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Fatih Mosque, Istanbul

Fatih Mosque in Istanbul: domes and two minarets against the sky
Photo: Ezzeldin.Elbaksawy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, no ticket
Hours
Open daily; closed to visitors during the five daily prayers
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Better without small kids
Prayer times
Only worshippers in the prayer hall during the five daily prayers
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Friday
Worshippers only until the midday prayer ends
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Tomb of Mehmed II
Behind the mosque by the cemetery; free, may close earlier than the mosque
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Dress code
Shoulders and knees covered; headscarf for women
Shoes
Off at the prayer-hall door
Wednesday market
Çarşamba Pazarı fills the streets around the mosque all day
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Getting there
Tram T1 to Aksaray or Laleli-Üniversite, then ≈ 20 min walk; or a bus from Eminönü to the Fatih stop
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
From Süleymaniye
≈ 15–20 min on foot
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Fevzi Paşa Cd., Ali Kuşçu, Fatih
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
41.01982, 28.94988YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1463–1470the first mosque, built for Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinople
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1766 → 1771an earthquake brought down the dome; Mustafa III rebuilt the mosque to a new plan
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Tomb of Mehmed IIthe sultan, who died in 1481, lies behind the mosque, beside the tomb of Gülbahar Hatun, mother of Bayezid II
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia, “Gülbahar Hatun (mother of Bayezid II)”
Atik Sinanarchitect of the first mosque
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Holy Apostlesthe mosque stands on the site of the Byzantine church where emperors were buried
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
26 macross the current dome, carried on four semi-domes
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
2 minaretswith two balconies each; the second was added in the 19th century
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
8 medresesthe Sahn-ı Seman, flanking the mosque — the empire's leading college
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia
15th-centurysurvivors: the courtyard gate, the portal wall and the lower minarets
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia

Prayer times today — when visitors can't enter

Loading today's times…

Prayer times follow the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). There is no official closing window, so leave a margin: arrive 30–40 minutes after a prayer starts.

Fatih Mosque opening hours and entry fee

Entry is free — there are no tickets for the mosque, the courtyard or the tomb. The mosque is open every day; visitors are asked to wait outside during the five daily prayers — today's times are above.

On Fridays the midday prayer here is one of the city's biggest. The courtyard and cemetery stay open, but the prayer hall is for worshippers until the prayer ends, usually around 14:00–14:30.

How to get to Fatih Mosque

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on foottram T1destinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

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On foot

By public transport

  • Tram T1 to Yusufpaşa, then about 19 min on foot.

More tips

  1. Take tram T1 to Laleli-Üniversite or Aksaray.
  2. Walk up Atatürk Bulvarı to the Valens Aqueduct — about 10 minutes.
  3. Turn left along Fevzi Paşa Caddesi; the mosque is on your right after another 10 minutes.
  4. To skip the climb, take a bus from Eminönü to the Fatih stop — check the route number in a transit app.
  5. On foot from the Süleymaniye Mosque: 15–20 minutes past the Valens Aqueduct.

Is Fatih Mosque worth visiting?

Yes, if the conquest of Constantinople interests you or you're heading to Balat and the Chora Church — it sits right on the way. You get the Conqueror's tomb, a bright, calm prayer hall and a neighbourhood that barely sees tour groups.

Honestly, the building itself is an 18th-century rebuild, not Mehmed's original. With only two or three days in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye come first.

What to see

  • The tomb of Mehmed the Conqueror behind the mosque — a richly decorated baroque interior where people sit and pray.
  • The plainer tomb of Gülbahar Hatun next door.
  • The arcaded courtyard and fountain: the portal wall and its inscription survive from the 15th-century mosque.
  • The bright hall under its 26 m dome — spacious and quiet after the Blue Mosque.
  • The Sahn-ı Seman medreses on either side — eight still stand.
  • On Wednesdays, the Çarşamba market in the streets around: produce, clothes, household goods.

A short history

Mehmed II — Fatih, “the Conqueror” — took Constantinople in 1453. Ten years later he began his mosque on the site of the ruined Church of the Holy Apostles, burial place of Byzantine emperors. The architect was Atik Sinan, a century before the famous Mimar Sinan.

Around it grew a whole complex: eight medreses, a hospital, a hostel, a caravanserai, a soup kitchen, a bathhouse and a market. The medreses were the empire's top college.

The earthquake of 22 May 1766 collapsed the dome and wrecked the walls. Mustafa III rebuilt the mosque by 1771 on a new plan, with the dome on four semi-domes. The courtyard gate, the portal wall and the lower minarets are all that remain of the original.

