Hagia Sophia Skip-The-Line Tour

This skip-the-line tour of Hagia Sophia is designed to explore one of Istanbul's key monuments and its historical significance.

Hagia Sophia Tour

We will meet at the Hippodrome of Constantinople at the scheduled time to begin our visit to this Byzantine masterpiece.

During the guided portion of the tour, participants will learn about Hagia Sophia's history, admiring its architectural beauty including its four minarets and dome, which has a diameter of more than 30 metres (98 ft). The tour will cover various aspects of its architecture, including lighting, dimensions of the main hall, and its mosaics, all of which contribute to its impressive nature.

After an hour focusing on the exterior, participants will then enter the temple with a skip-the-line benefit. Inside, there will not be a live guide, but an audioguide in English will be available. Visitors will learn about the transformation of the site from a Greek Orthodox church to a mosque in the mid-15th century, and later to a museum before its conversion back into a mosque in 2020.

The tour concludes outside the mosque, offering time for questions directed to the guide.

Audioguide

Due to local regulations, the guide will not accompany you inside Hagia Sophia, but an audioguide in English will be provided for your exploration.

Skip-the-line Ticket

Hagia Sophia receives over 3.5 million visitors annually. Reserving this ticket allows you to avoid long ticket office queues, though a queue for security check is still required, which may last up to an hour during peak season.