Why to visit Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a popular tourist attraction recognised for its beautiful architecture. At night, the mosque gleams like a blue diamond, thanks to the lovely reflections created by the falling lights from the minarets. It is a working mosque, and the compound includes Sultan Ahmed's mausoleum, a madrasah, and an infirmary built between 1609 and 1616. This mosque is a UNESCO world heritage site and a prominent tourist destination, with a capacity of 10,000 people and the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets.
The interiors feature hand-painted blue tiles and a stunning blend of Turkish (Ottoman) empire, Byzantine empire, and traditional Islamic architecture. The mosque was built on the location of the Byzantine emperor's palace, in front of the famed museum Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet square. It gets its name from the Blue Iznik tiles that adorn the mosque's interior. It is regarded as one of the most famous tourist destinations in Istanbul, attracting a large number of people due to its spectacular beauty. This historic landmark is a must-see for any traveller, and it allows visitors to immerse themselves in the history and traditions of the Islamic Ottoman Empire.
To get to this location, take a rail from Ataturk Airport Havalimani to Zeytinburnu, then a tram from Zeytinburnu to Sultanahmet; the journey will take approximately 58-60 minutes. It is also possible to take a bus from Ataturk Airport to Yenikapi Istasyonu and then walk the remaining 2 kilometres; the trip would take around one hour 15 minutes.
