Istanbul Hagia Sophia

8th Wonders of the World Hagia Sophia Museum. It contains many secrets, let see the secrets of the Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia in istanbul, which is based to the Byzantine Constantin days. After the conquest of istanbul, the place where the first Friday prayer was performed was Ayasofya. It was converted into a mosque but is now visited as a museum.

Hagia Sophia Informations

When Fatih Sultan Mehmed conquered istanbul, he was lucky to be one of the favorite of the whole world with his splendor of Hagia Sophia which he deemed worthy to make the first Friday prayer.

Completed in 537 and commissioned by the Emperor Justinian, Ayasofya was used as a church in Byzantine for 916 years.

Structure within Hz. Figures such as Jesus, Virgin Mary, Constantine, Great Angels and Gabriel are decorated with gold, silver and marble mosaics.

After the conquest of Constantinople by Fatih Sultan Mehmed was converted into a mosque and the first minaret was added during the period of Fatih. Later, there were minarets added during the 2nd Bayezid period.

During the Ottoman period, the minbar, mihrab and sermon chairs were added to the Hagia Sophia and became a mosque.

Today, there are many pahitaht members and sultan’s tombs in the garden of the Hagia Sophia Museum which serves as a museum. With its doors, gravestones and structures added during the Ottoman period, Hagia Sophia still preserves its former glory.

One of the top landmark in istanbul, you should see is the Hagia Sophia Museum.

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Hagia Sophia Museum Entrance Fee and Opening Hours 2026

Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee
Hagia Sophia Museum Entrance Fee: 60 TL, you can visit Hagia Sophia by museum card without waiting in queue.
Hours & schedule
Hagia Sophia Museum’s visiting hours of winter schedule are 09:00-17:00 with the last entrance time of 16:00. Visiting hours of summer schedule are 09:00-19:00 with the last entrance time of 18:00.

How to get Hagia Sophia?

The Hagia Sophia is located in Sultanahmet Square. The T1 Tram Line has a stop at Sultanahmet. If your hotel is situated in the old-town area, you can simply take the tram to Sultanahmet. Otherwise, you can take some other public transportation vehicle to connect with the T1 Tram Line and continue to Sultanahmet.