11 Beautiful Mosques to Visit in Istanbul, Türkiye

There are nearly 90,000 mosques in Türkiye and more than 3,000 of them are located in the city of Istanbul. Let’s be honest, you probably won’t want to visit them all. However, you also can’t come to Istanbul and not visit at least some of them, even if you’re not a practicing Muslim. We’re pretty certain that a couple of them, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, will already be on your Istanbul itinerary.

In this guide, we’ve listed 11 beautiful mosques that you can consider visiting whilst you’re there. These are all located around the Sultanahmet (Old City), Eminönü and Beyoglu districts, as well as the Üsküdar district on the Asian side of Istanbul. Some date back to the 4th century AD, and were originally built as Byzantine churches. Plenty were built in the Classical Ottoman style, whereas some were inspired by Baroque or Neo-Classical architecture.

11 Beautiful Mosques to Visit in Istanbul

1. The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)

Let’s start our list with the Blue Mosque, or Sultanahmet Camii, which is one of the most iconic mosques in the city. Located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, it is on pretty much everyone’s itinerary.

It was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I and built between 1609 and 1616. The mosque’s architecture is a beautiful mix of Ottoman and Byzantine styles. Some of the notable features are the huge central dome, complemented by eight minor domes, and the six minarets that dominate the city’s skyline. The interior of the mosque is jaw-dropping as well. It contains over 200 stained glass windows and about 20,000 handmade blue Iznik tiles, which is where it got the name ‘Blue Mosque’ from.

Great viewpoints of the Blue Mosque: Sultanahmet Park, Seven Hills Restaurant, Bosphorus ferry or cruise, Kadiköy Lighthouse (Asian side of Istanbul).

2. Hagia Sophia Mosque (Ayasofya Camii)

The Hagia Sophia is definitely one of the most visited mosques in Istanbul along with the Blue Mosque.

It was built in 537 AD and is one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the world. Hagia Sophia was originally built as a church, and was used as such until 1453 when Constantinople fell to the Ottomans. It then served as a mosque until 1922, and several elements were added to the structure during this time. Then, in 1934, it was converted into a museum to preserve its rich history. However, in 2020, Hagia Sophia was declared a mosque once again.

Note. You can no longer visit Hagia Sophia for free. When it was turned into a mosque again in 2020 it became free to enter. As you can imagine, the number of daily visitors increased significantly. To ease the impact of over-tourism, there’s now a €25 entry fee you’ll have to pay. They’ve also restricted the areas tourists can visit and professional guided tours aren’t allowed either. You can however listen to an audio guide using your phone. Note that you still need to dress modestly and cover your hair if you’re a female as it is still a mosque. A dedicated entrance for tourists is available at the Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III.

Great viewpoints of the Hagia Sophia: Sultanahmet Park, Seven Hills Restaurant, Bosphorus ferry or cruise, Kadiköy Lighthouse (Asian side of Istanbul).

3. Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)

Situated on top of a hill in the historic district of Fatih is the stunning Süleymaniye Mosque. It was completed in 1557 by Mimar Sinan, and is a tribute to Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. 

The mosque is one of Sinan’s masterpieces, and also his largest design. It has 4 minarets and a 47m high central dome. It was actually the largest mosque in Istanbul up until 2019, when that title passed to Camlica Mosque. The interior of Süleymaniye Mosque is just as beautiful, so definitely go inside if you can.

In 1660, the mosque got damaged in a fire. It was then restored by the architect Fossati but the design was changed into more of a Baroque style. During World War I, it got damaged in a fire once again and wasn’t fully restored until 1956.

Great viewpoints of the Süleymaniye Mosque: Galata Bridge, Bosphorus ferry or cruise, Mimar Sinan Teras Cafe.

4. Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Paşa Camii)

Another one of Mimar Sinan’s designs, Rüstem Pasha Mosque is located in the Eminönü district, close to the Spice Bazaar. He designed it for the Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha, who was husband to one of the daughters of Suleiman the Magnificent. The design was only authorised after his death, and was completed in 1563.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque looks a bit like a smaller version of the Blue Mosque because of the blue Iznik tiles adorning its interior. The entrance isn’t the easiest to find, since it’s located within a big market (Hasırcılar Çarşısı), and you’ll initially only see a small staircase leading to the entrance. However, once you’re there we think you’ll agree it was worth the effort. It was less crowded than the Blue Mosque and still absolutely stunning inside.

Great viewpoints of the Rüstem Pasha Mosque: Galata Bridge, Bosphorus ferry or cruise, Mimar Sinan Teras Cafe.

5. New Mosque (Yeni Camii)

There’s another beautiful mosque in the vicinity of Rüstem Pasha Mosque that you could add to your Istanbul itinerary. Despite the name, Yeni Camii isn’t actually a new mosque.

Safiye Sultan, the wife of Sultan Murad III and mother of Sultan Mehmed III, commissioned the building of the mosque at the end of the 16th century. However, construction stopped when the Sultan died and Safiye Sultan lost her position as the Queen Mother (Valide Sultan). Around 1660, the Queen Mother of Mehmed IV, Hadice Turhan, decided work should continue on the mosque. It was completed in 1663 using the original architect’s plan; who happened to be an apprentice of Mimar Sinan.

Great viewpoints of the New Mosque: Galata Bridge, Bosphorus ferry or cruise, Mimar Sinan Teras Cafe.

