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Blue MosquevsFatih Mosque and Complex
Both Blue Mosque and Fatih Mosque and Complex are praised by experts. On balance, Blue Mosque scores significantly better than Fatih Mosque and Complex. Blue Mosque scores 94 with endorsements from 6 reviews such as Let's Go, Michelin Guide and Lonely Planet.
Blue Mosque
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Fodor's
Let's Go
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
Time Out
Travel + Leisure
Sultanahmet, Istanbul 222, Turkey
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Frommer's "This grand bubble of masonry, one of the great and defining features of Istanbul's skyline, was constructed between 1609 and 1617 by Sultan Ahmet I." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"With his eponymously named mosque, Sultan Ahmet I (r1603–17) set out to build a monument that would rival and even surpass the nearby Aya Sofya in grandeur and beauty." Full review
Fodor's "Only after you enter the Blue Mosque do you understand the name... this mosque feels gloriously airy and full of light." Full review
Let's Go "Intricately decorated with the blue Iznik porcelain tiles responsible for the mosque’s name, this mosque feels a bit like being inside a colossal blue china teapot." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"This jewel of the 17C has retained its vocation as a place of worship... the over-riding effect here is one of grace and solemnity." Full review
Afar Magazine "Adorned with over 20,000 blue hand-crafted Iznik tiles, stained-glass windows and the golden brushstrokes of a 17th-century calligrapher, the Blue Mosque is the legacy of Sultan Ahmet I (1590-1617)." Full review
Time Out "Situated opposite the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is still a functional mosque and visiting is forbidden during prayer times." Full review
Travel + Leisure "One of the most recognizable landmarks in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque is a beacon in the city skyline. It is known for its gorgeous domes and six soaring minaret towers."
25 Best Things to Do in Istanbul
September 28, 2023
Fatih Mosque and Complex Fodor's Lonely Planet Michelin Guide Let's Go Afar Magazine Frommer's
Fevzi Paşa Caddesi Fatih
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Fodor's "This complex consisting of a mosque, religious schools, and other buildings of a pious nature was the largest in the Ottoman empire." Full review
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It's best to avoid visiting the mosque at prayer times.
Lonely Planet "The Fatih was the first great imperial mosque built in İstanbul following the Conquest." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"A visit to the imperial complex of Fatih Mehmet is one of the highlights of any visit to Istanbul." Full review
Let's Go "The tomb of the Conqueror—whose bio states that he was poisoned by a Jewish doctor in the service of the Venetian kingdom—lies just outside the mosque. " Full review
Afar Magazine "Features elements of the legendary Imperial Ottoman architectural style fused with elegant Baroque designs of the 18th century." Full review
Frommer's "Fatih Sultan Mehmet II had his namesake built on the ruins of the Havariyun, or the Church of Holy Apostles, which served as the seat of Christianity after the conquest, from 1453 to 1456." Full review
