The Blue Mosque is one of the iconic sights in Istanbul. It is in the Sultanahmet, the old Byzantine quarter of the city. It lies across a small park from the much older Hagia Sofia, creating a very impressive sightseeing area.

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Most of the cheap hostels in Istanbul are located in the Sultanahmet, and all of the hostels and restaurants in the area have rooftop terraces with Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia views. It’s a perfect spot to have some tea or a beer while reading a book or planning the next day’s schedule.

The muezzin, or Muslim call to prayer, sounds five times each day. The recording you are listening to (if not, click the play button!) was made in front of the Blue Mosque, one of the most famous in the world. Istanbul has lots of Mosques, each one sounding the call to prayer at the same time. You can hear the sounds echo away from the mosque, and then they are almost answered by another mosque close by before it continues from the Blue Mosque.