The Hagia Sophia is one of the most iconic monuments in Turkey. Located in Istanbul, this beautiful former church is now a mosque and a UNESCO Heritage site. Getting the Hagia Sophia tickets however can be pretty tricky for many reasons. First off, you will find that there are so many platforms. It is hard to tell which one is which and which is a legit government site. The reviews online are mixed too.
Many people site scams and that they paid too much or could have had a better experience. The reviews had me worried which is why I booked the tickets on site. That and because I had two young children with me and I couldn’t figure out the free tickets on the platform.
Because getting the tickets to Hagia Sophia felt so overwhelming, I decided that it may be worth just chronicling our experience so that other people can navigate the issues better.
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Hagia Sophia
The old mosaics in the Hagia Sophia that have remained preserved over the centuries. Not all of them lasted through time. This is one of the few that still remained. One can only imagine how pretty this building was before and the intricate work that adorned it.
Before we get into the all the details about the Hagia Sophia tickets, let’s pause a bit and talk about why this monument has become a UNESCO Heritage site and why it is one of the most important monuments in Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia translates into ‘Holy Wisdom’. In a sense, this monument was built like a temple of wisdom. The history of Hagia Sophia traces back to when Istanbul was Constantinople. It was considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture due to a couple of reasons.
- First off, when you enter the Hagia Sophia, you will see just how huge the interior space is. This was unheard of back in 537 AD. I need you to understand that back then, they did not use the same construction material as we do now. Things took longer to build especially at the scale at which Hagia Sophia was built. So in a way, Hagia Sophia is to Turkey what the Pyramids of Giza are to Egypt.
- The dome that covers Hagia Sophia is also remarkable. It is huge but constructing it without it falling in was a challenge.
The Hagia Sophia was originally built upon a pagan temple. It has been repaired and reconstructed a couple of times but from 360 – 1453, Hagia Sophia was the cathedral of Constantinople. It held a place of importance in the city.
After the fall of the Roman empire and with the arrival of the Ottoman empire in Constantinople, the cathedral Hagia Sophia was then converted into a mosque and minarets were erected around it. Today, the building is still a mosque but you can see the traces of Christianity that are still preserved in the Hagia Sophia. They have been shielded but not fully covered because Hagia Sophia is still a place of worship.
Hagia Sophia Tickets
Now lets get to the crux of the issue. There are so many options when it comes to the Hagia Sophia tickets. Not only because of the combination of the Hagia Sophia with the museum but also because there are tickets that combine other attractions too. Plus you will find people approaching you with fast track tickets if you so much as stand outside the Hagia Sophia. Which one should you choose?
The hard reality is that the monuments in Istanbul are costly and you really need to narrow down on what you want to do. Generally speaking, children under the age of 6 years are free and in some place the age limit is 8. This definitely helps keep the budget in check.
Hagia Sophia Tickets For Children
When it comes to the Hagia Sophia tickets, you will find that children 8 and below can enter for free. You need to carry their passports with you as proof. I couldn’t book these tickets online so I chose to stand in line to get ours too. Most of the sites made me pay for their entry into the mosque. Considering that each ticket is 25 euros, I found it more convenient to stand in line even though it was a cold day and the wind was freezing.
Buying The Hagia Sophia Tickets At The Ticket Counter
Note that the cost of the Hagia Sophia tickets is often quoted in Euros but you pay using Turkish Lira.
At the ticket counter you will be provided with two options. Either entrance to the Hagia Sophia which was 25 euros. This involves access to the second floor of the building. The lowest floor is reserved for people who want to pray. The other option is a combination ticket that covers the Hagia Sophia and the museum related to Hagia Sophia. This ticket is 50 euros.
I was not very sure whether I wanted to go inside the building initially because a lot of the reviews said that you couldn’t see much. That there is a lot of restoration going on which obstructs a lot of the view. Others said that the museum was definitely not worth visiting.
In the end, we decided that we would probably be in Istanbul only once and we splurged on a combination ticket. I also wanted all the information so that I could pass it on here. In the end, I was glad that we did both. Despite the price of the Hagia Sophia tickets, I found the experience unique. I can also see why the experience may appeal to some and not others.
Are The Hagia Sophia Tickets Worth It?
If you want to save 25 euros on your tickets to Hagia Sophia, you can very well do so. The outside of the building conveys just how large and impressive it is. Even a scaffolding could not diminish its presence. The inside of the building is more subtle in a way. It has a huge central area where the general public do not step into. You head to the upper floor where you can peer down.
If you just walk through it after clicking a couple of photographs you could be done with the Hagia Sophia in 15 minutes or less. This is why people say that the Hagia Sophia tickets are very expensive. We spent longer in the area because we were very interested in the history. There are QR codes all over the area with numbers. All you have to do is scan the code and listen to the free audio guide.
The Globetrove Opinion On The Hagia Sophia Tickets
Hagia Sophia is expensive. It is also interesting. There isn’t that much to see inside and honestly, I did find the Blue mosque prettier. That being said, the centuries worth of history, old mosaic paintings and the transition from a cathedral to a mosque is worth seeing. It is the history and the architecture that make the Hagia Sophia unique. At the end of the day, it is a deeply personal call to make.
The Hagia Sophia Museum
As I mentioned before, the ticket office also offers a combination ticket which includes the Hagia Sophia and the Hagia Sophia museum. Again there are a lot of negative reviews when it comes to this museum and I almost listened to them.
