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Sight Sultanahmet, Istanbul

Blue Mosque

A sight in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Morning.

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Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, Istanbul
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · license

Why go

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, with six minarets and blue İznik tiles inside.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Istanbul, alongside 4 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 activity. 4 more of our picks sit within 1 km in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
Sultanahmet
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Istanbul, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Basilica Cistern

    Vast Byzantine underground reservoir with 336 columns and two Medusa heads.

    Sight · 0.3 km straight-line
  2. 2
    Hagia Sophia

    Sixth-century domed church, later mosque, with Byzantine mosaics.

    Sight · 0.5 km straight-line
  3. 3
    Topkapı Palace

    Ottoman sultans' palace with courtyards, treasury and the Harem.

    Sight · 0.9 km straight-line
  4. 4
    Grand Bazaar

    Covered market of about 4,000 shops selling carpets, lamps and jewelry.

    Shopping · 0.9 km straight-line
  5. 5
    Bosphorus Ferry

    Public ferry cruise up the strait past palaces and wooden mansions.

    Activity · 1.3 km straight-line
  6. 6
    Süleymaniye Mosque

    Sinan's hilltop masterpiece with Golden Horn views from the garden.

    Sight · 1.6 km straight-line

On these curated routes

Blue Mosque is a stop on our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Istanbul

Blue Mosque is our only sight pick in Istanbul; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Istanbul guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Istanbul run from 8°C in January to 29°C in August; December is usually the wettest month. For Blue Mosque itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Istanbul from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Istanbul weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Blue Mosque, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Cankurtaran, At Meydanı Cd No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Coordinates
41.00541, 28.97681
Destination
Istanbul, Turkey

Blue Mosque: quick answers

How much time do you need at Blue Mosque?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Blue Mosque. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Blue Mosque?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Closed to visitors during prayer times.

Is Blue Mosque free?

Yes, we list Blue Mosque as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Blue Mosque?

Blue Mosque is at Cankurtaran, At Meydanı Cd No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye, in Sultanahmet. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Blue Mosque?

Blue Mosque appears on Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Blue Mosque to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Istanbul.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.