The Grand Çamlıca Mosque is the largest in Turkey and is extremely impressive, not only in its scale but also in its sheer brilliance.
It can accommodate up to 63,000 worshippers at a time and is built on a vast area of 15000 square meters (17939 square yards), housing an art gallery, library, and conference hall.
The mosque is designed according to the classical Ottoman architecture.
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Camlica Mosque Istanbul.
Table of contents
What to expect
The mosque, situated on Istanbul’s iconic Çamlıca Hill, is a grand place of worship and the most modern complex in Turkey.
It features a collection of artifacts that have never been displayed before, including nearly 800 pieces that reflect the development of Islamic art from the 7th to the 19th centuries.
The collection is divided into 15 thematic sections, including works attributed to Prophet Muhammad, woven Turkish art, and architectural and decorative elements in Islamic art.
The mosque blends Ottoman and Seljuk architecture and symbolically represents the 72 diverse nations residing in Istanbul through its dome, reflecting the city’s multicultural fabric.
Explore the library (housing a collection of 50,000 books) and the mosque’s six minarets (symbolizing the six fundamental beliefs of Islam).
Where to book tickets
Camlica Mosque tickets can be purchased online or at the venue.
Online prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.
When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.
Because some tours sell a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Go to the Camlica Mosque booking page, select your preferred date, time, and number of tickets, and buy.
After you purchase the tickets, they get delivered to your email.
You don’t need to take any printouts.
On the day of the visit, show the e-ticket on your smartphone and begin your tour.
Ticket price
Adult tickets for the full-day private tour of Camlica Mosque are priced at ₺4679 for visitors aged 18 and above.
Children between three and 17 years of age can get the tickets for a discounted price of ₺1560.
Infants up to two years of age can join for free.
Prices for the Istanbul Asian Experience with Camlica Mosque can vary depending on the number of tickets you purchase.
Single ticket prices range between ₺13665 to ₺17503, depending on your tour option.
Tickets for the Camlica Mosque, Camlica Tower, Maiden Tower, and Asian Side Tour are available for ₺9000 for groups of up to 6 people.
Camlica Mosque Istanbul tickets
There are multiple ways to explore the attraction.
You can book a full-day private tour, Istanbul Asian Experience, a full-day Imperial & Asia group tour, or a combo ticket to Camlica Mosque, Camlica Tower, Maiden Tower, and Asian Side.
Full-Day Private Tour to Camlica Mosque
Explore the Camlica Mosque complex, which offers a panoramic view of the surroundings and features a museum, art gallery, library, and conference hall.
Below the mosque lies the Museum of Islamic Civilizations and Arts, an exhibit worth seeing.
Head to Camlica Hill, the highest point on the Asian side of Istanbul, for a spectacular panoramic view of the city and the light mapping show.
Stop by the café at the top of the hill, where visitors can have snacks or drinks while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Visit Istanbul’s highest tower, Camlica Tower, and savor delicious treats while admiring the stunning city views.
Visit Kadikoy, the oldest and most popular village on the Asian side of Istanbul.
It is known for its street food, cafes, restaurants, fresh seafood, Turkish delight, coffee shops, bars, gift shops, and Turkish ice cream.
End your tour with a drive across the Bosphorus Bridge, which spans Europe and Asia.
Ticket Prices
Adult (18+ years): ₺4679
Child (3 to 17 years): ₺1560
Infant (up to 2 years): Free
Istanbul Local Asian Experience with Camlica Mosque
Explore the Kadikoy area like a local and get a perspective as an Istanbulite on this full-day adventure, where you can visit some of the favorite local spots and enjoy a local breakfast and lunch.
Start the day with a pick-up from your accommodation in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.
The vehicle will then head to the vibrant Karakoy before taking a ferry to Kadikoy, home to many popular local haunts.
As you disembark at Kadikoy, visit the Kadikoy fruit market, wander around the aisles, and purchase fresh local produce.
Head over to Moda Promenade, which is the cultural hub of Kadikoy, and then move to Uskudar, a sprawling residential area, and have lunch at the beloved traditional Turkish restaurant, Kanaat Lokantasi, and visit the beautiful Mosque Camlica.
Explore the grand building and then head to Otagtepe Park, where visitors can stroll around the picturesque area and take photos of the beautiful ground.
Move to Kanlica, a neighborhood popular for its yogurt snack sprinkled with caster sugar, which is sold in many cafes.
Note: Prices for the tour vary depending on the number of tickets purchased.
Ticket Prices
Private tour (group of three): ₺5491 per person
Private tour in Spanish, German, and Italian (group of three): ₺6987 per person
Full-Day Imperial & Asia Small Group Tour
Begin your exploration of Istanbul’s historic district at Hagia Sophia, where you can marvel at the grand dome, intricate mosaics, and striking images of emperors and religious figures.
Visit the Blue Mosque, built in the early 17th century and named after its exquisite tiles, and see the only imperial mosque with six minarets.
See the Hippodrome, the ancient Byzantium stadium, which houses an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi.
Explore the Grand Bazaar, with its 4000 shops filled with exquisite carpets, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods.
Then, attend a handicrafts presentation and lecture, followed by lunch.
Drive across the Bosphorus Bridge, once the world’s longest suspension bridge, and head toward the summit of Çamlıca Hill.
From there, you can enjoy stunning views of Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara, and the Princes’ Islands.
Make a stop at the Grand Çamlıca Mosque, the largest mosque in Turkey, designed by female architects Bahar Mızrak and Hayriye Gül Totu.
