See this world-famous mosque in the middle of Istanbul
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Combine Hagia Sophia with other Istanbul favorites. Some things are better together.
Since January 2024, new rules have been in effect for anyone visiting Hagia Sophia. The site now functions as an active mosque. The main ground-floor prayer hall is reserved for Muslim worshipers only.
As a tourist or non-Muslim visitor, you must use a separate entrance. All tourists who want to access the Upper Gallery at Hagia Sophia must purchase an entry ticket.
The Upper Gallery ticket lets you skip the line at the ticket booth, but you still go through security like everyone else. You can choose from different options: often, a host will meet you outside, explain the updated rules, give you your ticket, and take you to the correct entrance. This helps save time and keeps your visit simple.
Best for: independent travelers who want to buy Hagia Sophia tickets online and make sure entry is fast and easy.
This is the top choice for anyone visiting Hagia Sophia today. With a Hagia Sophia guided tour, a knowledgeable historian provides your entry ticket and handles your access to the Upper Gallery.
From there, your guide explains the monument’s rich story, focusing on its architecture, famous Byzantine mosaics, and unique role as a church, mosque, museum, and then mosque again.
Best for: first-time visitors and anyone wanting deep insight into the complex history and art of Hagia Sophia.
These packages often include a Hagia Sophia guided tour along with entry to other famous sights in Istanbul’s Old City.
Typical tours also cover the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern, giving you a complete look at the city’s most important landmarks in just half a day or a full day.
Best for: Those who have limited time and want to see the highlights of historic Istanbul through one convenient booking
An Istanbul tourist pass is a multi-day, all-in-one ticket covering many of the city’s most popular attractions for a set price.
These passes almost always include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia as part of the package, meaning you get more than just basic entry and save compared to buying each ticket separately.
Best for: if you plan to stay three days or more in Istanbul and want the flexibility to explore at your own pace while saving money
Hagia Sophia now welcomes visitors with two separate zones. The ground-floor prayer hall is reserved for worshipers who attend prayers. Tourists and non-Muslim guests can only enter the upper gallery, a space set apart from the main worship area.
This division makes the upper gallery the key location for your visit. Centuries ago, this was the gallery reserved for the Empress and her court.
From here, you look down over the huge expanse of the prayer hall and see the building as royalty once did. The view offers a close look at the intricate mosaics and puts you almost level with the giant dome.
You see the building’s finest details at eye height and witness the same angles that once inspired leaders and artists.
Why It's a Must-See: the upper gallery is now the only way you can see the inside of Hagia Sophia as a visitor. From this spot, you get a rare perspective and a clear understanding of why Hagia Sophia remains Istanbul’s most significant monument.
The upper gallery is where you find Hagia Sophia’s most important Byzantine mosaics, works that capture the spirit and artistry of a vanished empire.
Often called the masterpiece of Hagia Sophia, the Deësis Mosaic depicts the faces of Christ, Mary, and John the Baptist with humanity and depth. The artists managed to capture sorrow, hope, and mercy in tiny pieces of stone and glass.
On the gallery walls, you also find imperial portraits. In the Empress Zoe Mosaic and the Comnenus Mosaic, emperors and empresses are shown offering gifts to Christ and the Virgin Mary. The portraits glow with real gold leaf (tesserae), catching and reflecting the light.
Why It’s a Must-See: these mosaics are rare and among the greatest works of Byzantine art anywhere.
From the upper gallery, you get a clear, direct view into Hagia Sophia’s dome, the centerpiece of the building. The dome is huge, yet it almost seems to float above the space below.
Forty windows circle its base, letting in daylight that makes the dome appear weightless. It’s a design that changed the course of world architecture, giving Hagia Sophia its unique look.
The dome now features bold Islamic calligraphy in the center, a symbol of the building’s many lives through the ages.
Why It’s a Must-See: the dome defines Hagia Sophia and is one of the greatest achievements in the history of construction.
From your spot in the gallery, you look straight down into the main prayer hall.
The space is vast, a giant rectangle lit by gentle light from above. You see huge round plaques or “roundels” with the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and other key figures in Islamic tradition.
Don't miss the mihrab, a small niche that points worshipers towards Mecca, and the low chandeliers.
The Upper Gallery at Hagia Sophia is open to visitors from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM daily.
The gallery closes during all five daily Muslim prayer times. These breaks typically last 30–60 minutes each but may shift based on the time of year and special religious events. The main floor remains closed to tourists at all times, reserved for worshipers only.
Always check the official prayer schedule for the exact times on the day of your visit, as these periods will vary.
You should plan your visit around these hours to avoid surprise closures.
Timings vary daily, but expect closures around dawn, noon (especially Fridays), afternoon, sunset, and night, with a good rule of thumb being to avoid the mosque during the call to prayer (Adhan) and 30-90 minutes after.
