Hagia Sophia Entry Fee and Changes Explained for 2024 | Everything You Need to Know!
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As of January 2024, Hagia Sophia is now charging a 25 euro fee per person to enter. But the new fee is not the only thing that is different -- they have also made some other changes, including what visitors are able to access once inside.
Join us in the video as we visit Hagia Sophia for the first time since all of the new updates. We will try to answer a lot of questions about the changes and also show you what you can expect when you visit Istanbul's most popular historic site.
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Thanks for the update and I'm glad to see that you're out and about. Be safe
Thank you so much!! ☺️☺️
videos are always amazing keep up the great content!!!!
Thank you so much!!
Happy we got to tour last November- having seen it, I would pay $25 to experience it again from upper level and listen to audio guide to learn even more!
Love you enthusiasm! Great video.
Thanks so much!!
Thanks for the information. I'm planning to go in April.
We hope you have a great trip!! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the update. We would have had a rude awakening in April when we arrived at the HS.
Thanks for the information. It will be a much better experience now with less people.
It was definitely nice to be able to enjoy it was less people, but it will be interesting to see how many people are there during high season! Thanks for watching!
Just visited Istanbul. Lovely people, great food, awesome airport and metro! BUT: the condition of Hagia Sofia is abysmal. It was gut wrenchingly painful to see how poorly that building was maintained. We are talking about one of the most significant structures built in the history of mankind. Cats and birds are defecating inside. Weeds and plants are growing between the huge stones outside. The old Cathedral was dilapidated and shamefully maintained. Turkey needs to treat Hagia Sofia with the respect and honor it deserves. They’d get much more tourism were they to restore the building to what Boris and Gleb saw when they said upon entering, “They knew not whether they were in Heaven or on earth”. Vile to have witnessed what Turkey has done to the grand Cathedral. Plus, Turkey is hurting itself by being such negligent stewards of the Cathedral.
And most places like open parks are also in really bad state. Also, lot of places closed for rennovations with nothing happening.
Hi there, you are an amazing couple, and the way you explain the detail is so easy that I am watching all of your videos before visiting the turkey. I am also looking for a cheaper but good equipped airbnb because want my dad to have an easy trip. Hope to see your video before that. Before may
We’re glad to see another great video. Another cool update is NO MORE E-VISA for US visitors ! YES! 😂 More shopping and more food!
Haha we were very happy to hear about that change as well! Thanks so much for watching! ☺️🙏
Hi I’ve seen some signs around the new tourist entrance on other TH-cam videos that say people who can’t climb stairs can visit the main floor as they can’t reach the gallery. My Mum is 84 years old and travels in a wheelchair when sightseeing. Did you see what was happening with foreign visitors who can’t handle stairs while you were at Ayasofya? Thank you for the great videos!!
Is there any way to buy tickets online? Do you know a reliable site? I will visit in August and I don’t have much time in the city, so I am concerned with the lines. Thank you 😊
Can you visit during prayer time? How about Fridays….are Fridays accessible ?
Im Turkish, my wife egyptian. We both live in Canada now but started watching your videos when we decided to book a trip to Istanbul this May. I'm stoked!
That’s very exciting, we hope you have a great trip!
What will be the weather in May
I'm also from Canada and going in May!! have a nice trip
Hi. Can the tickets be purchased in turkish liras ? Or do we have to pay them in euros ?
Hi, does anybody know if there is any discount for ISIC students (I couldn't find info on the official site)?
Is Hagia Sofia open 9-7:30 on Fridays? What about prayer hours? Now that tourists can walk just the mezzanine floor, are they allowed anytime?
I love your approach to a perfect day in Istanbul. I'm one of those that threw in a stop on the way to Greece because of the Turkish Air Stopover Program.
? If I only have the morning to visit mosques, my thoughts are to go for a Turkish breakfast , visit the Blue Mosque, see Hagia from the exterior, maybe Basilica Cistern, breeze through the markets and see Suleymaniye before heading to Galata and the sunset cruise, and sample foods. I'm traveling with a very hungry guy. Please let me know if I should tweak my plans?
