Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) Reviews (Istanbul, Turkey)

The Blue Mosque

District of Columbia County, District of Columbia

August 22, 2013

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Best of IgoUgo In a city known for its many domed mosques, one large one stands out as a "must see" attraction. That mosque is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known to visitors as the Blue Mosque. The nickname derives not from the mosque’s exterior (it is not ...Read more In a city known for its many domed mosques, one large one stands out as a "must see" attraction. That mosque is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known to visitors as the Blue Mosque. The nickname derives not from the mosque’s exterior (it is not blue), but from the thousands of blue tiles that decorate the interior walls and ceiling of the building’s interior.

The Blue Mosque is not the city’s largest (that would be the Süleymaniye Mosque) nor is it the oldest (several mosques in the city were already well over a century old when the Blue Mosque was built), but it is the city’s most famous, and rightfully so. The impressive structure, with room for 10,000 congregants, was built in fewer than five years, opening in 1616. Given the structure’s immense size, nine domes, and the incredible detail evident in the building’s interior, it is almost impossible to imagine such a structure being built, by hand, in such a short period of time over five hundred years ago. But, that’s what happened, and a half-millennium later, the building is still an active mosque, with believers arriving several times a day to answer the call to prayer that echoes from the speakers mounted in the mosque’s six minarets.

Visitors to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque are welcome, but as this is an active place of religious worship, there are some rules tourists are asked to abide by. First, tourists are not allowed into the mosque during prayer times. This happens six times a day, and each closure is approximately 90 minutes in length. When we visited, we arrived shortly before a prayer service was beginning, and as a result, we had to wait until the mosque reopened for visitors. That was fine, as we used the time to explore the grounds, and take in a short presentation on Islam that the mosque was offering for visitors. Second, when entering the mosque, you will be asked to remove your shoes and place them in a plastic bag, which you will carry with you as you enter the mosque. Women will also be asked to wear a head covering, which is provided free of charge to those who do not have one. Finally, visitors are asked to speak in a whisper inside the mosque, and while photography is welcome, flashes are not.

So why should the Blue Mosque be on every Istanbul visitor’s list of places to see? It is quite simple, really. The mosque has one of the most stunningly beautiful interiors you will see in Istanbul, and there are a lot of beautiful buildings in the city. The walls, ceiling, and rotundas of all nine domes are lined with over 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles. The mosque gets its popular name, the Blue Mosque, from these tiles, many of which have blue designs. Additionally, over 200 stained glass windows bathe the interior in colored sunlight. Low-hanging chandeliers provide additional lighting. Additional decorations include calligraphy of Qur’an verses, the marble mihrab, and beautiful carpets.

The mosque’s beauty extends beyond its interior. Outside, you will find a large courtyard with a fountain in the center, and arcades surrounding the open space. This space swells with faithful Muslims coming and going to prayer services in the mosque as each of the prayer times throughout the day occurs. Outside the courtyard, the mosque’s beautifully landscaped grounds extend toward the Hippodrome and Sultanahmet Parks. Some exterior walls of the mosque also house ablution areas, where ritual washing prior to prayer services is performed.

Istanbul offers a number of mosques that are open to visitors. However, if you see only one, it should be the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. A visit to this site is a critical part of the Istanbul experience.
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From journal A Week in Turkey: Istanbul

Feeling Blue?

by Essexgirl09

London, England, United Kingdom

March 16, 2013

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Best of IgoUgo The Sultan Ahmed (or Ahmet as the Turks call him) Mosque is more commonly known as the Blue Mosque and is recognised as one of the most iconic sights of the Istanbul skyline. It was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I (unsurprisingly) when he was a ...Read more The Sultan Ahmed (or Ahmet as the Turks call him) Mosque is more commonly known as the Blue Mosque and is recognised as one of the most iconic sights of the Istanbul skyline. It was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I (unsurprisingly) when he was a young man in 1609 and took seven years to build and is designed in the Ottoman style. He wanted a building to rival the magnificent Hagia Sophia opposite. It has one big central dome (43m high on the outside), eight smaller domes and six minarets and apparently has a capacity of 10,000 worshippers. It is still in use today, and you are able to visit between prayer times.

