Hagia Sophia was built 1500 years ago by the Byzantine emperor Justinian. Built with techniques far beyond its time, the building remained the largest church in the world for a thousand years.
Hagia Sophia, which was used as a church from the 6th to the 15th centuries, was the city’s holiest building. Emperors were crowned here during the Eastern Roman (aka Byzantine) period.
After the Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. Ayasofya (locally known by this name) was likewise a privileged place of worship during the Ottoman era. It was well preserved during this period.
In the Republican times, Ayasofya remained a museum for about 90 years. However, as of 2020, it was turned back into a mosque. Hagia Sophia is still one of the most visited historical places in Istanbul.
If you want to get fast access to the mosque with a guided group, you can buy Hagia Sophia skip-the-line tickets from this link. These online tickets can save you from waiting at the ticket booths during the spring and summer months.
Insider Tips About Hagia Sophia
As a local guide, I would like to give you useful tips during your visit to Hagia Sophia. In this article, you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Hagia Sophia.
1. What is the best time to visit Hagia Sophia?
In 2024, the lower floor of Hagia Sophia will be open only to Muslims who want to pray, and the upper floor galleries will be used for touristic purposes.
The best time to visit Hagia Sophia is between 9 am and 11 am. Because during Istanbul’s tourist season (between April and November), there are queues that grow every hour at the ticket offices of historical monuments in the afternoon.
The ground floor of Hagia Sophia is open to Turkish citizens throughout the day (whether there is prayer time or not). Foreign Muslims who want to pray can enter the building only after the adhan is recited and can stay inside throughout the prayer.
On the other hand, the upper floor galleries are open to foreign tourists all day long. After purchasing your ticket from the ticket offices, you can visit the upper floor, whether or not prayer is being performed on the ground floor. However, there are strict rules regarding silence.
2. Are the mosaics of Hagia Sophia open?
In 2024, the mosaics in Hagia Sophia are open. You can see most of the Byzantine mosaics in Hagia Sophia on the upper floor, which is open to tourist visits. Unfortunately, some of the 3 mosaics on the lower floor are outside the tourist route.
The mosaics on the upper floor date to the 11th and 13th centuries. Hagia Sophia’s most famous mosaics, Christ Pantocrator (Depicting the Judgment Day), Empress Zoe Mosaic and Emperor John II Komnenos Mosaic are completely open to view.
The Virgin and Child Mosaic, the most famous of the mosaics on the ground floor, can be seen from the upper floor galleries, although its front side is closed with a curtain because it is in the field of view of those praying on the ground floor.
Among the other two mosaics on the lower floor, the Emperor Leo VI Mosaic (above the Imperial Gate) is unfortunately completely off the tourist route and cannot be seen.
However, the mosaic of Emperors Constantine and Justinian on the south side of Hagia Sophia can be seen in the corridor on the right before leaving the building from the ground floor. Don’t miss this hidden treasure, which can be seen immediately after descending to the ground floor when leaving the building!
3. What are the things to see in Ayasofya?
Here you can see hundreds of artifacts from different periods. Byzantine mosaics come first among the things to see in Hagia Sophia. However, even the columns and the marbles covering the walls of Hagia Sophia are historical artifacts.
There are wooden plaques decorated with calligraphy from the Ottoman period. There is also a library that was added by the Ottomans. Here you can see items of classical period Ottoman decoration.
The most important decorative elements in the classical period of the Ottomans were pencil works, Iznik tiles, mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinets, Turkish rugs and woodwork decorated with calligraphy.
4. Should I visit Hagia Sophia with a guide?
Ayasofya has a history of 1500 years and is identified with many legends. If you are a history buff and want to hear these stories from a knowledgeable person, yes, you should visit Hagia Sophia with a guide.
Even the mosaics, columns and marbles that adorn the building have their own stories. In addition, the building is identified with the most important characters of Byzantine history. On the other hand, there are also stories about the Ottoman sultans.
It is recommended to join guided tours to learn about all this. You can make a reservation from this link to take a guided tour of Hagia Sophia. Tours are organized under the guarantee of GetYourGuide, an international travel platform.
5. What are the things to do around it?
There is Sultanahmet Square in the immediate vicinity of the building. The square where chariot races were held in the past was known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople.
The Hippodrome is important because it is one of the few Byzantine sites in Istanbul. Especially if you have a guide with you, you can listen to many stories about the races here.
The Hippodrome was also the place where rebellions began in the Byzantine Empire. Especially the Nika Revolt was very famous in history and broke out against the Emperor Justinian, who built Ayasofya.
Apart from this, Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hammam is also very close. You can book this place which is among the best Turkish baths in Istanbul and relax after your tour.
In addition, there are sultan’s tombs in the courtyard of the building. Some of these tombs are decorated with magnificent tiles. They reflect the classical period when the Ottoman Empire was at its peak.
Especially the tombs belonging to Selim II and Murad III are special as they were built by Mimar Sinan, the most famous architect of the Ottoman Empire.
Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee 2024
Hagia Sophia entrance fee is 25 Euros in 2024. Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid for visiting Hagia Sophia. Information on ticket prices was last updated on May 16, 2024.
If you visit Hagia Sophia with a guided tour, you will learn about the history of the building. You can book your place on the guided group tour by clicking this link. These tour tickets are sold with the guarantee of GetYourGuide, an international travel platform.