To visit Hagia Sophia as a tourist, you must use the dedicated entrance. The main tourist entrance is now separate from the prayer hall, you cannot use the former main doors. It is located directly opposite the entrance to Topkapi Palace, on the Hagia Sophia square.
Look for the signs marked “Visitor Entrance.”
You can easily reach the Hagia Sophia by using Istanbul's metro or light tram lines.
The closest tram station is Sultanahmet. From Taksim hotels just hop on the funicular (F1 line) from the Taksim Square to Kabatas. From there, take the T1 tram to Sultanahmet tram station. It's a short 2–3-minute walk from the tram station to the Hagia Sophia.
For the metro take the M2 line to Sultanahmet station, a 7 minute walk from the mosque. If you take the metro from the airport, you can reach Hagia Sophia within 50 minutes.
Rule enforcement is strict and applies to all visitors. Always check for any new updates before your visit.
Hagia sophia is a functioning mosque, so dress modestly. Women must cover their heads (bring your own scarf or purchase one at the site). All visitors must have shoulders, upper arms, and knees covered. No shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless tops allowed.
Keep silent and behave respectfully at all times. Do not photograph people who are praying.
You must remove your shoes before entering any carpeted prayer areas. Although tourists remain in the upper gallery, be prepared in case access protocols change
The Hagia Sophia entrance fee is required for all foreign tourists. This fee grants access to the upper gallery only.
To visit Hagia Sophia, you should plan at least 60 minutes.
There’s a lot to see in this epic former seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
If you'd like to see everything on site, 90 minutes is even better to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
The best time to visit the Hagia Sophia is during the morning, preferably around 9 am. You'll probably find fewer people in the early morning, which, combined with the natural light flooding in, also makes it a good time to snap your photos.
Try to avoid weekends and Friday afternoons – this is when the prayers take place.
The best time of year to visit the Hagia Sophia is during the winter months, when the summer tourists are all back at home.
Arrive at least 15–30 minutes before your scheduled entry time, especially if you have pre-booked Hagia Sophia tickets online. Early arrival gives you time to clear security and find your way to the correct entrance. Lines and crowds increase as the day progresses.
The line for Hagia Sophia tickets is often long, particularly in the mornings and during weekends.
Waiting times can easily reach 30 to 60 minutes or more at the on-site ticket booth.
Pre-booking or using a skip-the-line service will significantly reduce your waiting time, but you will still need to go through security.
The Hagia Sophia, officially known as the Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, and formerly the Church of Hagia Sophia, is probably Istanbul's most important landmark.
It served as a center of religious, political, and artistic life for the Byzantine world. Its history and architecture offer many scholarly insights into the period.
The building, famed for its giant, glimmering dome, was known as the world's most spectacular church for centuries, and some art historians have even labelled it “the 8th wonder of the world.”
Hagia Sophia dates back more than 1,500 years, built from 532 to 537 during Emperor Justinian I’s rule in the Byzantine Empire.
The name "Hagia Sophia" means "Holy Wisdom" in Greek, showing its original use as a cathedral. Built as the main church of Constantinople, its construction was ordered by Justinian I to replace an earlier church destroyed during riots.
Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus handled the design and construction. In 1453, Mehmed the Conqueror turned it into a mosque.
It is highly recommended to pre-book Hagia Sophia tickets, especially during peak times.
Pre-booking secures your preferred time slot, reduces waiting, and eliminates the risk of tickets selling out on your chosen day. Booking in advance ensures a much smoother entry for your visit.
Yes, all tourists must buy Hagia Sophia tickets to enter the Upper Gallery.
Entry to the main hall is only allowed for worshipers.
The Upper Gallery ticket grants access to the dedicated visitor gallery, which is now the only area open for sightseeing and viewing the mosaics.
You can secure Hagia Sophia tickets online in advance, or purchase them at the on-site ticket booth by the tourist entrance.
Online purchase is strongly advised to avoid queues and guarantee your entry, especially during busy periods or high tourist season.
Eating, drinking, loud talking, and photographing people during prayer are all prohibited.
Respectful behavior is expected at all times as it remains an active place of worship.
You must follow a strict dress code.
Shoulders, upper arms, and knees must be covered; women must wear a headscarf so bring one with you or you'll have to buy it onsite.
Shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
Jeans are acceptable as long as they cover the legs. Note that dress codes are strictly enforced at entry!
1,500 years after being built, Istanbul's architecture still hasn't produced a building to rival the beauty of the Hagia Sophia. Dating all the way back to the Roman Empire, the building has served the city as an Orthodox Church, a secular museum, and once again as a mosque.
Alongside the huge dome, the highly decorative interior will leave any visitor awestruck that hands are capable of creating something so impressive. Keep an eye out for early Christian motifs inside the epitome of Byzantine Architecture that is still just as powerful today.