Ottoman architecture features a lot of domes and columns and is often very light inside. Tiles and paintings tend to be quite colourful and feature flowers. The period the Blue Mosque was constructed in was referred to as the Classical period and had a lot of Byzantine influences (from the Hagia Sophia). The famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan had died by this time, but it his apprentices who worked on the mosque so it is in keeping with a lot of other Ottoman buildings around the city such as the Suleymaniye Mosque which Sinan had worked on and looks very similar. Sultan Ahmed also insisted that the mosque have six minarets, the only one in Istanbul to do so (as the time, the only one outside Mecca to ave so many), the largest courtyard of any mosque in that period, tens of thousands of Iznik (hand-painted ceramic) tiles and 250 windows.

It is free to get in (you can make donations at the end - they give receipts), and you approach through a courtyard around to the side (as a tourist, worshippers are allowed to use the main entrance). You may have to queue for a bit, but the queue seems to move steadily as people are removing their shoes. I imagine if it got too packed inside they may prevent some people from going in. You are asked to remove your footwear and there are plastic bags to keep them in so you can carry them. You may keep socks on, but I saw one lady try to go in with plastic bags over her feet, but she was stopped. If you are coming in summer and have no socks, note that you are walking only on carpet, not bare floors. Men are asked to wear long trousers rather than shorts (not a problem in March) and ladies to wear long skirts or trousers, and ideally cover their heads. I had a scarf with me, but I noticed a few people didn’t bother. If you forget to bring a scarf, you can borrow one from the mosque, which are all clean and pressed.

My first impression when I walked in was to say "wow" because it is so big and high. I have actually been in a larger mosque (in Casablanca, Morocco) but it wasn’t as pretty. All of the high domed ceiling is decorated in red and blue tiles and lower parts of the mosque and the pillars also have these decorated tiles on them, mostly in blue. The carpet is red and looks fairly new. I imagine it has to be replaced often. There are a number of bright stained glass windows (I don’t think they are original – they look to bright) and some low chandeliers meaning that it is very light in the mosque. You are allowed to take photos, and there did not seem to be any restrictions of the use of flash. However it is quite light in there, so I doubt you would need it. At one end is a large ‘pulpit’ type structure where the Imam preaches from. Most of the highlights of the mosque are above your head so the even if it is busy inside, the people are not obscuring your view. You can only walk around a part of it as the main area is roped off, but you can approach the rope to view the pulpit and lower windows and people move out of the way.

All in all we were inside about twenty minutes, as there was a prayer service looming. As you exit you will see some scale models of the original mosque complex (it included a hospital and school) and then once outside, you may put your shoes on (there are a few benches). If you then proceed straight on towards Sultanahmet Park (between the mosque and the Hagia Sophia) you can get some nice views, but they may be obscured by some trees.

The Mosque is situated in the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul and is a few minutes walk from the tram stop of the same name. Close

From journal Istanbul - Things to Do

Istanbul's Top (Free) Attraction - Pt2

by koshkha

Northampton, United Kingdom

May 22, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo Our VisitWe turned up just about ten minutes before the noon-time prayers which meant we had to rush rather. It’s not appropriate – it may not even be permitted – to go in during the five prayer sessions each day and each can take up to half an ...Read more

From journal Istanbul in May - more eating and looking

Istanbul's top (free) attraction - Pt1

by koshkha

Northampton, United Kingdom

May 22, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo Istanbul's most famous building?If you ask most people to name an attraction in Istanbul – especially those who’ve not actually been there - there’s a very strong chance that they will pick the so-called ‘Blue Mosque’, known more formally as the ...Read more Istanbul's most famous building?

