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Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Turkey)

Practical information on Hagia Sophia

  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Museums
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Unesco World Heritage
  • Essential
5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
25 minutes by foot from Eminönü station
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
A few hours

Reviews of Hagia Sophia

Clemence Zisswiller Seasoned Traveller
34 written opinions

The greatest Christian monument until the capture of Constantinople by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453. Hagia Sophia then became a mosque, then a museum.

My suggestion:
If possible, avoid going in the summer months when the wait is endless and must be done in the bright sunshine. In any case, come at opening time.
My review

From a distance you can recognize the oxblood red colour which strengthens its walls. Its splendour and unique style cannot leave you indifferent! Hagia Sophia has become, over time, a must see on any holiday to Turkey. A monument which is loaded with history and has been the witness of successive occupations of the city, I consider visiting it as a first step towards the rich Turkish culture.

Strong from its religious evolutions, Hagia Sophia is adorned with different symbols. A crescent moon and a star embellish the outside of the dome, whereas Christian mosaics cover the interior walls. I like Hagia Sophia because of its different feel.

When you visit, don't forget to go up to see the upper gallery. Collections of religious objects have been preserved and are exhibited there. It's also a more strategic place to admire the imposing dome which has a diameter of 32 metres.

Byzance, Constantinope, Istanbul: it's all the grandeur of these successive eras that the walls of Hagia Sophia emit.

View of Hagia Sophia