The Süleymaniye Mosque crowns the third of Istanbul's historic hills, and for many visitors it is the most rewarding mosque in the city. It was built for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent by his chief architect, Mimar Sinan, and completed in the 1550s. Entry is free, it is usually calmer than the mosques of Sultanahmet, and the garden terrace behind it has one of the best views over the Golden Horn.
Why visit the Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan designed many buildings across the Ottoman world, but Süleymaniye is the great work of his middle career. The prayer hall is crowned by a large central dome supported by half domes, and the space feels open and evenly lit, helped by rows of windows around the base of the dome. The decoration is restrained compared with some later mosques, which makes the scale and the structure easy to appreciate.
The mosque was never just a place of prayer. It sat at the heart of a complex, or külliye, that included schools, a hospital, a soup kitchen, a caravanserai and a bath house. Several of these buildings still stand around the mosque, some now used as libraries, offices or restaurants, and walking around the outer courtyards shows how much of daily life the complex once served.
Getting to the Süleymaniye Mosque by metro and tram
The nearest metro station is Vezneciler on the M2 line, which runs between Yenikapı and Hacıosman via Haliç and Taksim. From the station, the walk past Istanbul University to the mosque takes around 10 minutes on mostly level streets.
Other ways to arrive:
- T1 tram: get off at Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı or Laleli-Üniversite and walk north past the university, around 10 to 15 minutes.
- From Eminönü: it is an uphill walk of about 15 minutes from the Spice Bazaar through crowded market streets. Going down this way after your visit is easier than coming up.
- An Istanbulkart covers the metro, tram and ferries.
Entry, prayer times and dress code
There is no ticket to visit the Süleymaniye Mosque. It is an active mosque, so visitors are asked to stay out of the prayer hall during the five daily prayers, and the midday prayer on Friday involves a longer closure. Prayer times shift through the year with the sun, so check a current timetable before you go and plan to arrive with time to spare between prayers.
- Cover shoulders and knees. Women should cover their hair, and scarves are sometimes available at the entrance, but bringing your own is simpler.
- Shoes come off before you step on the carpet. Plastic bags or shelves are usually provided.
- Keep voices low, do not walk in front of people praying, and avoid flash photography.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Mornings tend to be quietest. Late afternoon is good for photographs of the domes and for the terrace view as the light softens over the Golden Horn. Allow around an hour to see the prayer hall, the courtyard, the tombs and the terrace at a relaxed pace, longer if you plan a meal nearby.
Highlights of the Süleymaniye complex
The prayer hall and courtyard
Before you enter the hall, the arcaded courtyard with its central fountain is worth a slow lap. Inside, look up at the dome and the stained glass windows on the qibla wall, and notice how the gallery levels keep the main floor clear.
The tombs of Suleiman and Hürrem
In the cemetery garden behind the mosque stand the octagonal tombs of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hürrem Sultan, known in Europe as Roxelana. Their tiled interiors are the most decorated part of the complex.
The terrace view
The garden terrace on the Golden Horn side looks over the rooftops of Eminönü to the water, the Galata Tower and the hills beyond. It is one of the quieter viewpoints in the old city.
Sinan's tomb
Just outside the complex walls, at a street corner, is the modest tomb that Sinan designed for himself, close to the building many consider his masterpiece.
Bean stew on the street outside
The street facing the mosque is known for small restaurants serving kuru fasulye, a white bean stew with rice, a simple and filling lunch after your visit.
Nearby on the same stop
- Grand Bazaar: a short walk south, past Beyazıt Square.
- Istanbul University: the grand main gate faces Beyazıt Square.
- Spice Bazaar: downhill toward Eminönü through the market lanes.
- Valens Aqueduct: the Roman aqueduct spanning Atatürk Boulevard is a short walk west of Vezneciler.
See more of what is around this stop on the Süleymaniye Mosque page, or browse the full Istanbul metro map.