Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, faces Hagia Sophia across Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul. It is one of the city's mosques with six minarets.

History of the Blue Mosque

It was built in 1609–1616 for Sultan Ahmed I by the architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, a pupil of Mimar Sinan. The complex also included a madrasa, a tomb and a market. A long restoration was completed in 2023.

What to see inside

The name comes from the interior: more than 20,000 handmade İznik tiles, many in blue tones. Over 200 windows fill the prayer hall with daylight.

Tips for visiting

• Entry is free, with a separate entrance for visitors.
• Visitors are not admitted at prayer times, especially at Friday noon.
• Shoes come off; women cover their hair, and shoulders and knees should be covered.
• In the evening the courtyard looks out over the lit-up square and Hagia Sophia.