A popular tourist site, sits next to the Hagia Sophia, and continues to function as a mosque today. The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes with traditional Ottoman architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.
! Open every day and free to all visitors. However, tourists cannot visit during the five prayer times. Prayer times are pegged to sunrise and sunset and therefore change throughout the year. Check current prayer times and avoid visiting 45 minutes before and 30 minutes after each prayer.
! Dress-code for Blue Mosque is modest, conservative clothing. When visiting the Blue Mosque (or any other mosques) modest, conservative clothing which exposes a minimum of flesh is good. No shorts or sleeveless shirts on either men or women. Women cover over head with scarf or shawl.
! Handheld cameras of all types are allowed. No tripods.
