🎟️ When will I receive my ticket after purchasing?
- You will receive your official digital QR tickets via email and WhatsApp within 5 minutes
- As soon as they arrive on your smartphone, you can skip the massive public queues and head straight to the entrance—no printing required!
🎟️ How long is my ticket valid? & Is there a time limit for my visit?
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Your ticket is valid for 7 days starting from your selected tour date.
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Entrance Hours: You may enter the Hagia Sophia on any of those days between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
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Stay and explore as long as you like & take your time with the mosaics and architecture at your own pace until closing time.
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💡One-Time Entry: Please note that the ticket is valid for a single entry. Once scanned, you can stay and explore for as long as you like until closing time.
🎟️ I don't have an Excursion | Tour. What do I do after receiving my online ticket?
- Entry is fast and simple. Once you have your QR code on your smartphone:
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🛡️ Security Check: Proceed to the main visitor entrance for a standard security screening (standard for all guests).
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🎟️ Turnstiles: After security, head directly to the electronic turnstiles.
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📲 Scan & Enter: Scan your digital QR code at the gate for instant access. No printing is required!
🎟️ I have an Excursion | Tour. What do I do after receiving my online ticket?
- We meet near the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet.
- The exact meeting point and a map are included in your confirmation email.
- 🛡️ Security Check: Proceed with your Guide and Group or Family to the main visitor entrance for a standard security screening (standard for all guests).
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🎟️ Turnstiles: After security, head directly to the electronic turnstiles.
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📲 Scan & Enter: Scan your digital QR code at the gate for instant access. No printing is required!
🎟️ Does the "Online Ticket" or Excursions | Tours will skip all the lines ?
- No. You will ONLY skip the line to buy the tickets
- However, you will wait in the security line, depending on the season, from 10 to 45 minutes.
- Since Hagia Sophia was reconverted into a mosque in 2020, all visitors, whether tourists or locals, must wait in line to enter.
- This can result in extremely long lines. If the line is particularly long, your guide may propose an alternative itinerary, or you can choose to wait in line together.
🎟️ Does the Ticket fee includes the any Excursions | Tours or services ?
- No, sorry. The Hagia Sophia tour fee is not included in the ticket price
- Tickets include access to the Hagia Sophia Mosque upper gallery only & a free audio guide
- However, you can easily select this upgrade as an optional add-on directly on the Checkout Page while completing your booking.
🎟️ Does the Excursions | Tours includes the Tickets ?
- Yes, absolutely. The Hagia Sophia Excursion | Tours with Tickets includes the tickets
- Tickets include access to the Hagia Sophia Mosque upper gallery only
- However, you can easily select this upgrade as an optional add-on directly on the Checkout Page while completing your booking.
🧏 What are the times, duration, and languages for the Excursions | Tours ?
👑 Can I upgrade a Group Tour to a Private Tour, and can I choose my time?
🚩 Where is the Meeting and Ending Point of the Excursions | Tours?
- We meet near the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet.
- The exact meeting point and a map are included in your confirmation email.
- Ending Point: It may vary by service type.
👩✈️🚐 Can we add a car service to drive us from our hotel to the meeting point ?
- Yes, absolutely!
- However, please note that this transfer option is only available exclusively for our Hagia Sophia Excursion | Tours with Tickets.
- 💡 How to Book: You can add the car service directly during checkout.
🧕🏻 Is there a dress code for your Excursions | Tours in Istanbul?
- Yes, some sites visited on our Excursions |Tours are considered holy places.
- Dresses and shorts must be below knee level, and shoulders must be covered (zip-on jackets or scarves are acceptable).
- We recommend bringing along scarves or shawls to cover those body parts.
- These rules may seem unduly strict, but remember: you are a guest visiting sites regarded as religious sanctuaries.
🧕🏻 What if I don't have a headscarf or the correct clothing for the Hagia Sophia visit?
