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Faith and Heritage
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi leads a remarkable list of great mosques that welcome visitors of every faith, from Casablanca's ocean-side Hassan II to the domes of Istanbul and the ancient courtyard of Kairouan. Here is where to go, what to wear and when the doors are open.
At a glance
Essentials
Mosques open to visitors are working places of worship, so tourist hours fit around prayer. Expect each mosque to close to sightseers for roughly 30 to 90 minutes at each prayer time and for most of Friday morning and midday, when the congregational prayer is held. Prayer times change daily with the sun, so check the timetable on arrival.
Dress conservatively: loose, opaque clothing covering arms and legs, with a scarf over the hair for women. Several mosques lend robes at the entrance. Remove shoes, keep voices low, do not walk in front of anyone praying, and ask before photographing people. For the art behind these buildings, see our page on Islamic art and architecture.
Eighty-two white marble domes, one of the world's largest hand-knotted carpets and reflecting pools that glow at dusk. Visitors book a free time slot online; open daily from morning to 10 pm, except Friday mornings when it opens to visitors in the afternoon. Pair it with our Abu Dhabi guide.
Official site ↗Built partly over the Atlantic, with a minaret over 200 meters tall and a retractable roof. Non-Muslims enter only on guided tours, held several times a day except during Friday prayer; a ticket is required. See Casablanca.
Official site ↗Six minarets and a lofty interior lined with blue Iznik tiles. Free entry outside prayer times through the visitors' entrance; scarves are provided.
Built as a cathedral in 537 and now a mosque. International visitors enter by a ticketed route to the upper gallery, while the ground floor is reserved for worship; hours pause for prayers. Base yourself at one of our Istanbul hotels on the Bosphorus.
Sinan's masterwork crowns the city's third hill, with calm gardens and sweeping views over the Golden Horn. Free entry outside prayer times.
Founded in 970, the heart of Islamic Cairo and home to one of the world's oldest universities. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; women cover their hair.
A towering 14th-century Mamluk complex with a vast open courtyard, across the square from the Al-Rifa'i Mosque. A small entry fee applies.
A serene sandstone mosque with a great chandelier and a vast Persian carpet. Open to non-Muslims Saturday to Thursday mornings, usually 8 to 11 am. Stay at our Muscat luxury hotels.
One of the oldest mosques in North Africa, with a fortress-like minaret and a forest of ancient columns. Non-Muslims may view the courtyard and look into the prayer hall; mornings, closed Friday afternoon.
The Imam Mosque on Naqsh-e Jahan Square is a 17th-century masterpiece of tilework, listed by UNESCO with the square. Presented here as heritage; see our Isfahan heritage page.
Qatar's state mosque, built in sandy limestone with ninety domes; visitors welcome outside prayer times.
One of the largest mosques in the region, with free guided tours for visitors and a teak-and-glass interior. Closed to visitors on Fridays.
Dubai's best-known mosque for visitors, with short guided tours and conversation hosted by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Official site ↗A pale-stone mosque with a small Islamic museum; visitors welcome outside prayer times.
A blue-domed landmark in the downtown district, beside the Maronite Cathedral of Saint George.
Islamic holy sites reserved
Islam's two holiest mosques, the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, are for Muslims; only Muslims may enter Makkah. Our page on luxury Umrah and Hajj covers pilgrimage. In Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock stand on the Haram al-Sharif; non-Muslim visitors may enter the compound at set hours but not the buildings, as explained on our Jerusalem page.
Mid-morning on a weekday is usually quietest. In Ramadan, mosques are especially beautiful at night, but tourist hours shrink. A private guide can handle tickets and timing, and the finest hotels will arrange modest clothing on request. For more on manners, read our customs and etiquette guide.
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