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Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

The Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or "Sultanahmet Camii" in Turkish) is a large mosque located very close to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the mosque is still active, the mosque is closed for one hour at a time for prayers five times during the day. At all other times, a portion of the mosque is open to tourists.

If you arrive at the mosque during prayer time, you can go check out the Arasta Bazaar - it's located very close by, and is a fun way to take up some time.

The mosque broadcasts its call to prayer five times during the day. Since there are lots of other mosques in the area, the "prayer songs" often overlap to create a very unique type of music. It's quite neat to sit and listen to outside the mosque.

The Blue Mosque is quite beautiful. The pillars inside are very large, as is the overhead dome. The walls and ceilings are covered with intricate designs.

Dress

Inside the Blue Mosque

Visitors are encouraged to dress respectfully. Women are encouraged to wear a headscarf, although I didn't see anyone enforcing that rule. Since this is a mosque, visitors are required to remove their shoes.

Cost

Entrance to the mosque is free. Visitors are permitted to take pictures and videos inside. Donations are accepted.

Estimated Visiting Time

The walls and ceiling of the Blue Mosque

Besides admiring the architecture and decorations of the Blue Mosque, there isn't really anything to see inside. 15-20 minutes is probably a good amount of time for most visitors to look around and take some pictures.