Hagia Sophia Mosque
765 reviews
October 2, 2024
The cathedral is certainly impressive, but standing in line for an hour and paying 25-50 euros for a ticket just to see the big mosque doesn't make much sense (the rest of the mosques are free and not very different)
If the Turkish government had not decided to cover Christian symbols with Islamic banners, maybe there would have been some sense in visiting, but outwardly it makes a much greater impression
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January 17
The cathedral has a thousand-year history, walls, corridors, ceilings, windows, every corner is steeped in the history of centuries. Excellent preservation of all the ancient delights of the architects' work. A must-see place in Istanbul.
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1
January 6
My husband went to Istanbul only because of St. Sophia.Of course, you should see it, because all the other mosques are built in its image and likeness.The mosque is operational, services are held on the ground floor, you can only see the second floor.But the building is huge.Impressive.Admission costs 30€, in terms of lira.Only the tickets were held for 45 minutes.There is not a single toilet where tourists go.
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February 21
A magnificent temple. The cradle of Orthodoxy. It is a pity that they are not allowed on the first floor. But from the second floor there is a magnificent view too. Take a handkerchief with you. Of course, they sell nearby, but their own is nicer. The entrance fee is in lira. I heartily recommend visiting the museum dedicated to Hagia Sophia. Tickets are sold at the same box office.
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December 15, 2024
Beautiful! We spent an hour and a half there, looking at every corner. If you run, you can forget in 15 minutes. But when I read what kind of marble was brought from where, and then you see these yellow, green structures, the story comes to life.
We found Christian elements that we had preserved. They tore off patterns for themselves. In short, we examined it thoroughly in order to firmly say to ourselves: we have lived here for 1.5 hours of our lives.
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March 9
To say that I'm disappointed is to say nothing!
The mosque is big and ancient - that's it!
How can you even charge for visiting Hagia Sophia? Where is the world community looking?
Nothing is being restored, they are not allowed on the ground floor. You can walk along the balcony and look around, if you want to see everything, convert to Islam (that's how we were told at the end). The temple, which was built for Christians, was rebuilt into a mosque, they charge money for the inspection and also don't let them see it completely!
The building itself is majestic, but it doesn't stand next to our St. Petersburg cathedrals)
When buying tickets, you will be offered to visit the museum, take only a visit to Hagia Sophia without a museum!!!
You can read about the history of the temple on the Internet, it's fast and free! At the very end, the phrase sounded: The truth (Sofia) can only be understood by standing under the dome!
Well, you get it…
I did not feel the healing, awareness-giving energy that is present in all places of prayer. And it's very strange!
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1
December 16, 2024
The grandeur of the building both from the outside (soft lines, rounded shapes, stability) and inside (tall arches, spacious halls) is fascinating. The feeling of touching centuries-old history appears as soon as you cross the threshold. With great regret and a sense of irretrievably lost, you look at what remains of the Christian frescoes :(
The ticket is expensive for foreigners, but it is necessary to go. It seems to me that this is the main attraction of Istanbul.
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November 3, 2024
It captures the imagination! I highly recommend visiting the museum before going to Sofia itself, it is in another building. Interactive, with an audio guide in Russian - very interesting!
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3
December 16, 2024
As the mosque was not impressed, unfortunately you can only go to the 1st floor, when the mosque was a temple it was much more interesting and informative, there was an opportunity to climb and appreciate the beauty of the structure and historical significance
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3
October 13, 2024
It's beautiful outside, beautiful inside, no more. According to the Istanbul museum map, you can squeeze through without queuing, the card costs about 10 thousand rubles and gives you the opportunity to visit 12 places, including Sofia. But there is nothing to do here more than once, we looked at the achievements of past people and moved on.
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1
January 10
A place that must be visited once in a lifetime. The mother of churches .
Yes, the price is high, we only walked along the balcony, but to visit Istanbul and not come here..
We arrived on the same day - the queue is a kilometer long.
Not the next day early, it's empty.
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January 9
Guys, don't go. Little has been preserved of St. Sophia, and even less will be shown.
Instead of a beautiful temple for 25 euros, you can only take a short walk on the 2nd floor. and take a look at the Muslim ornaments.
