Why Tourists Need To Be Very Cautious Taking Any Photos At Turkey's Iconic Mosques

Ancient and breathtakingly beautiful, the most iconic mosques of Turkey are revered the world over for their architectural magnificence and historical significance. Their brilliance adds to Istanbul's one-of-a-kind skyline, drawing millions of visitors annually from all over the world. In fact, the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque attracts 50,000 visitors daily. As first-time visitors step under these sky-reaching domes, their jaws drop, and trigger-happy hands pull out phones to snap photos. We get it: pics, or it didn't happen, right? But they are forgetting something important. These mosques, despite being open to tourists, are not mere tourist attractions or museums, and visitors need to be cautious when it comes to photographing inside the buildings.

Turkey's oldest and most famous mosques are active places of worship for Muslims to this day. In Islam, every mosque is a house of God. The iconic mosques of Turkey have vast cultural and religious significance, meaning non-Muslim tourists must practice etiquette and behave quite respectfully if they are to visit.

That is not to say all photography is forbidden (at least at most of the famous ones), but you will need to adhere to any posted signs about what is — and what is not — allowed when it comes to photography. At the entrance of the most iconic mosques, there will also be attendants enforcing these rules. If you are disruptive or disrespectful in your manner and quantity of photography, you may be asked to leave, and rightfully so.

Taking pictures in mosques is generally okay as long as the flash is off and as long as you are aware that the biggest violation would be taking a picture of someone praying. Just as in churches and synagogues, prayer time is not a tourist attraction in mosques, even if the sight is new to you. You can be sure that the sight of another overly-curious tourist is not a new sight to them. You could ask for permission to take their picture, but is that really something you want to do? Respect is paramount.

In the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, tripods are strictly forbidden. There is the general acknowledgment that when taking a wide panorama of the inside of the building, there may be distant individuals in the frame, and that's most likely fine, but do your best to avoid having individual faces in focus. Being sneaky about it isn't cool, either. If the mosque does forbid photography, there will be a sign indicating as such. Asking someone would also be a polite and recommended action to take. 

Photography aside, there is other etiquette to be aware of before visiting a mosque! First and foremost, be aware that non-Muslim visitors might not always be welcome to this place of worship. The biggest mosques often close their doors to the public during specific prayer times every day, and Fridays generally have the most restricted visiting times as it is the sacred day. You may want to check open hours and plan your visit ahead of time! Another important note is to remove your shoes upon entry. When inside, you are expected to move quietly and speak little. It can be considered offensive if you sit down.

In terms of clothing, both men and women alike are expected to have their shoulders and legs covered. For visitors, it is generally advised to arrive in long sleeves and long pants, or you may not be allowed inside. Women also must cover their heads with a scarf, and oftentimes, you can purchase or borrow one before entering. Before entering the Hagia Sophia, for example, there is a little booth for this purpose.

So, if you are a non-Muslim visitor, just follow the signs and err on the side of being overly respectful. By respecting tradition, you can have a more valuable and real experience, anyway. Do as the locals do, right?