4 Best Mosques in Istanbul That Shaped Our Trip

By Ellen (Updated Sep 25)
⏱ 4 minutes

Istanbul’s skyline is dotted with hundreds of domes and minarets. There are between 3000 and 3500 mosques in this city. Crazy! That’s why you have to be selective about which ones to visit, even more if you’re traveling with a 7-month-old baby to this city in Turkey. To be honest, it’s impossible to say there is one of them that is the best mosque in Istanbul, because at the ends it’s all about personal tastes.

For our weekend trip, we planned carefully—considering stroller access, walking distances, and how each mosque fit with other sites in our itinerary. We ended up visiting four of the best mosques in Istanbul, each memorable in its own way, not only for their beauty but for the little stories they gave us along the way.

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

Across from Istanbul’s famous Sultanahmet Square sits the Blue Mosque, our first mosque to enter. With its six minarets and thousands of blue İznik tiles, the Blue Mosque is considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Visiting with a stroller required some logistics: before going in, we had to leave it outside in a designated stoller parking area—not secured, just a space for strollers—so we carried all valuables with us and hoped for the best (thankfully, it was still there afterward!).

Inside, famous tiles inside lived up to the hype, glowing blue under colored glass windows. After exploring the prayer hall, we exited out into the open sahn (courtyard), which offered a perfect postcard view.

A quick travel tip: be prepared for friendly but persistent locals outside the mosque. Men will approach, offering to “just show you the way” to the entrance. The first man we met felt pushy, so we politely declined. Later, another approached us with charm and humor, and we decided to chat. He didn’t enter with us but waited outside, eventually offering to take a family photo that turned out beautifully. The catch? He insisted we visit his family’s shop for rugs and sweets. We went, enjoyed tea and conversation, and bought some sweets to bring back to Spain. It was a reminder that these interactions are part of the Istanbul experience—sometimes a little sales pitch, but also genuine hospitality.

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Süleymaniye Mosque

Perched on Istanbul’s Third Hill, Süleymaniye Mosque felt like an escape from the busy city. The uphill walk was a bit of a workout (especially with a stroller and baby in tow), but the payoff was worth it: panoramic views over the Golden Horn, fewer crowds, and a sense of serenity. The spacious courtyard and interior were beautiful, but what made a lasting impression on me was the mosque’s setting—it felt like a quiet retreat above the busy city below. We took our time visiting the mosque and the surrounding grounds, taking in the views and enjoying the tranquility before heading back down into the heart of Istanbul.

Rustem Pasha Mosque

Our third mosque was perhaps the biggest surprise. Hidden among the narrow streets of a bustling market, Rustem Pasha is easy to miss. We headed up a narrow staircase with stroller and baby in hand (or arm) and to our surprise, we suddenly stepped into a calm oasis.

The mosque is small but stunning, its walls covered with vivid blue tiles that rivaled even the Blue Mosque. What made it special to me was the contrast: outside and below lies a noisy market; inside, quiet, clean, beautiful details, and nearly empty. It felt intimate and peaceful, and perhaps because it’s overlooked by many visitors, it became one of our favorite finds.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia’s history is unmatched: once a Byzantine church, later an Ottoman mosque, then a museum, and now an active mosque again. Surely it is one of Istanbul’s most iconic buildings. But traveling with a baby meant we had to make choices about where to spend our time and energy. After some research, we decided not to go inside, partly because since 2024, Hagia Sophia now charges a pricey entry fee of €25, which only grants access to the gallery level. Many reviews suggested the experience didn’t quite justify the cost, especially compared to the other mosques. So instead, we admired Hagia Sophia from the outside—its massive dome and centuries-old stone still made it a powerful first stop to our day.

Final Thoughts and Tips for visiting Istanbul Mosques

Visiting mosques in a short amount of time is not easy, but it is rewarding. Each stop we did told a different story about Istanbul’s history, faith, and hospitality. If you’re planning a similar trip where you visit mosques:

Dress modestly and bring a scarf or wrap.
Hagia Sophia now charges an entry fee, while the Blue Mosque remains free.
Expect friendly locals outside popular sites—sometimes they lead to lovely encounters
If traveling with a baby like us, check stroller access and be ready to carry it in some places.

Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family, these are some of the best mosques in Istanbul to add to your list.