Mosque Etiquette in Turkey: What to Wear, How to Behave, What to Avoid

A practical guide for visiting Turkish mosques as a tourist — dress code for men and women, prayer times to avoid, what to do at the entrance, and respectful behavior inside.

Most mosques in Turkey welcome visitors of all faiths. Visiting one is a highlight of any trip — but there are simple rules of respect to know first. Dress code Women must cover : Head (scarf — loaned at the entrance of most major mosques) Shoulders and arms (no tank tops) Knees and below (no shorts or short skirts) Men must cover : Shoulders (no tank tops) Knees and below (no shorts) Many famous mosques (Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye, Hagia Sophia) provide free scarves and skirts at the entrance. Before you enter 1. Remove your shoes — there are shelves or plastic bags inside. 2. Be quiet — even outside prayer time, people may be praying. 3. Phone on silent — vibrations also are noticeable inside. Prayer times to avoid Mosques are closed to tourists during the 5 daily prayers (each ~15 20 min)…