The Blue Mosque in a nutshell
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish) is better known as the Blue Mosque. It stands in Sultanahmet, on the historic peninsula of Istanbul, at At Meydanı No. 7, 34122 Fatih. Sultan Ahmed I commissioned it, and the architect was Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa. Since 1985 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Historic Areas of Istanbul.
The mosque is still a place of prayer. Visitors use a separate area, and a visit fits in between the prayers. Entry is free in 2026, there is no ticket to buy and no reservation for a normal visit. The dress code applies from the courtyard on: shoulders and knees covered, hair covered for women, shoes off at the carpet.
The easiest way there is the tram. The Sultanahmet stop on line T1, between Bağcılar and Kabataş, is the closest public transport point. The mosque has no car park of its own.
What this guide covers
This guide is for planning a visit to the Blue Mosque and the old city around it. It explains the visiting hours and prayer closures, the free entry, the dress code and what to see inside, then widens to the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque, a historic Turkish bath and a whirling dervish ceremony. It also covers getting there and the best time to visit.
For Hagia Sophia, which is nearby, see our sister guide to Hagia Sophia. The same guide covers Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern, so this site can stay with the mosque and its surroundings. The tours below include old city walks, some with a short visit inside the mosque.
Our picks: Blue Mosque tours
For a first visit, the small-group tour spares you buying a Hagia Sophia ticket separately, and the three-mosque walk adds the Süleymaniye. The Sultanahmet walk is the short option, the bazaar tour suits an afternoon, and the 15th-century hamam is for afterwards.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque with entry tickets
- Preferred-access entry tickets
- Expert guide
Hagia Sophia admission needs no separate purchase. The group stays small.
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15th-century hamam with private options
- Hamam admission
- Scrub and foam ritual
- Clay mask
Choose a public, semi-private or private bath. The 30-minute massage is only included if you select it.
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Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Süleymaniye tour
- Licensed English or Turkish guide
- Hagia Sophia fast-track option
Four hours covering all three buildings. Hagia Sophia admission is extra unless you choose the option that includes it.
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Grand Bazaar rooftops and hidden passages
- Rooftop terrace access
- Local tips and food suggestions
- Turkish tea
A guided walk through the covered bazaar that also goes up to the rooftops and into the side passages.
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Sultanahmet walk with the Hippodrome
- Professional guide
- Blue Mosque visit
- Sultanahmet Square
Two hours on foot that also take in the Hippodrome. Museum entries and the Topkapi Harem are paid separately.
Check availability →Istanbul old city tours with the Blue Mosque
Guided walks through Sultanahmet, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, with live prices and availability. Entry to the mosque is free, so compare the guide, the length and what is included.
Plan your visit
The practical pages, in the order you will need them.
Visiting hours
Summer and winter windows, prayer closures and the Friday start.
Entrance fee
Free entry, no reservation and how the queue behaves.
What to wear
Covered shoulders and knees, head scarves and shoes off.
Inside the Blue Mosque
Iznik tiles, the domes and the prayer hall.
How to get there
Tram T1, airports, ferries and the lack of parking.
Best time to visit
Monthly weather, Ramadan 2027 and the feast days.
The building, the square and the old city
The story of the mosque and the places within walking distance.
Domes and six minarets
The plan, the dome and the minarets of the mosque.
History of the Blue Mosque
Sultan Ahmed I, the building years and the 2023 reopening.
Old city tours
Walks through Sultanahmet, compared by length and route.
The Hippodrome
The obelisks, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain.
Grand Bazaar
Hours, streets and what to expect inside.
Süleymaniye Mosque
Another great Istanbul mosque, with views and tombs.
Baths and ceremonies
Two experiences that many visitors add to a day in the old city.
One day in the old city
A simple order that works with the prayer breaks.
Morning: the mosque
Arrive soon after 08:30 on any day except Friday, when visitors enter from 14:30. Entry is free, and the queue is usually shorter early. Dress for the courtyard, with shoulders and knees covered.
Midday: the Hippodrome and a break
When the mosque closes around the midday prayer, walk across the Hippodrome. The Egyptian obelisk stands in the open and can be visited free of charge.
Afternoon: the Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is open from 08:30 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and religious holidays. Walking in costs nothing.
Evening: a ceremony or a bath
A Sema ceremony or a historic hamam suits the evening. Both are best planned ahead, so read the pages on whirling dervishes and the Turkish bath first.
A few things to know before you go
Short facts that save time on the day.
Entry is free
A normal visit needs no ticket and no reservation. A guided tour is a separate service with its own price and is not an entrance fee. Details are on the entrance page.
Visits happen between the prayers
The visitor window is 08:30 to 19:00 from 1 April to 30 September and 08:30 to 17:00 from 1 October to 31 March, with a break around the midday and afternoon prayers. On Fridays visitors enter from 14:30.
The restoration is finished
The mosque reopened on 21 April 2023 after its restoration. It is open to visitors in the usual way.
Transport prices changed in 2026
The regular electronic fare on Istanbul buses and urban rail is TRY 46.20 from July 2026. The airport bus line to Sultanahmet runs again since May 2026, at TRY 470.
Two names, one mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Blue Mosque are the same building. The common name comes from the blue tiles inside.
More independent guides to Istanbul
Separate guides from the same team.
Blue Mosque: frequently asked questions
Is the Blue Mosque the same as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque?
Yes. Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the formal name, after Sultan Ahmed I, and Blue Mosque is the common name, which refers to the blue tiles inside. In Turkish it is Sultanahmet Camii.
Is it free to enter the Blue Mosque?
Yes, a visit is free in 2026. There is no ticket and no reservation for a normal visit. Donations are voluntary. See the entrance page.
When can I visit?
Between the prayers. The window is 08:30 to 19:00 in summer and 08:30 to 17:00 in winter, and on Fridays visitors enter from 14:30. Prayer times change daily, so check the current timetable for Istanbul. More on the visiting hours page.
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and for women also the hair. Shoes come off before the carpet. The rule applies in the courtyard as well. See the dress code page.
How do I get to the Blue Mosque?
Take tram T1 to the Sultanahmet stop, the closest public transport point. The mosque has no car park of its own. The getting there page covers the airports and ferries.
Is this the official Blue Mosque website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the mosque, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, a ministry or a tour operator.