Hagia Sophia Skip-The-Line Tour

This skip-the-line tour of Hagia Sophia is ideal for understanding the history of one of Istanbul's key monuments.

Hagia Sophia Tour

We will meet at the Hippodrome of Constantinople at the scheduled time. This guided tour will cover the history and architectural details of Hagia Sophia from the outside, highlighting its four minarets and large dome, over 30 metres (98 ft) in diameter.

The tour will provide insight into its architecture, including lighting and its main hall's dimensions and mosaics. After an hour of exploration, you'll enter the temple and skip the queues, without a live guide, but with an audioguide in English. This will explain the mosque's history, including its transformation from a Greek Orthodox church to a mosque in the mid-15th century, and later to a museum before reverting back to a mosque in 2020.

The tour will conclude outside Hagia Sophia, allowing you to ask any remaining questions.

Audioguide

As per local regulations, the guide cannot accompany you inside for explanations. You will enter independently while following the audioguide explanations in English.

Skip-the-line Ticket

Over 3.5 million people visit Hagia Sophia annually. Reserving this ticket enables you to bypass long ticket office queues, though you will still wait for security control, which can take up to an hour during high season.