Head to the area known as Old Istanbul to Sultanahmet Square. You can take the Sultanahmet tram. The Hagia Sophia Medani and the Hagia Sophia itself will be off to the northeast, and the old Byzantine Hippodrome will be to the northwest. The Blue Mosque is hard to miss, as it is the only one with six minarets. Indeed, a scandal was created when this mosque was built, because the Mosque in Mecca, the holiest site in the Islamic world, was the only mosque at that time with six minarets, so to fix this problem the Sultan had a seventh minaret added to the mosque at Mecca.The mosque is open daily from 8:30am to 12:30pm, 2pm to 4:30pm and 5:15pm to 6:15pm. It's closed on Fridays from noon to 2:30pm. In fact, try to avoid Fridays altogether, because that's the main day Muslims go to the mosque, so it can get crowded. If, however, you're Muslim, you can go in at any time. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
Decide which way you want to go in. Properly speaking, Muslims are supposed to go in through the northwest, Hippodrome side, and tourists through the less-obtrusive northeastern side. Some travelers say to just go ahead and use the main entrance, as long as you don't cause a fuss. From an architectural point of view, the mosque was designed to be approached from the main entrance, but if you go in that way you do risk offending the religious sensibilities of others.
Notice that along the north side of the mosque the are places for Muslims to perform their ritual ablutions of washing face, feet and so forth, before coming in to pray. If you do indeed come in through the main entrance, you'll notice a fountain in the center of the courtyard. This was originally the place where ablutions were done, but it's no longer used. You'll see that the courtyard, which has the same dimensions as the mosque building, is surrounded by an arcade topped with thirty domes. Beyond and above them, on the mosque proper, are a higher ranger of domes, then a higher range above that, all leading up to the main dome. This creates what many call the "cascade effect," with the domes reaching down from heaven to man, and causing him to look up towards Allah.
Dress and behave properly. Men and women should have their shoulders and legs covered; women should cover their heads. If you don't have clothing that meets these requirements, you should ask for a cloth with which to cover yourself at the entrance. You are also to take off your shoes at the entrance. Either carry your shoes in a bag or put them on a rack with those of everyone else. Speak quietly if at all. Do not bother, photograph or otherwise interrupt the worshipers. You're not in the mosque because it's your right, rather it's a privilege.
Enter through the curtain. If you go in the early morning, you're likely see the best effects of the sunlight playing on the stained glass and tiles. The main dome is 141 feet high and 110 feet in diameter, is surrounded by smaller domes and supported by four massive columns that are called "Elephant's Feet." The interior of the mosque is covered with 21,043 blue and green tiles from Iznik. In fact, the order for Iznik tiles for this mosque was so large that the tile makers couldn't fill it, and some of the tiles wound up coming from other workmen and are consequently of inferior quality.If you look where everyone is pointed you'll see the marble mihrab. This is a niche located in every mosque in the world that shows worshipers the direction of Mecca, so they can tell which direction to bow in prayer. To the side of this is the minber, a flight of steps upon which the Imam stands every Friday to deliver his sermon. Off to one side is the marble-screened loge where the Sultan prayed.
Exit the mosque and pay a visit to the tomb of Sultan Ahmet, which is off to the northeast, or go to the Imperial Pavilion on the mosque's east corner. The latter now houses a museum of rugs and kilims, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm. Admission is charged.
