Istanbul’s Impressive Mosques – Sultan Ahmed and the Hagia Sophia

Although Istanbul is huge and has so much to see, I’m pretty certain that 2 sites in particular top nearly everyone’s list – the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. They certainly topped ours, and impressed us so much that we spent hours and hours wandering around them both inside and outside.

The Blue Mosque (left) and Hagia Sophia (right) from the water

Built facing each other in a large open space, the two massive buildings dominate the skyline of Sultanahmet from miles away, and draw tourists year-round from all corners of the globe. The histories of both buildings are fascinating, and venturing into both is a quintessential Istanbul experience.

Hagia Sophia

Built between 532 and 537 AD, the Hagia Sophia (also known as the Ayasofya in Turkish) is a true ancient wonder. Few places can boast even half the history that this building has seen, from its origins as an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral built by Emperor Justinian, to its sacking and conversion into a Roman Catholic Cathedral by Latin Crusaders, to its conversion into a Mosque after Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in the 15th century, to its final conversion into a museum in 1935.

The Imposing Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia’s ornately decorated domed ceiling

Today, the structure is a place where ancient cultures meet and mix in a most amazing way. Much like we felt in the Mezquita in Cordoba or the Alhambra in Granada, the blending of religions and cultures produces a striking contrast. This is most clearly evident in the Hagia Sophia where Byzantine mosaics depicting Jesus and the Holy Family sit side by side with Islamic calligraphy reciting lines form the Qur’an.

The large entry hall, complete with enormous chandelier

Walking into the massive structure, visitors are first met by a set of three enormous doors, and it is impossible not to marvel at the building’s overwhelming immensity. Further display’s of the Hagia Sophia’s size and grandeur are everywhere as visitors explore the marble covered ground floor and upper gallery. From the giant low-hanging chandeliers, that dwarf all those that pass below, to huge stone columns and archways, everything is bigger inside this building.

A mind boggling scaffolding set-up helps showcase the building’s size

Large archways dwarf this little girl

The Blue Mosque

Istanbul’s most important and second largest mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (better known to tourists as the Blue Mosque) stand opposite the Hagia Sophia. With its six towering minarets and enormous courtyard, the imposing structure is definitely one that makes you feel small.

The Blue Mosque on a sunny morning

Inside the Mosque’s courtyard even the doors are oversized

The Mosque entrance from the courtyard

Built between 1609 and 1616, the mosque is one of the most impressive and beautiful examples of Islamic Architecture we’ve seen on our travels. We were extremely excited to visit as it was to be our first trip actually inside a mosque. And we couldn’t have picked a better one to be our first.

After taking off our shoes and placing them in the conveniently supplied carry bags, and making sure Calli still looked trendy with her headscarf on, we ventured inside. Much like the Hagia Sophia, the interior of the building immediately took our breath away. Decorated with over 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles from the nearby city of Iznik (ancient Nicaea), 200 stained glass windows, enormous chandeliers, and covered in Islamic calligraphy – the mosque is absolutely stunning inside.

Exterior decoration in the courtyard

The interior is decorated in fine detail

We spent a long time walking on the slightly pungent carpet (clearly imprinted from hundreds of years of prayer) and staring up at the building. With so much to see, photographing the mosque proved difficult, both as a result of the intricate beauty all around us and the immensity of the structure, which can hold 10,000 Muslims for prayer.

The painted domes and pillars are quite beautiful

The Blue Mosque rivals the Hagia Sophia in size

There are very few places in the world where two such incredible sites sit side-by-side. As though still in competition to see which can wow visitors more, The Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque feel more like one attraction than two. While the Blue Mosque is still used for daily prayer, it gives visitors an authentic glimpse into the Muslim religion, and the Hagia Sophia works as an extension of this experience, as a wonderful museum that visitors can fully explore without fear of overstepping. Together both are the must see attraction for visitors to Istanbul.

The Blue Mosque’s courtyard

Logistics: The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are must-sees for any visitor to Istanbul. The tram stop on line 1 is “Sultanahmet” – you can’t miss it from there. The Hagia Sophia is open every day except Mondays (check for hours in the season you are visiting as they change). Entrance is 25 TL ($12.50ish). The Blue Mosque is open every day, but entrance times change depending on daylight hours – you cannot go in during prayer time. We found that morning is the best time to visit. Entrance is free and baggies for your shoes are provided. Make sure to come fully clothed (long sleeves and pants or a full dress – a headscarf is also mandatory).

Plan on at least an hour inside each. Note that three may be lines during peak season (we had no lines and walked straight in…but that was November). After you are done, grab a drink and a doner – you have the rest of the day to check out some of the other amazing sights in Sultanahmet.