10 Best Mosques in Istanbul

The best mosques to visit in Istanbul are mainly on the historic peninsula. All of Istanbul's mosques are free of charge and without exception (as most people do), with the exception of the Hagia Sophia Mosque. However, I recommend choosing a day other than a Friday for convenience.

In this article, you can find the most famous mosques in Istanbul's Old City (near Sultanahmet), Beyoglu (near Taksim Square), Besiktas (European shores of the Bosphorus) and Uskudar (Asian shores of the Bosphorus). Visiting them is one of the best things to do in Istanbul.

The Blue Mosque is located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. The mosque dates back to the 17th century and is one of Istanbul's most famous landmarks. In fact, both it and its neighbourhood are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The Blue Mosque gives no clue as to its name when you look at it from the outside. However, when you enter, you see the blue Iznik tiles on the walls. The Iznik tiles represented the pinnacle of Ottoman ceramics and are what give meaning to the name of the mosque.

Ahmed I built this beautiful mosque next to Hagia Sophia after he lost a battle with the Persians, and it was a way of reasserting his power. This mosque is the fruit of two centuries of Ottoman architecture and its interior is decorated with 20,000 Iznik tiles: white, green and blue.

• Location: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00. Sundays from 09:00 to 07:00.
• Price: free, but you can book a tour of the Blue Mosque to be accompanied by a guide.

The Suleymaniye Mosque is located on a hill in the centre of the historical peninsula and has a wonderful view of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Moreover, this mosque is one of the largest mosques in Istanbul.

One of the things that makes the Suleymaniye Mosque important is that it was built for the most famous ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Suleyman the Magnificent. The person who built the mosque was Mimar Sinan, the master architect of the Ottoman Empire.

It is not the largest of Istanbul's mosques, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful. Just a 10-minute walk from the Grand Bazaar, this sublime piece of 16th-century architecture crowns the top of the Golden Horn. Don't miss the ivory inlay on Suleiman's tomb and the elaborate tile work surrounding its entrance.

• Location: Süleymaniye, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cd. No:1, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey.
• Opening hours: daily from 08:00 to 21:30.
• Price: free of charge

Hagia Sophia is **Istanbul'**s most important historical monument, thanks in part to its 1500 years of history. Hagia Sophia was built as a church during the Byzantine period until it was converted into a mosque in the 15th century.

Hagia Sophia has been the most respected place of worship in Istanbul throughout history. It was the main church during the Byzantine period and the most emblematic mosque during the Ottoman period. It also served as a museum for a long time during the Republican era.

Hagia Sophia is a must-see during your stay in Istanbul thanks to both its architectural features and its spiritual significance. Moreover, the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque coincided with Istanbul becoming the largest city in the Muslim Ottoman Empire.

• Location: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: Open every day 24 hours
• Price: 4 euros and you can also book a tour of the Hagia Sophia Mosque to learn more about its history accompanied by a guide.

Fatih Mos que is located in the heart of the historical peninsula and was dedicated to Mehmed the Conqueror, the first Ottoman sultan in Istanbul. The mosque's history dates back to the 15th century.

Fatih Mosque stands on the foundations of the Church of the Holy Apostles, which was the second largest church in the city during the Byzantine period. The recently restored mosque has a very elegant interior decoration.

This is the oldest mosque and was one of the largest mosques until the construction of the Süleymaniye Mosque. As a bonus, this mosque retains its original design despite being rebuilt in 1776 after being damaged by an earthquake.

• Location: Ali Kuşçu, Hattat Nafiz Caddesi No:6, 34083 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Price: free of charge.

The Beyazit Mosque is located in Beyazit Square, one of the busiest squares in Istanbul. Neighbouring the Grand Bazaar and Istanbul University, the mosque is dedicated to Bayezid II, son of Mehmed the Conqueror.

It has typical Ottoman architecture and has a complex that includes a madrasa (religious school), a Turkish bath, a caravanserai, a hostel and a primary school.

Beyazit Mosque was built next to the Old Palace, the first palace built by the Ottomans in Istanbul. It is also the largest mosque built before the classical period, the peak years of Ottoman architecture.

• Location: Beyazıt, Yeniçeriler Cd., 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: daily from 4:00 to 22:00.
• Price: free of charge.

The Ortakoy Mos que is located in one of the most beautiful places on the Bosphorus. The mosque has an exterior that features neoclassical and baroque elements, and offers a wonderful view to those taking a cruise on the Bosphorus.

