Blue Mosque
Sultan Ahmet Camii
The only Ottoman mosque with six minarets. Inside, over 20,000 Iznik blue tiles and 260 stained-glass windows face Hagia Sophia across the square.
The Blue Mosque was built by Sultan Ahmed I between 1609 and 1617 and is a pinnacle of Ottoman classical architecture. It gets its name from more than 20,000 hand-painted blue-and-white Iznik tiles covering the interior walls. The central dome, 23.5 metres in diameter, is supported by four massive 'elephant-foot' pillars, and 260 coloured glass windows let light spill across the prayer hall. The six minarets sparked controversy when they were built, since at the time only the Great Mosque of Mecca had six. They are now its most striking landmark. After a five-year restoration completed in 2023, the interior tiles and paintings look fresh again. Entry is free. Visitors enter through the dedicated entrance in the north courtyard, as the main gate is for worshippers. You must remove your shoes (plastic bags are provided), cover your shoulders and knees, and women must wear headscarves (free to borrow at the entrance). The visitor area inside is separated by railings. A visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes. The mosque closes for about 30 to 60 minutes at each of the five daily prayer times, and around 11:30 to 14:30 on Fridays. The best times to visit are right after opening at 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Sultanahmet Square, between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, has fountains and lights at night and is the best spot to photograph both buildings. To the south, the Hippodrome square has an Egyptian obelisk, a bronze serpent column and a German fountain, and the nearby Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is worth a visit. Note that the 'free guides' at the entrance are not official, and you can politely decline them.
Opening hours
08:30–18:30 (closed for approx. 30–60 minutes during prayer times; open after 14:30 on Fridays)
Nearby sights
- Hagia Irene
- Hagia Sophia
- Istanbul Archaeology Museums
- Basilica Cistern
- Gülhane Park
- Topkapi Palace
- Hippodrome of Constantinople
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts