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Sunset

Golden Hour at Koca Mustafa Pasha

Catch the late afternoon light filtering through the old stones of this historic mosque, paired with a quiet snack nearby.

Best time: 15 JanAbout 75 min

Timeline

  1. 17:15

    Imren

    Grab a bite or a drink at Imren. It is open from 09:00 to 21:00, so you have plenty of time before the evening rush.

  2. 17:45

    Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque

    Walk 650 meters to the Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque. The courtyard opens up as the sun begins its descent toward the WSW.

  3. 18:00

    Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque

    Stay for the sunset at 18:00. The golden light that started around 17:17 will wash over the 5th-century monastery walls, highlighting the layers of history from Byzantine to Ottoman.

Local tip

The mosque is open until 19:30, giving you time to linger after the sun dips below the horizon.

Check before you go

  • Imren is open 09:00-21:00.
  • Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque is open 07:00-19:30.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Istanbul (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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