Blue Mosque, Istanbul Sultan Ahmet camii
The Blue Mosque is a mosque and historic building in Istanbul, Turkey. Commissioned by Ahmed I and designed by architect Sedefkar Mehmed Ağa, it is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Planning a visit
The site is open Monday through Sunday from 08:30 to 12:15, 14:00 to 16:45, and 17:45 to 18:30. Wheelchair access is not available. Summer months like July and August bring daily highs of 26 °C to 27 °C and lower rainfall, with rain on about 3 to 4 days per month. Winter months such as December bring higher rainfall of 119 mm on about 12 days and daily highs of 10 °C with lows of 7 °C.
The nearest airport is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, located 30 km away, and the site is 348 km from Ankara. Nearby sights include the Basilica Cistern at 0.3 km, Hagia Sophia at 0.4 km, the Historic Areas of Istanbul at 0.4 km, Little Hagia Sophia at 0.5 km, and the Column of Constantine at 0.6 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 27 °C. The wettest is December, with about 119 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 10 |
| Average low, °C | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 95 | 77 | 68 | 47 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 33 | 49 | 88 | 95 | 119 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