The Ortaköy Mosque is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful structures in Istanbul, also known as the jewel of the Bosphorus due to its stunning location by the water. The mosque is located in the beautiful Ortaköy district and was built between 1854 and 1856 by order of the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid.

The mosque was designed by Garabet Amira Balyan and Nigoğayos Balyan, father-and-son Armenian architects who were also responsible for designing the Dolmabahçe Palace and its mosque. Interestingly, the calligraphy on the plaques inside the mosque was done by the sultan himself.

• Location: Mecidiye, Mecidiye Köprüsü Sk. No:1 D:1, 34347 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: daily from 4:00 to 22:00.
• Price: free of charge.

The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque is located very close to the famous land walls of Istanbul. It was built in the 16th century and dedicated to Mihrimah, the daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and built by Mimar Sinan, the most prolific architect of the Ottoman era. However, this mosque is not the only one dedicated to Mihrimah.

There are two 16th-centurymosques in Istanbul with the name Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, one in Edirnekapı and the other in Üsküdar, due to a secret love story. The architect Sinan could not openly express his love to the daughter of Sultan Süleyman I, who was already married, so he built two mosques to encode a message.

It is said that the sun sets between the minarets in the mosque on the European side, while the moon illuminates the minarets of the mosque on the Asian side, thus celebrating the name Mihrimah, which translates as 'sun and moon'.

• Location: Karagümrük, 34091 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: daily from 4:00 to 22:00.
• Price: free of charge.

The Nuruosmaniye Mos que is located right next to the main entrance of the Grand Bazaar and features an Ottoman-Baroque design. This elegant mosque was built in the 18th century when the Baroque influence began to be seen in the Ottoman Empire.

The Nuruosmaniye Mosque represents the transitional period, when the architecture of the classical period gave way to modern architecture. Nuruosmaniye Street, which is lined with luxury shops and stretches from Sultanahmet to the Grand Bazaar, takes its name from this mosque.

Most people who go shopping in the Grand Bazaar pass through the courtyard of this mosque. The interior of the mosque is a work of art.

• Location: Mollafenari, Vezirhan Cd. No:4, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: daily from 4:00 to 22:00.
• Price: free of charge.

The New Mos que is located in Eminonu, the transport hub of Istanbul's Old City. The New Mosque is also adjacent to the Spice Bazaar, Istanbul's famous historic shopping area.

The New Mosque has an opulent interior decorated with gold leaf, carved marble and Iznik tiles. Its silhouette has become an iconic part of the Istanbul skyline.

Although its name suggests otherwise, this building dates back to 1663. The New Mosque took more than half a century to build due to funding problems and political turmoil. The mosque was designed by Sinan's apprentice, Davut Ağa, and was the last of the imperial mosques to be built.

• Location: Rüstem Paşa, Yeni Cami Cd. No:3, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: daily from 4:00 to 22:00.
• Price: free of charge.

The Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque is located right next to the Tophane tram stop. The mosque was built for Ali Pasha, one of the most glorious admirals of the Ottoman Empire. Ali Pasha, who is of Italian origin, was given the title "Kilic" (sword) because of his audacity.

The most distinctive feature of the Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque is that it has an interior more similar to a Byzantine church than an Ottoman mosque. The reason for this is that the admiral was a great fan of Hagia Sophia.

This mosque was built by the master architect Mimar Sinan, who designed all the buildings of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Next to the mosque is Kilic Ali Pasa Hammam, one of the best Turkish baths in Istanbul.

• Location: Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemeraltı Cd. No:50, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
• Opening hours: open every day 24 hours.
• Price: free of charge.

The vast majority of the mosques in Istanbul are Ottoman-era structures built between the 15th and 19th centuries. These mosques also show the transformation of the empire over time.

While the mosques of the early Ottoman Empire were built with classical Ottoman architecture, the mosques of the late period are inspired by Baroque and neo-classical architecture. The main architect of the classical period was Mimar Sinan and the architects of the late period were the Balyan family.

As a place of religious worship, you should observe some basic rules:

• It is inappropriate to walk in front of a person while they are praying.
• You may photograph anything, but you must not use flash and you must ask permission before taking pictures of people. Do not photograph people while they are praying.
• If you are a man, you may not wear shorts that are above your knees and you must remove your hat when you are in front of an altar.
• If you are a woman, you must cover your head, chest, legs and shoulders.
• You will also need to remove your shoes, carrying them with you in a plastic bag as you enter. At certain times, there may be a long queue of people removing their shoes before entering.