How Hagia Sophia visits differ
You can visit on your own with an entry ticket, with a person who guides you, or on a longer Old City tour that includes the building. The offers look alike in a list, so compare what each one actually contains.
On your own, the visitor information describes digital content that you open by QR code or augmented reality on your own phone, with headphones. One information page lists 23 languages. Bring your own headphones and a charged phone. Accompanying guides enter free with a professional guide ID. A guide explains the building, but does not open closed areas or give access to the prayer space.
What to compare before you book
The same five questions work for any offer.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the €25 entry included or separate? | Some offers sell only the guide, and the ticket is added on top. |
| Digital content or a person? | A phone guide is flexible. A person answers questions. |
| Gallery or only an outside walk? | A tour that never enters the visitor area is a different product. |
| Is the History and Experience Museum included? | It is another building with its own €25 ticket. |
| Which language, and which meeting point? | Both decide whether the tour works for you. |
If a price is for a group, it is the price for the group, not for each person. Check whether the booking states per person or per group.
Our picks: guided tours
Small-group tours and a guided pass across the old city.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided pass: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Topkapi
Entry with a guide to Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi, plus guided visits to the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. The Harem at Topkapi, pickup and the ride back are not included.
Check availability →
Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque small-group tour
Preferred entry, a guide and a small group. Hotel transfer, food and drinks and tips are not included.
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Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern with a guide
Pre-booked entry to Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, a licensed guide and headsets in a small group. Getting to the meeting point is not included.
Check availability →Hagia Sophia tours and guided visits
Guided visits, entry bundles and walking tours of the Old City, with live prices and availability.
Istanbul guided tour: planning a day in the Old City
Hagia Sophia is one stop among several close ones.
Hagia Sophia
The visitor route leads to the upper gallery. Avoid the Friday window from 12:00 to 14:30, and expect parts of the dome view to be covered during the restoration.
Opening hours →Topkapı Palace
Open from 09:00 to 17:30, closed on Tuesdays. The combined ticket covers the palace, the Harem and Hagia Irene and is valid for one day.
Topkapi Palace →Basilica Cistern
The Cistern changed operator in 2026. Check the current ticket rules and timetable before you go.
Basilica Cistern →Sultanahmet Square
The square is the starting point for most Old City routes. Tram T1 stops here, and the Blue Mosque stands across from Hagia Sophia.
Sultanahmet guide →Ask each tour which of these stops it includes. A tour of the Old City that lists several places may or may not include the entry tickets, so the question about the €25 above applies to every stop.
Istanbul walking tour: what to expect
A walk through Sultanahmet instead of a vehicle.
A walking tour keeps you around the square and the streets of the Old City. The tram line T1 connects Sultanahmet with Gülhane, Sirkeci, Eminönü and Karaköy, so a tour can be combined with a short ride. The stop named Topkapı on the T1 is not the one at the palace, so do not mix the two up when you plan a self-guided route.
Two practical points apply to every walking tour. Women should cover their heads for Hagia Sophia, and everyone should cover shoulders and knees, see the dress code. Strollers have to be folded and carried in the visitor area. Where the tour is a combination with a Bosphorus ride, look at the cruise page for the fares and the winter timetable.
Digital content or a person
When each works better.
| Option | Strength | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Digital content on your phone | Your own pace; headphones; a choice of languages | No one to answer questions |
| Guided visit | Explanations and questions; a person leads the route | Fixed meeting time; a guide does not open closed areas |
| Old City tour with several stops | One plan for the day | Entries may be extra; each place has its own hours |
Whichever you pick, the ticket page explains the €25 entry, and the inside page lists what the route shows.
Hagia Sophia tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide to visit Hagia Sophia?
No. A guide is not required. The digital content is available on your own phone, and the visitor area works with an entry ticket alone.
Is the entry ticket included in a tour?
It depends on the booking. Read what the offer includes and whether the €25 is added. Never assume it is part of the guide price.
Can a guide take me into the prayer hall?
Do not plan on it. A guide does not give access to closed areas or to the prayer space. The visitor route is separate from the mosque.
Is a group price per person?
Not necessarily. A group price is for the whole group. Check whether the booking states per person or per group.
Do tours include the History and Experience Museum?
Only if the offer says so. The museum is in a different building and has its own €25 ticket. Read the museum page.
Which days are best for a combined tour?
Avoid Tuesday, because Topkapı Palace is closed. Avoid the midday window on Fridays at Hagia Sophia. Check the current timetable before you go.