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Chora Museum
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Chora Museum

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See all things to do
Chora Museum
4.5
#45 of 1,707 things to do in Istanbul
Art MuseumsHistory Museums
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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About
The Chora Church (Turkish Kariye Müzesi, Camii yahut Kilisesi — variously the Chora Museum, Mosque or Church) is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church. The church is situated in the western, Erdinekapı district of İstanbul. In the 16th century, the church was converted into a mosque by the Ottomon rulers, and it became a secularised museum in 1948. The interior of the building is covered with fine mosaics and frescoes.
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The area
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Neighborhood: Fener & Balat
This sleepy and rather socially conservative area of Istanbul hosts a small but thriving Jewish community, the patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and some of the most beautiful churches and Christian art in the world. Much of what’s most interesting to witness in Fener and Balat sits between the surviving ancient city walls of Constantinople and the serene shores of the Golden Horn. Despite the many splendid sights, historic attractions, stunning vistas, and warm Turkish welcome, the area remains largely unperturbed by the tourist trade that characterizes the atmosphere in nearby Sultanahmet and around the Grand Bazaar. Travelers that like to explore off the beaten track will reap big rewards for making the effort to visit this low-key part of town.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
5,998 reviews
Excellent
4,314
Very good
1,129
Average
365
Poor
119
Terrible
71
llb
Dublin, Ireland105 contributions
Under renovation, opening hours mis advertised.
Mar 2020 • Couples
Like all of the main sites in Istanbul it is under renovation. You can’t see the outside of the building and there is a lot of construction noise. We arrived just under half an hour before the closing time advertised on their website, guidebooks and google and they wouldn’t let us in for a few minutes despite having a prepaid ticket. The man at the door pointed to security cameras, I think indicating that someone would see if he let us in. There were lots of people inside at the time and it was a long journey and walk uphill to get there. Very disappointing. If going, turn up a few hours before the closing time and temper your expectations given that the beautiful outside is not visible. Balat, the area it is in has lovely shops and cafes Ava is well worth spending time in.
Written March 15, 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.
sam
Iran149 contributions
Chora Museum
Oct 2021
The Vora Cora or Chora Museum, also known as the Chora Church, is one of the oldest churches in Istanbul. In the following, we will get more acquainted with this historical monument.

For many tourists and travelers in Turkey, especially the city of Istanbul, the importance and popularity of the Kora Museum is as great as the Hagia Sophia. The Kora Museum was originally a Greek Orthodox church built during the Byzantine Empire. After the conquest of the country by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, Kora, like many other churches in the city, became a mosque. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish government converted the Kora Church into a Kora Museum in 1948. For those who are interested in seeing ancient historical sites, visiting the Chora Museum should be one of the main programs of the Istanbul tour.

Upon entering the Kora Museum, you will notice the difference with the architecture of many contemporary buildings in Turkey, because the style of Byzantine architecture is rippling through it. Inside the building, you will find a variety of mosaics and murals, all of which belong to the Byzantine era and tell the story of length and length. Some of the interior of the Cora Museum has been destroyed over time, but the government laid the foundation stone for the interior of the building after it was turned into a museum.
Written February 12, 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.
Martin H
Hong Kong, China854 contributions
Stunning Mosaics
Jan 2020
Whilst this is a slight journey from the main sites its relatively easy to get to by tram and bus.

As with most of the sites on this visit, the church was under renovation and not all of the mosaics were accessible but what was on display was stunning. These were the brightest of any that we saw on this trip and they are well worth the journey here.
Written January 30, 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.
Annie H
35 contributions
Stunning mosaics
Dec 2019 • Couples
It is a bit of a trek to get to Chora but totally worth it.

The mosaics are just beautiful and great examples of early Church art. Words cannot describe their beauty and artistry, and for a Christians, the spiritual impact.
Written January 8, 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.
purelyjohn
Costa Mesa, CA35 contributions
If you like Mosaics! There are more than 100 here
Feb 2020
14th century Byzantine works with over 100 Mosaics depicting many Biblical scenes. If that is not enough there are Byzantine Frescoes as well. Part of this museum is closed for renovation but the rest are still worth a visit.
Written March 6, 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.
Backpacker
San Luis Obispo, CA1,092 contributions
RIP-OFF!! SAVE YOUR MONEY!
Oct 2020
It's a rip-off! First of all, there is only 2 tiny rooms with hardly anything to see! And IF the mosaics are real, then they only go back to the 14th Century. I'd happily pay the huge fee if the mosaics were from like the 2nd century or something, but it's not. I was literally in there for 2 minutes. SAVE YOUR MONEY!
Written October 19, 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.
ULGENAKSU
Istanbul, Türkiye38 contributions
A UNIQUE HAVEN OF BYZANTINE ART IN ISTANBUL WITH MOSAICS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY
Aug 2020
The beautiful Chora Museum, with its mesmerising mosaics and frescoes, is one of the unforgettable places in Istanbul. Unfortunately, the way it will be possible to see these beautiful works of art in the future is quite obscure at the moment. However, you still have a chance to visit the place as a museum if you are currently in the city or will be visiting Istanbul in the near future. This post aims to provide you with a glimpse of this wonderful example of Byzantine art that is no less valuable than the examples in Ravenna, Italy.
Written October 22, 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.
Peter J
Chichester, UK450 contributions
Great church but under restoration
Mar 2020
This is a great church but it is under restoration at present and will be for some years. It is however still worth making the effort to come to this part of Istanbul to see the mosaics. There is a nice shop inside and a lovely tea garden outside.But no re-admitting into the church after drinking tea! Also it is not far from the old city walls too
Written March 22, 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.
juliebarrett1964
London, UK349 contributions
Off the beaten track but worth it
Oct 2020
We took a taxi from the old town, where we were staying as there were too many bus changes, it cost five euros. So do go, worth it, very varied, and will soon become a mosque so less will be available to view. Coffee, postcards outside, from there a walk down into the quarter, full of coloured houses, charming streets, very quirky and visit the Tekfer Sarayi, a castle housing beautiful towers, great views and a lift for access. A few euros to get in. A surprise treat in a less known quarter.
Written October 14, 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.
Michael P
Washington DC, DC62 contributions
Impossible to buy tickets at kiosk
Aug 2020 • Couples
Good luck getting a ticket at this famed site. We tried two days in a row during open hours and the line just does not move. No announcements, no posted signs, just a bewildering mystery as to why they either cannot or will not sell tickets to this site. There were NO lines to enter the Church, just one 100 person line to buy tickets. These types of problems seem endemic to Turkish tourist sites.
Written August 23, 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.
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