If you ask most people to name an attraction in Istanbul – especially those who’ve not actually been there - there’s a very strong chance that they will pick the so-called ‘Blue Mosque’, known more formally as the Sultan Ahmet Camii. There’s something about the name that seems to tantalize and intrigue and promise something rather special and indeed, as Istanbul mosques go, this is a gem – not so much for its architecture which is, quite honestly, not so different from rather a lot of Istanbul mosques, but for its richly decorated interior tiling.

I recommend that everyone goes to see the Blue Mosque and goes early in their trip. You need to know where it is because you’ll spend half your trip seeing the Hagia Sophia from rooftops and saying "Oh look, the Blue Mosque" or the Suleymaniye Mosque from the Bosphorus or the Galata Bridge and failing to work out that it cannot be the Blue Mosque as that’s on the other side of the hill. Ideally I would say make it both the first and the last place you visit – an introduction to the city and a place to stop and take stock before you head home again. It’s certainly not my favourite or the most impressive attraction in Istanbul and it’s equally not the most interesting mosque I’ve ever visited but for a large number of tourists, it may well be the first mosque that they have ever visited and if that’s the case, they can expect a treat.

It has a few things in favour – not least that it’s entirely free in a city where very little seems to be any more. More importantly it can be a beautiful and peaceful space in what’s sometimes a rather ‘full on’ sort of city. I had probably been about half a dozen times before our most recent trip to Istanbul and I made sure that it was the first major attraction that my parents and my sister and her partner visited.

A Little bit of History

The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I – the Sultan after whom the historic area of Sultanahmet is named. When you look at the sheer size of the place it’s astonishing that the whole mosque was built in just a few years. It also seems an impressive feat of engineering and architecture until you realise that the Hagia Sophia, the church-turned-mosque-turned-museum which stands nearby on the other side of Sultanahmet square, is even more impressive and is 1400 years old. This is another reason I say go to the mosque first – if you see the Hagia Sophia before the mosque you risk a sense of ‘so what’ which the Blue Mosque doesn’t really deserve.

There’s a fabulous sense of balance about the place. The prayer hall of the mosque is about the same size as the courtyard that stands in front of it. This is quite unusual as I’ve seen mosques with enormous courtyards and small prayer halls (for example the Jamii Mosque in Old Delhi) and ones which are the other way round like the Suleymaniye mosque in Istanbul. The most famous and unusual feature is that it has six minarets rather than the usual one or two or the occasional four. This was actually very controversial at the time it was built when only one other mosque – in Mecca – had six minarets and it was seen as a scandalous challenge to the supremacy of the other mosque.

In 2012 Istanbul is one of the European Cities of Culture and things during our trip seemed to be getting lined up for lots of visitors. We’ve previously entered the mosque through the entrance off the Hippodrome, through the courtyard and through the central door but this entrance now seems to be restricted to Muslims. Instead there are signs directing tourists round to the entrance on the far side of the mosque. To get there you pass the ablutions taps along the side wall where worshippers perform their washing rituals before entering the mosque.

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From journal Istanbul in May - more eating and looking

It won't leave you feeling blue.

by garymarsh6

Gravesend, United Kingdom

July 7, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo The Blue Mosque.The blue mosque is a familiar sight of the sky line on Istanbul’s European side of the city which is separated from the Asian side by the Bosphorus. Its official name is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or in Turkish the Sultanahmet Camii. It ...Read more The Blue Mosque.

