BLUE MOSQUE (Istanbul) Opening Hours [Updated 2025]

Where domes cascade like a stone waterfall into the sky, the Blue Mosque stands not only as a marvel of Ottoman architecture — but as Istanbul’s most visited place of prayer. With six minarets piercing the skyline and over 20,000 İznik tiles glowing in shades of blue, this 400-year-old mosque radiates both serenity and grandeur.

Built during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I, it sits just across from Hagia Sophia, forming one of the most iconic silhouettes in the city. Whether you’re drawn by history, art, or faith — the Blue Mosque offers a glimpse into the heart of the Ottoman soul.

As a licensed tour guide who has led thousands through these courtyards, I created this blog to help travelers like you experience Istanbul with real context — not just what to see, but how to feel it. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting the Blue Mosque in 2025, from dress code and opening hours to hidden stories etched in tile and stone.

Table of Contents

Toggle

📌 Blue Mosque 2025 Visitor Summary

A quick guide to visiting the Blue Mosque in 2025 — entrance rules, prayer times, dress code, and guided tours!

🏷️ Entrance Fee: Free for all visitors
⏰ Opening Hours: 08:30 – 18:45 (Closed during prayers)
🙏 Prayer Closures: Twice daily (see exact hours below)
🌞 Best Time to Visit: 08:30 – 12:15 in the morning
🧕 Dress Code: Men should wear long shorts; women should bring a scarf
🎧 Guided Tours: Highly recommended. Book your tour here
📍 Location: Sultanahmet, Istanbul
📅 Last Updated: August 2025

Insider’s Note: If you arrive at the Blue Mosque between 8:30 and 10:00 AM, you’ll likely avoid the crowds. Most big tour groups tend to arrive later, so you’ll have a rare window to admire the blue tiles, take photos at your own pace, and enjoy the serene beauty of the mosque without rubbing shoulders with dozens of visitors. If you forgot to bring a headscarf, don’t worry — you can borrow one from the small booth at the entrance.

History of The Blue Mosque

The history of the Blue Mosque goes back 400 years. Built between 1609 and 1616, the mosque is one of the most beautiful works of classical architecture of the Ottoman Empire. It was built by Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, a student of Mimar Sinan, the most important architect in Ottoman history.

The Blue Mosque stands out as one of the last representatives of Classical Ottoman architecture. Built in the 1600s, the mosque bears the traces of traditional Turkish-Ottoman architecture. This architectural style, which started in Bursa, the first capital in Ottoman history, and matured in Edirne, reached its peak after the conquest of Istanbul.

In the 1700s, we see the effects of Westernization in Ottoman architecture. Influenced by the Neo-Classical and Baroque movements in Europe, the Ottomans started to build European style palaces and mosques. This process started with Nuruosmaniye Mosque and accelerated with Dolmabahce and Ortakoy Mosques in the 1800s.

Insider’s Note: The courtyard of the Blue Mosque is the best place to capture its iconic cascading domes — just like in the photo above. With its layered silhouette and dramatic angles, it’s one of the most photogenic mosques in Istanbul. In fact, many drone photographers choose this spot because the mosque looks stunning with the Bosphorus glimmering behind it.

Blue Mosque Architecture

The architecture of the Blue Mosque was designed by the palace architect Sedefkar Mehmed Agha. Mehmed Agha supported the central dome of the Blue Mosque with four half domes and many quarter domes. The elegance of these domes gives an exquisite look from the outside. Domes descending from the central dome towards the walls are very aesthetic.

Sedefkar Mehmed Aga, who grew up next to Mimar Sinan, the most famous architect in Ottoman history, took the art of his teacher as an example. While building the Blue Mosque, he was inspired by the Sehzade Mosque (also known as Prince Mosque), one of Sinan’s works and added his own interpretation on it.

The Blue Mosque has six minarets unlike other Ottoman mosques in Istanbul. The number of minarets, usually 2 or 4, was increased to six here. Sultan Ahmed I wanted to build a structure that could compete with Hagia Sophia, which was originally a church, and increased the grandeur of the Blue Mosque.

