From Byzantium to the Ottomans: 8 Must-See Mosques in Istanbul
- Martin
- Jul 19
- 7 min read
With more than 3,000 mosques, Istanbul offers no shortage of places to explore. They range from modern concrete structures and striking contemporary designs to former Byzantine churches and magnificent Ottoman masterpieces.
If you’re wondering which ones are truly worth your time, these are the mosques I believe every visitor should consider seeing.
At the bottom of this article, you’ll also find an interactive map with all the featured mosques pinned, making it easy to plan your visit.
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1. Süleymaniye Mosque
Perched high above the Golden Horn on one of the seven hills of historic Constantinople, Süleymaniye Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most impressive landmarks. It was designed by the celebrated Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and is widely regarded as his masterpiece.
Beyond its magnificent architecture, the surrounding gardens offer one of the finest panoramic views across the Golden Horn towards the Galata Tower.
The mosque was originally part of a much larger complex that included a school, a hospital and a public soup kitchen serving the city’s poor. Ironically, the former soup kitchen is now home to an elegant restaurant catering to a rather more affluent clientele.
The complex also contains the mausoleums of Sultan Süleyman I, his wife Hürrem Sultan, and the architect Mimar Sinan.
2. Yeni Mosque (New Mosque)
Yeni Mosque stands on the waterfront in Eminönü, right next to the main entrance of the Spice Bazaar. Almost everyone passes by it, but surprisingly few know the story behind one of Istanbul’s most recognisable mosques.
The story begins in 1597, when Safiye Sultan, the mother of Sultan Mehmed III and one of the most powerful women in the Ottoman Empire, decided to build a grand imperial mosque in the heart of the city’s busy commercial district.
The project soon ran into trouble. When Mehmed III died in 1603, Safiye Sultan lost her influence, and construction came to a halt. The unfinished mosque remained an abandoned building site for decades.
Everything changed after a devastating fire swept through the city in 1660. The partially completed mosque was badly damaged, and the architect Mustafa Ağa persuaded Turhan Hatice Sultan - mother of Sultan Mehmed IV - to resume the project.
Five years later, in 1665, the mosque was finally completed. Officially it was named Yeni Valide Sultan Mosque, but today almost everyone simply knows it as Yeni Mosque (New Mosque).
3. Eyüp Sultan Mosque
Eyüp Sultan Mosque is located further up the Golden Horn, away from the historic peninsula. Many visitors never make it as far as Eyüp, which I think is a real shame.
Today, Eyüp is one of Istanbul’s districts, but it was once a small village outside the walls of Constantinople. As the city expanded and immigrants from the Balkans settled here during the Ottoman period, the village gradually became part of the growing metropolis.
The mosque was completed in 1458, just five years after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Its location was no coincidence. According to Islamic tradition, this is where Abu Ayyub al-Ansari is buried. He was the standard-bearer and one of the Prophet Muhammad’s closest companions, and is believed to have died during the first Arab siege of Constantinople in 674–678.
The neighbourhood has retained a very special atmosphere. Its narrow, winding streets are lined with cafés, restaurants and shops selling everything from souvenirs to religious items. It is a place where pilgrims, locals and visitors come together - and somewhere I always enjoy returning to.
4. Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque
Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque is located in Tophane, directly opposite Istanbul Modern and just a few minutes’ walk from Karaköy. Yet surprisingly few visitors step inside.
The mosque was commissioned by Kılıç Ali Paşa, whose life story is almost as remarkable as the building itself. Born in southern Italy, he was captured by Ottoman corsairs and later converted to Islam. He went on to make a career in the Ottoman navy, fought in the Great Siege of Malta, and eventually became Grand Admiral of the Ottoman fleet.
According to legend, when Kılıç Ali Paşa announced his plans to build a mosque, he was mockingly told that an admiral should build his mosque on the sea.
He took the advice quite literally.
A small bay in Tophane was filled in to create new land, and Kılıç Ali Paşa asked the ageing Mimar Sinan to design his mosque there. Together with a school and a traditional Turkish bath (hamam), the complex was completed in 1580.
Inside the mosque stand two slender marble columns that, according to local tradition, act as an early warning system for earthquakes. If the ground begins to move, the columns are said to rotate slightly on their axes, alerting those inside that something is wrong. Whether the story is true, no one knows for certain, but it seems fitting for a mosque built on reclaimed land.
