Konya has served as a spiritual center for centuries. Every December, the Şeb‑i Arûs festival marks the passing of Rumi, the Persian mystic, and draws Sufis and visitors from around the world to witness the Sema. Whirling dervish dance is performed to the sound of ney flutes and drums. In one of the country's most hushed and vivid traditions, performers spin in unison in flowing white skirts, a scene that blends meditation with graceful motion in a way found nowhere else.

At the heart of the city stands the Mevlâna Museum, once the lodge where Rumi’s followers lived, now housing his mausoleum beneath a turquoise dome that is visible across Konya. Inside, it displays his personal items, music instruments used by dervishes, and illuminated manuscripts. Nearby, visitors can wander through the Alaeddin Mosque high on Alaeddin Hill where this Seljuk landmark overlooks the city and shelters the tombs of several sultans.