Süleymaniye Mosque
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Why go
- The four minarets and their ten balconies, a count that marks Suleiman as the tenth Ottoman sultan
- Monumental thuluth calligraphy, almost all of it attributed to Hasan Çelebi
- Walls with no crack, though more than a hundred earthquakes have struck since it was built
Opening hours
Today08:30 – 23:00Show all
Don't miss
- Suleiman's tomb domeThe dome of Suleiman's tomb is set with diamonds to look like a starry sky.Octagonal tomb in the enclosed cemetery behind the qibla wall. On the map
- Central dome53 metres high, with 32 windows, and 64 clay vessels set in it for good acoustics.Above the almost square interior, which forms one vast space under it. On the map
- Stained-glass windows130 coloured windows with calligraphy. The glass above the mihrab and minbar is generally believed to be the work of Serhoş İbrahim.The qibla wall, above the mihrab and minbar. On the map
- Iznik tiles in tomato-red clayHere the Iznik tiles first used tomato-red clay under the glaze.Interior tilework. On the map
- Central courtyard fountainThe central fountain sprays water down from its ceiling, an unusual feature for a fountain.Centre of the courtyard.16th century On the map
Know before you go
- The mosque is open seven days a week.
- Ablution taps stand outside the courtyard, between the prayer hall's side entrances.
Legends and hidden details
- Tradition says Şeyhülislam Ebussuud Efendi laid the foundation stone.
- Legend holds that the marble fountain in the courtyard recalls Kawthar, the river of paradise.
- Contemporaries also saw the mosque as a second Kaaba.
- Shah Tahmasp I wrote a letter at the opening, calling the mosque a sanctuary.
- Petrus Gyllius, a contemporary observer, saw a porphyry column being cut down for the mosque.
Services and visiting hours
- Monday to Friday
- 08:30–23:00
- Saturday and Sunday
- 08:30–22:00
Interesting facts8
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Suleiman was so impressed by the Şehzade Mosque that he asked Sinan to design one for himself.
Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia -
The builders avoided gold and jewel decoration, following the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia -
2,000 glass
At night, more than 2,000 glass oil lamps give light inside the mosque.
Süleymaniye-Moschee - Wikipedia -
Many load-bearing buttresses are built into the outer walls, which makes the mass look lighter.
Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia -
A piece of the Kaaba's black meteorite is set above the door of Suleiman's mausoleum.
Süleymaniye-Moschee - Wikipedia -
The shops facing the madrasas made up a market street, Tiryaki Çarşısı, meaning the Antidote Market.
Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia -
A triangular plaza beside the hadith school held weekly wrestling matches.
Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia -
The octagonal mausoleum of Suleiman also holds the tomb of his daughter, Mihrimah Sultan.
Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Süleymaniye MosqueBoban Djokic
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UFO? Süleymaniye Mosque, IstanbulMuslim Central
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Discovering the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, TurkeyHet Is De Merckx
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Good Morning From Istanbul Süleymaniye Mosqueİbrahim Balsak
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Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul: Built in Seven Years by Sinan (1550 to …Mosques Lens
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DIY Miniature Süleymaniye Mosque Construction | Ultra Realistic AI Ti…Odyssey Of A Girl
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The Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul, TurkeySo Earthen
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Where History Sleeps | Hürrem Sultan’s Tomb at Süleymaniye MosqueShakeel Voyager
History
- 1550Foundation laid on the site of Eski Saray, an older palace that was demolished.
- 1557The mosque opens.
- 1566Suleiman the Magnificent dies. His octagonal mausoleum, dated 1566, the year of his death, is built on the orders of Selim II.
- 1660A great fire damages the mosque. Sultan Mehmed IV restores it.
- 1766An earthquake brings down part of the dome.
Show all
- World War IAmmunition ignites in the courtyard, which served as a weapons depot, and another fire follows.
- 1961–1967The prayer hall is restored.
- 2007–2010The most comprehensive restoration of modern times. Cement additions are replaced with stone and plaster matching the originals.
Sources: Süleymaniye Mosque - Wikipedia · Istanbul/Historical Peninsula - Wikivoyage (see) · SÜLEYMANİYE CAMİİ | Kültür Portalı · Süleymaniye-Moschee - Wikipedia · Mosquée de Soliman - Wikipedia · Süleymaniye Camii - Wikipedia · checked 18 Oct 2026
- Phone
- +90 212 458 00 00
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul?
The mosque is open seven days a week. From Monday to Friday it opens at 08:30 and closes at 23:00. On Saturday and Sunday it opens at 08:30 and closes at 22:00.
Where is Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul?
It stands on the Third Hill above the Golden Horn, in the Süleymaniye quarter of Istanbul.
When was Suleymaniye Mosque built?
Suleiman the Magnificent ordered it and Mimar Sinan designed it. Its foundation was laid in 1550, and the mosque opened in 1557.
Is Suleymaniye Mosque the largest Ottoman-era mosque in Istanbul?
Yes. Among the city's Ottoman-era mosques, it is the largest.
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