Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, ÜsküdarAbout Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Üsküdar
The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar is an Ottoman imperial mosque on the Asian shore of Istanbul, commissioned for Mihrimah Sultan and designed by the chief architect Mimar Sinan. It dates to the mid-16th century and is part of the cluster of imperial foundations associated with Mihrimah Sultan.
Architectural interest centres on the mosque’s Sinan design, with a single large prayer hall, domes and traditional Ottoman decorative elements such as stone carving and window arrangements that provide clear daylighting. The building remains an active mosque and an example of 16th-century Ottoman imperial architecture.
The mosque stands in the Üsküdar district near the waterfront and ferry piers on the Bosphorus’s Asian side, making it easily visible from the strait and accessible from central Istanbul by ferry and road.
- Architect and patron: Designed by the Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan and built for Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent, in the mid-16th century.
Nearby Attractions to Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Üsküdar
Best Time to Visit Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Üsküdar
Visit outside of major prayer times to view the architecture and court without disrupting services.
Weather & Climate near Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Üsküdar
Temperate climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 3°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (706 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 4° - 9° | 4° | 93 mm | overcast | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.4h |
| February | Acceptable | 3° - 9° | 4° | 65 mm | overcast | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.5h |
| March | Acceptable | 4° - 11° | 6° | 64 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 8° - 17° | 12° | 46 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 13.2h |
| May | Very Good | 12° - 21° | 17° | 36 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 2.4 m/s | 1.5 very high | 14.4h |
| June | Ideal | 17° - 26° | 21° | 29 mm | some cloud | 69% | 2.5 m/s | 1.9 very high | 15.0h |
| July | Ideal | 19° - 28° | 24° | 24 mm | mostly sunny | 66% | 2.8 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 14.7h |
| August | Ideal | 19° - 28° | 24° | 33 mm | mostly sunny | 66% | 2.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 13.7h |
| September | Excellent | 16° - 25° | 20° | 41 mm | partly cloudy | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.3h |
| October | Good | 12° - 20° | 16° | 76 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.0h |
| November | Acceptable | 8° - 15° | 12° | 88 mm | overcast | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.7h |
| December | Acceptable | 6° - 11° | 6° | 111 mm | overcast | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
How to Get to Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Üsküdar
The mosque is on the Üsküdar waterfront, reachable by ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy (short walk from Üsküdar ferry terminal), and by buses that serve the Üsküdar district. It’s a short walk from the Üsküdar square and the Marmara coast.
Tips for Visiting Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Üsküdar
- Visit between prayer times to see the architecture without interrupting worship.
- Stand at the courtyard's edge to study Sinan's proportional choices: the mosque's light and shadow are part of the design.
- Combine with a ferry ride across the Bosphorus to see the Üsküdar coastline.