Crowning one of Istanbul’s seven hills, the Süleymaniye Mosque proudly presides over the Golden Horn. While popular, it’s not as crowded as some of Istanbul’s other landmarks – such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia – and you’ll be greeted with breathtaking views across the city.
Why is the Süleymaniye Mosque important?
Commissioned by Sultan Suleyman I – known as ‘the Magnificent’, or ‘the Lawgiver’ – the Süleymaniye Mosque was designed by one of the most famous architects of the Ottoman Empire, Sinan. It was built from 1550 to 1557, made of marble including architectural salvage from across the Empire (such as from Istanbul’s Hippodrome).
It’s an impressive building in a city filled with many – dominating part of the skyline thanks to its position on the Third Hill. With a monumental 53m high dome and a huge, spacious interior, it’s a breathtaking achievement of architecture, especially for a building nearly half a millennia old.
As well as its impressive main dome, the mosque has four minarets, apparently representing the fact that Suleyman the Magnificent was the fourth sultan to rule the city. Inside, its design is beautifully simplistic. A lot of the original paintwork was damaged over time and lost – so the lovely designs we see today decorating the dome were added later, designed by the prominent architects the Fossati brothers.
One of the interesting things about the Süleymaniye Mosque is that it was designed not just as a beautiful building, but also as a soundbox. The domes and the shape of the building designed by Sinan ensured that sound rolled perfectly around the mosque, spilling out into the courtyard. During the time of Suleyman, many were employed to keep the building filled with music.
The terrace, garden and tombs
The Süleymaniye Mosque is on top of one of Istanbul’s highest hills. And sure, this can be a drawback when you’re traipsing up towards it. But it also means that the terrace outside the mosque has incredible views – not just of the building itself, but over the Golden Horn and across the city. Standing there is an amazing experience – whichever way you turn, you’re met with beauty.
The mosque also has a pretty walled garden, where you’ll find two tombs: those of Suleyman and his wife Haseki Hurrem Sultan. Both feature breathtaking tilework.
Is the Süleymaniye Mosque worth visiting?
As you can tell from this blog, I’m a big fan of the Süleymaniye Mosque. In my opinion, it’s well worth a visit. It’s free to enter, and easily accessible from the Grand Bazaar. It’s also much less crowded than other sights, such as the Blue Mosque.
That being said, if you’re only going to visit one imperial mosque in your time in Istanbul, in my opinion the Blue Mosque is the more impressive of the two – it really is one of the most beautiful buildings you’ll see anywhere. Read my guide of it here.
How long to spend at the Süleymaniye Mosque?
I’d suggest that 20-30 minutes is plenty of time to marvel at the building (inside and outside), enjoy the views, and take a look in the tombs.
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