The museum is not a very traditional museum. If you think you will stroll through floors of museum and go through thousands of artifacts then you will be disappointed. While there are lots of interesting things to see and many artifacts to observe, the museum is divided into two sections. One is an audiovisual tour which we found rather amazing.
This tour takes you back in time right to the start when Hagia Sophia was built. You take part in the immersive experience and it feels so much more enriching than just reading text. After the audiovisual tour is done, you can spend time looking at the artifacts in the museum.
The Globetrove Opinion On The Hagia Sophia Museum
I loved the Hagia Sophia museum. I love learning about the history of each place so it really appealed to me. The museum says that the experience is read for children above 8 years but tat’s just advice. They allow you to take your child in. Ours were 4 and 6 at the time. They enjoyed the experience as well. In retrospect, I guess I was okay with the price because we got something out of the experience and the kids were free. But it still took a sizable chunk out of our budget.
Which Of The Hagia Sophia Tickets Is Better At The Ticket Office?
Now really liked the museum but as I said before, that costs a whopping 50 euros per person. If I was on a budget and wanted to see the mosque I would choose only the mosque. If you don’t mind the price then see them both. Generally it is far better to see the museum first and then the mosque.
Long Lines For The Hagia Sophia Tickets
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to getting tickets for the Hagia Sophia at the ticket office is the long line. We visited during the off season when the weather was absolutely crappy. It was 0C and the feels like was well below that. The wind was blowing and the rain was icy. Yet the line took us about 30 min. That was relatively fast. These queues get much longer in the peak season.
If you do try to get the tickets like we did, make sure that you reach the ticket office early. That way you can avoid the crowds.
Other Hagia Sophia Tickets To Consider
Getting tickets to the Hagia Sophia at the ticket counter can be painful which is why you can book your tickets online. There are so many sites that pop up when you just type in Hagia Sophia tickets. It overwhelmed us. Even now in retrospect after what I know, I had to spend time filtering through them. I have read that many people booked their tickets and were scammed out of them. The tickets weren’t accepted when they reached the mosque.
Here are some good options when it comes to the tickets. I’m going to stick to Viator and Get Your Guide because those are the options that I use. I’ll give you the low down on why the tickets make sense too.
Skip The Line Hagia Sophia Tickets + Museum (Museum is optional)
⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5 (2,848 Reviews) Price: $33 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The long wait in line is really annoying especially if you have a lot to cover while you are in Istanbul. We were lucky that we were in the city for a week which meant that we could take it slow. The Skip the line Hagia Sophia tickets are really handy when it comes to saving time. The downside is that they are slightly more expensive than the ones sold at the ticket office. That being said, it can be worth it considering that in peak season you have to spend over an hour in line.
One of the reasons why the reviews of this ticket has dropped is because of the scaffolding that covers the building. It is something that you should be prepared for.
Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque With Audio Guide
⭐️ Rating: 4.1/5 (1,890 Reviews) Price: $33 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Entering the Blue Mosque is free so these Hagia Sophia tickets struck me as odd. The price is the same as he previous ticket. The big difference is the audio guide. We did not have an audio guide for the Blue Mosque which meant that we were dependent on what we saw and knew. It would definitely have been nice to have.
I would consider this option if you were going to opt for a skip the line ticket and not do the museum. Because this way you have an audio guide for both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque without spending extra money. The Blue Mosque is opposite the Hagia Sophia so you don’t have to go far.
Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia And Optional Topkaki Palace
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (3,552 Reviews) Price: $81 per person Duration: Valid for 3 days Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
There’s a third combination of tickets that I looked at and that was the Basilica Cistern, the Hagia Sophia and the Topkaki palace. All the three monuments were on my to do list and all three of them are expensive. In addition to that, all three have long queues. Which is why I had my eye on this ticket. It would cut the waiting time at all locations and I could easily pack more into my day.
The bonus point on this ticket is that it has a validity of three days. This means that you could use it at your convenience and you don’t have to rush from one spot to another. While you could cover the Hagia Sophia and the Cistern in a day, adding the Topkaki palace to the mix would be harder because it is huge. We spent a whole day wandering it. Which is why I would space them out a bit if you have time.
A couple of things that you should note about these Hagia Sophia tickets is that they only include an audio guide to the Topkaki palace and not to Hagia Sophia or the Basilica Cistern. I explained how you can get the audio guide working on your phone for the Hagia Sophia.
For the Basilica Cistern, you need to pay extra for an audio guide. These are available at the counter. A scan code is provided and you can use it on your phone. The code works only for one phone. You can easily share the device if you need to or use your headphones.
The Topkaki audio guide is great but since it is such a huge place, we did not use it as much as we could have.
What Should You Pack When Visiting Hagia Sophia?
When you head to Hagia Sophia make sure that you pack the following things because you will need them.
- A scarf if you are a woman
- Headphones or earphones. I prefer headphones especially if you head to this Cistern because of the chance of them falling in the water. We spotted a number of airpods that had been lost.
- Passports if you are traveling with kids. That way you can get a discounted fair.
- Water especially if you plan to stand in the lines. It can get hot and you will feel dehydrated.
What’s not allowed in the Hagia Sophia:
- Large bags or suitcases
- Shorts or short skirts
As you can see, choosing the perfect Hagia Sophia tickets can feel rather overwhelming. By putting your needs into perspective, you can easily figure out what works for you. Just think about how much time you have, what’s your budget and what do you really really want to visit.
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