Take a short drive to the Palace of Beylerbeyi, considered one of the most elegant late Ottoman Palaces on the shore of the Bosphorus.
The palace boasts six opulently furnished reception halls beautifully decorated with Bohemian crystal chandeliers, sèvres, and Chinese vases.
If you visit on Sundays, the tour will instead take you to Nuruosmaniye Street around Grand Bazaar since the Grand Bazaar is closed.
Ticket Prices
Adult (8+ years): ₺3303
Child (4 to 7 years): ₺1653
Infant (up to 3 years): Free
Camlica Mosque, Camlica Tower, Maiden Tower, Asian Side Tour
Join a tour of the Asian side of Istanbul and discover the city’s impressive towers with wide-ranging views while learning about the local culture.
Begin the tour by picking you up from your hotel in the city center, and drive to the Asian side by crossing the Bosphorus.
As the first stop, visit the largest mosque in Istanbul as you explore the Camlica Mosque.
Visit the highest point in Istanbul, Camlica Tower, which features a restaurant at the top.
Proceed to Kadikoy village on the Asian side, where you can experience local cuisine and shopping.
Finally, the tour ends with a visit to Maiden/Leander Tower on the Bosphorus before driving back to your hotel.
The tour ticket also includes hotel drop-off, transportation between the attractions, and a guide to lead the tour.
Ticket Prices
General Admission (group of up to 6): ₺9000
Save time and money! Explore Istanbul’s top attractions with ease and save money by booking a 2-, 3-, 5-, or 7-day E-Pass. Get access to over 40 popular attractions and guided tours, including the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and Bosphorus cruise.
How to reach the mosque
The Çamlıca Mosque is located on top of the Çamlıca Hill in the Üsküdar area of Istanbul.
Address: Ferah, Ferah Yolu Sk. No:6 D:3, 34692 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Türkiye. Get Directions
You can reach the mosque by public or private transport.
By Bus
Take the 1, 14F, or 14FD to the Büyük Çamlıca Camii.
The bus stop is located right outside the mosque.
By Subway
Take the M5 subway line to reach the Ümraniye station.
The subway station is 1.2 miles (2 km) away from the mosque.
By Car
If you’re driving by car, turn on Google Maps and get started!
Choose between parking options around the attraction.
Opening hours
The Camlica Mosque will be open to visitors from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
However, it is closed to visitors during the prayer hours.
On Fridays, the mosque is closed for half a day until 2.30 pm for congregational prayers, an exception to the usual schedule.
How long does the tour take
A visit to the Camlica Mosque takes around 2 hours.
However, tours also include other activities, including visits to Camlica Hill and Camlica Tower, making the visit last longer.
Best time to visit Mosque Camlica
The best time to visit Camlica Mosque is late afternoon, around 3 pm, so you can witness the beautiful sunset from atop the hill as you finish the tour.
Visitors can enjoy a mesmerizing view from atop the Camlica Hill.
Furthermore, seeing the mosque lit up at night is equally stunning.
Blue Mosque vs Camlica Mosque
The grand imperial mosques are some of Istanbul’s most prominent and famous landmarks.
Out of these, the Blue Mosque and Camlica Hill are two popular attractions.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is a historic mosque that has stood for over five hundred years. The Grand Mosque Camlica, the largest mosque in Turkey, was built in 2019.
The Blue Mosque is built on the former Byzantium Palace of Emperors site, right across the Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome of Constantinople. In contrast, the Camlica Mosque is located on the highest peak of the Asian side of Istanbul, namely Camlica Hill, offering a breathtaking panoramic view.
The Blue Mosque features walls covered by more than twenty thousand handmade İznik-style ceramic tiles. It has over two hundred stained glass windows with beautiful designs that allow natural light into the mosque.
On the other hand, the Grand Camlica Mosque has six minarets, each representing a pillar of the Islamic faith. The main dome stands at 72 meters (236 feet), symbolizing the 72 nationalities in Istanbul.
Reviews
Grand Camlica Mosque is a highly-rated tourist attraction.
Check out two reviews we selected from Tripadvisor, which give you an idea of what to expect at this attraction.
Beautiful mosque
What an amazing mosque! Beautiful architecture and vast prayer areas & grounds. Unfortunately, we visited on a rainy day so we couldn’t enjoy the outside areas. Love how they give you a bag to put your shoes into before placing them on the shoe rack. There’s also a lovely little cafe attached. A must during your trip.
Hidden modern gem
You can admire Istanbul from above, and when the sun is shining, the views are spectacular. The inside area is massive, and the outside has a wonderful cafe and a few local art shops. It is accessible for wheelchairs but quite far from the metro (public transport).
FAQs about Camlica Mosque Istanbul
Here are some questions visitors usually ask before visiting the mosque.
Yes, the mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors and tourists.
It is best to book your tickets in advance to have a hassle-free experience and ensure availability.
Visitors to the mosque must dress modestly and remove their shoes before entering.
Yes, the mosque is fully accessible for people with disabilities.
Pets are not allowed inside the mosque.
Visitors are allowed to take photographs, but it’s important to be mindful of the place’s sanctity and the safety of other visitors.
The mosque was constructed with Ottoman and Seljuk styles, using marble, steel, and concrete materials.
The Mosque Camlica serves as a place of worship for Muslims and a cultural center for the community.
The mosque complex includes the Museum of Islamic Civilizations, a library, a conference hall, and a large courtyard where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenery.
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