Konya Panorama Museum

The basics

Many tours of Konya include a visit to Konya Panorama Museum, and seeing it with a guide provides important historical context for understanding the Sufi order, its Whirling Dervishes, and mystic beliefs. Through a series of panoramic paintings, sculptures, and intricate models, the museum chronicles the life of the poet Rumi and society in 13th-century Konya. Tours often combine a visit here with the nearby Mevlana Museum and other significant religious sites, such as the Alaeddin Mosque, Seljuk Palace, and Sems-i Tebrizi Tomb.

Things to know before you go

• Those interested in Islamic architecture should visit the museum, which houses miniature models of Mevlevi buildings around the world.

• A café and restrooms are on-site.

• The museum is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

How to get there

Konya Panorama Museum is in the heart of Konya, between the Mevlana Museum and the Mevlana Cultural Center. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the center of town, but you can also ride the tram to the Mevlana Kültür Merkezi stop, take a taxi, or drive. There’s a large public parking lot at the Cultural Center.

When to get there

The museum is open every day except Monday, year-round. Opening hours vary throughout the year, but it’s busiest during the summer months, when a morning visit is the best time to avoid the crowds.

Sufi sightseeing in Konya

Konya is the epicenter of the Sufi religious order and the home of Turkey’s famous Whirling Dervishes, so it’s unsurprising that many sightseeing tours have a spiritual theme. The Mevlana Museum is the city’s most visited attraction, home to Rumi’s mausoleum. You can also see the tomb of Semsi Tabrizi, Rumi’s spiritual instructor, visit the 13th-century Alaeddin Mosque, and experience a Whirling Dervish ceremony at the Mevlana Cultural Center.