Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) in Istanbul: History and Visitor Guide

Update 2026: the Chora Church became a mosque again in 2020 (Kariye Mosque) and reopened after restoration on 6 May 2024. Foreign visitors pay an entrance fee, the mosaics and frescoes can be visited, and the site is closed to tourists on Fridays.

The Chora Church, known in Turkish as Kariye, holds some of the finest Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in the world. Created in the early 14th century, they are among the last great works of Byzantine art, and their lively figures and sense of depth are often compared with the early Italian Renaissance.

The building has changed role several times. It became a mosque in the early 16th century, a museum in the 20th century, and a mosque again in 2020. Since 6 May 2024 it has been open to visitors again, with a ticket for foreign visitors. This guide explains its history, what to look for and how to plan a visit.

History of the Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)

The name comes from the Greek word chora, meaning "countryside" or "outside the city", because the first monastery here stood outside the walls of Constantine. When the Theodosian Walls were built further west, the church ended up inside the city, but the name stayed and became Kariye in Turkish.

The building you see today largely dates from a rebuilding by the statesman and scholar Theodore Metochites, who paid for the mosaics and frescoes between about 1315 and 1321. After the Ottoman conquest of 1453 it continued to be used as a church for some time. In 1511 the grand vizier Atik Ali Pasha converted it into a mosque, and for a long period it was known as the Atik Ali Pasha Mosque.

During the conversion the mosaics and frescoes were not destroyed; they were covered with plaster and screens. That is why so much survived. Restoration began in 1948 with the Byzantine Institute of America, which uncovered and cleaned the images, and the building was opened as a museum in the mid-20th century. In 2020 it was converted back into a mosque, and after further restoration it reopened in May 2024.

Chora mosaics and frescoes: what to see

The decoration is arranged in a clear sequence, so it helps to know what you are looking at:

• The two narthexes: the entrance halls are covered with mosaic cycles telling the life of the Virgin Mary, from her birth to her presentation at the temple, and the infancy and ministry of Christ, including the miracles.
• The donor mosaic: above the door into the main church, Theodore Metochites, in a large hat, kneels and offers a model of the church to Christ.
• The Deesis: a large mosaic of Christ with the Virgin Mary, in the inner narthex.
• The parecclesion: the side funerary chapel is painted with frescoes rather than mosaics. Its apse shows the Anastasis (Resurrection), with Christ pulling Adam and Eve from their tombs, one of the most powerful images in Byzantine art.

Look out also for the fine coloured marble panels on the walls, brought from different parts of the Byzantine world. If you enjoy Byzantine art, our guide to churches to visit in Istanbul suggests more places to explore.

Visiting the Kariye Mosque today

Since the 2024 reopening, foreign visitors pay an entrance fee and follow a visitor route. The building is closed to tourists on Fridays because of the Friday prayer, and visits also pause during the daily prayer times. Fees and opening hours change, so check the latest details on the official website before you go.

Dress code

As in any working mosque, dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered, and women should bring a scarf to cover their hair. Shoes are removed where required, and visitors are asked to keep their voices low.

How to get to the Chora Church

Chora is in the Edirnekapi neighbourhood of Fatih, close to the Theodosian Land Walls, about 5 km from Sultanahmet. The easiest options are:

• a taxi from Sultanahmet, Eminonu or Taksim;
• a city bus from Eminonu towards Edirnekapi, then a short walk;
• a walk uphill from the Golden Horn districts of Fener and Balat, which you can combine with the visit.

What to see nearby

The area is far less touristy than Sultanahmet and rewards a half-day of wandering. Nearby you can see the Theodosian Walls, the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque at Edirnekapi and the Byzantine Palace of the Porphyrogenitus (Tekfur Palace). Fener and Balat, with their colourful houses, are a pleasant walk downhill.

From there it is a short ride to Eyup Sultan Mosque and Pierre Loti Hill for tea with a view over the Golden Horn. To compare Chora with the city's best-known Byzantine monument, read our Hagia Sophia guide. If you would like a guide to explain the mosaics, Chora can be included in a private guided Istanbul tour.

Frequently asked questions

More from our Istanbul guide

• Little Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul: History and Visitor GuideIstanbul sights
• Eyüp Sultan Mosque in Istanbul: History and Visitor GuideIstanbul sights
• Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul: History and Visitor GuideIstanbul sights
• Aya Irini Church (Hagia Irene) in Istanbul: History and Visitor GuideIstanbul sights