The Best Mosques to Visit in Istanbul and How to Do It ⋆

The Best Mosques to Visit in Istanbul and How to Do It

Istanbul’s impressive skyline is peppered with beautifully ornate mosques. The domes and minarets are distinctive and add an exotic yet calming quality to the bustling city. However, with such a vast choice of beautiful architecture and religious history to indulge in it can be difficult to choose just a few. We have narrowed it down to help you find the best Mosques to visit in Istanbul. We have also included loads of practical tips for your visit.

Hagia Sophia – The Best Mosques to Visit in Istanbul

Probably one of the most famous mosques in the world! The Hagia Sophia was originally built as a church in 537 by the Romans. Originally called the Church of Holy wisdom, the minarets were added in the 15th and 16th centuries when the Ottomans converted it into a mosque. It remained this way until 1935 when it became a museum but was reconverted into a mosque in 2020.

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Just across from Hagia Sophia is the impressive Blue Mosque. This is definitely one of the best Mosques to visit in Istanbul and should not be missed. It is also one of the oldest and was completed way back in 1616. Many of the current mosque buildings are older but they were not constructed as mosques originally. They have been converted over time – mostly by the Ottomans.

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

The Best Mosques to Visit in Istanbul and How to Do It

The Best Mosques to Visit in Istanbul – Fatih Mosque

The original building of the Fatih Mosque was completed in the 5th century AD. The Roman Emperor Constantine was buried here when it started life as a church. The mosque was built on the site in the 15th century but was damaged by an earthquake and had to be rebuilt in 1771.

The garden area outside the mosque is quite large. It was originally used by caravans of travellers visiting to attend the religious school on the site.

Address: Ali Kuşçu, Hattat Nafiz Caddesi No:6, 34083 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Süleymaniye Mosque

This old mosque was the largest in the city until very recently. However, it is still one of the best Mosques to visit in Istanbul. It is surrounded by a grand courtyard and is the final resting place of many sultans.

In the grounds there is a restaurant and a terrace with views over the Golden Horn.

Address: Süleymaniye, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cd. No:1, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Nuruosmaniye Mosque has one of the largest domes in Istanbul! The prayer hall is completely covered by the dome making the interior pretty spectacular. This impressive structure is located near the main entrance of the Grand Bazaar making it one of the best mosques to visit in Istanbul as you can do two sites in one.

Address: Mollafenari, Vezirhan Cd. No:4, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

The Best Mosques to Visit in Istanbul – Çamlıca Mosque

This new mosque is currently the largest in Istanbul and indeed Turkey. It was completed in 2019 and has a huge capacity of a whopping 63,000 worshipers! The mosque inhabits a dramatic location on the side of a hill of the Asian side of Istanbul. It is worth visiting due to its colossal size and impressive setting.

Address: Ferah, 34692 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Turkey (approx. it’s too new for Google maps)

The Best Views of the Skyline of Istanbul

The skyline of Istanbul makes a beautiful silhouette for a glorious sunset. Here are some of the best places in the city to marvel at Istanbul’s skyline. Many of the stunning mosques are visible from these locations.

The Ferry from the Kadıköy

The Asian side of Istanbul is well worth a visit. Especially to witness the beautiful Istanbul skyline from the ferry back to Europe. Sunset is a pretty good time to do this little trip on the Bosporus. The minarets of the mosques really stand out against a beautiful evening sky.

View the Istanbul Skyline from the Galata Tower

The Galata tower has a superior position at the top of a hill in Istanbul. From here, you can climb a further 9 floors to enhance your view of the city and its mosques. The effort is definitely worth it. Especially now that they have installed an elevator…

Address: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey

Pierre Loti Hill

From this hill you can look across the city and most of the Golden Horn. There is also a great café that has been there since the 1700s. It makes for a great escape from the busy, bustling city.

A Short Guide to Visiting a Mosque in Istanbul

For many non Muslims, visiting a mosque is probably not a common occurrence. As when visiting other religious sites, there are definitely some rules that must be followed in order to show respect and courtesy.

Know your Mosque etiquette! Here is a short list we have put together to keep you right.

Don’t enter a mosque during prayer times (see below)
Shoes must be removed before entering the mosque. There is a designated area for this
No food or drink should be consumed inside a mosque
Women should keep hair covered and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered
Remember to bring a scarf, especially if you are visiting a less touristy area
Men should also cover shoulders and knees
Keep your voice low inside the mosque
Entrance is usually free but it is polite to leave a donation
Taking photos is fine but try to avoid photographing people who may be trying to pray
Keep kids under control
Turn off your mobile phone
Don’t leave any litter (this doesn’t just apply to mosques…)
Be aware of the history and rituals of Islam

How Long to Spend at a Mosque and When to Visit

This very much depends on the size of the mosque and the purpose of your visit. If you are visiting one of the large mosques in the touristy areas – such as Hagia Sophia – we would recommend putting aside around an hour. Perhaps longer in peak seasons as you may need to queue to get in.

The interiors are truly spectacular and there is a lot to take in. It is also very worthwhile sitting in silence with your thoughts in this calm, spiritual space. Even if you are not Muslim or even religious.

You should plan your visit around the daily prayer times. Muslims pray five times per day and the mosques should not be entered during this period – unless you are also a praying Muslim of course. Daily prayer times found HERE.

Is it Worth Going to a Mosque if I’m not Religious?

Yes, even if you are not religious it is absolutely worth visiting a mosque in Istanbul. Mosques and Islam are part of the culture and history of the city. To truly get a feel for the city, you must learn at least a bit about the heritage and traditions of the people who live there. The Ottomans ruled Turkey and beyond from roughly 1300 right up until 1922 and their mark is still very visible in modern day Istanbul.

Not only are the mosques full of history, but there is also incredible architecture and design in each and every building!

Where to go next?

Why not relax in a Turkish Hammam? We have detailed what to do and what to avoid in our useful tips HERE
Have you visited any of Istanbul’s beautiful mosques or other historical sites in Turkey? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
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Final note: Things change often when travelling in the Balkans and there is not much information online. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.