Blue Mosque visiting hours at a glance
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, is still a working place of worship. Visitors come in between the prayers, in a separate visitor area. Sightseeing always comes second to prayer, so the hours below are a frame and not a fixed timetable.
The visiting window changes with the season. In summer it runs from 08:30 to 19:00, in winter from 08:30 to 17:00. Visits are possible on every day of the week, but with breaks. The last entry is 30 minutes before the end of the window, which works out at 18:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter.
Friday is the exception. Visitors are let in only from 14:30, because the morning is used for cleaning and for preparing the Friday prayer. People who come to pray can enter during that time.
Opening hours by season and day
Visitor hours in 2026. The prayer closures come on top of these windows.
| Period | Visitor window | Last entry | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer, 1 April to 30 September | 08:30–19:00 | 18:30 | Closed to visitors around midday and afternoon prayer |
| Winter, 1 October to 31 March | 08:30–17:00 | 16:30 | Closed to visitors around midday and afternoon prayer |
| Fridays, all year | From 14:30 | 30 minutes before the end of the window | Mornings are for cleaning and Friday prayer preparation |
| For worshippers | Morning call to prayer until after the night prayer | – | Not a sightseeing window |
For most visitors the simplest plan is a weekday before the midday break or a late afternoon visit in summer. If you travel in winter, the day is short, so aim for the morning. Add an old city walk afterwards, for example one of the Istanbul old city tours that pass the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar.
Our pick: a one-hour visit
A one-hour guided visit is short enough to fit between the closures at prayer times.
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.
Blue Mosque and old city tours
Guided walks through Sultanahmet, some with a short visit inside the mosque. Check the meeting point and what each tour includes, and plan around the prayer breaks.
How the prayer closures work
Prayer times in Istanbul are calculated every day, so they move through the year. That is why this page gives you the principle and not a list of clock times. Check the current prayer timetable for Istanbul before you go, then work out your visit around it.
- Midday and afternoon prayer: the mosque is closed to visitors from 30 minutes before the call to prayer until 15 minutes after the prayer ends. Note that this is after the end of the prayer, not after the call.
- Friday: the midday prayer is the main weekly prayer. Visitors enter only from 14:30, so Friday is the shortest day for sightseeing.
- Other prayers: a prayer timetable has six entries, including sunrise. Sunrise (Güneş) is a time marker, not a prayer, and not a reason for a separate closure.
- Worshippers: the mosque opens for prayer with the morning call and closes after the night prayer. This longer window is for those who come to pray, not for tourists.
Details such as the length of the break around prayer or the Friday start can vary. Use the windows above as the frame, arrive well inside them and follow the instructions of the staff at the entrance.
Plan your visit around the breaks
Four simple rules that save you a wasted walk.
Arrive early or late
The queue is usually shorter early in the morning or later in the afternoon, and midday is the busiest time. Details are on the entrance page.
Allow time for the break
The closure around midday and afternoon prayer can add up to about an hour or more. If you are in the queue when it starts, you will wait outside.
Dress for the courtyard too
Covered shoulders and knees apply before you enter the courtyard, not only inside. See the dress code page.
Keep a Plan B
If the mosque is closed when you arrive, the Hippodrome, the Arasta bazaar and Hagia Sophia are within a short walk. The Hippodrome is an open square, and Hagia Sophia opening hours are covered in our sister guide.
Getting to the entrance on time
The tram stop is the closest public transport.
The nearest public transport point is the Sultanahmet stop on tram line T1, which runs between Bağcılar and Kabataş. The address of the mosque is At Meydanı No. 7, 34122 Sultanahmet, Fatih, Istanbul. The Blue Mosque has no car park of its own, so plan to arrive by tram or on foot. More options are on the getting there page.
In summer the day is longer, but the afternoon prayer still cuts the window in two. If you have a fixed time, such as a tour start or a ferry, plan the mosque for the morning and keep the afternoon for the bazaar or the baths.
Blue Mosque visiting hours: frequently asked questions
What time does the Blue Mosque open for visitors?
At 08:30 on most days, in summer and in winter. On Fridays visitors are admitted only from 14:30. The mosque closes to visitors at 19:00 in summer (1 April to 30 September) and at 17:00 in winter (1 October to 31 March).
When is the last entry?
Entry stops 30 minutes before the end of the window, so at 18:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter. A prayer break can stop entry earlier, so do not arrive at the last minute.
Is the Blue Mosque closed on Fridays?
No, but visitors can enter only from 14:30. The morning is used to clean the mosque and prepare the Friday prayer. If you can choose, visit on another day.
Can I enter during prayer?
Visitors do not enter during the midday and afternoon prayers. The mosque is closed to sightseeing from 30 minutes before the call until 15 minutes after the prayer ends. The prayer itself is for worshippers.
Do the hours change in Ramadan or on holidays?
Check the situation on the day, because hours can differ around holidays. In 2027 Ramadan starts on 8 February and the festival days follow on 9 to 11 March. The Feast of the Sacrifice is on 16 to 19 May 2027. Expect a busier mosque and a different rhythm on those days.
Is this site the official Blue Mosque website?
No. This is an independent travel guide and is not connected to the mosque, the Presidency of Religious Affairs or any ministry. For the day-to-day schedule, follow the instructions at the entrance.