Sultan Ahmet / Blue Mosque
Sultan Ahmet Mosque is the most famous mosque in Istanbul. Foreign tourists know the mosque as the Blue Mosque. The most important reason for this is that the interior of the mosque is furnished with 21043 Iznik tiles and has a deep blue appearance.
The mosque was built by Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, one of Mimar Sinan’s students in the 17th century, on the orders of Sultan Ahmet I, is located right across to Hagia Sophia. Sultan Ahmet Mosque has 16 balconies and these 16 balconies symbolize Sultan Ahmet I being the 16th ruler of the Ottoman Empire. The dome is 43 meters high and its diameter is 23.5 meters. When all these and the complex of the mosque come together, the Blue Mosque is one of the largest structures in Istanbul. Since the mosque is open for worship, it can be very crowded on Fridays and religious holidays. For this reason, when you go for a tour to see the mosque from an architectural point of view, you can prefer days that can be quieter.
Since it is very crowded on weekends, you can visit the building more comfortably by going on weekdays. When you come to Sultanahmet, you should definitely visit Hagia Sophia Mosque and Basilica Cistern too. Although renovations continue inside the mosque, important places are still open to visitors. It is useful to have a bag with you so that you do not carry your shoes when you enter the mosque. If you want to relax after your visit to the mosque, you can find benches in Sultanahmet Square where you can sit.