Istanbul

Arrive when it opens to visitors at 08:30 — morning sun pours through 260 stained-glass windows onto 20,000 blue İznik tiles, and the vast courtyard is nearly empty. The six minarets silhouetted against the morning sky form the most recognizable skyline in Istanbul. Walk the outer courtyard to photograph the cascading domes from the northeast corner, then step inside between prayer times to see the blue ceiling that gives it its name — the interior at this hour glows with a soft, almost underwater light.

Tip: Enter from the Hippodrome side (south gate) — the tourist queue at the north entrance is 3x longer. Women need a headscarf; free ones are provided at the entrance but bringing your own avoids the wait. The mosque closes to visitors during 5 daily prayer times (about 30 min each) — check the posted schedule at the entrance so you don't walk into a closure.