| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, no booking |
| Opening | Every day from 8:30 |
| Closing | 17:00 from October to March, 19:00 from April to September (last entry 30 minutes before) |
| During prayers | Closed to visitors, 5 times a day |
| Friday | Visits from about 14:30 |
| Dress | Shoulders and knees covered; hair covered for women |
| Shoes | Removed before the prayer hall (bag provided) |
Opening hours and prayer times
Visits start at 8:30 every day. Closing follows the season: 17:00 from October to March, 19:00 from April to September, with last entry 30 minutes before. This range comes from our Blue Mosque page; travel sites give approximate hours that vary (some say "until dusk"), so check on the spot.
What matters most is prayer. The five prayers (dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, night) fall at times that shift daily with the sun, and the mosque then closes to visitors. The length of the closure varies by source, from about 30 to 90 minutes around each prayer: check an Istanbul prayer calendar the same morning (for example in a prayer app) and do not arrive just before the call. The calmest time is opening at 8:30, before the groups.
Fridays
Friday is the day of the big midday congregational prayer. Visitors do not enter in the morning: visits resume from about 14:30, according to the information we found. No official source confirms it, so check at the entrance. If you only have one day, avoid Friday for this mosque and keep it for other visits, for example Hagia Sophia, whose visit is suspended from 12:00 to 14:00.
Free entry
There is no ticket and no ticket office: entry is free. Visitors use the entrance reserved for them, on the side of the mosque, not the worshippers' door; follow the signs. Beware of anyone offering a paid ticket or an "official guide" on the square: nothing is paid to enter.
Dress code
- Men and women: shoulders and knees covered. Clothing that shows shoulders or knees can get you refused entry.
- Women: hair covered. Scarves are lent free at the entrance, but they can run out at peak times: bring your own.
- Shoes: removed before the prayer hall; a plastic bag is provided to carry them. Clean socks are welcome.
The details of etiquette (low voice, photos, areas reserved for worshippers) are in our guide to dress in Istanbul's mosques.
When to come
- Best: at 8:30 on a weekday, or early afternoon between two prayers.
- Avoid: Friday morning, religious holidays and Ramadan evenings, when worshippers flock in; see the Ramadan in Istanbul page.
- Duration: allow 30 to 45 minutes, plus the wait at security in high season.
Going further
To compare with the other major monuments, see Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque or Süleymaniye. The district is described in our guide to Sultanahmet, and more free visit ideas are in free Istanbul.
