Zeyrek Mosque (Pantocrator Monastery)
Zeyrek Mosque combines two Byzantine churches and a chapel into one structure. It's the second-largest surviving Byzantine religious building in Istanbul after Hagia Sophia.
Originally the Monastery of the Pantokrator, this mosque is a masterpiece of Middle Byzantine architecture. Two former churches and a chapel were joined to form a single large space, with thick walls and brickwork that have endured for centuries. It sits on a hill in the Zeyrek neighborhood, overlooking the Golden Horn. After Hagia Sophia, it is the largest Byzantine religious building still standing in Istanbul. Today it serves as a working mosque, so you can still see traces of its layered history inside. The interior is vast and somewhat austere, with high domes and remnants of its Christian past. The area around the mosque is quieter than Sultanahmet, lined with old Ottoman houses. The entrance is on Fazilet Street, and after your visit you can walk downhill to the Golden Horn. Note that as an active mosque, visitors should avoid prayer times.
“To see the second-largest surviving Byzantine church in Istanbul, now a quiet mosque with a Golden Horn panorama.”
Camiden sonra yamacındaki teras kafelere inin; çay neredeyse bedava, Haliç manzarası ise şehrin en iyilerinden.
Good to know
- Is Zeyrek Mosque (Pantocrator Monastery) free to visit?
- Free. Visit outside prayer times; the terrace cafés below face the Golden Horn
- How long should you spend at Zeyrek Mosque (Pantocrator Monastery)?
- ~1h
- When is the best time to visit Zeyrek Mosque (Pantocrator Monastery)?
- Morning
- Is there a dress code at Zeyrek Mosque (Pantocrator Monastery)?
- Headscarf required. Headscarves for women are provided at the entrance; the mosque is closed to tourists during the five daily prayers.
