Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Blue Mosque. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour

• Bosphorus Yacht Cruise Experience: Visit the Asian Side

• Istanbul E-Pass: Top Istanbul Attractions With Skip the Ticket Line

• Bosphorus Sunset: An Enchanting Yacht Cruise in Istanbul

• ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour

While it’s free to visit the Blue Mosque on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you learn more about the Istanbul landmark with an expert guide—and have some fun along the way. Half-day sightseeing tours that visit the mosque, as well as other city highlights, begin at just US$32, while full-day tours start at only US$49.

Yes, the Blue Mosque is worth visiting. Alongside the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, it is one of Istanbul's most popular tourist attractions, and is an essential stop for first-timers. The mosque, constructed in the 17th century, is renowned for its Ottoman-style architecture, and remains a place of worship today. While you can always visit on your own, exploring on a tour offers a deep grounding in its history and significance.

Per one customer who booked the Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour, "Excellent one-day tour of Istanbul with Ozan. His knowledge and eloquence in explaining the history and details of everything was so impressive. We were able to make such good use of our one day. Ozan adapted the itinerary flexibly as we went along, and he was continually pointing out features and interesting points that we would simply never notice on our own. A complete pleasure to have as our tour guide. Thank you!"

Inside the Blue Mosque, you’ll see over 20,000 tiles with 50 different tulip patterns, each an exquisite shade of blue. There are also 12 types of marble, spectacular columns, arches, domes, 200 stained glass windows, chandeliers, and verses from the Qur'an inscribed in the walls, most everything dating back to the 1600s.

Your interest in history, religion, and architecture will determine how long you’ll want to spend inside the Blue Mosque, but most visitors typically spend 1–2 hours. And with admission being free, even if you don’t have that much time, it’s worth it to stop by and see this incomparable Turkish landmark.

Many tourists visit the Blue Mosque because it’s simply spectacular to look at—20,000 handmade tiles, all shades of blue, in one architectural masterpiece. Others visit because of its importance to Istanbul and the former Ottoman Empire. And yet others utilize it as an active prayer place; prayer services are still held here daily.

Yes, admission into Istanbul’s Blue Mosque is free, though donations are welcome. It’s typically open every day of the week, though it’s closed to non-worshippers before and after the daily call to prayer, plus every Friday until 2:30pm. With the Istanbul E-pass, guided tours are free as well.

Yes, non-Muslims can visit the Blue Mosque, though only at select times. The structure is closed to non-worshippers 45 minutes before and 15 minutes after the daily call to prayer and on Fridays until 2:30pm. If you visit, know there’s also a dress code—make sure your shoulders and knees are covered, regardless of gender.

Yes, you can technically wear leggings to and inside a mosque, like Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, but you’ll still be asked to wear a wrap around your legs for modesty. At most mosques, that wrap will be provided for free. Which is to say, it may be easier to wear something else.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Blue Mosque. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Istanbul:

• Hagia Sophia

• Bosphorus

• Topkapi Palace

• Basilica Cistern

• Hippodrome

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Istanbul.