Imperial mosques route: the sultans’ mosques in two days
Route summary
| Duration | 2 days |
|---|---|
| Best for | Lovers of mosque architecture and Ottoman history |
| Number of stops | 9 |
| Total walking (approx.) | 6.1 km |
How did we build the route?
The route orders the mosques for walking; if you would rather visit them in order of construction, follow Fatih (1470), Beyazıt (1506), Yavuz Sultan Selim (1522), Şehzade (1548), Süleymaniye (1557), Sultanahmet (1617), the New Mosque (1665), Nuruosmaniye (1755) and Laleli (1763). This way you see step by step the birth of classical Ottoman architecture, its peak with Mimar Sinan and its transformation under Western influence in the 18th century. We explain what an imperial mosque is on our mosques page.
Day 1: From Sultanahmet to Eminönü
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About 15 min walk to the next stop (1 km) Directions
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About 8 min walk to the next stop (550 m) Directions
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About 12 min walk to the next stop (860 m) Directions
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Süleymaniye Mosque
Mimar Sinan’s masterpiece (1557) and the tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Suggested time: 1 hour
About 13 min walk to the next stop (920 m) Directions
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Day 2: From Laleli to the Golden Horn hills
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About 8 min walk to the next stop (560 m) Directions
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About 17 min walk to the next stop (1.2 km) Directions
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Fatih Mosque
Istanbul’s first imperial mosque and the tomb of Mehmed the Conqueror.
Suggested time: 45 min
About 14 min walk to the next stop (1 km) Directions
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Yavuz Selim Mosque
A plain, majestic mosque overlooking the Golden Horn (1522).
Suggested time: 30 min
Visiting etiquette and prayer times
Mosques close to visitors for about half an hour at each prayer time, and for longer at the Friday noon prayer. To adjust the route around prayer times see our sightseeing plan around prayer times, and for visiting mosques with children our guide visiting a mosque with kids. Women are expected to cover their hair and everyone to cover shoulders and knees.
Transport on day two
On day two, take the T1 tram to Laleli (Laleli-Üniversite stop). From Şehzade to the Fatih Mosque it is about 15 minutes on foot past the Valens Aqueduct, and another 15 minutes from Fatih to the Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque. On the way back, walk down from Yavuz Selim to Fener and take the T5 tram to Eminönü, or a taxi to Sultanahmet.
Our family hotels closest to the start of the route
Walking times are approximate and measured from the hotel door; where the hotel gives its own time, we show that.
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Green Life Apart Hotel
Blue Mosque: 7 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
Family-run apartments with kitchenettes and a sea-view roof terrace in Küçük Ayasofya
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Sareban Hotel
Blue Mosque: 7 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
An alcohol-free family hotel in Küçük Ayasofya, looking out to the Marmara
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Seven Roses Apart Hotel
Blue Mosque: 7 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
Apartments with kitchens in Küçük Ayasofya, with roomy options for larger families
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Emirhan Inn Hotel
Blue Mosque: 10 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
A budget-friendly hotel with free breakfast in Küçük Ayasofya
Frequently asked questions
Which was the first imperial mosque in Istanbul?
The Fatih Mosque, built for Mehmed the Conqueror between 1463 and 1470, was the first imperial mosque in Istanbul; the present building was rebuilt after the 1766 earthquake. The oldest imperial mosque still standing is the Beyazıt Mosque.
Is there a fee to visit the imperial mosques?
No. All the mosques on the route are working mosques and visiting is free; visitors are simply not admitted during prayer times.