First and foremost, Hagia Sophia has been one of the greatest architectural monuments of the world since the late antiquity. It has been shaping the skyline of this former imperial Capital for last 15 Centuries. Easy to say?.. At the beginning, Hagia Sophia was designed, achieved, after long and painful process opened as the major church of the Eastern Roman Empire. Following all those (both glorious and tumultuous!) years, recently, the status of this marvel became an issue once more. Below, you may find some basic historical facts and most recent visiting info for the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
The Hagia Sophia building that still stands today is, in fact, the third one that was opened at the Christmas day of the year 537. There is not much of information about the first building from the 4th century. The second one was destroyed during a rebellion in January of the year 532.
No, as an actual mosque, visiting Hagia Sophia does not require a ticket. So, it is free to go in.
There are no certain opening times for Hagia Sophia as it is bound to the praying times. A little while before the calls from the mosques, the interior area is evacuated by visitors. In general, morning hours are the most suitable times to make a visit between 9:30 and 12:30. If you prefer the afternoon hours, do not forget to check the afternoon prayer (ikindi in Turkish) times to avoid half an hour before and after of that prayer.
Do not forget that the praying times are always depending on the movement of the sun. So, the timings of the calls for prayers move throughout the year according to the season. For example, the afternoon prayer could be 3:30pm in winter or as well 5:15pm in summer.
Like all mosques, there is a dress code according to which everybody should cover their shoulders, legs and ladies should hair. Therefore, you may bring a scarf of your own. Otherwise, an official kiosk inside the garden provides one-timer covers for 20 TL to wear on your clothes.
