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Blue MosquevsHagia Sophia Mosque
Both Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are rated highly by professionals. On balance, Blue Mosque is the choice of most writers compared to Hagia Sophia. Blue Mosque has a TripExpert Score of 94 with endorsements from 7 publications such as Frommer's, Time Out and Michelin Guide.
Blue Mosque
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Fodor's
Let's Go
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
Time Out
Travel + Leisure
Sultanahmet, Istanbul 222, Turkey
From $0/night
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
Hagia Sophia Mosque Fodor's
Concierge Frommer's Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Michelin Guide Let's Go Afar Magazine Time Out Lonely Planet Show All Reviews
Sultanahmet, Eminonu District, Istanbul, Turkey
From $0/night
Fodor's "This soaring edifice is perhaps the greatest work of Byzantine architecture and for almost a thousand years... it was the world's largest and most important religious monument. " Full review
Concierge "Don't even dream of leaving Istanbul without visiting this holy trinity of sights."
Frommer's "For almost a thousand years, the Ayasofya was a triumph of Christianity and the symbol of Byzantium." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Sophia in Latin, Haghia Sofia in Greek and the Church of the Divine Wisdom in English, this extraordinary building is İstanbul's most famous monument." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Hagia Sophia reigned as the greatest church in Christendom from the fourth century to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"An almost mystical sense of awe... a quite memorable visit!" Full review
Let's Go "The Hagia Sophia (or the more beautiful way of saying it, Aya Sofya) is Istanbul in one building." Full review
Afar Magazine "Hagia Sophia is a museum, welcoming visitors from all around the world, representing the integration of Islam and Christianity in Istanbul. " Full review
Time Out "The Hagia Sophia is among Istanbul's most popular and iconic historic sites – and for good reason: its massive, transcendent interior is breathtaking and can easily be gazed at for hours." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Standing in walled gardens amid symphonies of birdsong, 4km west of centre, is this fine 13th-century church-turned-mosque retaining some carved reliefs and colourful Christian-era murals" Full review
