The city of Istanbul in Turkey has a lot of great building, history, and food, but the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was the one thing that really stood out to me when I was there.
This huge Byzantine church/cathedral-turned-mosque, which is over 1,500 years old, is a must-see if you’re ever in this part of the world.
The church is in the old part of Istanbul, so it’s easy to get to from anywhere in the city. This travel guide will tell you how to get there and give you all the information you need before you go.
What is the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul? – History.
The Hagia Sophia church was started in 537 AD, when Constantinople, which is now Istanbul, was the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
At the time it was built, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was a marvel of engineering, and for a while it was the biggest building in the world. For almost a thousand years, it was the biggest church in the world.
In 1453, the Ottoman Empire took over Constantinople and turned the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. This is also when the four Islamic minarets were added. Most of the building was saved, and in 1935, Atatürk, who started the Republic of Turkey, turned the mosque into a secular museum.
Today, the Hagia Sophia museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and more than 3 million people visit it every year.
Taking a trip to the Hagia Sophia
Before getting inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, it’s a good idea to walk around the outside and get a better look at the huge dome, buttresses, and minarets.
The size of these is huge, and the pond in the middle of Sultanahmet Square is one of the best places to take a picture.
On the grounds of Hagia Sophia, you can also see the tombs of the Sultans, which are three smaller dome-shaped buildings with Islamic designs and writing.
The Hagia Sophia’s Interior
When you first step inside this huge building and walk through the same rooms as Emperors and Sultans from hundreds of years ago, it’s a great feeling.
The mood is pretty amazing, and being surrounded by old history makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time. After you’ve looked around the rooms on the first floor, take the stairs up to the second floor to see bright golden tiles of Bible scenes and figures that are mostly still in good shape from the Middle Ages.
Price of Tickets and Hours
It’s pretty easy to get into the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
You can hire guides at the door if you’d like to have them explain things as you go, but this is not required.
Most of the time, getting passes is easy and quick, and then you’ll be on your way.
Adults pay 60 pence ($11.20 USD).
Children under 9 are free.
From April 15 to October 31, summer hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
From November 1 to April 15, the winter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
One hour before closing time is the last time people can get in.
Where exactly is Hagia Sophia?
The building is in the old, famous part of Istanbul called Sultanahmet Square.
The Hagia Sophia is about 45 kilometers (30 miles) from Sabiha Gokcen foreign Airport (SAW), where many foreign flights into Istanbul land.
You can take a cab or an Uber to get to the Hagia Sophia, but it’s much cheaper (and almost as fast) to take the HAVABÜS shuttle bus from the airport to Taksim Square and then an Uber from Taksim to Sultanahmet.
You should also go see the close Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace when you go to see the Hagia Sophia.
From the Sophia, it only takes 5 minutes to walk to these places.
When would be the best time to go?
Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate, so the summers are hot and the winters are mild and wet. The inside of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is not heated or cooled, so it can be a little hot in the middle of summer or winter.
Most likely, the best times to go would be in the spring or fall, when the weather is cool. Even so, the weather in Istanbul is never too hot or too cold, so most months are good for a visit.
You’ll want to keep an eye on any work that’s going on. The Hagia Sophia is often being fixed and kept in good shape, so your pictures might show scaffolding.
At the time this was written, there was some scaffolding on the inside, but nothing important on the outside. Now is a great time to go.
