The Beauty of the Blue Mosque: History, Architecture, and Visit Tips

The Blue Mosque is one of the world’s great buildings. With its staggering size and almost indescribable beauty, it’s one of the best examples of Ottoman classical architecture. Here I’ll outline its history, what makes it so special, and how and why to visit.

What is the Blue Mosque?

The Blue Mosque is a large imperial mosque in central Istanbul, famous for its size and its beauty. Its officially called the Sultan Ahmet Mosque but is most commonly known as the Blue Mosque because of its interior, which is decorated with thousands of blue Iznik tiles. Listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site, it’s one of the most iconic examples of Ottoman architecture.

History of the Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque was built during the early 1600s, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I. Although it’s a clear expression of Ottoman wealth and power, the mosque was actually built during a difficult period for the Empire. Sultan Ahmet I had faced military defeats, and the empire’s citizens were demoralised and facing famine and drought. Fearing for his legacy, the Sultan wanted to deliver an architectural masterpiece.

He chose a very significant location, facing off and rivalling the Hagia Sophia and, with the Hagia Sophia, dominating much of the city’s skyline. It was also built on the site that made up part of the Roman Hippodrome, and even used some of the architectural salvage from the Hippodrome in its construction. On top of this, the Blue Mosque had to be built over the top of a few palaces owned by Ottoman ministers.

All of this meant that the mosque was very expensive. And without any war booty to fund the project, he had to withdraw money from the treasury. It was very controversial. Nethertheless, the Sultan pushed ahead and the Blue Mosque opened in 1617 – the same year Sultan Ahmet I died. So beautiful was the building that it won the public over. It quickly became one of the most popular mosques in the city.

The Blue Mosque was built during the period known as the Ottoman classical period of architecture – the golden age of architecture in the city. It’s arguably the period’s crowning achievement. It was designed by Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, apprentice to Mimar Sinan – the Ottoman Empire’s most celebrated architect.

What makes the Blue Mosque so important?

Honestly, the main thing that makes the Blue Mosque so special is its beauty. From the outside it has an impressive courtyard, the same size as the mosque itself. From here you can take in the majesty of the building. From its huge central dome (43m high), a series of domes and semi domes cascade down. 

Inside is even more beautiful. More than 20,000 handmade blue Iznik tiles decorate the walls, giving the mosque its popular name. Iznik tiles are a style of ceramic tile mostly produced in a town of the same name that were popular at the time. In the Blue Mosque, more than 50 designs are featured across the tens of thousands of tiles – and the effect is truly stunning. Above the tile work, the walls are covered in painted motifs and calligraphy.

Adding to the beauty are the more than 200 stained glass windows, allowing light to flood into the huge prayer space. Just look at the photo below.

The Blue Mosque is also notable for having six minarets. At the time, only the mosque of the Ka’aba in Mecca had this many. Legend has it that this came from a misunderstanding: the Sultan asked for gold minarets (altin minareler) and the architect heard ‘six minarets’ (alti minare). Criticised for this, the Sultan ordered a seventh minaret to be added to the Mecca mosque. 

Is the Blue Mosque worth visiting?

Without a doubt, if you’re in Istanbul (and honestly, no matter for how long) the Blue Mosque is worth a visit. It’s one of the world’s beautiful buildings, free to visit, and smack bang in the centre of the most touristic area of the city. Don’t miss it.

How long do you need to visit the Blue Mosque?

About 20-30 minutes is plenty of time to explore the interior of the Blue Mosque. However, I’d advise leaving plenty of time, in case the queues are long. 

How to visit the Blue Mosque?

As well as being one of Istanbul’s most popular tourist destinations, the Blue Mosque is a full functioning mosque. This means it is closed to tourists during prayer times. The opening hours are usually displayed outside the mosque.

At busy times there can be a long queue, so give yourself plenty of time. And make sure to dress respectfully. Shawls are available at the entrance, if needed.

The mosque is on Sultanahmet Square, right in the heart of the old city. It’s a very short walk from Sultanahmet tram stop. The mosque is also close to many of the city’s other key sights – including Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern. 

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