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Blue Mosque | Architectural Grandeur of Istanbul
Blue Mosque Istanbul Tours
This 8-hour journey begins at Hippodrome Square and ends at the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul's most famous attractions. Then go to the St. Sophia Museums, which holds one of the most beautiful Byzantine churches in the world. Continue to Topkapi Palace, the Great Ottoman Empire's imperial home and now a museum with a vast collection of porcelains and religious items. The tour concludes with a visit to Little Hagia Sofia and the Grand Bazaar, which offers a great range of luxurious handmade carpets, jewellery, and leather to souvenir shoppers. Throughout the tour, lunch will be provided at a local restaurant.
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This full-day tour of Istanbul brings you to some of the city's most historic sites. In Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is a magnificent Byzantine structure and one of the world's great monuments. Sultanahmet Mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles that ring the interior design walls. The Ottoman Empire's great sultans used the Topkapi Palace as their principal palace and administrative hub. The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a public arena in Sultanahmet/Istanbul where chariot races were held. The Grand Bazaar is the world's oldest covered bazaar, dating back to the 15th century.
The Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square, both UNESCO World Heritage monuments, will transport you back in time. As you tour Istanbul's centuries-old Byzantine and Ottoman legacy, learn about the city's rich history with your experienced guide. You will be able to visit Byzantine and Ottoman treasures as well as learn more about Istanbul's fascinating past with this ticket. You can also learn about the city's past and contemporary culture by visiting some of the city's most notable historical landmarks. It is possible to tour the Hippodrome, which includes two obelisks and the Serpentine Column.
The Blue Mosque Istanbul Tours, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace in Istanbul's Sultanahmet area are featured on this private, escorted day excursion. Admire these famous structures with your knowledgeable guide on your private cruise. On this full-day private tour, you'll see classic sites including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. You'll also learn about the underground Cistern, or Nakkas Cistern, as well as Ottoman architecture and museums at Topkapi Palace's museums and the Grand Bazaar, a shopping heaven.
A half-day tour of Istanbul will take you to the city's most important historical and cultural monuments. The Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar are all interesting places to visit. Entrance fees, as well as hotel pickup and drop-off, are included for your convenience. Admire the Byzantine splendour of Hagia Sophia and the tiles that give the 17th-century Blue Mosque its name in Istanbul, Turkey. The tour also includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar, a winding covered market where you can learn more about the Hippodrome's past.
You will be able to have the best ever local Istanbul experience with a professional certified tour guide if you purchase this ticket. You will see the city through a different lens after this trip, and you will not be the same person you were before. The day will begin with a visit to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet. Following that, you will go to Topkapi Palace. You will hear several histories of the Roman and Ottoman Empires. Following some free time for lunch, you will be transported on a Bosphorus trip to explore Istanbul from the water.
Also Checkout Dolmabahce Palace ticket price here.
History of Blue Mosque
Architecture of Blue Mosque
One main dome, six minarets, and eight minor domes make up the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. The mosque's design is the result of two centuries of Ottoman mosque construction. It is the final grand mosque of the classical period, combining Byzantine Christian elements from the surrounding Hagia Sophia with conventional Islamic design. Sedefkâr Mehmed Aa, the architect, combined his master Sinan's ideals, striving for overwhelming immensity, majesty, and splendor.
The Istanbul Blue Mosque interior is adorned with more than 20,000 handcrafted znik style ceramic tiles, created in Iznik (ancient Nicaea) in more than fifty various tulip designs, on the lower levels, and at every pier. Lower level tiles have a classic design, however, the gallery level tiles have a more flamboyant design with images of flowers, fruit, and cypresses. The Iznik master oversaw the production of the tiles. The sultan decreed the price to be paid for each tile, and tile prices, in general, climbed over time. As a result, the quality of the building's tiles gradually deteriorated.
Except for the addition of turrets on the corner domes, the facade of the vast forecourt was erected in the same fashion as the facade of the Süleymaniye Mosque. The court is almost the same size as the mosque and is encircled by a continuous arched arcade. On both sides, there are restrooms. In comparison to the courtyard, the central hexagonal fountain is modest. Architecturally, the arcade's enormous yet narrow gateway to the courtyard stands out.It has a remarkable stalactite structure and is crowned with a little ribbed dome above a towering semi-dome. Its historic primary school serves as a "Mosque Information Center," which is located next to its outside wall on the side of Hagia Sophia.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of two mosques in Turkey with six minarets, the other being the Sabanci Mosque in Adana. The Sultan was admonished for being haughty when the number of minarets was revealed, because it was the same as the number of minarets at Mecca's Kaaba mosque. He solved the problem by ordering the mosque in Mecca to build a seventh minaret. The Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey features four minarets on its four corners, each with three balconies with stalactite corbels, however, the two others at the forecourt's end only have two balconies.
