Hagia Sophia Mosque
Hagia Sophia Mosque
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
About
This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Sultanahmet
With so many unmissable attractions within a mere stroll of each other – and all set around the site of an ancient Byzantine hippodrome – Sultanahmet is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination, and a prime location for visitors to be wowed on a truly epic scale. Beyond the wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more, this relatively small area of Istanbul somehow manages to retain an air of peace and calm. It offers visitors a significantly less celebrated but nonetheless pleasant network of quaint lanes and side streets, majestic panoramas of the Bosphorus, and an impressive assortment of accommodation options for all budgets and tastes.
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See what travelers are saying
- Radhika96London, United Kingdom54 contributionsBeautiful MosqueA beautiful mosque from the outside and lovely inside. The mosque is quite big and there are lots of lights inside. It gets crowded inside. There is a security queue which was very very long, it took us about 40 minutes to get to the security. After security there isnt a long queue to get in.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 4, 2023
- Barbara H3 contributionsA Must SeeBeautiful and amazing. Definitely worth a visit. While lines were long, they moved quite quickly. We did not take a tour as it was not necessary. It is free to visit and I recommend bringing a plastic bag to put your shoes in so you can keep them With you.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 4, 2023
- mzzyap3,418 contributionsHundreds of people, yet peacefulHundreds of people of different races, gender, religion, societal beliefs, financial status, all respectful of the history embodied within the walls of the Hagia Sophia. All visitors here, respectful of one another. What a concept, right!?!!! I wish this for the world🙏🏼Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 9, 2023
- TonyAlcester, United Kingdom83 contributionsWorth A (Late) VisitThere’s little we can add to all that’s been said about this mosque apart from: 1) Wow. It’s an impressive building and 2) After walking past the very lengthy queues on several days, we went back about 9pm and were able to walk straight in. Definitely worth a visit and definitely better to go at night.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 14, 2023
- tinkle_24Northampton, United Kingdom1,780 contributionsArchitecturally beautiful.Lovely but in my opinion not as beautiful as the Blue Mosque. Domes above were painted but colours not as pretty. Interesting to see paintings of Christ and angels as it was the former Christian Church of Constantinople and it great historical significance. Long queue to get in but it seems to be a must see sight.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 14, 2023
- Michael J1 contributionGreat experience visiting this historic wonder.I enjoyed visiting this historic building and saw it without a tour guide. I had a tour book and had studied this structure in college years ago, so I knew the gist of what I was looking. Individuals with less knowledge may want a tour guide to help really embrace the amazing aspects of this place. It’s free, there is no reservations. Make sure you look up Muslim prayer times. The building is restricted from visitor 5 times a day (one hour prior to prayer to 30 minutes after. Mid morning is the biggest gap in prayer times.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 18, 2023
- Patric DSandbach, United Kingdom1,037 contributionsMost excellentFrom the outside, the builing simply appears huge but at the same time, a bit of a mish-mash of styles, lacking coherence. But inside is a different story. It is simply staggering inside with wonderful complexity and a great feeling of space and height. Quesues can be long, so either go early, or in the late afternoon after the cruise ship passengers have left I could have stayed there for hours.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 3, 2023
- IlyaNJMarlboro, New Jersey991 contributionsAmazing monumentA fantastic architectural gem inside and out. There are extremely long lines if you do not manage to come first thing in the morning - unlike at the Blue Mosque, the lines do not seem to diminish too much even in the afternoon. Keep in mind that visitors are not allowed in during services - for about an hour in each instance. Once inside, do not forget to check mosaics and frescoes on the upper levels.Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten November 6, 2023
- sashakeenaVancouver, Canada11,837 contributionsAmazing Mosque!We took a tour through this mosque and were not disappointed! Historical site that was very busy with visitors from all over the world! Must see place to see when coming to Istanbul! Take lots of pictures especially a “selfie” so you can always remember this amazing site!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 10, 2023