I live in N Idaho so I love your videos there also. Thanks, Angela
Hi there Angela! If it were me based on the places you have mentioned (and if you can wait a little longer for breakfast), I would get to Sultanahmet square by 8am to enjoy the peace and quiet (relatively speaking ☺️). You can see Hagia Sophia from the outside before one thousand people are there... then I would go to the Blue mosque first, right at 8:30 when they open. It shouldn’t take too long and then you can go to Basilica Cistern when they open at 9am..
This approach would really help you avoid a lot of the crowds. Basilica Cistern takes around 45 or so minutes so you could be having breakfast by 10am or so, depending on where you’re going.
You can grab a simit in the square to hold you over before breakfast. Or maybe find a place to pick up some borek before you start your day.
Then, yes markets and Süleymaniye before Galata and the sunset cruise sounds like a great plan! Get ready for a busy (and fun ☺️) day!
Hope you guys have a great time!
@@WaypointofView Do you still discount available for the sunset cruise?
@@AngelaRisner-qo6os Yes we sure do! We have a 15% discount inside the guide, which for 2 people, basically pays for the guide. 😉😉
This update was actually really helpful, unfortunately it confirms my suspicions that I won't be able to make a trip to Istanbul for the foreseeable future as I have no plans to travel halfway across the planet only to see half of late Antiquity's most important building.
Thank you for creating these videos for us. I came across your videos late in 2022 when planning my 2023 holiday to visit the less travelled tourist destinations in Turkiye - Black Sean Coast and the South East. I visited Trabzon and Mardin, Sanliurfa and Gaziantep last October.
I have been to Aya Sofia a number of times when it was a museum and more recently in 2022 and 2023. I welcome these changes to seperate cultural visitors from those going to pray. While a lot of us 'tourists' do the right thing in being mindful and respectful, I witnessed very poor behaviours from many tourists inside Aya Sofia in the last 2 years - some who were clearly identifiable as Muslim. The vast majority of people there, including me were not there to pray, they were there to look at the inside of a 1500 year old building.
I would not hesitate to pay to visit this amazing building. I cannot imagine the regret I would have if after travelling thousands of kilometres to holiday in Turkiye I went home without seeing inside one of the world's architectural masterpieces just because I had to pay. The cost is less than Westminster Abbey and similar to other tourist frequented structures in Europe.
This makes us so happy to hear! We are glad you have found our videos helpful!
Miss when it was a museum and you could be on both the ground level and the upper level
I haven't been back to Istanbul in over 9 years, back when it was a Museum. I hope it will be a museum once again in the future but I would go as far as to say it should be converted back to a Church since there is already a huge mosque right next to it. Now that would be a pillar of secularism like no other.
Christian cathedrals in Europe are far more accessible anyway.
@@lennydale92There are Christians in Turkey too. Not sure how they would be more accessible than Hagia Sophia :)
Still salty you're after all these years😂
@@secretangel4848 I am a Turk so it’s not being salty, just has to do with having a sense of justice and respect. Simpletons like you wouldn’t understand it but I accepted that so keep walking ;)
@@secretangel4848 that’s a childish response. What I’m saying is just the right thing to do. You are projecting your own feelings on me but I don’t think as simplistically as you.
I am from Bangladesh. Please visit Dhaka, Bangladesh.
does the QR code work if we did not purchase an igternational wifi package? Will we be able to still use it Thank you in advance
They had signs indicating that there was free WiFi that you can login to so you can access the QR code. We did not use the WiFi so I cannot give first hand experience of using the it, but we did see that it was available so I imagine you will be fine!
Hello you make great videos with full explanation. I have a question you mentioned that prayer time is allowed to muslims on ground floor. Is it only for turkish muslims or everyone? And also it is open to pray anytime or justbon the prayer time
Thanks so much! So I believe the original intent was to be free only for Turkish citizens... however, I have since heard the ground floor is now also open to foreign Muslims but just during prayer time (and still Turkish Citizen's regardless of its prayer time or not). We have not been able to confirm this so please if you don't mind sharing your experience when you visit, we would appreciate it! ☺️
That's what we were told today
Thanks for The Informations the Hagia Sophia is one of the Faszination buildings of the world, it‘s so much history in there,
You Must be Visit my Home City Samsun on the black sea, it is a wonderful City, enjoy it.
