Blue Mosque
307 reviews
October 9, 2024
The always crowded Sultanahmet Mosque, which gives its name to the historical district of Istanbul, is at the top of foreign "must-see places in Istanbul" lists. If you ask me, there are more aesthetic mosques in Istanbul, especially Rüstem Pasha and Ortaköy Mosques, but of course, the Sultanahmet Mosque has a completely different weight with its place in history and the city skyline. Sultan Ahmet I, who had the mosque built, wanted to do exactly this: to leave his mark on Istanbul with an imposing mosque that would be visible from all over Istanbul.
Thus, the only mosque with 6 minarets in the Ottoman Empire was built. It is decorated from top to bottom with more than 20 thousand Iznik tiles. These tiles are the reason why foreigners call this mosque "Blue Mosque". When the mosque was first built, it was met with a lot of reaction both at home and abroad. The people are upset that the state coffers are being emptied with unnecessary expenses, and the Muslim world is being flooded with the world's only mosque with 6 minarets in the Kaaba. So much so that the Sultan had to build a 7th minaret for the mosque in the Kaaba.
Sultan Ahmet I, who came to the throne at the age of 14 and wanted a mosque built in his name at the age of 19, wanted this mosque to be built in his name to be a mosque that would be visible from all over Istanbul. In addition, since Ahmet I wanted the art aspect of this mosque to be at the forefront as well as architecture, he made an agreement with Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, who was both an architect and a mother-of-pearl master. Mehmet Agha was aware that his work would compete with two important giants such as Suleymaniye and Hagia Sophia. This sweet competition resulted in the Sultanahmet Mosque, where art and liveliness are visible at every point.
We know that in the early 17th century, when the social complex was built, the economic power of the Ottoman Empire was greatly reduced, there were territorial losses, and rebellions began in Anatolia. You can imagine how much such a large structure cost the state in such a painful period. Moreover, the Sultanahmet Mosque was built with money from the state treasury, not from war spoils. This caused public reaction.
The mosque, arasta and hünkar pavilion sections of the building, which was built as a social complex between 1590-1617, were opened with a ceremony. The construction of other buildings continued until 1920. According to a rumor, on the day of the foundation laying, the sultan himself filled his skirt with stones and helped the workers. When Ahmet I died in 1617 at the age of 27, his tomb was built and he was buried here.
Sultanahmet Mosque also has a sensational side. Throughout history, Hagia Sophia wanted to surpass the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, and Suleymaniye wanted to surpass Hagia Sophia. At the end of this competition, it was decided that the Sultanahmet Mosque would surpass Hagia Sophia only, so as not to disrespect its ancestors, and the mosque was built with 6 minarets, unlike any other in the Ottoman Empire. However, these 6 minarets added much magnificence to it and caused some conflicts. This situation, which was considered disrespectful to the mosque in the Kaaba, which had 6 minarets at that time, ended when Sultan Ahmet I added a 7th minaret to the mosque in the Kaaba.
According to another rumor, Ahmet I wanted to have the minarets of the mosque made of gold. However, since this decision would exceed the state's budget, Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa pretended to understand the word "gold" as "six" and built the mosque with 6 minarets.
3
March 6
Amazing and very calm place.
If you have a time when transfer, use bus from airport to city center. From city center you can reach there by tram. Buy transport card from ATM. Be careful from persons who offer to help to buy a card for you. Learn from youtube how to buy and do it yourself
1
December 13, 2024
Amazing
January 27
One of the most beautiful mosques in Istanbul. An impressive building with clean, salted energy. The mosque was built using expensive stone, beautiful marble and thousands of ceramic tiles, hand-painted with white and blue paint. There are floral ornaments on the tiles – tulips. The imposing dome stands 43 meters above Istanbul. It is decorated with surahs from the Koran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. The Blue Mosque has 260 stained glass windows through which sunlight pours – at these moments, the mosque becomes an illustration of an oriental fairy tale.
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3
December 15, 2024
A beautiful majestic place. There are stands around the perimeter promoting Islam. It was informative, though, and something was controversial for me. Still, well done, how everything was presented.
Everyone takes off their shoes. Everyone is equal in this;) you can enter at the permitted hours and look with all your eyes. It is good if there is a guidebook or other source of information. I read it and immediately saw it !
