Hürrem Sultan's Tomb & Suleiman's Tomb at Süleymaniye (2026)

The real Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan of Magnificent Century are buried side by side in two domed tombs (türbe) in the garden of Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, the mosque Suleiman built and Mimar Sinan designed. Entry is free for the mosque and both tombs, with no ticket.

The tombs are closed on Mondays according to the Culture Ministry's published tomb lists. The prayer hall closes to visitors during the five daily prayers, and on Fridays it doesn't open to visitors until about 14:30.

We're a small hotel in Sultanahmet, a few minutes' walk from the Blue Mosque, and "how do I get to Hürrem's tomb?" is one of the questions our guests ask us most. This is the answer we give them, with everything we checked before writing it.

Quick Summary

• What's there: Suleiman's tomb (with his daughter Mihrimah), Hürrem's tomb right next to it, and Mimar Sinan's own small tomb at the corner of the complex
• Price: free, mosque and tombs; a donation box by the exit is optional
• Tomb days: closed Mondays; Hürrem's tomb usually closes earlier in the day than Suleiman's
• Prayer times: the prayer hall shuts about 30 minutes before each call to prayer until the prayer ends; Fridays from about 14:30
• Dress: shoulders and knees covered, headscarf for women, shoes off
• Time needed: about 1.5 hours for the mosque, tombs and terrace
• From Sultanahmet: T1 tram two stops to Beyazıt–Kapalıçarşı, then about 12 minutes' walk; or about 25–30 minutes on foot

Suleiman's and Hürrem Sultan's Tombs: From Screen to Garden

In the series, Hürrem's death and Suleiman's last campaign to Szigetvár close the story. In real life, both stories end in the same quiet garden behind the qibla wall of Süleymaniye.

If you've watched all four seasons, standing between the two tombs is the moment the show stops being television. Our Magnificent Century filming locations guide covers where the show was actually shot; this page is about the place where the people it's based on are buried.

Suleiman's tomb

The large octagonal tomb, ringed by a colonnade, is dated 1566, the year Suleiman died. Inside, the walls are covered in coloured İznik tiles. Suleiman isn't alone: his daughter Mihrimah Sultan is buried here too, along with two later sultans, Suleiman II and Ahmed II.

There's a twist fans love. Suleiman died in September 1566 during the siege of Szigetvár, in present-day Hungary.

His body was brought back to Istanbul, but by tradition his internal organs were buried where he died, and a memorial tomb was built on the spot. A Hungarian research team identified that site at Turbék, near Szigetvár, in 2015, and excavations have continued since. So Suleiman has two tombs: this one, and one in a Hungarian vineyard.

Hürrem Sultan's tomb

Right beside it stands Hürrem's smaller octagonal tomb, built by Sinan and dated 1558, the year she died. Inside it is sixteen-sided and lined with İznik tiles. It's quieter than Suleiman's, and many visitors find it the more moving of the two.

Mimar Sinan's tomb

Walk to the northern corner of the complex, where it meets Mimar Sinan Caddesi. Just outside the walls, on a small triangular plot, is the modest tomb of the architect himself.

You can't go in; you look through the grille. The greatest architect of the empire lies at the foot of his own masterpiece, and almost nobody stops.

Tips for the tombs

• Avoid Mondays. The Culture Ministry's published lists put both tombs among those closed on Mondays.
• Do Hürrem's tomb first in the afternoon. On the official schedules it consistently closes earlier than Suleiman's.
• Prayer time is tomb time. When the prayer hall is closed, the tombs can usually still be visited, so head to the garden first.
• Shoes off, voices down. These are still places of prayer, and many Turkish visitors come to pray here.

Visiting Süleymaniye Mosque: Hours and Prayer Times

Süleymaniye was built between 1550 and 1557, according to the inscription over the entrance, on Istanbul's Third Hill above the Golden Horn. Its history and architecture are covered in depth on Wikipedia's Süleymaniye Mosque article. It's calmer and roomier inside than the Blue Mosque, with far fewer tour groups.

There's no official published visiting timetable. In practice you can enter roughly 09:00 to 18:00, broken up by the prayers. Prayer times follow the sun, so they shift every day; any prayer-times app shows them.

When	What to expect
Weekday mornings	Quietest time to visit
Around midday prayer	Prayer hall closed for about an hour
Friday	Closed to visitors until about 14:30
Winter (Nov–Feb)	Afternoon and sunset prayers come early; arrive before about 17:00
Monday	Mosque open, tombs closed

Süleymaniye Dress Code

• Shoulders and knees covered for everyone; no shorts.
• Women need a headscarf. Coverings are sometimes lent at the door but can run out in the afternoon, so bring a scarf.
• Shoes come off before the carpet; plastic bags are handed out at the visitors' entrance so you can carry them.
• Photos are fine, but not of people praying.