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Fatih Mosque vs Süleymaniye vs Blue Mosque

Fatihyou are hereThe Conqueror's mosque, rebuilt 1771FreeTomb of Mehmed II≈ 30 minFew touristsPast the aqueduct, on the way to Balat
SüleymaniyeSinan's masterpiece, 1557FreeTombs of Süleyman and Hürrem, the view≈ 45 minModerateAbove the Golden Horn
Blue MosqueAhmed I's mosque, 1616FreeBlue tiles, six minarets30–45 minVery busySultanahmet

Short on time? See the Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye. Fatih is the one to add on a Balat and Chora day.

Istanbul's mosques compared

Every mosque and sacred site in Istanbul rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Hagia Sophia911 h 15 min€252.8 km
Blue Mosque8645 minFree2.8 km
Süleymaniye Mosque7045 minFree22 min walk
Fatih Mosqueyou are here5230 minFree—
Little Hagia Sophia4620 minFree2.7 km
Üsküdar451 h 30 minFree5.6 km
Rüstem Pasha Mosque4420 minFree28 min walk
New Mosque4420 minFree33 min walk
Çamlıca Mosque4245 minFree10.3 km
Chora Church4245 min€2027 min walk
Balat and Fener372 hFree24 min walk
Pierre Loti Hill361 hFree4.0 km
Ortaköy Mosque3240 minFree7.1 km

Süleymaniye to Balat in half a day

Sinan's mosque, the Conqueror's mosque, the Chora mosaics and Balat's colourful streets — one walk downhill to the Golden Horn. Add them in one tap and YesGo fits in the timing, lunch and walks.

  1. Süleymaniye Mosque45 min · Free
  2. 22 min walk from the previous stopFatih Mosqueyou are here30 min · Free
  3. 27 min walk from the previous stopChora Church45 min · €20
  4. 14 min walk from the previous stopBalat and Fener2 h · Free

4 places · about 5 h 3 min with walks · 63 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Valens Aqueduct

Istanbul, Turkey

15 min · Free · 10 min walk

Süleymaniye Mosque

Istanbul, Turkey

45 min · Free · 22 min walk

Balat and Fener

Istanbul, Turkey

2 h · Free · 24 min walk

Chora Church

Istanbul, Turkey

45 min · €20 · 27 min walk

How to do it right

  • Pair it with the Süleymaniye and the Chora Church: Fatih is halfway between them.
  • Bring your own headscarf — loaners aren't always available.
  • The tomb may close before the mosque, so visit it first.
  • On 29 May, the anniversary of the conquest, the tomb gets busy and official ceremonies are held.
  • Carry on downhill to Balat, 20–25 minutes on foot.

Questions

What are Fatih Mosque opening hours?

It is open daily. Visitors can't enter during the five daily prayers, or on Fridays until the midday prayer ends, usually around 14:00–14:30.

Is there an entrance fee for Fatih Mosque?

No. The mosque, courtyard and the tomb of Mehmed II are free.

Who is buried at Fatih Mosque?

Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror of Constantinople, who died in 1481. His tomb is behind the mosque, next to that of Gülbahar Hatun, mother of Bayezid II.

How do I get to Fatih Mosque from Sultanahmet?

Tram T1 to Laleli-Üniversite or Aksaray, then about 20 minutes on foot via the Valens Aqueduct. Or a bus from Eminönü to the Fatih stop.

Is Fatih Mosque worth visiting?

Yes on a Balat and Chora day, or if you're into Ottoman history. With only two days in Istanbul, prioritise the Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye.

What should I wear to Fatih Mosque?

Cover shoulders and knees; women should cover their hair. Shoes come off at the prayer-hall door.

When is the Fatih Wednesday market?

Every Wednesday, all day, in the streets around the mosque. Go in the morning for the best of it.

Who built Fatih Mosque?

Atik Sinan built the first mosque for Mehmed II in 1463–1470. After the 1766 earthquake it was rebuilt to a new plan by 1771 under Mustafa III.

Is Fatih Mosque the same as the Blue Mosque?

No. The Blue Mosque is in Sultanahmet, inside the Fatih district; Fatih Mosque is a separate mosque about 3 km away.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • TDV Encyclopedia of Islam: Fâtih Camii ve Külliyesi
  • English Wikipedia: Fatih Mosque, Istanbul; Russian Wikipedia: Фатих (мечеть); Wikidata Q756189
  • Kültür Envanteri: Fatih Camii — location and parts of the complex
  • Lonely Planet and Istanbul for 91 Days — the Wednesday market
  • Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) — prayer-time method
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 29.10.2026 ·
How we checkedDates, architect and history are checked against the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam and Wikipedia. The mosque has no official page with visiting hours, so hours, the Friday closure, the tomb's hours, the market and transport are marked “verifying”. Sources differ: Wikipedia names Mehmed Tahir Ağa as architect of the new mosque, while TDV names only the building supervisors, so we leave the 1771 architect out; English Wikipedia says the original mihrab survives, TDV says the qibla wall was moved, so we don't claim it. We don't repeat the story that Atik Sinan was executed for making the dome too small — there's no reliable source. Market hours vary between sources.

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