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Adorning the beautiful skylines of Istanbul for decades, is the Sultanahmet mosque, commonly known as Blue mosque, a perfect example of Ottoman architecture. Both a place of worship and a major tourist destination, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul attracts millions of tourists yearly. Its six minarets and cascading grey domes, which face the Hippodrome in the heart of Old Istanbul, are two of the building's finest recognisable features, and the interior is equally phenomenal.
Visit this mosque, which can host 10,000 people at once and is the only one in Istanbul with six minarets, both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction. Read on to know more about the timings, attractions, highlights and ticket options available for your visit to the mosque.
As the Blue Mosque is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul, it can become difficult to book tickets without prior arrangements. Book your tickets online and enjoy a hassle-free experience while on your trip.
The Blue Mosque has an incredible ceiling. It is a favourite among those who love design, architecture, and travel thanks to the blue tiles and exquisite ceiling design. Over 20,000 tiles, all of which were created under the direction of the Iznik master potter, adorn the mosque's top levels and its ceiling.
At the southeast corner of the mosque, you will find the royal kiosk. It consists of a platform, a loggia, and two compact retreat rooms. It provides an entrance to the royal loge in the mosque's southeast upper gallery. It has its own mihrab, which once included a jade rose and gilt decorations as well as 100 Qurans on an inlaid and gilded lectern.
The mosque's upper levels are lined with more than 200 stained glass windows, each of which lets in a massive amount of natural light along with chandeliers. The sultan received the tinted glass for the windows as a present from the Signoria of Venice. Ostrich eggs, that were intended to ward off spiders within the mosque and prevent cobwebs are seen on the chandeliers.
The enormous tablets on the walls of Blue Mosque are etched with Quranic verses and the names of the caliphs. Despite numerous restorations, they were originally created by the renowned Diyarbakir calligrapher Seyyid Kasim Gubari in the 17th century.
With the exception of adding turrets to the corner domes, the façade of the large forecourt was constructed in the same way as the facade of the Süleymaniye Mosque. A continuous vaulted arcade surrounds the court, which is nearly the same size as the mosque (Revak). Both sides of it have restrooms.
Two mosques in Turkey have six minarets each, the first of which is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. At the corners of the Blue Mosque, four of these minarets are visible. While the two other minarets at the end of the forecourt only have two balconies each, these fluted, pencil-shaped minarets each have three (known as "erefe"), stalactite corbels.
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
A. The Blue Mosque Tickets can be purchased online in advance.
A. Yes. Blue Mosque tickets are available online.
A. The Blue mosque conducted tour options are available from €99.
A. Yes. If you book the Blue Mosque tickets online, you may avail of discounts and deals on your tickets.
A. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, which serves as a place of worship and a popular tourist attraction, is an iconic example of Ottoman architecture.
A. Though entry to the mosque is free, reserving your tickets can help you explore the mosque in peace.
A. Blue mosque is located at Sultan Ahmet, Istanbul, Turkey.
A. One of only five mosques in Turkey with six minarets, the Blue Mosque's design is the result of two centuries of Ottoman mosque building. More than 20,000 individually produced ceramic tiles in the Iznik style, including around fifty different tulip motifs, line the interiors of the mosque.
A. You can reach the mosque by bus, train, or even by metro or car.
A. The Blue Mosque is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. It will remain closed for tourists during prayer time every day.
A. Yes. Blue Mosque offers special wheelchair ramps for people with disabilities.
A. Yes. You can click the pictures of the mosque, however, without using the flash and respecting the privacy of the devotees.
A. Yes. Blue Mosque is a UNESCO-listed architectural marvel that is unique for several reasons. You can also lookup close at the minarets, stained glass windows, etc., which makes the mosque a wonder.