How much is a ticket to Hagia Sophia?

Since January 2024, Hagia Sophia has introduced a €25 official ticket for the Upper Gallery, sold at the visitor entrance (worshippers uses a separate gate). At peak times, expect 30-90 mins total wait with ticket and security queues—easily an hour lost on hot/rainy days or when prayer schedules pause sightseeing.

How much do Hagia Sophia tickets cost?

Admission Fee: The first floor is free for Turks; the second floor (the gallery floor) is 25 euros for local and foreign tourists. Explore during the winter months: Plan your visit during the winter months to explore Hagia Sophia in comfort and avoid crowds and large groups of tourists.

Do I need to buy tickets to Hagia Sophia in advance?

It's recommended that you buy your entrance tickets for the Hagia Sophia in advance to avoid waiting in line.

How to go to Hagia Sophia for free?

Free prayer area entrance is available to Muslim tourists at Hagia Sophia only during prayer times. The gate faces Sultanahmet Square (old gate).

Can I just walk into Hagia Sophia?

Hagia Sophia is open to visitors throughout the week, but it remains closed during prayer times. Check the current prayer schedule in advance to plan your visit accordingly if you don't want to wait for the prayers to end. Hagia Sophia is open to visitors every day, opening hours from 09:00 am to 7:30 pm in 2025.

Hagia Sophia Guide | Ticket Prices, Opening time, Dress code and more! What to see inside the Mosque

Is it free to enter the Blue Mosque?

Entry to the Blue Mosque is free. You do not have to buy tickets. If you're a non-worshipper, you can use the entrance on the south side of the mosque or the one opposite Hagia Sophia.

What to see in Istanbul for free?

Do I need tickets for Topkapi Palace?

Do you need Tickets for Topkapi Palace Museum? Yes, you need to buy an entrance ticket to visit the Topkapi Palace Museum and its many collections.

What time is best to visit Hagia Sophia?

It is best to visit the Hagia Sophia Mosque during the early hours of the morning to experience lesser crowds; avoid Friday afternoons, as it remains closed to non-worshippers during prayers. Try to visit during the winter months to experience pleasant weather.

Are Blue mosque and Hagia Sophia the same?

Hagia Sophia represents the Christian Byzantine Empire, while the Blue Mosque embodies the Islamic Ottoman era. Visiting both offers a deep dive into Istanbul's diverse religious and architectural heritage.

How much does Topkapi Palace cost?

How much is the entrance fee of Topkapi Palace? The entrance fee of Topkapi Palace Museum is 2000 TL (Turkish Lira) per person including the Harem visit. In other words, if you purchase a combine ticket of the Topkapi Palace Museum and Harem Apartments, together it comes to 2000 TL per person.

How long is the wait at the Hagia Sophia?

Since January 2024, Hagia Sophia has introduced a €25 official ticket for the Upper Gallery, sold at the visitor entrance (worshippers uses a separate gate). At peak times, expect 30-90 mins total wait with ticket and security queues—easily an hour lost on hot/rainy days or when prayer schedules pause sightseeing.

What to wear to Hagia Sophia?

How to Visit. Even as a functioning mosque, Hagia Sophia welcomes visitors, but respectful attire is required. Women should wear long skirts or pants and cover their hair, while men should also wear long pants. For those who don't have appropriate clothing, skirts and scarves are available for rent.

Can I buy Hagia Sophia tickets at the gate?

Visiting area of the mosque is closed to visitors between 12:30-14:30 due to Friday Prayers. Admission tickets can be purchased from the ticket booth and online (Skip-the-Line) through official seller DEM MUSEUMS with below link. There are no Museum Passes available for visiting the Hagia Sophia.

Is Galata Tower worth it?

We went for the views of the city and it was worth it. We enjoyed the 360 views of the city for the hour, though the Euro 30 PP is quite pricey and the queue is quite long. It took us 20 minutes of queuing to go up the tower.

Is Istanbul E Pass worth it?

If you're the type of traveler that wants to cover as much of Istanbul's attractions as possible during your stay, who doesn't want to waste time in ticket sales lines, loves to have a guide explaining the ins and outs of some of the Istanbul's top attractions, than you should buy the Istanbul E-pass.

Which day is Hagia Sophia closed?

Hagia Sophia is open every day and, unlike many other monuments, has no weekly closures. The only time when tourist access is temporarily suspended is on Fridays between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to allow the weekly prayer to take place. The same is also done on the mornings of the first day of major Islamic holidays.

Can you bring a backpack into Hagia Sophia?

Big luggage bags are not allowed inside Hagia Sophia.

There is no cloakroom available for public use at the Hagia Sophia Mosque.

Is it free to enter Blue Mosque?

Is the Blue Mosque free to enter? Yes, entry is free as it remains an active place of worship. However, visitors must pass a mandatory security check, which can take up to 30 minutes in low season and up to 1 hour during peak season.

Is Dolmabahce Palace free?

🎫 Dolmabahçe Palace Entrance Fee (Updated 2025)

Foreign Visitors: 1,500 TL. Turkish Citizens: 200 TL. Foreign Students (with ISIC card): 150 TL.

Why is Topkapi Palace closed?

Topkapi Palace Opening Hours

The ticket office closes at 5:00 PM. Closed Days: Topkapi Palace is closed every Tuesday, New Year's Day, 1st Day of Ramadan Bayram and 1st Day of The Feast of the Sacrifice.

How much is the Hagia Sophia ticket?

The ticket price at the ticket windows of Hagia Sophia is 25 Euro. If you prefer to go the ticket booth the estimated waiting time is between 20 to 60 minutes. After that, the security will be the next step to go through that may take 1 to 25 minutes. Children under the age of 8 will need no ticket.

What money is best to take to Istanbul?

But what currency? Hotels may ask (or prefer) you to pay in Dollars or Euros. However, for all other expenses you're better off or required to pay in Turkish Liras. So, if your hotel gives you a nice discount by paying cash in a strong currency, make sure to bring that amount along and pay for your stay upon arrival.

Are beaches free in Istanbul?

There are a number of public beaches - Florya on the European side of the city, the Caddebostan area on the Asian side and Kilyos on the Black Sea coast. These beaches are free to use. Private beaches often offer more activities and services, such as cafés/restaurants, sunbeds and parasols, but charge an entrance fee.

What is the most touristy part of Istanbul?

Taksim Square

Considered the heart of modern Istanbul, Taksim Square is one of the city's main tourist attractions and cosmopolitan hubs. Here, you can find a variety of restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters and shopping…