The Free Terrace View over the Golden Horn

On the north side of the mosque, between the mosque and the old madrasas, there's a free terrace looking over the Golden Horn, the Galata and Atatürk bridges and Galata Tower, with the Bosphorus in the distance. It's one of the best free views in the city, especially at sunset, and the perfect place to wait out a prayer closure. On the street behind the mosque, a row of small restaurants serves kuru fasulye (white beans with rice), the classic local lunch.

"Suleiman's Palace" Is Topkapı

Süleymaniye is Suleiman's mosque and tomb, not his home. He lived and ruled from Topkapı Palace in Sultanahmet, behind Hagia Sophia, which is where the show's palace scenes are set.

Tickets, the Harem and the closing day are in our Topkapı Palace guide. The two fit into one day: Topkapı in the morning, Süleymaniye and the tombs in the afternoon, the terrace at sunset.

Getting There from Sultanahmet

By tram: take the T1 from Sultanahmet towards Bağcılar for two stops to Beyazıt–Kapalıçarşı, then walk past Istanbul University, gently uphill, for about 12 minutes. How the Istanbulkart works and what a ride costs is in our Istanbul public transport guide.

On foot: about 2 km, 25–30 minutes, along Divanyolu following the tram tracks, or cut through the Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays) to make the walk part of the day.

Back: walk downhill towards Eminönü through the market streets to the Spice Bazaar, then take the T1 three stops back to Sultanahmet.

Honest Caveats Before You Go

• It's uphill. The mosque sits on top of a hill whichever way you come. With a pushchair or limited mobility, take the tram to cut the walk.
• Tomb hours change. They vary by season and on religious holidays, and tombs occasionally close for restoration. We don't quote exact hours for that reason; the Monday closure is the one fixed rule.
• Prayer times can't be planned around precisely. If you arrive to a closed prayer hall, don't leave: garden, tombs, terrace, and it reopens soon.
• These aren't film sets. The show's interiors were shot in a studio. What you see here is real, which is the point.

Staying Close to the Story

The easiest way to see Topkapı, Hagia Sophia and Süleymaniye without rushing is to stay in Sultanahmet.

Hotel Perula is 3 minutes' walk from Hagia Sophia and 2 minutes from the Blue Mosque, rated 4.4★ from 530+ Google reviews, with breakfast on our rooftop. Our staff also speak Hungarian, which many Magnificent Century fans appreciate.

See our rooms, and if you book direct you get 10% off our non-refundable rate on the reservation page. For a full plan, see our 3-day Istanbul itinerary or the things to do in Istanbul list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Hürrem Sultan buried?

In Istanbul, in the garden behind Süleymaniye Mosque, right next to Suleiman's tomb. Her octagonal, İznik-tiled tomb was built by Mimar Sinan and is dated 1558. It's free to visit and closed on Mondays.

Where is Suleiman the Magnificent buried?

His body lies in the octagonal tomb in the garden of Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, with his daughter Mihrimah. By tradition his internal organs were buried near Szigetvár in Hungary, where he died in 1566; that memorial site was identified at Turbék in 2015.

Can you visit Suleiman and Hürrem's tombs?

Yes. Both tombs are open to visitors free of charge, except on Mondays. Take your shoes off, dress modestly, and keep your voice down, as people come to pray there.

Is there an entrance fee for Süleymaniye Mosque?

No. The mosque, garden, terrace and both tombs are free. Anyone selling a "ticket" is selling a guided tour, not admission.

What are Süleymaniye Mosque's opening hours?

Roughly 09:00 to 18:00, but the prayer hall closes to visitors from about 30 minutes before each of the five daily prayers until the prayer ends. On Fridays it opens to visitors at about 14:30.

Are Suleiman and Hürrem buried together?

Next to each other, not in the same tomb. Suleiman's octagonal tomb and Hürrem's smaller one stand a few steps apart in the same garden behind Süleymaniye Mosque, so you can visit both in a few minutes.

How do I get to Süleymaniye Mosque from Sultanahmet?

Take the T1 tram two stops to Beyazıt–Kapalıçarşı and walk about 12 minutes uphill, or walk the whole way in about 25–30 minutes, through the Grand Bazaar if you like.