Ortaköy Mosque
A beautiful 19th-century mosque right on the Bosphorus waterfront in Ortaköy. It's famous for its elegant baroque style and the stunning view of the Bosphorus Bridge behind it.
“For the perfect postcard view of a historic mosque framed by the modern Bosphorus Bridge.”
See the exact spot on the map at right. The highlighted pin clearly marks this stop.
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise
Two-hour boat ride through the Bosphorus at golden hour — the view most tourists come to Istanbul for.
The Ortaköy Mosque, officially the Büyük Mecidiye Camii, was built in the 1850s under Sultan Abdülmecid I. Its location is the main event—it sits right on the water's edge at the Ortaköy pier, making its silhouette against the Bosphorus one of the city's most photographed scenes.
While the interior is lovely, most of the experience is about the setting. The square in front is always lively. Come to see the mosque, but stay to wander the pier, grab a famous potato kumpir from the square, and watch the ferries and boats go by.
Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the massive weekend crowds that fill the square; you'll get a clearer view and a more peaceful moment.
The main prayer area is accessible, but the square and waterfront have cobblestones and some steps. The interior has a flat entrance.
Keep going in Beşiktaş
A few places that pair well with this stop on the same day.
Sinan Pasha Mosque
A Mimar Sinan-designed mosque built for the admiral Sinan Pasha in Beşiktaş. The tomb of the famous Ottoman admiral Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha is right across the street.
Yahya Efendi Complex
A peaceful Ottoman-era complex built for the scholar and Sufi sheikh Yahya Efendi. It's a quiet cemetery and shrine in the heart of Beşiktaş.
