Hagia Sophia: Tickets, Mosque Status & Pass Inclusion
1 - 1.5 h
Byzantine Church & Active Mosque
Built 537 AD; reinstated as a mosque in 2020
Ayasofya Meydanı, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Planning to visit Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii)?
Compare ticket and city-pass options for this attraction.
Practical Visitor Info & Tips
€25.00
Free (ground-floor prayer area, all visitors); children under 8 free with an adult
Closes to visitors during the 5 daily prayer times
None required, but closes to visitors during the 5 daily prayer times.
Access to the Upper Gallery, home to the famous Deesis Mosaic and other Byzantine mosaics, overlooking the mosque's working prayer hall below.
| Option | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Gallery, foreign visitor | €25.00 | No reservation needed | |
| With Istanbul Tourist Pass | Included | Any tier | |
| With MuseumPass İstanbul | Not included | N/A |
Book tours & tickets
SponsoredProvided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.
Ticket Options
€25.00
Check whether a city pass already covers this attraction before buying separately.
See pass compatibility below ↓Overview & History
Hagia Sophia is one of the world's greatest architectural achievements — a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral turned Ottoman mosque turned museum, and since 2020, an active mosque once again. The ground-floor prayer hall is free for everyone, but the paid ticket covers only the Upper Gallery, where the famous Byzantine mosaics survive. Only the private Istanbul Tourist Pass includes it; the official government MuseumPass İstanbul no longer covers it at all.
What to See: Top Highlights
The Upper Gallery Mosaics
Byzantine masterpieces including the Deesis Mosaic, viewable from the paid gallery level overlooking the prayer hall.
The Great Dome
A 31-meter dome that stood as the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years.
The Ground-Floor Prayer Hall
Free and open to all visitors as an active mosque, alongside worshippers.
Which is the Best City Pass for Istanbul?
We analyze prices, ticket options, and transport deals for Istanbul.
Location & Google Maps
Which Istanbul Pass Genuinely Includes This?
Compare Istanbul PassesConfirmed included with the Istanbul Tourist Pass. The official government MuseumPass İstanbul no longer covers Hagia Sophia at all, since its 2020 reinstatement as a mosque.
Istanbul Tourist Pass
Included. Hosted entry ticket confirmed directly on the pass's own "What's Included" page.
MuseumPass İstanbul
Not included. Explicitly stated: "Hagia Sophia has been reinstated as a mosque. Due to this change, museum passes are no longer valid for entry."
Data Provenance
Book tours & tickets
SponsoredProvided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MuseumPass İstanbul include Hagia Sophia?
Is Hagia Sophia free to visit?
Why is the price quoted in Euros instead of Turkish Lira?
Nearby & Related Attractions
Is a City Pass Worth It in Istanbul?
Compare pass options, prices, ticket entry rules, and transportation.
View Istanbul Pass Comparison