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Blue MosquevsSuleymaniye Mosque
Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque are both highly recommended by those who travel for a living. Overall, Blue Mosque scores marginally better than Suleymaniye Mosque. Blue Mosque has a TripExpert Score of 94 with recommendations from 7 sources like Afar Magazine, Time Out and Frommer's.
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
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Suleymaniye Mosque Fodor's
Concierge Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Michelin Guide Let's Go Fodor's Travel + Leisure Frommer's Travel + Leisure
Mimar Sinan Cd, Suleymaniye Mh, Istanbul, Turkey
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Fodor's "Perched on a hilltop opposite Istanbul University, Süleymaniye Camii is perhaps the most magnificent mosque in Istanbul and is considered one of the architect Sinan's masterpieces." Full review
Concierge "Escape the Sultanahmet crowds and head for this impressive and undervisited complex, just a short walk past the University from the back of the Grand Bazaar."
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"The Süleymaniye crowns one of the seven hills dominating the Golden Horn and provides a magnificent landmark for the entire city." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This stunning 16th-century mosque complex encompasses a hospital, primary school, caravansary, four Koran schools, a medical college, a public kitchen, and the mausoleum." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"The elegant silhouette of Suleyman's mosque rises gracefully towards the sky." Full review
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From the terraced gardens, the view extends as far as the Golden Horn.
Let's Go "With the highest dome in the city, this mosque represents Ottoman architecture at its innovative best." Full review
Fodor's "Perched on a hilltop opposite Istanbul University, Süleymaniye Camii is perhaps the most magnificent mosque in Istanbul and is considered one of the architect Sinan's masterpieces." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Suleymaniye Mosque is considered Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan's most splendid Istanbul mosque, and the architect himself is buried in a tomb on the site"
Istanbul Travel Guide
August 16, 2021
Frommer's "Perched on one of the seven hills of Istanbul and dominating the skyline, this complex is considered to be Sinan's masterpiece as much as the grand monument to Süleyman's reign" Full review
Travel + Leisure "Built in the 16th century to honor Sultan Süleyman...the central dome stands at a staggering 154 feet tall and the interior is beautifully decorated with colors of gold, green, red, and blue."
25 Best Things to Do in Istanbul
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