When in Istanbul, visiting the Hagia Sophia is a MUST. Not only is it one of the most remarkable buildings on the planet, but it also has a long and fascinating history.
This post is your Ultimate Guide for visiting Hagia Sophia
Location
The Hagia Sophia is located in Sultanahmet, on the European side of Istanbul. The area is jam-packed with incredible historical sites.
Take the T1 tram line and get off at the Sultanahmet stop. From here, you can access the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Basilica Cistern.
Best Time to Visit
The Hagia Sophia is open for tourists to visit from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
This is the ONLY mosque that allows tourists to enter during prayer time. But it is closed on Fridays for non-worshippers for mid-day prayers.
Weekends are always the busiest. The line-ups can be crazy!
Hagia Sophia tends to attract more visitors on Tuesdays because the nearby Topkapı Palace is closed.
Summer is the busiest time of year, from June through September. The slowest period is from December to the end of February. But expect crowds year-round.
Do you have to pay to visit?
As of January 2024, tourists must pay to visit the Hagia Sophia. The money helps maintain this nearly 1500-year-old building.
There are two entrances:
- Prayer Entrance: At the front, near the street with the tram (free).
- Tourist Entrance: At the back, near the main entrance to Topkapı Palace (paid).
INSIDER TIP: I’ve lived in Istanbul and have witnessed HUGE line-ups every month of the year. Buy a skip-the-line ticket!
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Entrances
Not only are there two entrances (Prayer & Tourist), but at the tourist entrance, there are two lines (Ticket & Security).
A skip-the-line ticket is a must, especially if you visit in the summer or on the weekend. But even if you have a skip-the-line ticket, you must pass through security, but this line moves quite fast.
If you want to learn more about the Hagia Sophia, you can also visit the Hagia Sophia History Museum.
The nearby Hagia Sophia History Museum is accessible from the Hippodrome. It has cool audiovisual effects that take you back in time and an array of ancient artifacts.
If you are in Istanbul for longer than three days, the history museum is worth a visit. Otherwise, with so much to see and do, prioritize places like Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and Galata Tower.
Dress Code for Mosques
When visiting Hagia Sophia or any mosque, you must dress modestly. Wear loose-fitting clothing, and ensure that your shoulders and knees are covered.
That means no shorts, short skirts, yoga pants, leggings, or sleeveless tops. You must also remove your shoes before entering any mosque and never step on the carpet with your shoes on.
Women need to cover their heads. Tie a pretty scarf to your purse strap so you’re ready to visit any of the city’s incredible mosques.
Many mosques provide loaner head coverings. Look for the rack beside the tourist entrance.
Unfortunately, the Hagia Sophia doesn’t offer loaner scarves, but it does sell inexpensive scarves and robes made of a paper-like material. While not fashionable, the robes are perfect for covering up an outfit that is not modest enough.
Accommodations Near the Hagia Sophia
Istanbul is a huge city that spans two continents, but most major historical attractions, like the Hagia Sophia, are located in Sultanahmet. This is a great area for first-timers to stay.
Hotel Sultania
Conveniently located in the heart of Sultanahmet, the Hotel Sultania is one of my favourite hotels. I have stayed there three times.
It’s the perfect location if you’re visiting the Hagia Sophia. The T1 tram and the Blue Mosque are less than a 10-minute walk away.
The rooms at Hotel Sultania are beautiful, and the decor will make you feel like you are a guest at Topkapi Palace. Some rooms even have their own hamam. And their Turkish breakfast is vast and absolutely wonderful!
Hotel with the Best View when visiting Hagia Sophia
All of my best photos of Hagia Sophia, including the one at the start of this post, have been taken from the restaurant terrace of Hotel Arcadia Blue Istanbul. I had dinner there one night, and was blown away by the views and the amazing Turkish food. I returned to stay for a night. Located in the heart of Sultanahmet, the hotel offers modern rooms, and most of the city’s iconic sights are within walking distance.
Celine Hotel – Ottoman Mansion
The Celine Hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Hagia Sophia (the Blue Mosque is even closer).
It is decorated with late Ottoman decor but with modern touches to make you feel completely at home. The standout is the staff; they are very helpful and want to ensure that you have a wonderful visit. You can’t pick a better location to stay and visit Hagia Sophia and explore Sultanahmet’s historical sites.
The bonus is DaRoute Coffee, located on the bottom floor. Here, you can relax with a wide array of hot beverages and desserts—the perfect place to recuperate and indulge after a day of sightseeing.
A Little History Lesson for Curious Travellers
Hagia Sophia Means Holy Wisdom
The building you see today is the third Hagia Sophia, which has stood atop Istanbul’s first hill for nearly 1500 years.
After its predecessor (Hagia Sophia II) was destroyed during the Nika Revolt, Byzantine Emperor Justinian, an insomniac and micromanager, had this extraordinary cathedral built in less than six years. It was consecrated in December AD 537.