- Jubin EdacheryFremont, California1,372 contributionsMagnificient piece of historyThis is a bucket list must do especially for a History buff like me. The magnificient structure was built in the 6th century (when the city was Constantinople) by the eastern Roman empire as a church. Since then it has been a mosque, a museum and currently serves again as a functioning mosque. (So dress convervatively when visiting, and take off your shoes before entering). Hagia Sofia has withstood the test of time, vadals, earthquakes, and different peoples and still stand strong today in all it's beauty and elegance carrying with it untold stories through history. The inside is absolutely beautiful to visit, and still has some of the old gold mosiacs. To get in, the lines are long but i was with a tour guide who could get me in quickly. The architecture (combined with the history) makes it a spell binding experience.Visited December 2022Traveled soloWritten November 10, 2023
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Ron B
Lawrenceville, GA118 contributions
Jan 2020
The Hagia Sophia is the third church/mosque that was built on the site. The first two were wooden and were burned in riots. The third on was built in 537, before the middle ages and was built as a Greek Orthodox Christian Cathedral. During the time of the Romans the city was called Constantinople after the Roman governor at the time, and the city walls were considered impregnable. There were actually three walls that made up the barrier wall of the city, and a moat. In 1453 after the discovery of gunpowder, the Ottomans hired a blacksmith to build them huge cannons and simply blew the walls down. After the Ottomans took it over it became a Muslim mosque. It is museum today and work every penny it costs you to see it. I highly recommend a guided tour in the Hagia Sophia to help you notice all of the historical idiosyncrasies of it. For example, when it was a Christian cathedral, the place where the priest stood to deliver his sermon was in the center of the church and pointed East. When the Muslims converted it to a mosque, the prayer niche for the Imam and the small covered area where the singer/cantor would stand to sing the call to prayer had to be pointed to Mecca, not just to the East. So those things are a bit off center. If you go upstairs and look at it from above you can plainly see that. There is a particular guide I would recommend, so it you are interested look for my review of him under my reviews. His first name is Metin, or Martin.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dave c
Toronto, Canada550 contributions
Aug 2019
In August of 2019 we spent a week in Old Istanbul and visited several famous historical sites, one of which was the Ayasofya Museum/Church/Mosque.We were staying at the Yasmak Sultan Hotel and they arranged for a walking tour guide to take us to several historical sites. We paid that guide a 100 Euros for the day and it was well worth the price. We were one on one with the guide, he was personable, educated and incredibly knowledgeable.The cost for going into the Ayasofya was 144 Turkish lira for the 2 of us. The Ayasofya Church was built was built from 530AD to 535AD by 10,000 laborers,it is all brick and mortar, no steel in the structure. It was a Greek Orthodox church for 1000 years and when the Turks conquered the area it was turned into a Mosque for 400 years. For the last 80 plus years it has been a Museum honoring both the Church and the Mosque. I am not a very religious person but when you walk into the Ayasofya there is definitely a feeling that you are in a very special place, The structure itself is enormous and a tribute to what mankind was capable of building by hand over1500 years ago.The always ongoing restoration of the Ayasofya is in itself a labour of love and a labour of historical art preservation of both the Christian and Muslim religions under the same roof. ll spent.
The reason I have waited this long to do this review is because I had a lengthy illness that I have now recovered from it and for that I apologize for the delay. .
Dave C
Toronto Canada.
The reason I have waited this long to do this review is because I had a lengthy illness that I have now recovered from it and for that I apologize for the delay. .
Dave C
Toronto Canada.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
itravel71
Singapore, Singapore242 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Still as majestic as I remembered it to be. A bit more reno works this time indoors. A must-have are those rented audio guides if you are visiting without a guide to fully appreciate the significance of this monument. A tad dim inside, would have liked more strategic lighting on some of the artworks on the walls and ceilings. There’s a short video story about the church turned mosque near the gift shop...worth a watch. Closed on Mondays. We went at 9 am when it opened with not much crowds but by 11am there was a long queue outside.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,450 contributions
Sep 2020
This was my 6th time in Istanbul, and during every of these travels I've visited Hagia Sophia, as I regard it as one of world's most famous and important edifices. This time it was a different experience.
