The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque — officially Sultan Ahmed Camii — is one of those places that genuinely earns its reputation. Built between 1609 and 1616, it dominates the Sultanahmet skyline with six minarets and a cascade of domes that seem to multiply the closer you get.

Step inside and the scale hits you immediately: the interior soars overhead, washed in cool blue light filtering through more than 200 stained-glass windows and reflecting off tens of thousands of hand-painted Iznik tiles. It is, without question, one of the most beautiful interiors in the world.

Getting in is straightforward but requires patience. The mosque is still an active place of worship, so entry is free but timed around the five daily prayer sessions — the site closes to tourists for around 90 minutes each time. Queues can be long between 10am and 3pm, particularly in summer when tour groups arrive in waves.

Coming early morning or late afternoon tends to be far quieter, and the light at those hours is particularly good for photographs.

Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered for everyone, and women will need a headscarf, which you can borrow at the entrance for free. Shoes come off before you enter, so slip-ons make life easier. Watch out for touts around the entrance offering "free tours" that inevitably lead to carpet shops.

The mosque sits directly across from Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet, making it easy to combine both in a single morning. Tram line T1 stops at Sultanahmet station, a two-minute walk away. Avoid visiting on a Friday midday when Friday prayers draw the largest local crowds and tourist access is restricted for longer than usual.