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1
December 29, 2024
The main attraction of Istanbul! Majestic Sofia! The child entered the 1st floor (which is only for Turkish citizens)- a local married couple spent it, they took it as their own, I really liked it! And the people in Turkey are wonderful, kind, responsive, and loving to children!!!!
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January 11
The place is great, atmospheric, with a great history, a must-visit while I was there for free in January 2025, but it's clear that they will soon make it paid, I'm not naked in the ai mafia and top cops, because the prices are unrealistic and they let you go around in a circle in the truest sense of the word.
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March 16
One of the main attractions of Istanbul, the second name Sultan Ahmet, was built under Sultan Ahmed 1 in the 17th century, located on the square of the same name (the former military Hippodrome). Unlike St. Sophia, foreign tourists can enter the Blue Mosque for free. Other attractions near the mosque include the Hurrem Sultan Baths, the Ibrahim Pasha House and the Mosaic Museum (part of the Roman Emperors' palace complex).It is better to plan the time of visiting the Blue Mosque in advance, since the admission of visitors is carried out according to the entrance sessions.
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2
March 23
Sooooo beautiful mosque!!!
Free to visit
Impressive from the outside, fascinating from the inside!!!
Tourists are treated calmly here. Women only need to remove their hair - they can give them a headscarf. As it is, you take off your shoes, get comfortable on the carpet and listen to prayer, looking at the mosaic.
The surrounding area is also very beautiful.
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November 25, 2024
Visiting this mosque is absolutely free, both men and women can enter it, but an important issue is compliance with the dress code, that is, you can not enter with bare body parts. There are some kind of skirts and shawls at the entrance. My sister and I always carry pareos and headscarves with us, as there are mosques that do not have such an option. We go not only to the famous mosques, but to all the ones along the way during the walk. There are a lot of them in Istanbul, they are mostly ancient and with a history, each of them is good in its own way. But each of these mosques was created in the image and likeness of their ancient ancestor, which was originally a temple - Ay-Sophia.
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1
March 19
The mosque struck with its grandiose size! It's very beautiful inside! We didn't get inside the first time, because we came during prayer. But we went for a walk and came back. There is a timetable at the entrance when the mosque is open or closed to tourists. We were very impressed!
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February 16
Beautiful mosque, impressive! It's elegant on the outside, but inside it's an oriental fairy tale. They went inside for free, looked quietly, without disturbing the people who came to pray. It's a beautiful place!
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3
February 15
It's a very beautiful mosque.You rest your soul.Despite the huge number of tourists, there is enough space for everyone!
It's convenient to get there.Clean territory.We get very beautiful photos both inside and outside the mosque.
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2
February 9
A very beautiful, huge mosque. Beautiful area around. It is under reconstruction all the time, it is practically impossible to get inside. The courtyard and the outside are certainly impressive
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March 7
It is located close to all major attractions. A beautiful building inside and majestic outside. But work is underway in the courtyard. Admission is free.
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2
March 19
The Blue Mosque is a different story.
On our previous visit,
or rather a "raid" from Alanya for a day,
we did not manage to see it from the inside, it was September 2022
and it was under reconstruction (
And even in November 2024, the reconstruction did not end,
but we managed to go in and see it with our own eyes, not in the photo.
It is majestic, the first mosque in Istanbul,
which is also one of the main symbols of the city and Turkey itself.
She…
It was built in difficult times for the Ottoman Empire,
The temple embodies the interweaving of Byzantine and Islamic architectural styles, and today the building is recognized as an exemplary masterpiece of world architecture.
👆
Today, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, whose construction history is very ambiguous, is the main temple of the metropolis, accommodating up to 10,000 parishioners,
but this is all from the Internet and the records of smart people. ✌️…
And if in our opinion,
Really, really so many people will enter, and if desired, even more.
Actually, just imagine,
what a big deal it was for believers.
Admission is free, free
- provided there is a headscarf on the girls' heads and (minus) shoes on their feet,
and yet,
in all mosques,
they are very friendly to Christians and to all tourists, no matter what religion,
and
believe me, there are a lot of tourists, including Muslims,
and this is the middle of November (like out of season),
but there are few Chinese, which is surprising)
Yes,
Istanbul for our family has become a huge contribution to the treasury of emotions, but no more than our Kaliningrad or Elbrus.