Excuse me but my english is not so good☺️
Greetings from germany
You are Great
Thank you so much for watching!! ☺️☺️
Hii thanks for the video, we are goint there in Apr, one question what if the tourist wants to pray??
Hi there, from what we currently understand, only Turkish citizens who are there for worshipping can enter the prayer area for free. I have no idea how strict they are on this or if this will change going forward. I would be interested to know your experience when you visit in a couple of months if you don't mind sharing. :)
Tourists can also enter free of charge from the main entrance during prayer time just to salah. Only for muslim prayers.
So it means you can enter galleries during prayer happening below?
No closed during prayer times
👍👍👍
I saw some comments said they charge 25 euro per person…NO now they charge 31 euro (info from official website) wow it’s even more expensive than what I spend on some attractions in Paris or London. I didn’t expect the price climb up so high in Istanbul😂
Oh wow, I had not heard that yet... do you mind sharing which site you are referring to? The below site is usually pretty good and stays up to date and it's still showing 25 euros but who knows, things change here very rapidly! muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/ayasofya
How is weather in May? Temperatures be like?
The weather can be very unpredictable here but generally speaking it should be pretty warm in May. We have been having great weather so far this month but last April it was a different story, so it’s hard to say with certainty.
is the hagia sophia still handicap accesible?
From what we understand, the balcony level is not wheelchair accessible. However, we have read that tourists with a purchased ticket that need accessibility, can then access the main worship floor through the prayer entrance. You cannot get to the balcony but you can get in on the main floor.
Seems little steep specially going from free. Omg you cant go msin floor yhats best part
I’m going to Istanbul in two weeks. Thank you for the update. I will give Hagia Sophia a skip, not worth €25 from my research.
Have a great trip! 🤗
When you go to Istanbul. Maybe one time in the life. You have to see This from inside. It is amazing and never forgetable.
Sorry guys, I don't care how beautiful it is, 50 Euros (2,000 Thai Baht) for two people is outrageous. I don't think we've ever paid to go into a mosque and some of the ones in Malaysia are gorgeous.
Can you enter Hagia Sophia for free if you just want to go for prayers?
From what we understand, you’re supposed to be a turkish citizen in order to enter the prayer area for free.. but I honestly have no idea how strict they are being or if this rule will last.
@WaypointofView ok thanks! I've already visited Hagia Sophia last year and it seems like the gallery isn't worth it so will probably give it a skip next time
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Really disappointed at how many places are closed for rennovations, but nothing is really happening. Some of the parks we have been to is really in a sad state of maintenance. One can see the 68% inflation rate is hitting hard. No money is spend on maintenance.
Great tips in you videos!!
lol $25USD? fat chance Ekrem. Guess my trip to Istanbul this summer just free'd up a morning.
Най-доброто място, за да се види църквата в цялото й величие не е на втория етаж, а на долното ниво, което е забранено за немюсюлмани. Прекрасният мраморен под е покрит с килим и е скрит за зрителите. Сегашният вариант за посещение е осакатяване на възприятието на това забележително място и се плаща безумна цена. Може да си я спестите.
It has nothing to do with the municipality. Government and The Directorate of Religious Affairs is responsible.
@@cemdursun Искат храма да е джамия, но и да имат приходи от туристите. По света няма такива безумно скъпи цени за вход.
I wouldn't pay it either. We'll take a photo from the outside.
@@philipw4824 От втория етаж, където се допускат туристите, не може да види цялата красота на храма. Само молещите се имат тази привилегия. И това ако не е дискриминация.
It’s Constantinople.
It's Byzantium
Hasn't been for half a millennium
It’s NOT pronounced Hagia it's pronounced Aya!
You are embarrassing yourself.
25 Euros is normal ? I think, 10 Euros would have been better
Is there another changes of fee in istanbul most visit places or bursa ski center? Im coming in two days. 🫨