One of the few surviving mosques from before 1500, it was built by Mehmet Aga in 1465 during the…read morerule of Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer. Renovated in 1491, 1735, and 1953. Good view of the Hagia Sofia from jist outside, its near the Cisterns and a tram station.

Built in 1585, this mosque is notably friendly and inviting. It honors Kazasker Ivaz Efendi, on of…read morethe highest ranking military judges in the Ottoman Empire. At one time it sat on a terrace of the sprawling Blachernae Palace, a gargantuan imperial Byzantine residence dating back to around 500CE that stretched all the way to the Golden Horn, later razed by the Ottomans. The courtyard cemetery has some beautiful Arabic calligraphy and turbans carved into stone. The interior of the mosque is lovely.

Not far from the Blue Mosque, on the way back to the Obelisk hotel is this little gem The Vilayet…read moreMosque, originally constructed in the 15th century, is a bit of a mishmash or fusion of styles as a result of restoration and rebuilding. The current structure dates back to 1869, so new by Istanbul standards. This version of the mosque reflects the architectural styles of the 19th century, particularly those influenced by the era's blend of Ottoman and Western design elements. The name "Vilayet" (meaning "province" in Turkish) is derived from the mosque's historical ties to the Sublime Porte, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Situated close to this powerful institution, the mosque served not only as a place of worship for the local community but also as a spiritual haven for the government officials and bureaucrats who worked at the heart of the empire's political structure.

An stunning looking Mosque in Uskadar. Located in close proximity to the ferry terminal, it was…read morebuilt in the mid 1500s While we were there you could easily hear the call to prayer. As these are active places of worship we did not want to disturb the prayers and simply viewed it from the street. On the far side of the mosque there is a steep stair case leading along the wall. In addition to a small entrance there is also a small cemetery with old headstones. It also was a great spot to catch the setting sun

A beautiful peace of art built close to the pier of Üsküdar, that's why it's also called 'Iskele…read moreCamii'.. It's one of Üsküdar's best known landmarks.. The mosque was built by the daughter of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, Mihrimah Sultan.. The mosque was designed by the very famous architect Mimar Sinan.. The mosque was built between 1546 and 1548.. Mihr-i Mah means Sun and Moon..

Walking around Sarachane Park you'll encounter a most magnificent Ottoman Mosque and complex. The…read moreSehzade Cami located in the Fatih district, on the third hill of Istanbul. Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned the mosque to commemorate his favorite son Şehzade Mehmed, who died aged only 21. It is sometimes referred to as the 'Prince's Mosque'. Mehmed was the eldest of Sulayman's sons by his wife Hurrem, more commonly known as Roxelana. He was probably murdered, one of the oldest cold case files in history. The complex consists of the mausoleum of Prince Mehmed, two madrasahs, a public kitchen and a caravansarai. The prince's only daughter Hümaşah and his youngest brother Cihangir are also buried here. The Sehzade Mosque was the architect Sinan's first major imperial commission. He completed it in 1548 CE and is an amazing freshman effort. There's an especially nice courtyard and you can meet some nice cats here.

Known as "The Prince's Mosque" this central Mosque in Fatih pays homage to Şehzade Mehmed, son of…read moreSuleiman the Magnificent. Popular for prayer, but less frequented by tourists than others, the grounds are beautifully maintained and tranquil while signage in English allows visitors to learn the story. Heavy in marble with pink tones the complex also contains the mausoleum of Prince Mehmet.

The Grand Çamlıca Mosque is the largest mosque in Turkey, opened in 2019. It's located in the Asian…read moreside of Istanbul on Çamlıca Hill. It's easy to get there with public transportation. If you're driving, there is an underground parking lot that can hold 3500 cars! The mosque includes a museum, art gallery, library, educational center, conference hall, and even childcare. You can see how the great Ottoman architect Sinan's mosques inspired the architects to make the neoclassical design. The mosque is huge! It can hold over 63,000 people. The main dome is 72 meters high to symbolize how diverse the city is. There are 72 nations living in Istanbul. Beautiful and peaceful place.

Breathtaking and grand this mosque stills atop the hill with views of Istanbul. It is grand and…read morebeautiful and a must see in Istanbul.

In between the Pera Palace and the Galata Tower, closer to the Tower, you'll find this charming…read morelittle mosque. There are conflicting reports on the history of this mosque. Some say the original building was built on the order of Haci Ali Bereketzade, the castellan of the nearby Galata Tower, in 1453. Others say it dates from circa 1702 and was built by Bereketzade Mehmed Efendi (the version presented in the mosque). It was completely destroyed in 1948 and the current building dates from 2006. The old drinking fountain once onsite has been moved to a location close to the Galata Tower.

Rustem Pasa Camii is a blue beauty. You may stumble upon it but my mom and I were visiting it…read moreintentionally--it didn't seem like we were in the right place, and must be misunderstanding the directions, but then we practically tripped on it as we were wandering around the spice market. It will be very easy to overlook this This is another mosque designed by Sinan. It is named for Rustem Pasha, Grand Vizier for--and son-in-law of--Suleiman the Magnificent, and was completed a few years after Süleymaniye was finished. Although Sinan constructed many, many mosques, this one is somewhat unique in its extensive use of Iznik tile, which was created in a town in the Anatolian region. The extensive use of the tiles mean it's much more ornately decorated than many of the other mosques he designed. Taking a few moments of silence here. Take in both the architecture with many of the same elements of other mosques you may have visited in Istanbul (or elsewhere), with the marked difference of the tiling throughout. The tile remains incredibly vibrant in color for being set almost half a millennia. If you manage to find it, it's certainly worth popping in for a few minutes.

Sure. You're a tourist. They told you to go to the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya, maybe to Yeni Cami…read more But this mosque needs to be on your list as well. It is probably one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, and the tiles--so historic and gorgeous--must be seen. Read up on tile work before you got, just so that you can appreciate the craftsmanship that went into this mosque's construction. Getting there is a bit difficult: you have to go through the Spice Bazaar, and then through the back entrance down a street, and up a couple stairs. Ask along the way--it's definitely worth the extra effort.