Hagia Sophia Visit
Guided by an expert licensed tour guide who will explain the history, architecture and religious significance of Hagia Sophia in detail.
• Skip the ticket purchase line: your guide will assist you directly at the museum kiosks, so you do not wait in the regular ticket queue for the upper gallery.
• Tickets are not included in the tour price. Upper Gallery tickets must be purchased separately at the official ticket counters or machines.
• Hagia Sophia Upper Gallery will be visited, where you can see the famous Byzantine mosaics, panoramic views over the main nave and other unique details.
Meeting Point
• Meeting point is at Sultanahmet 3rd fountain located between the Hagia Sophia ticket booths and Topkapı Palace entrance area, in the heart of the Sultanahmet Square.
• Your guide will be waiting there a few minutes before the tour start time and will accompany you to the entrance of Hagia Sophia.
Tickets and Payment
• Hagia Sophia Upper Gallery tickets are paid in cash to the guide before entering, who will then purchase the tickets on your behalf.
• Children under 7 years old are free, but to receive a free child ticket it is absolutely necessary to show a valid ID or passport proving the child’s age.
Important Visit Rules
• Baby strollers must be carried by hand inside Hagia Sophia, as rolling them is not allowed in the prayer areas and upper gallery corridors for safety and crowd-control reasons.
• Hagia Sophia has a dress code because it is an active mosque:
• Women must bring a scarf to cover their hair and should wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees.
• Men cannot enter with shorts above the knee; long trousers and a sleeved top are required.
