Blue Mosque Istanbul Overview
Blue Mosque Istanbul Tours
This full day tour around Istanbul is the best of all the Blue Mosque Istanbul Tours for you to see all the major landmarks of the city. The tour includes admission tickets as well as skip-the-line access to all the spots. The trip starts at Hippodrome Square followed by a visit to the majestic Blue Mosque. You will also be taken to the Topkapi Palace and then to Hagia Sophia.
Also Checkout: Galata Tower
Book this exciting Istanbul tour for a quick tour around the imperative sightseeing spots of the city. You will be picked up from your hotel to visit Hagia Sophia followed by the Topkapi Palace. Then proceed to the Blue Mosque and admire its regal interiors and inspiring history. Continue to the Grand Bazaar packed with 4000 shops where you can purchase authentic Turkish handicrafts.
Checkout Now: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar Tour
Go on an exhilarating journey to the historically significant Blue Mosque and the surrounding Sultanahmet Square with our best of all Blue Mosque Istanbul Tours. You can explore the architecture, exteriors and interiors of the mosque at leisure and witness the Byzantine and Ottoman relics. You can stroll through the courtyard and stay inside the mosque for however long you want.
Checkout: Dolmabahce Palace Tickets
Book our private day tour along with an English speaking-guide to the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul to visit all the finest attractions in the city. You will be taken to the Blue Mosque where you can learn all about Islamic traditions and the remarkable history behind the monument. Then proceed to Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace before returning to your hotel.
Also Checkout: Dolmabahce Palace Tour
Our half-day morning tour around Istanbul covers all the significant sightseeing spots of the city. Visit the famous Sultanahmet Mosque and witness the bright blue tiles that give the mosque its name Blue Mosque. You will then be taken to Hagia Sophia and Hippodrome where you can spot historic remnants. Stop by Grand Bazaar to shop souvenirs and Turkish artworks.
Checkout Now: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour
Indulge in a unique trip to Istanbul with our Bosphorus Cruise tour along with major landmarks of Sultanahmet neighbourhood. Visit the architectural wonders of the city like Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Then go on a 90 minute cruise on Bosphorus Strait and catch a glimpse of Istanbul from the sea.
Book Now: Istanbul Day Tour with Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, & Cruise
History of Blue Mosque
Architecture of Blue Mosque
Marvel at the majestic architecture while visiting Blue Mosque Istanbul to explore the details of Ottoman style architecture. The mosque was built by architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, who brought together the ideas of his master Sinan, and aimed at constructing a monument of gigantic size, splendour and grandeur. The mosque is a blend of the traditional Islamic architectural design and some Byzantine Christian elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia mosque. The Blue Mosque features five main domes, six flute-like minarets and eight secondary domes.
Istanbul Blue Mosque interior is embellished with elegant handmade blue ceramic tiles of Iznik style. The tiles at the lower levels feature traditional designs while those at the gallery level feature beautiful designs of flowers, fruits and cypresses. The dome and upper levels of the interior sport 200 blue stained glass windows with intricate designs. The walls are decorated with verses from the Quran and the floors are covered with rich carpets donated by the faithful. The highlight of the mosque interiors is the mihrab which is made up of finely sculptured marble.
Witness the splendid courtyard of the Blue Mosque that is as large as the mosque itself. You can see the spacious facade with turrets on the corner domes and a series of vaulted arcades surrounding the courtyard as you enter the mosque. A small hexagonal fountain in the centre of the forecourt prettifies the exterior of the mosque while ablution facilities are available on the sides. A huge iron chain hangs in the upper side of the entrance which signals the sultan to lower his head while entering the mosque on a horse. This was done as a gesture to pay his respect to the divine.
The Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey is the first mosque in Turkey to house six pencil-shaped minarets similar to those in the mosque of Mecca. You can see four minarets standing at a height of 107.1 metres on the corners of the mosque, each of which has three balconies. Two minarets at the ends of the front courtyard have only two balconies. In the olden days, the prayer caller used to climb a narrow spiral staircase in the minaret to announce the prayer call.
Amazing facts about Blue Mosque
Istanbul’s Blue Mosque is originally known as Sultanahmet Mosque as it is named after Sultan Ahmed I, who initiated the construction of the mosque after the disheartening incidents of war.