The blue mosque is a familiar sight of the sky line on Istanbul’s European side of the city which is separated from the Asian side by the Bosphorus. Its official name is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or in Turkish the Sultanahmet Camii. It is situated in the Sultanamet area of Istanbul with the Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and Topkapi palace all within a stone’s throw of each other. The Blue Mosque can be seen from various points throughout Istanbul but looks very impressive from the Bosphorus being built on top of one of the seven hills that make up Istanbul.
It is called the blue mosque because of the blue tiles that cover the walls inside the mosque and not because the exterior being blue because the exterior is in fact a greyish colour but in certain sunlight the exterior appears blue especially when in photos against the back drop of an azure blue sky. Apparently there are over 20, 000 of these tiles. Work commenced on building the mosque in 1609 and it was finally finished in 1616 taking seven years to build. Bearing in mind there were very little tools in those days it really is a magnificent structure. The blue mosque was built over some old byzantine palaces.
Entering the great Courtyard through a massive archway from the Hippodrome, you come into a gigantic courtyard that is exactly the same size as the inside of the mosque. In the middle there is an ablution fountain where worshippers complete their washing rituals prior to entering the mosque bare footed. No shoes are worn inside the mosque and women should cover up appropriately. Plastic bags are provided so that you can carry your shoes inside the mosque with you as you exit from another doorway on the left hand side of the Mosque.
The courtyard is surrounded by beautifully shaped arches which go round the whole of the outside of the courtyard. There are inscriptions in Arabic on the walls and within the arches they are decorated and look really wonderful.
We were told by our guide that when the mosque was being built it was well over budget and there were fears the architect would lose his life if he did not follow the sultans orders. The sultan had ordered the minarets be covered in gold but the ministers were so angry at the cost of the project the architect changed the usual four minaret design to that of six minarets which greatly pleased the Sultan. There are four minarets in each corner of the mosque proper with three tiers and two further minarets on the corners of the great courtyard which only have two tiers. Such was the displeasure and criticism of the Sultan for allowing 6 minarets to be built he paid for a seventh minaret to be built at Mecca to appease his critics.
The mosque also contained a school, a market, a kitchen to feed the poor, a hospital and various other buildings to aid the frail, sick and poor based around the courtyard area.
After admiring the outside of the mosque you pass the security men on the doorway, women are given a gown if they are bare skinned in armless blouses or not dressed appropriately such as short skirts or shorts.
Stepping inside the mosque you are overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of the interior. Surprisingly there are over 600 windows in the mosque which allow in natural light. Some of the windows are coloured glass. Looking ahead there are floor to ceiling windows which lets in a lot of light and it is also facing Mecca. Looking up to the central dome you cannot fail to be impressed with the size of the mosque. The domes are supported by four massive pillars and in order to maintain stability of the great dome there are four smaller domes around the main dome supporting it. Supporting the four domes supporting the main dome are 12 further smaller domes. At the bottom of the central dome it is surrounded by windows which also allow natural light into the mosque.
Hanging from the ceilings are many chandeliers which provide lighting during the evening prayers. On the chandeliers are some ostrich eggs which are supposed to ward off spiders and apparently there are no spiders to be found in the mosque which would please those of you who are arachnophobes.

The lower half of the mosque is decorated with blue tiles. These tiles are called Iznik tiles from the town where they were made. They are a little like delft pottery to give you an idea of what they look like. The designs of the tiles are in the form of Tulips of which there are many different designs. It looks quite amazing. On the upper walls and inside the domes of the mosque it has been ornately decorated with paints however the colours have changed from the original reds to brown and green to blue over the years. There are also lots of yellow patterns too which makes the interior look very impressive.
The central prayer area under the domes is actually cordoned off unless the mosque is in use for prayers. The whole of the floor is thickly carpeted in brilliant red colours and places marked in gold colours where the people pray. To the left hand corner at the front of the mosque is a dais like marble structure which is screened with intricately carved marble and this is the prayer area for the Sultan where he could pray in privacy. To the right of the windows is the minrab where the imam reads the Koran and preaches to the worshippers.

Once you have finished with your visit you exit the mosque to the left hand side of the mosque coming out and facing the other great domed splendour of the Hagia Sofia. Near the exit there is a solid silver model of Mecca which is in a glass case.

Would I recommend a visit here?
This simply is a must visit on any visitors trip to Istanbul. It certainly is one of the Jewels in Istanbul’s crown. The stunning architecture and beauty within the mosque is absolutely stunning and it will take your breath away. I would certainly recommend you visit the Blue Mosque. In total we were at the mosque for about one hour.