6. Fatih Mosque (Fatih Camii)

Another mosque you could add to your Istanbul itinerary is Fatih Mosque. Sultan Mehmet II commissioned the building of the original mosque. The complex was built on top of the Church of Holy Apostles, which was an important church in the Byzantine era. It is where Constantine the Great is buried, as well as Mehmet II himself. Construction took about 7 years, and was finished in 1470. It was the biggest mosque in the city until they built Süleymaniye Mosque.

However, multiple earthquakes over the years have damaged the building beyond repair. The current mosque was redesigned in 1771 during the reign of Mustafa III by architect Mehmet Tahir.

7. Ortaköy Mosque (Büyük Mecidiye Camii)

Located on the banks of the Bosphorus, further to the north of the Beyoglu District, is Ortaköy Mosque. Whilst it’s quite small, with only two minarets, it has to be one of the most picturesque mosques in Istanbul.

It was commissioned by Sultan Abdülmecid and completed in 1855. The mosque was designed by the Armenian architect Garabet Balyan, and his son, who also designed the nearby Dolmabahce Palace.

You can admire the exterior, which contains Neo-classical and Baroque elements. The interior is also very pretty, so it’s definitely worth going in. From this mosque you’ll also get a close-up view of the Bosphorus Bridge, or the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, that links the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. You can also get a pretty clear view of Camlica Mosque, the largest mosque in the country.

Great viewpoints of the Ortaköy Mosque: Ortaköy Ferry Terminal area, Bosphorus ferry or cruise, Beylerbeyi Palace.

8. Dolmabahce Mosque (Dolmabahçe Camii)

If you’re visiting Dolmabahce Palace, then don’t forget to also check out Dolmabahce Mosque located right next to it. This 19th century mosque is also known as the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque because it is dedicated to the mother of Sultan Abdülmecid. She passed away before the mosque was completed.

The architect was Garabet Balyan, who also worked on the palace and Ortaköy Mosque. It is a single-domed mosque and has two minarets, which are apparently the thinnest ones in Istanbul. The mosque also has a circular window design, which was quite a new style at the time.

Great viewpoints of the Dolmabahce Mosque: Kabataş Ferry Terminal area, Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus ferry or cruise.

9. Taksim Mosque (Taksim Camii)

Nowadays, you can’t walk through Taksim Square without noticing the huge mosque of the same name that occupies a large section of it. This relatively modern mosque only opened in 2021 after decades of court battles and public debate.

Its design combines Ottoman features with contemporary elements. Although it’s not the biggest mosque in Istanbul, it has a capacity of 4,000 worshippers. The central dome is over 30 m tall, and the interior design uses brown and beige shades.

Great viewpoints of the Taksim Mosque: Taksim Square.

10. Camlica Mosque (Büyük Çamlıca Camii)

If you’re on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, then you can’t miss visiting the largest mosque in Türkiye: Camlica Mosque. Located in the Üsküdar district, it only opened in 2019. You can see it from pretty much anywhere in Istanbul, so we were quite excited to visit.

Even though we knew that it was the largest mosque in the country, the scale of Camlica Mosque was even more insane up close. It has six minarets and a 72 m high central dome. Over 60,000 people can pray at the same time in this mosque.

Great viewpoints of Camlica Mosque: Ortaköy Mosque and Ferry Terminal area, Bosphorus ferry or cruise.

11. Sakirin Mosque (Şakirin Camii)

Located in the Üsküdar district, on the Asian side of Istanbul, is Sakirin Mosque (Şakirin Camii). It also acts as one of the entrances to Karacaahmet Cemetery, which is apparently one of the oldest and largest in Istanbul.

Sakirin is a unique mosque because of its architectural design. Normally, mosques in Istanbul follow the typical Byzantine or Ottoman style. However, Sakirin Mosque has a modern take on this design which makes it quite special. Apparently, it is also one of the most carbon-neutral mosques in the country.

Things to Be Aware of Before Visiting a Mosque in Istanbul

Most mosques welcome visitors of other faiths. However, you may have a few questions prior to your visit.

Prayer Times in Istanbul

One thing you’ll hear five times a day everyday during your stay is the call to prayer, or Ezan. Hearing it was one of our favourite experiences in Istanbul and across Türkiye. The prayer times change depending on the sunrise and sunset times, and the geographical relationship to Mecca. You can check prayer times in Istanbul here.

Now, it’s worth noting that you can’t always visit a mosque during prayer times if you’re not a practicing Muslim. Friday is a main prayer day, so many mosques may be closed to visitors from mid morning to early afternoon.

Mosque Dress Code in Istanbul

Mosques are active places of worship. Therefore, if you want to enter, you’ll need to dress modestly.

You should wear loose fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs. While not always mandatory for women, make sure to have a head scarf with you, and be ready to cover your head as a sign of respect when entering the mosque. Kids can wear whatever they want. At very touristy places, you can borrow, or even buy, longer skirts, trousers and head scarves. However, when you’re packing for your Turkish holiday, make sure to bring some appropriate clothing with you, so you don’t need to worry about what to wear once you arrive.

You’ll also have to take your shoes off before entering the prayer area. Most mosques have a dedicated shoe rack where you can store your footwear during visits.

Final Thoughts on Beautiful Mosques to Visit in Istanbul

Whilst you’ll most likely visit the two most popular mosques in Istanbul, we encourage you to visit others too if you have the time. We’re not Muslims, but visiting mosques in Istanbul and across Türkiye became one of our favourite experiences during our time in the country.

Have you ever been to any of the aforementioned mosques in Istanbul, apart from the Blue Mosque or the Hagia Sophia? If so. which ones did you visit? If not, which mosques would you add to your Istanbul itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.