Palaces and mosques in Istanbul
Topkapi and Dolmabahçe palaces, the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye and Hagia Sophia — visiting hours, dress code and mosque etiquette.
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Best mosques in Istanbul — beyond the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
Best mosques in Istanbul — Süleymaniye, Rüstem Pasha, Eyüp Sultan, and the hidden gems most tourists never find. All free to visit.
Blue Mosque visiting guide — free entry, dress code, and honest tips
Blue Mosque guide: free entry, dress code, prayer closures, what to see inside, and why most visitors misunderstand what they are looking at.
Dolmabahçe Palace visiting guide — tickets, Harem, and Atatürk's room
Dolmabahçe Palace guide: tickets, Harem access, highlights in 2–3 hours, Atatürk's preserved room, and the Ottoman-baroque waterfront.
Eyüp Sultan Mosque guide — Istanbul's most sacred site for Muslims
Eyüp Sultan Mosque guide: Istanbul's most sacred site, the tomb of Eyüp Sultan, Pierre Loti Hill, and the Ottoman cemetery — all free.
New Mosque Eminönü guide — the gateway to the Spice Bazaar
New Mosque (Yeni Cami) guide: the 17th-century mosque at Eminönü, its 66-year construction story, free entry, and why it is often overlooked.
Ortaköy Mosque guide — visiting tips and what makes it special
Ortaköy Mosque guide: the Büyük Mecidiye Camii with its Bosphorus Bridge backdrop, visiting hours, the neighbourhood, and Istanbul's best kumpir.
Süleymaniye Mosque visiting guide — the masterwork of Mimar Sinan
Süleymaniye Mosque guide: why it surpasses the Blue Mosque, free entry, dress code, Mimar Sinan's architecture, and the terrace view over the Golden Horn.
Topkapı Harem guide — what to see and honest tips on the separate ticket
Topkapı Harem guide: separate ticket, best rooms — Murad III apartments, the Cage, Valide Sultan court — and how to manage timed entry.