Visiting Mosques in Istanbul: What to Know Before You Go

Dress modestly

Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. Women are expected to cover their hair with a scarf. If you are not dressed appropriately, some mosques provide robes and head coverings at the entrance.

Take off your shoes

Before entering the prayer area, remove your shoes. You can usually leave them on the shelves or in the designated storage area near the entrance. The prayer hall is covered with carpets, so keep it clean.

Be respectful

Keep your voice down, avoid disturbing people who are praying, and be mindful of where you walk or take photos. Tourist access may be restricted during prayer times, so you might have to wait before entering. Usually you can not visit a mosque as a non-muslim on Fridays.

Look out for the ablution fountains

You will often find a fountain or washing area beside a mosque, used by worshippers for ritual washing before prayer. In Turkish, the traditional fountain is called a şadırvan. It is part of the mosque’s everyday religious life, so avoid getting in the way of people using it.

Ablution areas are sometime to be found in toilets, which are also available for visitors. Some mosque complexes also have free public toilets nearby, marked with a “Free Toilet” sign. These can be useful when exploring the city.

Keep it cool and have an open mind

It was a very interesting experience to see that Islam is a very lively religion in Türkiye. Men, women and children fill the mosques, pray and socialise in these complexes. We saw people sitting or sometimes even lying on the carpet, simply watching what was happening in the mosque. So perhaps the best advice is to enter a mosque, sit on the carpet and listen. In many mosques, there are also volunteers who sit next to you and are happy to share their religion with you. They’re never pushy or unpleasant, so be open to having a little chat, from which you might even learn something new about Islam.

With these simple rules in mind, visiting a mosque can be one of the most rewarding parts of your time in Istanbul.