The Blue Mosque is called so because of the blue ceramic tiles with fifty different tulip designs used to decorate the interior of the mosque.
The Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey sports some incredible features like 260 stained glass windows, a large dome, eight smaller domes and six minarets similar to the ones in Mecca.
You can find the Blue Mosque in UNESCO’s heritage list of ‘Historic Areas of Istanbul’.
The main entrance on the western side of the mosque is more magnificent than the northern entrance used by non-worshippers. Tourists are asked to use the northern entrance to maintain the mosque’s holiness and etiquette.
The mosque hosts a light show with a narrative about the history of the mosque during summer.
Plan Your Visit To Blue Mosque Istanbul
Prayer Times Istanbul Blue Mosque
The prayer times at Blue Mosque change throughout the year depending on the sunrise and sunset time.- Imsak/ Fajr which is held two hours before dawn - Güneş/ Tulu at the crack of dawn
- Öğle/ Zuhr at midday
- İkindi/ Asr by afternoon
- Akşam/ Maghrib during sunset
- Yatsi/ Isha before the last light of the day
Blue Mosque Istanbul Timings - Operating hours: 9 AM to 7 PM
- The Blue Mosque Istanbul timings are from 9 AM to 7 PM every day. However, the mosque is closed for 90 minutes during each prayer time.
Also Checkout - Basilica Cistern Guide
Location: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey\The Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey is perched on the top of a hill in the Sultan Ahmet area. It is located close to Hagia Sophia on the banks of Bosphorus Strait.
Best time to Visit
The Blue Mosque is best visited in the morning between the Tulu and Zuhr prayer sessions when the place is less crowded. Do not visit the mosque during the noon hours as that is when the crowds are at their thickest. Also, the mosque is closed till 2:30 PM on special Friday prayers so visit another day if possible.
Also Visit - Basilica Cistern Tour
- Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey does not require any entry fee but donations can be made by the tourists as per their belief.
The mosque remains closed for non-Muslims for 90 minutes during each prayer session and hence plans to visit Blue Mosque Istanbul accordingly.
Women are expected to cover their arms, legs and hair with appropriate clothing before entering the mosque. A fabric to cover the heads is available at the entrance for free of cost.
Visitors of the mosque, both men and women, should opt for loose-fitting clothes that do not cling to their body. Leggings, shorts and sleeveless shirts are prohibited inside the mosque.
Visitors are asked to remove their shoes and keep it in a plastic bag that is provided at the entrance for free.
Since the mosque is a holy shrine, avoid taking pictures and videos of the people who are praying to maintain peace and calm in the mosque.
Blue Mosque Istanbul FAQs
What is the blue mosque Istanbul ticket price?
Visiting blue mosque Istanbul is completely free as no ticket price is charged to enter the mosque. The mosque has not levied any entrance fee as it is a holy place to offer prayers to God and not a primary tourist spot.
Book Now: Galata Tower Tickets
Where is the blue mosque in turkey?
The Blue Mosque at Istanbul is situated on the top of a hill on the banks of Bosphorus Strait in the Sultanahmet neighbourhood. The mosque is built on the remnants of an old palace structure and is located across Hagia Sophia and near Hippodrome.
Also Visit: Inside Topkapi Palace
When was the blue mosque built?
The construction of the Blue Mosque started in 1609 and was completed by 1616 by the architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa under the instruction of Sultan Ahmed I.
Why is the blue mosque so famous?
The Blue Mosque is one of the historic areas of Istanbul that is recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site. It is a splendid testimony of the Ottoman style architecture and is a masterpiece in the history of Istanbul. The beautiful Istanbul Blue Mosque interior that is adorned with blue Iznik tiles and the six majestic minarets of the mosque are highly famous.
Can you take pictures inside a mosque?
Yes, you can take photos and shoot videos inside the mosque. But, refrain from taking pictures of the worshippers during their purification ritual at the entrance and prayer time inside the mosque as it could be an inconvenience for them.
Also Visit: Dolmabahce Palace Clock Tower
Why is the Blue Mosque blue?
The Sultanahmet Mosque is also known as the Blue Mosque because its interior is adorned with 20,000 ceramic Iznik tiles, all of which are blue in colour. The upper levels of the mosque are also painted in blue and the reflection of the chandelier light on them creates a blissful blue ambience inside the mosque.
Which are the best places to visit in Istanbul?