5. The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
The Blue Mosque is undoubtedly one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks. Completed in 1616, it is best known for the thousands of blue İznik tiles that decorate its interior and gave the mosque its popular nickname.
The story behind the mosque is just as fascinating. After the Peace of Zsitvatorok in 1606 - widely seen as a blow to Ottoman prestige - Sultan Ahmed I sought to regain Allah’s favour by commissioning a magnificent imperial mosque.
Its location was no coincidence. The mosque was built on the site of the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors. Because the land was privately owned, the sultan had to purchase it before construction could begin.
The project was controversial from the outset. Imperial mosques were traditionally financed with the spoils of war, but Ahmed I had no major military victories to his name. Instead, the mosque was funded from the imperial treasury, prompting criticism from several religious scholars. Some even argued that Muslims should not pray there - a view that a few small Muslim groups still maintain today.
Today, the Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most visited attractions. Queues at the entrance can be long, but they usually move quickly, so don’t let them put you off.
6. Yeraltı Mosque (The Underground Mosque)
Hidden just below street level near the ferry terminal in Karaköy, Yeraltı Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most unusual places of worship - and one that many visitors walk straight past without ever realising it is there.
The underground structure dates back to the early 8th century, when it was built as part of Constantinople’s defensive fortifications guarding the entrance to the Golden Horn. After the Arab siege of the city, a tradition emerged claiming that Arab soldiers had prayed here and that the three tombs inside the mosque belong to early Muslim figures who died during the siege. The story is still told today, although it cannot be historically verified.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the building served as an armoury for a time before being consecrated as a mosque in the mid-18th century.
What makes Yeraltı Mosque so memorable is its atmosphere. Hidden beneath the streets, the mosque is supported by 54 massive columns, while small windows allow daylight to filter inside, creating a surprisingly peaceful space. The three tombs, illuminated by green light, have made the mosque an important pilgrimage site for many Muslims and add to the feeling that this is unlike anywhere else in Istanbul.
7. Rüstem Paşa Mosque
Just a few hundred metres from the Spice Bazaar, hidden among the busy market streets of Eminönü, you’ll find one of Istanbul’s most beautiful mosques. Rüstem Paşa Mosque sits above the surrounding shops and is remarkably easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
Designed by Mimar Sinan and completed in 1563, the mosque was commissioned by Grand Vizier Rüstem Paşa, who was married to Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan.
What makes Rüstem Paşa Mosque so special are its extraordinary İznik tiles, which cover much of the interior. Many consider them to be among the finest surviving examples of Ottoman ceramic art. The rich blue, turquoise, green and red patterns make this one of the most colourful religious buildings in Istanbul.
The mosque was built above a row of shops, so you’ll need to climb a steep staircase to reach the entrance. Its slightly hidden location is one of the reasons so many visitors walk straight past without discovering it.
The contrast between the bustling streets outside and the peaceful atmosphere inside is striking. Despite being in the heart of one of Istanbul’s busiest districts, the mosque is often surprisingly quiet and is one of the best places to experience a classic Ottoman mosque without the long queues.
8. Küçük Ayasofya Mosque (Little Hagia Sophia)
If you’re walking from the Blue Mosque, head down the steep hill towards the Sea of Marmara. You’ll pass the remains of the Sphendone - the curved end of the ancient Hippodrome - weave your way between tour buses and narrow pavements, and then, almost without warning, an open courtyard appears before you.
This is Küçük Ayasofya Mosque.
Its horseshoe-shaped courtyard, complete with a tea garden, mature trees and small artisan workshops, feels like a world away from the busy streets you’ve just left behind. The pace seems to slow down the moment you step inside.
The building dates from 527–536, during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, just a few years before Hagia Sophia was built. Originally, it was a church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus and is widely regarded as a precursor to Hagia Sophia. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque.
Inside, it is not the size of the building that impresses, but the details. Slender marble columns support beautifully carved Byzantine capitals, and if you look closely, you can still spot the monograms of Emperor Justinian I and Empress Theodora, carved into the stone almost 1,500 years ago.
Map: Must-See Mosques in Istanbul
Dresscode
Et besøg i en moské kræver, at man lige planlægger sin påklædning en smule. Kvinder skal have dækket ben, skuldre og hår. Mænd skal have dækket benene. Man kan eventuelt låne tørklæder og lignende i moskéen.
Indlægget her er oprindeligt fra januar 2024. senest opdateret jule 2026