Amazing Facts About Blue Mosque
Sultanahmet mosque is the name given to Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque. It is named after Sultan Ahmed I, who wished to construct a house of devotion following the tragic war events. The enormous structure and architecture of the Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey were in direct conflict with the other important house of worship, Hagia Sophia.
Sultan Ahmed began building the mosque when he was only 19 years old, but he died at the young age of 27 and was only able to witness and enjoy the architectural marvel for a year.
The famed Blue Mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of the magnificent tulip-patterned tiles used in the mosque's interior ornamentation.
The ancient mosque complex had the tombs of Sultan Ahmed I, his wife, and three sons, as well as an infirmary, madrasa, school, market, and imaret, but most of it was demolished in the 19th century.
The main entrance on the west side is significantly more imposing than the non-northern worshiper's entrance. To protect the mosque's blessedness and decorum, travelers are asked and assisted to utilize the north entrance for mobility.
Over 200 stained-glass windows were once a prominent attraction and a source of illumination for the mosque's interiors, but they were later replaced by less appealing copies.
During the summer, tourists can enjoy a light display with a historical tale.
Plan Your Visit To Blue Mosque Istanbul
Prayer Times at Blue Mosque- Imsak / Fajr: Two hours before dawn - Güneş /Tulu: Dawn - Ögle / Zuhr: Midday- Ikindi / Asr: Afternoon- Aksam / Maghrib: Sunset- Yatsi / Isha: Right before last light of the day.
Blue Mosque Istanbul Opening Timings - 08:30 AM - 11:30 PM- 13:00 PM - 14:30 PM- 15:30 PM - 16:45 PM
Location: The Blue Mosque, next to the Hagia Sophia, is perched on top of a hill in the Sultanahmet area. The six Blue Mosque minarets, along with the Hagia Sophia's towers, form the skyline of old Istanbul, which is bordered by the Bosphorus Strait.
Best Time to Visit: The best time for visiting blue mosque Istanbul would be in between the dawn and midday prayers (Tulu). Although you will most certainly have to queue for 20-30 minutes, this is preferable to the afternoon when crowds are at their peak. The Blue Mosque is closed until 2:30 p.m. on Fridays due to special Friday prayers.
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While visiting blue mosque Istanbul, plan around prayer hours, as the mosque will be closed to non-worshipers for 90 minutes during each prayer period.
Before entering the mosque, visitors must remove their shoes and place them in the free plastic bags supplied at the door.
All ladies must cover their heads and arms before entering the mosque, with the fabric covering the head and an equal quantity on both sides of the body.
Don’t put on shorts, three-quarter clothing, or any other form of body revealing clothing as they are not permitted to enter the mosque, and this rule applies to both men and women.
Make sure to avoid photographing people who are worshiping as the mosque is a place of worship, it is standard etiquette to be silent and not make any noise.
FAQ's of Blue Mosque
Where is the Blue Mosque in Turkey?
Blue Mosque is located in Sultan Ahmet, Istanbul.
When was the Blue Mosque built?
The Blue Mosque was constructed between 1609 and 1616 when Ahmed I was ruling Istanbul.
Why is the Blue Mosque so famous?
The Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is one of the best examples of Ottoman architecture, dominating Istanbul's skyline. This place is rich in history, culture, and wonderful architectural marvels that make it very famous among tourists.
Can you take pictures inside the Blue Mosque?
Yes, you can take pictures inside the Blue Mosque Istanbul but it is suggested not to point your camera at believers when they are ablutions outside the mosque or worshiping within the mosque.
Why is the Blue Mosque blue?
Blue Mosque is lined with over 20,000 handcrafted iznik tiles, a turquoise-colored ceramic with red flower designs, giving Istanbul a blue hue. Natural light pours in through the mosque's more than 200 stained-glass windows, making the top levels of the mosque blue as well.
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