As an active mosque, Hagia Sophia main building is open for only locals for the timely praying times. For travelers, there is the ticketed entry through the glorious upper galleries is opening from January 2024. 

The ticket price at the ticket windows is 25 Euro.

There is also time for your questions too. The desk in front of the Hagia Sophia is run by official museum guides to ask what's in your mind.

If you have any further questions, our prefssional team will be waiting for you there after your visit too with free tea from the house.

The Help Desk Point For Hagia Sophia Services (7-Days a Week between 09:00 and 18:00):

15 minutes before the starting time you chose, your official museum hosts will be waiting for you at this location right at the Ticket Entrance: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bf6hXMnKiXsfRq2JA

What To See At Hagia Sophia?

As one of the engineeering wonders of the world, Hagia Sophia has been standing since the ancient times. The building itself, the collections of marble elements, the unique mosaics are all ar going to be introduced to you by your smart audio app. 

Is Hagia Sophia A Mosque Or A Church?

Hagia Sophia has a quite long and complex time ilne:

• Hagia Sophia had been first constructed as a church in the late-Roman times.
• Today's building was erected in the 6th century.
• When the eastern and western churches were separated in 11th century, it became the center of the Orthodox Christians.
• In 1204, the 4th Crusader army invasion of Constantintopolis turned it into a Latin Carholic Church
• In 1453, the church was converted it into Mosque
• In 1930, the Turkish Republican regime made Hagia Sophia a secular museum
• In 2020, the Presidency of Turkiye reformed Hagia Sophia as a Mosque.
• In 2024, famous upper galleries are opening as a ticketed sight

According the the new regulations, starting from the 1st of January 2024, the Topkapi Palace and Harem are accessbile with a single combined ticket and there will be no more seperate sales.

The ticket price per person is 1700 TL with waiting lines in front of it, as declared from the 1st of September 2024.

Hightlights For The Topkapi Palace Visit:

• Enjoy the Fast Entrance with a licensed insider including an orientation by an official museum staff  
• Explore the Harem, the House of Sultans and Queens of Istanbul where they lived for 4 centuries
• Access to all of the famous collections including the Divan, Treasury, Jewelries, Kitchens and Audience Chamber 
• Listen and Learn from the Smart Audio Guide App about all the sections

What To See At The Topkapi Palace Museum?

Until the modern times, the Topkapi Palace had been the house of the Ottoman Dynasty in Istanbul for 4 centuries. It is consisted of several courtyards in an extensive area that is is surrounded by 15th century walls. The exceptionally located terraces of the palace present you most magnificent panoramic views over the famous Bosphorus and Golden Horn too.

Today, the area serves as a great museum complex, which amazes its visitors by its glorious decorations and unmatched collections. 

The Harem Section tickets too, you will discover the most private quarters of the Queens and Sultans filled with glorious halls, lavish bath houses, storied courtyards, unique decorative elements and many more… 

What's New At Topkapı Palace Following The Restorations Works In 2023 and 2024?

By the May 10th of 2023, the Topkapi Palace Museum Directory announced the new section's re-openning at the 3rd courtyard, with the royal jewelries and clothes of the sultans! This is a long anticipated come-back of the 15th century pavillons from the Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's times.

As the restoration works are over in September 2023, all the covers and scaffholdings are cleared at the Mother Sultan Chamber (Valide Sultan) at the Harem of the Topkapi Palace Museum. So the room is now is fully visible for its guests. 

At beginning of 2023, the terrace of Sultans looking over the Bosphorus had been re-opened after two years of restoration process (check the photos at this page). 

Visiting Topkapi Palace is even more recommended now! Moreover, it is better to spare a little bit more time than usual to see these collections. 

As of Jujy 2024, the Concubines Bath and Courtyard in the Harem are re-opened after kong years of restorations. 

The Highlights of the Basilica Cistern Visit:

What to see in the Basilica Cistern & What is included?

• Entrance without waiting in the ticket lines
• A brief & orientation by an Official Guide about the Structure and its History
• Unlimited Time after the Informative Guiding
• Medusa Heads & The Weeping Column
• Ancient Roman Engineering

The legendary and mysterious Basilica Cistern is an ancient wonder underground Istanbul. It is once in a life-time experience. Every visitor of Istanbul should walk through this unique marvel of antiquity and learn about all the interesting details about the structure while being amazed by its atmosphere. 

Without seeing Basilica Cistern, the story of Istanbul is without complete. 

What is Basilica Cistern?

The Basilica Cistern is basically a significant part of the infrastructure of ancient Istanbul. It is one of the water reservoirs of the ancient Istanbul as Constantinopolis the imperial capital of Eastern Roman Empire. In other words, along with a serious foundational buildings like its neighbour, Hagia Sophia. So was made the "Nea Roma", the New Rome, as the center of the Roman Empire at the time of Constantine the Great.

Visiting Info for the Basilica Cistern 2024

The Basilica Cistern has first ropened its gates after 2 years of most extensive restorations of its long history. Finally, after a maintenance break, at 1st of August 2024, the Basilica Cistern is completely reopened.

As a novelty coming with 2024 re-opening, there are contemporary art installations between the numerous columns of the Basilica Cistern and the theme is sustainability. Among the pieces, there are glass and bronze works and viual installations concentrated around the famous Medusa heads at the far end the Basilica Cistern from its entrance stairs. 

As of 1st of January 2024, the ticket price from the ticket windows is 800 TL. The waiting lines could usually take from 30 to 50 minutes. 

Visiting Times for the Basilica Cistern:

According to the 2023 Summer Regulations, the closing time is set to be 19:00 everyday starting from the 1st of June 2023. The Basilica Cistern is opening its gate at 09:00.