On the fourth hill of the old city, the Fatih Mosque bears the title of Mehmed II, "Fatih", the Conqueror, who took Constantinople in 1453. He had it built from 1463 to 1470 by the architect Atik Sinan, on the site of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles, at the heart of a vast complex (külliye) that included eight medreses, a hospital, a public kitchen, a caravanserai and a hammam. Ruined by the earthquake of 1766, the mosque was rebuilt to a different plan by Mehmed Tahir Ağa and completed in 1771, under Mustafa III. Behind the mosque, the cemetery holds the tomb of Mehmed II and that of his consort Gülbahar. Entry is free outside prayer times; allow 45 minutes to an hour including the tombs.
Highlights
The arcaded courtyard
The courtyard, its entrance portal and the base of the two minarets are the main surviving parts of the 15th-century mosque. The arches alternate pale and pink stone around an ablution fountain (şadırvan) topped by a pointed roof. In the evening, when the porticoes are lit, the courtyard is one of the quietest spots in the neighbourhood.
The prayer hall
The mosque rebuilt in the 18th century follows a square plan: a central dome carried by four semi-domes, instead of the single 26-metre dome and semi-dome of the original building. Its many windows make the hall very bright, and both the calligraphy and the minbar show the influence of the Ottoman Baroque of the period.
The tomb of Mehmed II
In the cemetery, behind the mihrab wall, the sultan's tomb (türbe) was rebuilt after the earthquake, with a richly decorated interior. New Ottoman sultans came to pay their respects here after the girding of the Sword of Osman, the ceremony that marked their accession. It is still visited by many Turkish visitors: go in quietly, shoes off.
The tomb of Gülbahar
Next to it, the türbe of Gülbahar Hatun, consort of Mehmed II and mother of Bayezid II, who died in 1492, is plainer, with classical lines, and is thought to be closer to the original appearance. Further on, facing the former dervish hospice (tabhane), stands the large Baroque tomb of Nakşidil Sultan, mother of Mahmud II.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Entry to the mosque and the tombs is free. The mosque closes to visitors during the five daily prayers and on Fridays until the end of the midday prayer; it closes in the evening after the last prayer. Dress code: shoulders and knees covered, hair covered for women, shoes off at the entrance to the prayer hall and the tombs. On Wednesdays, the Wednesday market fills the streets around the complex: come that day for the atmosphere, another day for a quieter visit. For the visiting etiquette, read our guide on visiting a mosque in Istanbul. Information as observed in October 2026.
How to get there
Ali Kuşçu Mahallesi, Fevzi Paşa Caddesi, 34083 Fatih, Istanbul. Tram T1, Aksaray stop, then about a 15-minute walk north along Atatürk Boulevard past the Aqueduct of Valens; Laleli-Üniversite stop, about a 20-minute walk. Metro M2, Vezneciler station, about a 15-minute walk. Several bus lines from Eminönü run up Fevzi Paşa Avenue, which runs alongside the complex. From the Süleymaniye Mosque, allow about 20 minutes on foot heading west.
Opening hours
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