🕌 Want to explore the Blue Mosque with a guide?

Join a small group tour with a local expert and discover the stories behind the tiles, domes, and courtyards of this stunning 17th-century mosque — without missing a thing.

👉 Book your guided tour here

Interior of the Blue Mosque

The most striking architectural feature of the Blue Mosque is the giant columns inside the mosque. These columns are placed to support the central dome is called “Elephant Legs”.

In order to make these giant columns look beautiful to the eye, they are covered with marbles and decorated with pencil works. Decoration starts from the top of the columns and extends to the dome through arches and gives a sense of integrity.

The interior of the Blue mosque was extended to the sides and gained depth thanks to the half and quarter domes. When viewed from the outside, these half-domes that descend from the top give the mosque a unique appearance.

Despite all this majesty, the Blue Mosque is not the largest Ottoman mosque in Istanbul. It is smaller than the Suleymaniye Mosque built by Mimar Sinan. However, it’s the most visited mosque due to its central location.

Blue Mosque Opening Hours 2025

In 2025, the Blue Mosque is open to visitors daily between 08:30 AM and 6:45 PM, except during prayer times. For exact time slots and the best hours to visit, please check the visiting hours chart shared in the box below. This information was last updated on August 21, 2025.

🕍 Planning your visit to the Blue Mosque?

As of August 21, 2025, tourists are welcome during these time windows:

⏰ 08:30 – 12:15   |   14:00 – 16:45   |   17:45 – 18:45

🙏 Outside of these hours, the mosque is closed for prayer and not accessible to tourists.

✨ Plan ahead and enjoy your visit at the best possible time!

There is a prayer times chart posted in the courtyard of the Blue Mosque. However, if you want to check the schedule before your visit, you can also see the current prayer times on the official website. Please note that the mosque closes one hour before each prayer and reopens about 30 minutes after the prayer ends.

Insider’s Note: Visiting hours at the Blue Mosque change depending on the season and the length of the day. There can be a big difference between summer and winter hours — and even a few minutes of variation from week to week. That’s why the best approach is to check the official prayer times linked above and calculate the visitor hours using the simple formula I shared. Even if the info panel above becomes outdated, you’ll still have a reliable way to plan your visit.

The best time to visit is in the morning, just after opening. If you arrive around 08:30 AM, you’ll likely enjoy a peaceful visit before the crowds arrive. Based on the daily prayer schedule, the most convenient visiting window is usually between 08:30 and 12:15.

🕌 Blue Mosque Guided Tour Options

The Blue Mosque is free to enter, but exploring it with a guide makes a huge difference. Learn about the history, tiles, and hidden stories of this majestic mosque — without getting lost in the crowd. Here are two great options below:

🧭 Blue Mosque Guided Tour Only 🕌 Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia Tour

Small groups • Licensed guides • No pressure to rush • Top-rated experiences

Blue Mosque Entrance Fee 2025

There is no entrance fee to visit the Blue Mosque in Istanbul in 2025. Like all mosques in Turkey, access is free of charge for both tourists and worshippers. However, voluntary donations are welcomed. If you wish, you can leave a small donation at the designated kiosk near the mosque exit. This information was last updated on August 21, 2025.

Dress Code of the Blue Mosque

There is a dress code when visiting the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. It is better to bring a scarf with you as women are required to cover their heads. However, even if you would forget, it is not a big problem. Because you can borrow scarves from the kiosk in the courtyard of the mosque.

Women can borrow scarves and skirts at the entrance of the mosque. Likewise, men wearing shorts are given a piece of cloth to wrap around their waist. You can return them to the kiosk after use and walk around in your summer clothes for the rest of your day.

How to Get to the Blue Mosque?

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, stands proudly at the very heart of Istanbul’s Old City — facing Hagia Sophia across a tree-lined plaza and surrounded by gardens, fountains, and centuries of layered history. With its cascading domes and six slender minarets, it’s one of the most photographed silhouettes on the Istanbul skyline — and finding it is as easy as following the crowd of mesmerized visitors in Sultanahmet Square.