Travel and share your impressions
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1
January 13
A very beautiful, large mosque. The free admission is very well organized, you can go in and see everything. The interior of the mosque is admirable.
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1
July 5, 2024
A visit to the Blue Mosque in June 2024 is a delightful immersion in history and culture. The architectural beauty of the building, immersed in light, is striking in its elegance. Historical arches and domes rise, reminding of the greatness of the Ottoman Empire. This place is a real pearl of Istanbul, where every detail is filled with the grandeur of the past and pious silence.
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4
February 13
You need to see this beauty with your own eyes at least once in your life, there is a beautiful territory around the mosque where you can walk, everything is neatly gentrified.
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November 15, 2024
The mosque simply amazes with its beauty and grandeur. The atmosphere there is special, as if you are transported back several centuries. You can look at patterns and ornaments endlessly, every corner breathes history. It feels like Suleiman himself is about to appear around the corner. It is definitely worth visiting there to get into the spirit of that time.
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March 27
A must-see attraction. If you come in the evening, especially on weekdays, there are very few people and you can safely watch everything. Admission is free.
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February 2
It's a beautiful place. Recently after the restoration. But only a small part of the territory is open to the public. So there's not much to see there. It's good that it's free for now, for 2025.
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January 12
Nicely. Monumental. But, for an amateur. It is clear that it is a very ancient structure, but there is no such direct chic-luster beauty. In this regard, the Dubai Zayed Mosque is much more amazing.
It didn't go in.
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September 20, 2023
Packed with a rich history of Topkapi. It is located on the cape that separates the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Therefore, the views are fantastic. There is a whole complex of mosques, museums, parks, gardens, libraries, etc. Beautiful architecture, rich decoration, a unique collection of treasures. It was in this palace that the main celebrations, the Sultan's accession to the throne, and religious events took place. There are many museum exhibitions. From weapons to various household items, sultan's clothes, Topkapi dagger, Kashichki Diamond, etc. In short, something like that. We spent the whole day. I liked everything. The food here is expensive, you can bring a snack with you. Entrance tickets are not expensive. I invite you to visit Sultan Suleiman))).
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4
December 11, 2024
I have wanted to visit Istanbul for a very long time. This October, my dream came true. I flew in just for one day (well, at least that's a negligible amount for this city!). Of course, I visited the Blue Mosque among other attractions. The beauty and grandeur of this structure is simply amazing! The mosque does not fit into the camera, it is so huge! I recommend everyone to visit!
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3
March 9
Beautiful, ancient mosque of Istanbul. You can get in for free. The main thing is that the women should have their heads covered, I was wearing a hoodie hood, they let me through without any problems. Also, it is mandatory to take off your shoes at the entrance, I took them with me and carried them right in my hands, but for convenience, you can take a package in advance) She is very beautiful both inside and out. The entrance floor is paved with marble, which was a bit slippery after the rain.
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3
December 1, 2024
Very beautiful. A must-visit. There are a lot of people. A headscarf is required for women. You will need to take off your shoes at the entrance. Keep an eye on the services, then visiting and photographing are prohibited
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December 21, 2024
One of the largest mosques in Istanbul, the brainchild of architect Sinan. There is greatness and splendor inside. While the entrance is free, it is mandatory to visit.
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January 28
This mosque was built at the very beginning of the 17th century during the reign of Ahmet I in the Ottoman Empire. A huge, airy, stunningly beautiful mosque, in which people still pray. Magnificent wall paintings, large spherical and hemispherical domes built of brick. You need to see this with your own eyes. An impressive monument of oriental architecture.
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2
June 27, 2024
An amazing mosque with a huge territory where you can walk, the history of this mosque is also very interesting, it is located near the Fatih district (almost all mosques are within walking distance)
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1
April 14, 2024
When in Istanbul, we always find time to go to the Blue Mosque. Greatness and tranquility capture the heart. It's worth standing in line. Thoughts become clearer and a restless mind finds peace.
The Blue Mosque, or Sultanahmet Mosque, is the first mosque in Istanbul. It has six minarets: four, as usual, on the sides, and two slightly less high ~ on the outer corners. It is considered an outstanding example of Islamic and world architecture.