Hagia Sophia is an iconic world heritage edifice, built on orders of Emperor Justinian. It still holds the world record being built in only 5 years (532-537). It was the main and biggest Christian Church where many kings were crowned for almost a millennium, until the Ottomans came in 15c converting it into a Mosque.
During the times of Ataturk reformations it was established as a museum in 1935 - and it was one of the world's best. My memories root in that period, when you had to queue in a long line outside, paying around 10 Euros entry fee and when you could admire outstanding frescoes and mosaics from 6th c onwards, along with Ottoman decorations added from 15c. It was a unique place in entire world (along with some Churches in Andalusia) where you could admire such a cultural and religious mix.
This was until this year, when it was reestablished as a Mosque again in July. While the imposing exterior remained the same, the interior is much different. You cannot walk the multi centuries stone and marble floor, as it's completely covered with a green carpet (you must take off your shoes before entering). All amazing Byzantine frescoes and mosaics are covered in white sheets and you cannot see them, nor you can climb the upper gallery where there're more. Therefore I give 4 stars, otherwise I'd give 100.
Now, there's no entry fee, you can walk in freely (except during prayer times), but I wish I still had to pay and see all these now hidden jewels I remember Hagia Sophia for.
I enclose pics from my previous visit in 2012 and now, 2020 - catch the differences.
Hagia Sophia is an iconic world heritage edifice, built on orders of Emperor Justinian. It still holds the world record being built in only 5 years (532-537). It was the main and biggest Christian Church where many kings were crowned for almost a millennium, until the Ottomans came in 15c converting it into a Mosque.
During the times of Ataturk reformations it was established as a museum in 1935 - and it was one of the world's best. My memories root in that period, when you had to queue in a long line outside, paying around 10 Euros entry fee and when you could admire outstanding frescoes and mosaics from 6th c onwards, along with Ottoman decorations added from 15c. It was a unique place in entire world (along with some Churches in Andalusia) where you could admire such a cultural and religious mix.
This was until this year, when it was reestablished as a Mosque again in July. While the imposing exterior remained the same, the interior is much different. You cannot walk the multi centuries stone and marble floor, as it's completely covered with a green carpet (you must take off your shoes before entering). All amazing Byzantine frescoes and mosaics are covered in white sheets and you cannot see them, nor you can climb the upper gallery where there're more. Therefore I give 4 stars, otherwise I'd give 100.
Now, there's no entry fee, you can walk in freely (except during prayer times), but I wish I still had to pay and see all these now hidden jewels I remember Hagia Sophia for.
I enclose pics from my previous visit in 2012 and now, 2020 - catch the differences.
Written September 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therealmjfox
Raleigh, NC272 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
There are very aggressive guides all around the entrance area trying to sell their services. One pitch they use is that they can save you an hour wait in line. But the wait really wasn’t that long, at least on a Tuesday in Feb.
Just inside the gate before the shack where you buy tickets is a set of kiosks. The most prominent ones sell the Iststanbul museum pass which is expensive and gives admission to a bunch of museums. But the rightmost two machines, which are not prominently marked, sell tickets to the Hagia Sofia at the normal price. No one was using them so I just walked right up and bought our tickets with no wait, then we walked right in. I have no idea why no one else standing in line did that!
Once inside it’s pretty spectacular but not five stars besides there is a lot of it under restoration and blocked off or covered with scaffolding. Still a great visit but not as great as it would be without the construction.
Just inside the gate before the shack where you buy tickets is a set of kiosks. The most prominent ones sell the Iststanbul museum pass which is expensive and gives admission to a bunch of museums. But the rightmost two machines, which are not prominently marked, sell tickets to the Hagia Sofia at the normal price. No one was using them so I just walked right up and bought our tickets with no wait, then we walked right in. I have no idea why no one else standing in line did that!
