Hagia Sophia
This magnificent Byzantine church turned Ottoman mosque was made a museum in 1935 by Kemal Ataturk, the father of the Turkish Republic. It's one of Istanbul's proudest icons.
Top pick
Lonely Planet Istanbul (Travel Guide)
Hagia Sophia: Sound, Space, and Spirit in Byzantium
Hagia Sophia: Tours & Tickets
Insider tips
What are the opening times?
You can visit the Hagia Sophia between the hours of 9:00AM and 7:00PM from April 15th to September 31st, and between 9:00AM and 5:00PM from October 1st to April 14th. It is closed in the early days of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha. Book tickets in advance to avoid the queues!
How to get there?
The Hagia Sophia is just a short walk from the Sultanahment metro and tram stops. Close to many of Istanbul’s historic attractions, it’s also covered on most city walking tours!
Good to know
When should I visit?
9:00AM to 5:00PM in the winter, 9:00AM to 7:00PM in the summer. Check holiday schedules to avoid closures.
How to get there
Take the metro or tram to the Sultanahment stop.
Is it expensive?
The ticket price is 30 TRY, which is roughly $11.
Will I need a guide?
It will definitely help. Might be worth it to check out our best-selling tours.
What people are saying about Hagia Sophia
★★★★★ Excellent option for a layover in Istanbul
Guide with good knowledge. On time, looking for what we must visit and as well, time permitting, what could be interested for us.
Istanbul Airport: Layover Tour Options reviewed by Ramiro
★★★★★ Excellent, engaging and educational tour
Latife was a superb guide! Friendly, helpful and incredibly knowledgeable of Turkish history. Not only did she give us lots of information on all the beautiful sites we visited but she also told us about modern Turkey giving us a great picture of how Turkey has grown over the past 1600 years or so. Highly recommend this tour. It was also really nice having such a small group (me, my wife and Latife!).
Istanbul: Full-Day Private Old City Tour with Lunch reviewed by Christopher
★★★★★ It was a incredible experience thatweI will never forget. Wow!
I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. We learned so much. He really listened to our interests. He took us to local reputable locations that we could trust. I'm a photographer so he gave us great locations for my photos. Two days of of total safe fun. He was kind and considerate of our needs. We not only learned about Istanbul, we have a new friend. Thank you so much for making our trip so memorable. We recommend this tour to everyone.
Highlights of Istanbul: 1 or 2-Day Private Guided Tour reviewed by Richard
