Sultanahmet Mosque - Free Audio Guide

Sultanahmet Camii, commonly called the Blue Mosque, is an early 17th‑century Ottoman imperial mosque in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district. Commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I and designed by Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, it was completed between 1609 and 1616 and is celebrated for its classical Ottoman architecture, a large central dome, six slender minarets and extensive blue Iznik tilework adorning the interior. The mosque remains an active place of worship and a prominent symbol of Istanbul’s layered Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, situated opposite the historic Hagia Sophia. Key attractions include the tiled prayer hall, mihrab and minbar, the broad courtyard and the building’s exterior silhouette against the historic skyline. It is generally open to visitors outside prayer times; there is no routine admission charge, and accessibility is partial owing to steps and rugs, with measures in place to accommodate visitors respectfully.