As in any mosque, I take off my shoes, and try to cover my head with a new scarf or handkerchief bought at the entrance. There were always a lot of people, especially at Friday prayers.
Visiting the Blue Mosque is not just a tour of a historical place, it is an immersion into the world of spiritual reflection and a deep understanding of the cultural heritage of this land.
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7
1
May 10, 2024
I am not a connoisseur of Muslim culture and religion , so my short review is purely from an aesthetic point of view . 🙂
It's beautiful. Especially at sunset. Admission is free. If you want to go inside, take a shoe bag with you. Despite the fact that there are shelves inside for her, after Thailand, where expensive sneakers are stolen in temples, I'm afraid to leave them. The mosque is large, with high mosaic ceilings. All the worshippers are sitting on the floor, on a soft carpet. The atmosphere is pleasant, being inside is calm and peaceful.
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7
October 6, 2024
Large-scale, beautiful. The tourists' visit is well organized, there are a lot of people, but the queue moves quickly.
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3
October 21, 2024
Unfortunately, it was under reconstruction in October 2024. It spoiled the impression. There are a lot of people both inside the mosque and in the courtyard. It's beautiful, of course, but I liked Suleymania more.
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1
November 29, 2024
There are too many people, you need to be prepared for a possible crush or crush. If you are with a child, if you need amenities, and you are somewhere inside, then most likely you will need at least 10-15 minutes. I can't say that the interior decoration is more striking, for example, St. Isaac's Cathedral.
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March 9
I love Istanbul, I lived in a hotel near the Blue Mosque, near the Basilica, and Sofia, as well as the cool Laleli market, Grand Bazaar.....
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February 18
Very beautiful! Monumental. And they also gave me a Koran in Russian. I recommend everyone to visit this mosque.
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February 23
We visited this mosque, but we did not feel complete delight. In order to visit the mosque, you need to guess the time, not to get into the main thing during the prayer period. Tourists are allowed in on Fridays from 2:30 p.m. There are a lot of people because it is free.
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November 12, 2024
The Blue Mosque is Istanbul's first mosque in importance, as well as an outstanding example of Islamic architecture. Beauty is not only outside, but also inside.
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3
January 17
One of the historical sites in Istanbul is a must-visit, while it is still free, there are many tourists, and one minaret is being renovated.
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March 12
Briefly about the main thing:
"There are 260 stained glass windows in the Blue Mosque, through which sunlight pours – at these moments the mosque becomes an illustration of an oriental fairy tale!"
The main thing is short for big (as an option, very, very big) managers:
"Everyone takes off their shoes. Everyone is equal in this ;)".
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2
June 24, 2024
Free entrance, handkerchiefs and skirts are given out if necessary (free of charge), there are places to relax, smoke, decent free toilets. Clean, cultured, pleasant to be in.
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5
January 8
It's a very beautiful place. Open to tourists, suitable clothing is required for both men and women. It is necessary to take off your shoes at the entrance, if desired, you can leave a donation at the exit.
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September 27, 2024
A must-visit in Istanbul, especially since everything can be seen for free!
There are incredible stained glass windows inside, it looks charming. There are a lot of people, you need to push straight inside.
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1
December 13, 2024
It's a very beautiful place, the atmosphere is great. There was a long queue, but it's worth standing up to see all this beauty! I recommend you to visit
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2
June 10, 2024
A very beautiful mosque. Like in the best Turkish TV series. A large area. Clear. But, there is a large crowd of people. You'll have to stand in line. You can relax in the surrounding area.
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3
December 7, 2024
The Blue Mosque is amazing, it doesn't need any comments!!! This is a magnificent structure, but the most interesting thing is that when you give a gift you are given a receipt for the amount of your gift!!!
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3
November 8, 2024
The very legend of the creation of this mosque teaches me, as a builder, the correct drafting of contracts. The building itself is very impressive in its scale. They don't build like that anymore.
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January 24
It is interesting for believers and those who have not seen mosques. For others, studying the history and the view from the outside will bring more impressions.
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December 1, 2024
The original mosque, we lived in a hotel right next to it, admission is free, but we need to look at the schedule, tourists may not be allowed during services / prayers, as I understand it.
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