- A modest dress is required for entry. To ensure a smooth entry, we recommend complete body coverage.
- You may bring your own, or purchase these items before the entrance
- 🛡️ Disposable Headscarf (€2):Quick, hygienic, and single-use. Perfect for a one-time visit.
- 🛡️ Disposable Body-Cover (€3):Provides complete coverage for men or women.( Ideal if you are wearing shorts or sleeveless tops )
- 🧣 Simple Fabric Scarf (€ 10 to €15):Soft, reusable, and yours to keep as a beautiful souvenir.
👨👨👧 Will I be able to visit all areas of Hagia Sophia?
- Sorry. This ticket gives you access to the visiting area and upper gallery, not the prayer area downstairs.
- Only the galleries on the upper floor can be visited with a payment.
- Access to the mosque's prayer part is currently limited to the general public.
🕘 Do I have to arrive at a specific time?
- No. Enjoy total flexibility
- Your ticket is valid for entry anytime between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
💡 A Quick Note for Guided Excursion Guests:
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If you have booked an Excursion with a ticket, please remember that you have full flexibility to choose your preferred start time.
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To give you the best experience, we operate on three expert-timed sessions: 09:15 AM, 10:30 AM, and 03:15 PM.
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💡 Why are these times better?
We’ve hand-picked these sessions specifically to bypass the heaviest crowds and ensure the smoothest entry. This allows you to explore the Hagia Sophia when the atmosphere is truly serene and magical.
🕌 Can I visit Hagia Sophia on Fridays?
- Yes, but please be aware of the midday prayer closure. As Hagia Sophia is an active mosque, it is closed to tourists every Friday between 12:30 and 14:30 for the weekly prayer service.
💡 Smart Tip:
- Friday is the busiest day of the week. To avoid the longest queues and the prayer closure, we strongly recommend booking a morning slot (09:00 - 11:00) or a late afternoon slot (after 15:00).
- If you book during the closure window, our team will coordinate with you to ensure your entry is as smooth as possible.
🎧 Do I get a free Audio Guide?
👩🦽 Is this tour accessible for people in wheelchairs?
- The Hagia Sophia is not suitable for wheelchairs and baby strollers
- This tour is not walking-intensive for clients with reduced mobility.
- We recommend that clients with mobility challenges contact us so we can create a tour adapted to their concerns.
🇪🇺🪙 What tour options, pricing, and transfer services do you offer ?
Hagia Sophia Excursions | Tour Fees (Tickets Included):
- Group Tour (Max 20 pax) | Join another couple for a semi-private experience.
- €70 (English) flat fee | per family + €28 ticket per person.
- €80 (Other Languages) flat fee | per family + €28 ticket per person.
Private VIP (Max 8 pax) | Only for your party | family, and your expert guide.
- €80 (English) flat fee + €28 ticket per person.
- €90 (Other Languages) flat fee + €28 ticket per person.
A Quick Note :
You can upgrade your Group Excursion to a Private VIP Tour for just €10 extra per family as an optional add-on directly on the Checkout Page while completing your booking
Full-Day VIP Full-Day Guiding (8 Hours)
- Professional Guide Only: €250 (Max 8 people).
- Guide + Luxury Minivan: €440 (Max 8 people).
Note:
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel.
Tickets/meals are not included for full-day bookings.
- Private Hotel Transfers (Minivan | Max 8 pax):
- Add this service if you'd like a private car to pick you up and bring you to the tour meeting point.
- Transfers are transportation only, provided by a professional driver.
- Your tour guide will meet you at the designated meeting point
- One-Way: €60
- Round-Trip: €110
🛑 NOT FOR AIRPORTS: These rates are strictly for transfers between city hotels and the tour meeting point.
These are NOT airport transfers (IST or SAW).
⚠️ Important Cruise Port Policy:
Due to local regulations, we cannot pick up directly from the Istanbul Cruise Port (Galataport).
We are happy to provide transfers from any city hotel instead.