An almost impossible Dream
The church of Emperor Justinian’s dreams was outrageously improbable. The Hagia Sophia’s massive dome sits on a square base, with an enormous rectangular sanctuary below, unencumbered by bulky support columns. It was also built on a major earthquake fault line.
Justinian’s architects were Anthemius of Tralles, a brilliant mathematician and Isidorus of Miletus, one of the greatest geometers of the time. Supporting their genius was a 10,000-strong workforce of stonemasons, bricklayers, mosaic artists, painters and sculptors.
World’s largest cathedral
For a thousand years, Hagia Sophia was the world’s largest cathedral. Its enormous dome is 55 meters high (180 feet) and 33 meters in diameter (108 feet).
The Hagia Sophia changed architecture forever. It inspired Mimar Sinan, the Ottoman’s most brilliant architect. Sinan studied the structure and used this new knowledge to construct the Süleymaniye Mosque on a nearby hill. But his masterwork is the Selimiye Mosque. Located in the former Ottoman capital of Erdine, northwest of Istanbul, the Selimiye Mosque’s dome is the same height as the Hagia Sophia.
As it turns out, the Hagia Sophia wasn’t earthquake-proof
Twenty years after it was built, Emperor Justinian’s golden dome collapsed. Surprisingly, the replacement dome, designed by Isidorus the Younger, was even bigger.
It’s 6 meters higher and has a ring of windows to reduce its weight, but it’s the same dome that you see today.
The historian Procopius, who saw Hagia Sophia with his own eyes when it first opened, called it a ” spectacle of great beauty.”
No Expense Was too Great
Back in the 6th century, construction costs for the Hagia Sophia were 320,000 pounds in gold. Converted into today’s money, that’s $8 billion (USD).
While it’s breathtaking today, imagine visiting the Hagia Sophia in Justinian’s time. The exterior was clad in marble, so approaching ships could see it shimmering atop the city’s first hill.
Meanwhile, inside, the ceiling glowed with millions of pieces of golden mosaics, and multi-hued marble covered the walls, floor, and columns.
The last Christian service took place on May 28, 1453
Just before midnight, Constantine XI, the last Byzantine Emperor, prayed inside Hagia Sophia before joining his soldiers on the city walls. He was never seen again.
Ottoman artillery breached Constantinople’s walls just after dawn. On the afternoon of May 29, Sultan Mehmed II entered the city on horseback and rode straight to the Hagia Sophia.
When 21-year-old Mehmed the Conqueror first entered the great church in 1453, it had been standing for nearly 1,000 years.
Sultan Mehmed II also spoke Greek and understood the meaning of Hagia Sophia. He kept the name when he converted it into a mosque, Ayasofya Camii, in Turkish.
What Can Tourists See TODAY?
Since January 2024, tourists can only visit the mosque’s upper gallery. The views of the sanctuary below are still spectacular, and many treasures are once again visible.
Surviving mosaics
Many of Hagia Sophia’s incredible mosaics survive today, thanks to the Ottomans, who converted the church into a mosque. Fortunately, the plaster they used to cover the Christian mosaics helped preserve them.
The Deesis mosaic can once again be seen on the upper floor. Only one-third remains, but the faces of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist are still visible.
Viking Graffiti
Byzantine Emperors preferred Vikings as their bodyguards. Valued for their size, strength, and loyalty. One of these Vikings left behind graffiti craved into the marble ledge of the upper gallery.
The old Norse runes have been worn down over the centuries. The only legible part is “Halvdan,” meaning the Viking was half Danish. The best guess is that he wrote, “Halvdan was here.”
The Empress Lodge
The Empress’ lodge is located in the upper galley above the Imperial Gate, the grand doorway where the Emperor entered when he visited Hagia Sophia.
There is a pair of marble pillars, and on the floor is a large disc of green marble. It marks the spot where Byzantine Empresses watched the services and ceremonies below.
Empress Theodora was the first to stand in this spot. The intelligent beauty was Emperor Justinian I’s great love. She came from a humble background and had great influence on her husband and his empire, including improving the rights and lives of Byzantine women.
It’s incredible that more than a millennia later, you can stand on the exact marble circle that was once reserved for the most powerful women in the Byzantine Empire.
Constantinople was sacked by A ninety-seven-year-old blind man
Enrico Dandolo was elderly, blind yet determined when he led the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The former Doge of Venice and his men looted Constantinople taking treasures from Hagia Sophia.
They even snagged the four bronze horses from the nearby Hippodrome. These bronze stallions were shipped back to Venice, where today they reside in St. Mark’s Basilica.
While there are five tombs adjacent to Hagia Sophia for Ottoman Sultans and their families, the only person to be buried inside was Enrico Dandolo. His tombstone can still be seen on the floor of the upper gallery.
If you’re into photography and want to get some terrific shots while visiting, check out the Best Photo Spots of Hagia Sophia. Or, if you love local cafes, head over to Seven Amazing Cafes to Visit in Istanbul.