Once inside it’s pretty spectacular but not five stars besides there is a lot of it under restoration and blocked off or covered with scaffolding. Still a great visit but not as great as it would be without the construction.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pilotdean
Island of Gozo, Malta108 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Highly recommend a visit. Early morning before larger tour groups is recommended. Suggest a private guide to explain all the beauty of the site and the important history that is part of the Hagia Sophia Museum
Written August 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mohamed Ali
6 contributions
Dec 2019
One of the best well preserved museum that used to be a Orthodox Byzantine church first then a Roman catholic church then later a Mosque by the Ottomans, It takes backs to memory lane at least 700 hundred years just entering the museum, Breathtaking hanging chandeliers and domes with many mosaic wall portraits and many changes it went thru during 3 empires. There's a Sultan Mehmet library just next to the huge pulpit for prayers during ottoman reign.Glass mosiac windows surrounding the domes is mesmerizing. One part of the columns are going thru restoration that takes at least 30 years. There are many tourist guides taking guest whom wants to show every part of the museum. otherwise there are just voice over headphones you cud purchase when you buy the entry tickets to the museum. I love history therefore i decided to check most part of the museum. Upstairs there is a passageway made for horsemen to reach the top floor. Not to forget two huge marble jar at ground floor where i found Sean Connery hid behind on of the jars in one of his bond movies. Other than that great for a historic photography which I've cherished to remember for a long time.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miss Daniels
London, UK1,039 contributions
Jan 2020
So the entrance here is not free so be sure to purchase a museem pass if you plan to visit them all it works out a lot cheaper.
This place is amazing set across two levels you get fantastic views of everything and Ii could have spent several hours in here.It has a mix of religions which is very interesting,
I fell in love with this place.
This place is amazing set across two levels you get fantastic views of everything and Ii could have spent several hours in here.It has a mix of religions which is very interesting,
I fell in love with this place.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zakhia M
Luton, UK5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
It's definitely worth the money to hire a guide in order to skip the queues and have someone explain the history behind this beautiful building in detail. I think without a guide, the experience would not be much. The building is stunning and they are currently in the midst of restoring it
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Winsome66
Johannesburg, South Africa286 contributions
Jun 2022
The Hagia Sophia was no doubt a Byzantine architectural masterpiece of its time. It represented the splendor and grandeur of the Byzantium Empire. For every visitor to Istanbul, this should be top priority in terms of tourist sites to experience. It was originally referred to as a place of 'Holy Wisdom' or 'Divine Wisdom'.
If you are visiting during the tourist peak season, there will be long lines of people waiting to enter the building. I suggest visiting as early as possible. And if its during a time of prayer for Muslims, you will be required to wait until the prayer has ended.
Entrance to the Hagia Sophia is free.
Please take note of the fact that the Hagia Sophia is now a mosque, a holy place for Muslims and where they observe prayer times throughout the day. It is very important to remember that all females/women/young girls etc must cover their heads with a scarf. Please do not forget to carry one with you. Men are expected to wear long pants instead of shorts. When you enter the building, you are required to take off your shoes. You may carry them with you or store them in the shoe shelves provided. I recommend that women dress with modesty and respectfully when visiting the Hagia Sophia as it is a holy place of worship for Muslims, Also, there are separate places for men and women inside, so be aware of this as well.
For me, it was a beautiful experience, one of those WOW moments in my life! It is amazing to see this structure, or what has survived many centuries later. This was the pride and glory of the Byzantine Empire and it was such a privilege to visit this world heritage site and I imagined that the original interior to be nothing but magnificent, grand and glorious which encouraged many Christian pilgrims to visit centuries ago, reverenced by Orthodox Christian prayer and worship.
If you are visiting during the tourist peak season, there will be long lines of people waiting to enter the building. I suggest visiting as early as possible. And if its during a time of prayer for Muslims, you will be required to wait until the prayer has ended.
Entrance to the Hagia Sophia is free.
