The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. A functioning mosque, it also attracts large numbers of tourist visitors. It was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I.

Why is the Blue Mosque so famous?

The Blue Mosque today is a tourist hotspot because of its tradition and importance to the history of the Ottoman Empire and the city of Istanbul. Many people continue to go there not only to embrace its architectural beauty, but also to participate in daily prayer services that still occur in the mosque.

History and construction of Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

The mosque enjoyed a special place with Sultan Ahmed I, as it was the greatest achievement during his reign, and the mosque was opened for worship in 1617 AD. The architect, Sadaf Kar Muhammad Agha, designed the structure of the first mosque with six domes, and the interior of the mosque was decorated with more than 21,000 ceramic pieces of fifty different types that were brought from Iznik and Kutahya, predominantly white and blue. And since the visitors’ vision of the mosque over the years has been associated with the color blue, the mosque has become called the “Blue Mosque”.

Entrance & Tickets to Blue Mosque

Entrance: Blue Mosque is open to visitors every day. Note that the Blue Mosque is an active place of worship, so it can only be visited outside of prayer times. You may not be allowed entry 30 minutes prior to prayer times and not until the afternoon on Friday’s prayer.
Tickets: Entrance to the Blue Mosque is free of charge.