Admission is free but you are welcome to make a donation.
The mosque is open all day except for about half an hour at a time during the five prayer times. It is also not advisable to visit on a Friday the main day of prayer. Men and women should dress appropriately and adhere to a modest dress sense. No shorts, no short sleeves for women or miniskirts.
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From journal A Turkish delight. 1

The Blue Mosque

by Jctravel1983

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

December 7, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The Blue MosqueI was there one day in advance, before the Iranian president came to visit in Istanbul and the Blue Mosque would visit his prayers. That was never announced, but one of the water vendors told me.LocationThe Blue Mosque is located in ...Read more

From journal Istanbul part 1

The Blue Mosque

by catsholiday

ashbourne, United Kingdom

August 28, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo THE BLUE MOSQUE OR SULTAN AHMED MOSQUE or SULTANMET CAMII:The Blue Mosque gets its name from the decorative tiles inside the mosque, prior to my visit I thought that it was from the grey blue stone from which it is built. This mosque was built ...Read more

From journal A short week in Istanbul

A Colorful Experience

by TianjinPaul

Rotherham, United Kingdom

July 7, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The sight of western tourists – most specifically British and American – on holiday in foreign climes never ceases to amaze and amuse me. I remember when I lived in Beijing, seeing tourists decked out in outdoor gear and hiking boots for their trips ...Read more The sight of western tourists – most specifically British and American – on holiday in foreign climes never ceases to amaze and amuse me. I remember when I lived in Beijing, seeing tourists decked out in outdoor gear and hiking boots for their trips to the local tourist attractions, such as the Forbidden City and Temple of Heave.. It generated an urge deep within me to scream at them, "Beijing is flat! Where do you think you are?" I felt similar emotions when we visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

To enter the mosque, there are two entrances. One for local guests and one for 'foreign' guests. This is actually a little misleading as, in reality, it is for Muslim and non-Muslim visitors. Naturally, on our visit, my mother and I headed to the non-Muslim entrance. At this point, I will clarify that even though we were about to enter a mosque, Turkey is a secular republic, in which women can wear what they please. In fact, many of the younger generation actually enjoy the liberty to wear as little as they please. However, if you were to view some of the other visitors, you may have thought we were in Saudi Arabia on our way to Mecca. There were two English women in their thirties wearing long flowing skirts, shawls around their shoulders and elaborate head-scarves – it had all clearly been purchased for the occasion. They were clearly impressed at themselves for coming so well prepared. The guard at the door smiled at them indulgently and then handed my mother a small shawl to cover her arms. That and removing one's shoes were the only dress rules in force.

The outlandish dress sense of some of the other visitors aside, the Blue Mosque is beautiful, but a little disappointing. From the outside, its dark domes and bright minarets are decidedly striking. We were also lucky enough to visit on a day when the weather was very changeable. When we arrived it looked as though we would be in for a heavy shower. As a consequence, the sky was charcoal grey. This complimented the mosque's dark domes wonderfully, giving it a fantastically ominous look. After leaving, things had changed completely. The clouds had parted and the bright sun beat down on the mosque accentuating the white of the minarets and main body.

The exterior of the mosque is stunning. However, the grounds and courtyard are a little disappointing. The courtyard is very bland and compares poorly with Eminou Mosque – on the shores of the Golden Horn - which offers a lot more colour and vibrancy. The interior is impressive, but for its scale rather than any wondrous beauty. The roof is tiled with delicate symmetrical patterns and extravagant chandeliers hang down above worshippers. However, there is little that anyone who has visited other mosques in Turkey or in other parts of the Islamic world would find astounding.