If you’re already in the Sultanahmet area, you’re practically there. The square is entirely pedestrian-friendly, and the mosque’s courtyard is often filled with people taking photos or waiting for the next visiting window. Just walk toward the grand stone gate flanked by fountains and trees — beyond it, the iconic domes of the Blue Mosque will welcome you with quiet majesty.

Coming from Taksim Square? It’s a simple and scenic route:

• First, take the F1 Funicular from Taksim to Kabataş.
• At Kabataş, transfer to Tram T1 (direction: Bağcılar) and ride until the Sultanahmet stop — about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Once you exit the tram, you’ll find yourself just steps away from the historic core. Walk past Hagia Sophia (which will appear straight ahead), and just across the square, you’ll see the domes and courtyard of the Blue Mosque to your right.

The journey itself is part of the experience — whether you’re arriving by tram, strolling through the gardens, or stepping through the gates from the plaza, the path to the Blue Mosque immerses you in the rhythm of Istanbul’s living history. From street vendors to call to prayer, and pigeons flitting over the fountains, every detail leads you into one of the most soul-stirring places in the city.

Things to Do around Blue Mosque

There are many things to do around the Blue Mosque. After leaving the mosque, you can explore the centuries-old bazaars, visit interesting museums and even enjoy a Turkish bath in a historical hammam.

1. Arasta Bazaaar

Arasta Bazaar is almost similar to the other two famous bazaars of the city, Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. However, it is an open market with spacious streets. You can easily reach the bazaar from the courtyard of the mosque.

When a mosque was built in the Ottoman period, a bazaar was built right next to it. The maintenance costs of the mosque were covered by the rent collected from the shops in this bazaar. Arasta Bazaar is a place that keeps this tradition alive.

Inside the Arasta Bazaar is the Great Palace Mosaics Museum, one of the lesser known museums of Istanbul. Floor mosaics from the Great Palace of the Roman emperors can be seen in this museum.

2. Hippodrome

Hippodrome is one of the rare historical monuments from the Roman period in Istanbul. The Hippodrome was built by Emperor Constantine when Istanbul was declared the capital of the Roman Empire.

During the Byzantine period, chariot races were held here. The Hippodrome, the most important activity center of the city, was also a place where great rebellions started. Today, obelisks from that period can still be seen in the Sultanahmet Square (former Hippodrome).

3. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is actually a palace from the Ottoman period and is located very close to the mosque. The historical artifacts you will see in this museum complete your experience in the mosque.

Turkish and Islamic Art Museums have Turkish carpets from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. In addition, historical artifacts from the Caliphate period can be seen. There are also centuries-old handwritten Qurans.

4. Sultanahmet Park

Sultanahmet Park is right in the middle of the historical monuments in the district. Thanks to this park, you can take magnificent Instagram photos by taking historical monuments such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia behind you.

Basilica Cistern, one of the most mysterious museums of Istanbul, is located in the immediate vicinity of the park. Some scenes of the movie Inferno, based on Dan Brown’s novel, were shot here.

5. Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hammam

Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hammam is located in the large park between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Dating to the 16th century, the hamam was built by Hurrem Sultan, the wife of Sultan Suleiman.

After visiting the surrounding historical monuments, you can enjoy a Turkish bath in this hamam. Having a massage and scrub in the hammam will make you feel refreshed.

Conclusion

Visiting the Blue Mosque isn’t just about admiring its elegant domes or taking the perfect photo under its towering minarets — it’s about stepping into a space where faith, architecture, and history have danced together for centuries.

While it may not be the largest mosque in Istanbul — that title belongs to the majestic Suleymaniye Mosque — Sultanahmet Camii holds a unique place at the very heart of the city, both geographically and spiritually.

Built in a tighter space, the Blue Mosque lacks the vast complex of buildings that surround Suleymaniye. Yet what it offers is something just as powerful: a serene atmosphere, world-famous design, and an unforgettable presence on Istanbul’s skyline.

If you truly want to understand what makes this mosque so special, consider visiting with a licensed guide. Stories hidden in its tiles, domes, and history come alive when told with insight and passion.

Written by Serhat Engul