Things to do in Hagia Sophia
Known for its massive dome, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is a former Greek Eastern Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral. After this it was an Ottoman imperial mosque and, in these days, used as a museum. This beautiful marvel blends elements from its Christian and Islamic heritage, creating a truly unique place to visit.
The Hagia Sophia was built in its present form in A.D. 537 by the Byzantine Empire at the beginning of the middle ages and remained an Eastern orthodox cathedral for 916 years. After the Ottoman conquest in 1453, it was transformed into a mosque, which it remained for 482 years. In 1935, the building was transformed into a museum by order of the Turkish President.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul, The Hagia Sophia still showcases features of both Christian and Islamic architecture and remains an important place of significance to both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
Our recommendations in Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia skip-the-line ticket with 1-hour guided tour and audio guide
Buy an entrance ticket for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hagia Sophia and discover its history through a guided orientation walk.
en, it, fr, es, ar, +4 de, ru, pl, zh
Istanbul silver combo day tour with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Dolmabahçe Palace
Book now to enjoy the heart of Istanbul's Old City and see the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace and panoramic views from Çamlıca Hill.
en, fr, es, de
Skip-the-line Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar tour
Book now your combination Istanbul guided tour with skip-the-line entrance to the majestic Hagia Sophia and a visit to Grand Bazaar.
en, es, de
Istanbul mosaics and Blue Mosque 1-day small group tour
Visit the most important sites in Istanbul. Book your tour online and discover the marvelous Hagia Sophia, the impressive Blue Mosque and much more!
en
Hagia Sophia skip-the-line ticket with 1-hour guided tour and audio guide
Buy an entrance ticket for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hagia Sophia and discover its history through a guided orientation walk.
en, it, fr, es, ar, +4 de, ru, pl, zh
Istanbul silver combo day tour with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Dolmabahçe Palace
Book now to enjoy the heart of Istanbul's Old City and see the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace and panoramic views from Çamlıca Hill.
en, fr, es, de
Skip-the-line Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar tour
Book now your combination Istanbul guided tour with skip-the-line entrance to the majestic Hagia Sophia and a visit to Grand Bazaar.
en, es, de
Istanbul mosaics and Blue Mosque 1-day small group tour
Visit the most important sites in Istanbul. Book your tour online and discover the marvelous Hagia Sophia, the impressive Blue Mosque and much more!
en
Istanbul gold combo day tour with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and private boat cruise
Experience the heart of the Old City visiting the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Grand Covered Bazaar with a private boat tour on the Bosphorus.
en, es, de
Hagia Sophia skip-the-line entry ticket and optional audio guide
Explore the Hagia Sophia with priority access. Add an informative audio guide to learn more about this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
en, it, fr, es, de
Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus Cruise, Blue Mosque guided small group tour
Admire Istanbul's skyline during a Bosphorus cruise. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Grand Covered Bazaar, and take in the view from Pierre Loti Hill.
en
All-in-one Istanbul tour with sunset yacht cruise
Make the most of your limited time in Istanbul with this all-in-one Istanbul tour featuring a sunset cruise on a yacht.
en
Experience cruising the Golden Horn, Bosphorus and more
Book Experience cruising the Golden Horn, Bosphorus and more to learn with an audio app, cruise along the 32 km Bosporus, and enjoy seeing Istanbul's main attractions including Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Maiden Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace and many more.
en
Book this day tour in Istanbul to discover the wonders of the city, including the iconic Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
en
Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern Istanbul tour
Discover Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern Istanbul with an English guide and an audio app provided in 9 languages. Admire the Hagia Sophia architecture and learn about the glorious Topkapi Palace and Fatih Sultan Mehmet.
en
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar guided small group tour
Discover Istanbul's old city in this 4-hour guided tour, discover Byzantine and Ottoman relics, learn about Hagia Sofia Mosque, and visit the Grand Covered Bazaar.
en
How to get there
Hagia Sophia
Istanbul
Turkey
Reviews Hagia Sophia
“We werden voor het hotel opgepikt. We waren maar met drie personen, dus bijna een privé gids. De gids kon ons veel vertellen en was heel aardig. Geen wachtrijen en veel gezien.Ook weer netjes thuis afgezet. Wat ons betreft een aanrader!”
“La basilica di Santa Sofia era stupenda, invio del ticket per entrare è stata poco soddisfacente le istruzioni non erano in italiano.”
“Fantastic tour with very knowledgeable guide highly recommend”
“Die Tour war ok-ABER wir haben eine Tour auf DEUTSCH gebucht.Zwei Tage zu vor erfuhren wir per Whatsapp das es keinen deutschen Reiseführer gibt.Nach Whatsappkontakt meinerseits mit dem örtlichen Veranstalter-mein Mann spricht GAR KEIN Englisch und ich nur sehr sehr wenig :-(-hieß es dann wir versuchen das Beste.Am Vormittag hatten wir dann Glück und es gab einen deutschen Reiseführer! Nach dem Mittagessen und zur Bootstour sah es anders aus. Alles nur englisch - also NULL Informationen für uns”
