Hagia Sophia Tickets

If you're planning when to use your Hagia Sophia tickets, you should plan at least 60 minutes for your visit – there's a lot to see in this epic former seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. So much so, that 90 minutes might be better.

Try to plan your visit around seeing the Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern – they're both within easy walking distance from the Hagia Sophia.

While your Hagia Sophia tickets are valid from the moment you step inside, you can only use them once.

The best time to visit the Hagia Sophia is during the morning, preferably around 9 am. You'll probably find less people in the early morning, which, combined with the natural light flooding in, also makes it a good time to snap your photos.

Try to avoid weekends and Friday afternoons – this is when the prayers take place. The best time of year to visit the Hagia Sophia is during the winter months, when the summer tourists are all back at home.

You can easily reach the Hagia Sophia by using Istanbul's metro or light tram lines. The closest tram station is Sultanahmet.

From Taksim hotels just hop on the funicular (F1 line) from the Taksim Square to Kabatas. From there, take the T1 tram to Sultanahmet tram station. It's a short 2-3 minute walk from the tram station to the Hagia Sophia.

There are lots of different Hagia Sophia tickets and many combine a visit with other Istanbul attractions. For simple Hagia Sophia tickets that include a bit of history, opt for the one-hour English guided tour.

For even more in-depth information, get the ticket with skip-the-line entrance, which includes a highlights tour and an audio guide.

If you're looking to visit other sites and get some value for money, opt for the Istanbul Pass. The Hagia Sophia is also included in the Istanbul Welcome Card and the 5-day Guided Museum Pass.

The Hagia Sophia, officially known as the Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, and formerly the Church of Hagia Sophia, is probably Istanbul's most important landmark.

As your audio guide or live guide will inform you should you opt for these Hagia Sophia tickets, it served as a center of religious, political, and artistic life for the Byzantine world.

Its history and architecture offer many scholarly insights into the period. It was also an important site for Muslims following the conquering of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II, who designated the structure a mosque.

The building, famed for its giant, glimmering dome, was known as the world's most spectacular church for centuries, and art historians have even labeled it “the 8th wonder of the world.”

There is an exclusive Hagia Sophia audio-guide app for Android and iOS (available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish).

When you've bought the Hagia Sophia tickets that include skip-the-line entry, a tour, and an audio guide, you'll be prompted to download the app on your phone. The activation code will be on your tickets.