Latest Information About Visiting Hagia Sophia
After the building was converted into a mosque in July 2020, it could be visited free of charge until very recently. However, as of January 15, 2024, foreign tourists will now need to buy a ticket to enter Hagia Sophia.
According to the statement, only Muslim visitors who want to worship will be able to enter from the gate on the park side of Hagia Sophia (which has been the main entrance for years) and will directly reach the ground floor.
Foreign tourists will be accepted through the new tourist entrance gate of Hagia Sophia on the side of Topkapi Palace and will directly reach the upper floor galleries with a slight ramp.
As of 2024, the new tourist visit route includes only the upper floor galleries. The ground floor is only open to those who want to pray. You can see the unique Byzantine mosaics on the upper floor and take panoramic photos of the building.
For example, I took the last photo in the article from the upper floor galleries of the museum, which are reserved for touristic visits. On the other hand, you can also see the Byzantine mosaics of the upper floor galleries just above.
Hagia Sophia Visiting Hours 2024
Hagia Sophia visiting hours are between 08:00 am and 7:30 pm in 2024. If you visit Hagia Sophia with a guided tour, you will learn about the history of the building. You can book your place on the guided group tour by clicking this link.
Ticket sales end at 7:30 pm at Hagia Sophia’s ticket office for tourists, and this is also the last entry time. As of 8:30 pm, the upper floor galleries reserved for touristic visits are completely closed.
On the other hand, foreign Muslim visitors visiting Istanbul can enter the building during prayer hours throughout the day. After the congregational prayer is over, the building is evacuated and only Turkish citizens can enter the rest of the time.
Hagia Sophia is open to visitors at the same hours every day, regardless of weekdays or weekends. Since there are large congregational prayers on Fridays, the lower floor can be very crowded.
Tourist visits to Hagia Sophia may be interrupted on Fridays between 12:00 noon and 14:30 due to Friday prayers. Please make your plans taking this into consideration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hagia Sophia is a must-see for those visiting Istanbul. Since the building is located in Sultanahmet, the heart of the Old City, it is very easy to reach.
You can also visit other historical artifacts and museums in the vicinity after seeing this place. The first places that come to mind as examples are of course the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.
However, in addition to this, there are other places such as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums and the Great Palace Mosaic Museum.
The museums in Sultanahmet are usually very crowded during the tourist season. For this reason, you can consider buying a museum pass. This card covers the cost of visiting several museums. You can see a detailed breakdown of which museums you can enter from the Istanbul museum pass article.
But more importantly, when you have a museum card, you will not wait in line at the entrance. Especially in the spring months, you can wait up to 1 hour in front of the ticket offices of the museums in Istanbul.
After your tour in Sultanahmet, you can take a walk to Eminonu, which is full of Istanbul’s best local restaurants and dessert shops. The famous historical shopping place Spice Bazaar is also located here.
Written by Serhat Engul
I want to make sure I understand the opening and closing hours as listed in your blog for Hagia Sofia. In section 1 it states the best time to visit is between 9:00am – 11:00am. However, in section at the end it states the hours for 2023 is between 10:00am – 10:00pm. I am researching certain sites I wish to see in August 2023 and want to ensure what the hours are.
Hi Raymond, yes, the opening hours of Hagia Sophia are a bit confusing. For the last two years, the time when Hagia Sophia opens its doors in the morning is sometimes 09:00 and sometimes 10:00. It was opening at 09:00 in the summer season of 2022. Then it was 10:00 in the Ramadan months of 2023. I don’t know if it was reverted to 09:00 after that, I haven’t been able to go and verify it myself yet.
Is it compulsory to have a tour guide or could you visit without one?
You do not have to hire a private guide or join a guided group tour to enter Hagia Sophia. You can visit it yourself.
I hope that the fee will not extend to anyone who wishes to pray.
I am a Muslim living in Turkey and should have the right to pray anywhere I wish at no cost
According to the official statement, those who want to pray will enter the ground floor free of charge from the main gate in the square. Those who come for touristic visits will enter from the second floor through the door on the Topkapi Palace side.
Hi Serhat. I am going to visit Istanbul in February 2024 and will stay a half day around the Sultanahmet area. Is Hagia Sophia open for fajr/morning pray?
Hello Utami, the hours I shared in the article are actually touristic visiting hours. Since Hagia Sophia is now a mosque, it is open to those who come for worship at relevant hours.
If I am wrong and it is closed in the morning hours, you can perform the morning prayer at the Blue Mosque next door. I’m absolutely sure this other mosque is open.
Will the Istanbul Museum Pass cover Hagia Sophia? 25 Euros is a lot so I may as well but the Istanbul Museam Pass if it does cover Hagia Sophia, please let me know if it does.
Hello Umar, unfortunately, Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid for entering Hagia Sophia.
Hi Serhat, thanks for info. I am also tour guide in Croatia so wanted to ask can tour guides enter for free to Hagia or other museums. I mean without groups just showing guides licence (traveling as private).
Hi Mario, I think I’m a little late in replying and I’m sorry about that. Unfortunately, there are no discounts or any special pricing for foreign guides in museums in Istanbul (as far as I know).
We are a big family, 9 adults. Is it a family discount?
A cost of 225 euros meaning there,probably will be no visit.
Hello Wilfred Karlsen, yes, entrance is quite expensive for large families. However, I do not think there is a discount for the same group when the number of people increases.