The Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I (Sultan Ahmet Türbesi) is a tomb in Istanbul, where Sultan Ahmed I and other representatives of the Ottoman Empire rest.
The mausoleum is part of the architectural complex Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) and is located on its northeastern side.
The tomb was erected after the death of Sultan Ahmed I, who erected the Blue Mosque and died of typhus in 1617.
The construction of the mausoleum was started in 1617 under Sultan Mustafa I (brother of Ahmed I) and completed in 1619 under Sultan Osman II (son of Ahmed I).
The architect of the tomb-mausoleum was Sedefkar Mehmed Agha (Sedefkar Mehmed Agha), who also built the Blue Mosque.
Today, the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I is managed by the tombs of Istanbul and is open to visitors as a museum. It is one of the most visited and largest mausoleums of the city.
The mausoleum looks somewhat like a mosque and is a monumental building with a domed roof and an arcade-entrance in the form of a three-part portico. It has a square layout, the facades of which are lined with marble.
In the mausoleum, in addition to the sarcophagus of Sultan Ahmed I himself, other representatives of the Ottoman Empire are also buried (there are tombs). In total, 36 people are buried in the mausoleum, the most important of which are: Sultan Osman, Sultan Murad, Kesem Walide Sultan (Mahpaker) and the children of these sultans and Sultan Ibrahim.
The interior of the tomb is lined with artistic tiled tiles. The dome is decorated with floral motifs. The central part of the dome is decorated with a medallion.
The stained glass windows are arranged in three rows. The surface of the walls between the lower windows and the second row of windows has a wide band of inscriptions.
In addition to the above, there are also wooden and stone decorations in the mausoleum.
The scheme of burials in the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I
Practical information
The mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I is located on the northeast side Blue Mosque, on the European side of Istanbul, in the old part of the city, in Sultanahmet district, near Hagia Sophia Mosque with several mausoleums.
Address of Sultan Ahmed I Mausoleum: Sultan Ahmet, Sultan Ahmet Kabasakal Cad, Dalbastı Sk. No:2, 34122 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey.
You can get to the mausoleum and the Blue Mosque on foot from the ferry piers near the Galata Bridge; from the tram stop T1 "Sultanahmet"; from the metro station Vezneciler (green line M2) on foot about 1.8 kilometers. You can also get there by taxi, rented car, or by taking a tour on the Istanbul Hop-On Hop-Off tour bus (there are tickets for 1, 2 or 3 days).
Tickets for the Istanbul sightseeing bus can be purchased here →
Entrance to the mausoleum is free. When entering, you must take off your shoes.
You can also visit and (or) see the mausoleum and the Blue Mosque with one of the excursions in Istanbul
All accommodation facilities in Istanbul, including in the historical center, on the European and Asian sides of the city, can be viewed and booked here
