Zeyrek Mosque
Zeyrek Mosque
4.5
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Neighbourhood: Fener & Balat
This sleepy and rather socially conservative area of Istanbul hosts a small but thriving Jewish community, the patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and some of the most beautiful churches and Christian art in the world. Much of what’s most interesting to witness in Fener and Balat sits between the surviving ancient city walls of Constantinople and the serene shores of the Golden Horn. Despite the many splendid sights, historic attractions, stunning vistas, and warm Turkish welcome, the area remains largely unperturbed by the tourist trade that characterizes the atmosphere in nearby Sultanahmet and around the Grand Bazaar. Travelers that like to explore off the beaten track will reap big rewards for making the effort to visit this low-key part of town.
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4.5
57 reviews
Excellent
36
Very good
11
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Chris K
Irkutsk, Russia4 contributions
Feb 2014 • Business
The restoration of most of it has finished.I had visited it 10 years ago without restoration, it was almost a ruin. But it was still a monument! You could see the floor, the walls etc. Now it is a rebuilt brand new mosque, inside it has been painted like a regular modern mosque, you may not see the walls from inside and neither the floor. It is a great dissapointment. I do not recommend the visit.
Written 17 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darrellcocup
Warminster, UK188 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
UNESCO eat your heart out. This isn't a restoration, it's a complete desecration. Don't bother visiting, what was once glorious is no more...
Written 26 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irina866
Almaty, Kazakhstan11 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
The best view of the Golden horn is from a cafe/bookstore behind Zeyrek mosque (Pantokrator monastery) , which is called Istanbul Kitapsici , while their menu was more extensive on paper but in reality you can get less, the main hook here is the view. Nothing can beat it ! We could even see tourists on Galata Tower's observation deck in detail... Make sure you have your kahvesi and camera ready...
Surprisingky the place doesnt come up in English google searches or guides. But it is popular with local Turkish tourists. You can see Suleymanie mosque in all its glory from this cafe.
Surprisingky the place doesnt come up in English google searches or guides. But it is popular with local Turkish tourists. You can see Suleymanie mosque in all its glory from this cafe.
Written 28 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andras
Budapest, Hungary74 contributions
This is one of the few Byzantine churches survived the Ottoman conquest. At least the building itself, as all of the original decorations of its interior has been lost long ago. Seen from the outside it is still a charming little church with its rough brick walls and small domes. There is a nice little garden behind its apses. From here you can enjoy the best view of the building as well as the beautiful panorama to the Golden Horn and the next hill with the huge Süleymaniye mosque on the top of it. There is also a good coffee bar that will possibly make you enjoy the view even more. It is not easy to find this place but it is worth to.
Written 5 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
recepcalev
59 contributions
Apr 2018
very nice building originally was a church and now serving as a mosque nice view of the golden horn,
Written 9 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tessekurler
Luton, UK6 contributions
July 2018 • Family
Beautiful Byzantine age mosque in a really down to earth area. Very friendly people. A lovely place for just sitting and enjoying the ambience and spirituality.
Written 19 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KAD
25 contributions
July 2017
I accidentally discovered that the second largest standing Byzantine structure, after Hagia Sofia/Aya Sofya is the Zeyrek Mosque, formerly a double church and chapel of a Byzantine Monastery and that it was recently restored by the World Monument Fund. After taking a tram to Aksaray and walking up towards the main square and then down past the Valens Aqueduct, I found the church/mosque two streets over on the left side as you go towards the Golden Horn. You will need to ask locals for Zeyrek Camii (the mosque) and they will gladly help you.
The building is very large, beautiful, and is a functioning mosque which means it is open. It is free of charge and the building has been magnificently restored. The structure is obviously Byzantine by the architecture, columns, capitals, etc. There are no mosaics or Byzantine frescoes remaining, other than a hint near the main entrance. And I mean a hint. The rest is restored, early-Ottoman frescoes which are simple, gorgeous, and screaming to be photographed.
If you are into architecture, Byzantine and/or Ottoman history, this is a must-see.
The building is very large, beautiful, and is a functioning mosque which means it is open. It is free of charge and the building has been magnificently restored. The structure is obviously Byzantine by the architecture, columns, capitals, etc. There are no mosaics or Byzantine frescoes remaining, other than a hint near the main entrance. And I mean a hint. The rest is restored, early-Ottoman frescoes which are simple, gorgeous, and screaming to be photographed.
If you are into architecture, Byzantine and/or Ottoman history, this is a must-see.
Written 20 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pan0s_athens
Athens, Greece98 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
Although the mosaics and frescoes were totally destroyed by the ottomans and the structure is in a sad state of neglect, still remains a wonderful sign of the Byzantine architecture and is actually the second largest church in Constantinople after Hagia Sophia.
Hopefully a restoration is ongoing....
Hopefully a restoration is ongoing....
Written 24 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nazım H
Batum, Ajaria, Georgia3 contributions
Feb 2013 • Friends
absolutely you will must to see this church. and it is last two Byzantine church..ıf you will come to church.you can see most ımportant things for Byzantine history.after that.. ıf you go to back of church . you can eat snak and drink something.. and while you will drink wine you can see very good view. mosque, beyazıt tower, galata tower and golden horn... by the way you can see brunette young person .. this people is drug dealer.. ıf you want to something you can buy .. :)))))
Written 28 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iskandil
İstanbul188 contributions
The Church was under construction but it must be finished now.The most interesting thing for me is; one side of the Church is used as a mosque. The Restaurant nearby is great and served Ottoman food. The view from the terrace is great and cool and relaxing even in August.
Written 5 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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