The Blue Mosque is truly stunning from the outside, but slightly less impressive inside. However, it is still well worth a visit. Entrance is free, but visitors are asked for a donation. For those worried about offending local worshippers, there are shawls on offer. Women are required to wear these to cover their arms. Close

From journal Istanbul Sights

Folly, Fantasy, and Faith

by Liam Hetherington

Manchester, United Kingdom

October 27, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo According to my Rough Guide "many architectural historians are scathing about the Blue Mosque’s aesthetic merit". But what do they know? I personally found the Blue Mosque one of my favourite places in Istanbul. It is stunning from the outside and ...Read more According to my Rough Guide "many architectural historians are scathing about the Blue Mosque’s aesthetic merit". But what do they know? I personally found the Blue Mosque one of my favourite places in Istanbul. It is stunning from the outside and charming from the inside. I heartily encourage a visit.

The Blue Mosque’s official name is the Sultan Ahmet Camii. The mosque, like the area surrounding it, is named after Sultan Ahmet I who almost exhausted the imperial treasury to finance its construction in the early seventeenth century. The mosque was, in effect, a great cosmic bribe; wars had been going badly for his forces and Ahmet wished to appease Allah with a new grand imperial mosque. This would be chief mosque of his empire, fulfilling the same functions as Aya Sofya did for the Byzantines. This actually created dissension among the sultan’s advisers, as it was being constructed from a position of weakness; previous imperial mosques had been funded wholly from war booty. Moreover to cement its position Ahmet ordered his architect to construct six minarets. Cue more criticism – the only mosque to have six minarets at that time was the holiest of all, in Mecca. As a result the sultan had to fund a seventh minaret for Mecca, yet another drain on resources. But complaints about Ahmet’s folly did not go away. To be fair it probably also didn’t help that the mosque was to be sited where many of his courtiers had their own palaces.

From the outside the mosque is quite spectacular. It is well situated across from the Aya Sofya (with some pretty gardens in between), and abuts the Hippodrome, the open area that once housed Byzantine chariot races and is now studded with obelisks. It is a pale dove grey, a cascade of shallow domes and half-domes. A minaret stands at each corner. An attached courtyard covers approximately the same area; the other two minarets are at its far corners. Entrance is through this court. I’m not sure if it is always like this, but on my visit the courtyard was full of booksellers’ stalls. From here you circle around to a veranda. It is here that you remove your shoes. Also if you are dressed inappropriately (shorts or short skirts, bare shoulders) you can be loaned a shawl to wrap yourself in. Women should ensure that their heads are covered too.

Once inside you can see why it is nicknamed the Blue Mosque. The interior is clad with over 20,000 tiles. Not all of these are blue – in fact very few are just one uniform colour. But many have patterns, traceries, calligraphy or highlighting in various shades of blue. These are the work of the famous kilns of Iznik, which were pushed to absolute capacity to meet the demands of the sultan. The domes soar overhead. It is much easier to make out their details than in Aya Sofya. Partly this is due to the use of pale tiles rather than dark stone. And partly it is because there are over 200 windows in the mosque. This is not a sombre, austere place of worship to a glowering god, but a playful, elegant one instead. Furthermore, I found the overall atmosphere much more peaceful and reverant than in Aya Sofya, understandably so as this is still a working place of worship. Half the floor area is cordoned off to provide space for those who wish to pray. That, and the enforced removal of shoes, instills a certain mindset into visitors that is absent at Aya Sofya. A look around does not take long, but it is likely to be a blessed respite from the hubbub outside, an oasis of spiritual calm among the crowds and noise of Sultanahmet.

There is no entrance fee to visit, though at the exit there is a desk asking for donations – I gladly gave 10TL. There are also leaflets in a number of languages explaining the core tenets of Islam and striving to correct some of the more common misconceptions about the religion.
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From journal Holy of Holies

Don't It Make that Grey Mosque Blue?

by fizzytom

Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

August 2, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo The Blue Mosque was built in the seventeenth century on the orders of Sultan Ahmet I with the intention that it should rival the Hagia Sophia which stands opposite it. The image of these two fantastic buildings square up to each other is one of the ...Read more

From journal Istanbul - A Tale of Two Cities

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