Overview
Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia is a 1,500-year-old architectural masterpiece. Originally a Christian cathedral, it became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453, was converted to a museum in 1934, and reverted to a mosque in 2020. Its 31m-diameter dome was the largest in the world at the time, and its interior - where Byzantine mosaics meet Islamic calligraphy - is unforgettable. It stands as a symbol of the meeting point of Eastern and Western civilizations. Free admission (operating as a mosque). 2-minute walk from Tram T1 Sultanahmet stop.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours (tourist access restricted during prayer times; no entry Friday 13:00-14:30)
Travel Tips
Now functioning as a mosque, so tourist access is restricted during prayer times. Women need a head scarf; free ones are available at the entrance.
Hotels near Hagia Sophia
Hotels and guesthouses in Istanbul, Sultanahmet, Istanbul
