Sultan Ahmed Mosque (1616)

The Most Popular Mosque in Istanbul

The Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I, is generally referred to as the ‘Blue Mosque’ due to its interior tiles. It is often named as the world’s most beautiful mosque due its fantastically curved exterior, and stunning domes. The mosque is still used today for religious practice however it has also become a huge tourist attraction when not closed during the daily prayer times. The mosque asks for tourists to follow traditional religious practice when entering the mosque: women must wear a head covering and all tourists must remove their shoes. Following these religious traditions allows individuals from all over the world, and from a variety of religions, to gain an understanding of Muslim religious prayer customs. The mosque has become such a popular attraction that admission is now controlled so as to preserve its sacred atmosphere. This demonstrates the interest that tourists worldwide have in learning about Muslim culture.