutes more than the map suggests the first time.
By metro
Take the M2 line to Şişhane, then walk about 15 minutes downhill towards Kasımpaşa.
By taxi
The easiest way, and the one most guests recommend. Ask for Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi, Keramet Sokak. Taxi apps work in Istanbul. From Sultanahmet, expect heavy traffic around the Golden Horn bridges in the late afternoon, so leave early.
By ferry
Ferries on the Üsküdar–Eyüp and Kadıköy–Eyüp lines stop at Kasımpaşa pier, about a 10-minute walk away. Golden Horn ferries are not frequent, so check the timetable for the time you need.
By bus
Buses from Eminönü and Beşiktaş stop at Ahmet Emin Yalman İlkokulu, about 3 minutes' walk from the lodge. Lines: 28, 28T, 66, 70FE, 70KE, EM1, 77Ç. Pay with an Istanbulkart.
Getting back
The ceremony ends around 18:00; from October to March it will be dark. The simplest way back to Sultanahmet, Karaköy or your hotel is a taxi from the gate. If you walk back up to Şişhane or Taksim, it is a climb, so give yourself 20 minutes and use the main streets. For Sultanahmet by public transport, take the M2 metro from Şişhane across the Golden Horn to Vezneciler, then walk about 15 minutes or take the T1 tram from Beyazıt.
Nearby, before or after
- The Galata Mevlevi Museum, the oldest Mevlevi lodge in Istanbul, 16 minutes' walk: open 09:00 to 19:00, closed Mondays. More.
- Galata Tower and the lanes of Karaköy, downhill to the Bosphorus.
- İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square, up the hill.
Questions people ask
- Is there a whirling dervish show near Taksim?
- Yes. Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi is about 20 minutes' walk from Taksim Square and 15 from Şişhane metro, and holds the Sema every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 17:00. The AKM cultural centre on Taksim Square also holds a monthly Sema evening.
- Is the whirling dervish lodge hard to find?
- It can be. The lodge is on a narrow street in Kasımpaşa, and guests often say the steep lanes were the hardest part of the evening. Use the map pin, allow extra time, or take a taxi to Keramet Sokak.
- How do I get back to Sultanahmet after the ceremony?
- A taxi from the gate is simplest, especially after dark. By public transport, walk up to Şişhane and take the M2 metro across the Golden Horn to Vezneciler, then walk about 15 minutes to Sultanahmet or take the T1 tram from Beyazıt.