Please take note of the fact that the Hagia Sophia is now a mosque, a holy place for Muslims and where they observe prayer times throughout the day. It is very important to remember that all females/women/young girls etc must cover their heads with a scarf. Please do not forget to carry one with you. Men are expected to wear long pants instead of shorts. When you enter the building, you are required to take off your shoes. You may carry them with you or store them in the shoe shelves provided. I recommend that women dress with modesty and respectfully when visiting the Hagia Sophia as it is a holy place of worship for Muslims, Also, there are separate places for men and women inside, so be aware of this as well.
For me, it was a beautiful experience, one of those WOW moments in my life! It is amazing to see this structure, or what has survived many centuries later. This was the pride and glory of the Byzantine Empire and it was such a privilege to visit this world heritage site and I imagined that the original interior to be nothing but magnificent, grand and glorious which encouraged many Christian pilgrims to visit centuries ago, reverenced by Orthodox Christian prayer and worship.
Written June 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, I understand the 25EUR fee is now in effect and only the upper area can be visited. Is this correct? And is there a way to buy the ticked online or we need to queue there? Any experience with waiting times in July? Thank you
Written July 17, 2024
Is it honestly worth visiting here now after the new rules were recently introduced where tourists are only allowed on the upper floor, along with the 25 euro entry fee? Is it value for money and is there much to see still?
Written March 24, 2024
Imho worth. Upper floor gives a good observation point.
Written March 26, 2024
Jacopo Patrono
Rome, Italy
I read that a 25€ ticket was introduced starting from january 2024. Is it a fixed fee or is there any discount (e.g. foreign students)?
Written January 18, 2024
io ad agosto 2023 e a parte la fila non ho pagato nulla per l'ingresso. Ci sono tanti ragazzi che girano in città soprattutto vicino ad agia sofia per dare info ai turisti. Non saprei se dal 2024 è diventata a pagamento.
Written January 22, 2024
Are the images of jesus and mary covered up outside prayer times? I want to be able to see byzantine artwork and if its covered for tourists ill give it a miss. Thanks.
Written November 1, 2023
It’s still there, but only on n one section, and pretty high.
Written November 20, 2023
C'è tanta coda ad entrare di venerdì?
Written October 12, 2023
C'è tanta coda ad entrare di venerdì?
Written October 12, 2023
I have booked a holiday to Istanbul in October and want to visit the Hagia Sophia Mosque . I have a big interest in Viking history and one of my main reasons for my visit was to see the Viking runes carved into marble parapets on the 2nd level , however since booking the holiday I’ve read that the 2nd level is closed off to the public . Is this true and is there no way I will be able to go up and see the carved runes for myself ?
Written April 25, 2023
I visited Hagia Sophia in December 2023 and the upper level was closed to the public. I know the place you are referring to and you cannot get to it. It may be worth asking an official guide who does tours of the Mosque - sometimes those guides have access to areas that the general public do not. The conversion to a Mosque has made the visit significantly less rewarding than when it was a museum, as public access areas are very limited. Still worth a look though as long as you get there half an hour or so before opening - less queuing.
Written April 27, 2023
You cannot take a flight from Antalya to Sogut . You need to take a ferry from Istanbul to Yalova and from there a car or other land transport to Sogut . You can take a bus or other public transport to Bursa and sleep over and travel to Sogut from
There
Written October 26, 2022
Hi
Planning to visit in October and have following questions:
1) can buy tickets online prior visiting, if not, what time does office open? How much is per person, do they accept cash/credit cards?
2)is it open for visitors in the late afternoon, if so, what is time?
3) is a small bagpack allowed?
4) Prayer hours?
5) what time is open?
Written August 22, 2022
Haggis Sophia is free , there is no charge to enter . Make sure you are properly dressed though … they do have coverings in case you forget . You can also take pictures .
Written August 24, 2022
What is an updated estimate on wait times to enter the Hagia Sophia now that it's a Mosque? We will be visiting in October
Written July 6, 2022
Hello, In general, I suggest you not to choose Saturday, Sunday and Friday to visit this place, and this place will also be crowded during prayer times.
Written July 11, 2022
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