Hagia Sophia Tickets

(Most recommended option for the historic center)

Line: T1 (Kabataş – Bağcılar)

• Destination stop: Sultanahmet
• Walking distance: The Sultanahmet stop leaves you just a 5-minute walk from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and other key tourist sites.

Other nearby stops:

• You can also get off at Gülhane (about a 7-minute walk) or Sirkeci (about a 15-minute walk).
• If you’re coming from Taksim Square: Take the F1 funicular from Taksim to Kabataş. At Kabataş, transfer to tram line T1 toward Bağcılar and get off at Sultanahmet.

If you are near a station on the M2 line, you can take it to Vezneciler station. From there, you can either walk (about 30 minutes) or transfer to the T1 tram line at the nearby Laleli stop.

Marmaray (Underground Train)

If you’re coming from the Asian side or using this train line, the closest stop is Sirkeci, which is about a 15-minute walk from Hagia Sophia.

The driver will take you to Sultanahmet Square or to an adjacent street as close as possible to the entrance. The square itself and the areas surrounding the main monuments are often pedestrian-only or have restricted traffic.

• Traffic: Istanbul is known for its heavy traffic, especially in the city center. Depending on your location and the time of day, traveling by car can be significantly slower than using public transportation.
• Parking: Visitor parking is practically nonexistent in the Sultanahmet area. Taking a private car is strongly discouraged if you expect to find parking easily.

Recommendation

If you choose this option, the best approach is to take a taxi or use a ride service (such as Uber/BiTaksi) and simply request to be dropped off as close as possible to “Hagia Sophia Mosque” or “Sultanahmet Square.”

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are located directly opposite each other, separated only by the large Sultanahmet Square (or the Hippodrome), which is a completely pedestrian area.

If you arrive in Sultanahmet using public transportation, here are the walking distances from the main arrival points:

• Sultanahmet Tram Stop (T1 Line): 3–5 minutes
• Basilica Cistern: 5 minutes
• Topkapi Palace: 5–7 minutes (through the outer gardens)
• Grand Bazaar: 15–20 minutes (pleasant walk, though with some uphill/downhill sections)
• Sirkeci Train Station (Marmaray): 15 minutes

• Skip-the-ticket-line applies only to ticketing, not security
• Visitors enter through the designated tourist entrance for the upper gallery
• Tickets valid for the selected date
• Ground floor prayer area is not accessible to foreign visitors

• Women: hair & shoulders covered
• Men & women: knees covered
• Non-compliance may result in denied entry

• Silence is expected inside prayer spaces
• No flash photography
• Large bags not permitted
• Respect roped-off areas and pathways

Hagia Sophia is open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, with last admission at 7:00 PM. It remains closed to visitors every Friday from 12:00 PM–2:30 PM during prayer.

Yes, Hagia Sophia skip-the-line tickets skip the ticket purchase line, allowing faster entry. However, security checks cannot be skipped, and waiting times may vary during peak season.

No. Foreign visitors can only access the upper gallery (the designated visiting area). The ground floor is reserved for active worship.

Children under 8 years old enter Hagia Sophia for free, but ID is required at the entrance. If you're searching “Hagia Sophia child ticket price”, children under 8 pay €0.

Hagia Sophia has a strict dress code for all visitors:

• Women: hair and shoulders must be covered
• Men & women: knees must be covered

Scarves are available for purchase nearby, but bringing your own is recommended.