The dress code is stricter than in the operating room - you can close your knees, but you can't wear trousers, only a skirt for women, God forbid the hair from under the scarf will appear - you can't go!
It's a shame, I wanted to see the great monument, But maybe we saw the fifth part...
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3
November 6, 2024
There are a lot of mosques in Istanbul. There are more and more beautiful ones. This one is ancient, of course, but there is nothing to look inside for 25 euros, and they will let you only on the second floor with disgusting Internet and headphones for another 5 euros, suitable only for iPhones. Therefore, the advice is: do not throw money away. An inspection from the outside plus other mosques inside will satisfy anyone.
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3
1
November 18, 2024
In order :
The price is very high
For the mosque (2nd floor) and the museum 48€
The queues are kilometers long
You will wait at least two hours to log in …
The staff are unpleasant .
That is, those who pray on the ground floor are OK, but if you cross yourself in front of the mosaic of Jesus, security flies to you!
They covered the mosaic of the Mother of God with a canvas....
I went only because of the icons, because of the mosaics, and as a result I got a passage for 48 € to the mosque.
I was only pleased with the museum , it was really interesting and modern
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5
January 1, 2024
The world-famous St. Sophia. In ancient times, it was a Christian temple, and now it is a functioning mosque and museum. Every tourist who visits Istanbul dreams of visiting there. St. Sophia is located in the center of old Istanbul and is well visible from the central square with dancing fountains. Behind him is the equally famous Blue Mosque. It is also worth visiting (especially after the recent restoration). As a rule, during the high tourist season, there is a long queue for St. Sophia, but it moves quickly and after some 30 minutes you will enjoy the beauty and scope of the structure. The only drawback of waiting in line is the scorching sun (the queue runs through an open area). Therefore, be sure to stock up on umbrellas, so as not to get sunstroke. As a rule, you can take a free umbrella at the exit of the hotels, if you do not have your own. So don't be afraid of queues and enjoy the beauty of Istanbul at any time of the year
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10
5
September 2, 2024
The entrance to the museum is expensive, but worth a visit. The mosque itself is gorgeous, the history is in every centimeter, I did not like the museum: it is small, the tour is for fifth graders, but there are interesting exhibits of ancient Kapan, ancient icons. It is convenient that there is an audio guide in both the mosque and the museum.
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1
November 19, 2024
It's an amazing place.
Only Muslims are allowed into the mosque itself now, and tourists need to pay 25 euros for admission. But we were given tickets for 48 euros along with a visit to the Hagia Sophia Museum. On the other hand, the museum is interactive and everything is very well organized, and we did not regret spending this money.
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August 25, 2024
a beautiful mosque combining elements of the Byzantine Empire and elements of a Muslim mosque. A wonderful world and historical monument, truly legendary. The museum is also striking (a truly spectacular story about historical events related to the mosque), the entrance to which is attached when buying a pass to the mosque itself
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6
2
March 5
It is a very beautiful mosque, it was a church before that, in principle it is very interesting to read the history of this building, and I would like to see how many more times they have been converted into frescoes, But as a rule such things are closed. Visiting the council
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1
March 11
For more than 10 centuries, it has been the largest Christian church in the world, and since the 15th century, since the time of the Ottoman Empire, it has been a mosque. A larger temple was built later in the Vatican. In recent years, it has been an active mosque. It is better to go with a guide, you will not see for yourself where to see the old Christian frescoes and other interesting accents will be placed by the guide. The tour is offered at the entrance to the mosque. The scale and beauty of the building are very impressive!
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March 16
It's huge. When you think about how many times you've seen this temple and how many more you'll see, you get goosebumps. It is a pity that they are allowed only on the balcony and it is impossible to fully appreciate the splendor of the structure and its scale. Of course, in my opinion, such buildings with such a history should remain world-class museums and be supported by the entire world community. Now Sofia is covered in scaffolding and it is not visible that the reconstruction is underway.
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May 14, 2024
The Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul is a unique architectural structure that impresses with its beauty and grandeur. Built in the sixth century, it was for a long time the main temple of the Byzantine Empire, and then became the mosque of the Ottoman Empire.Today, the mosque is open to both Muslims and tourists. Admission is free, but certain rules must be followed: clothes must be closed, and shoes are left at the entrance.Inside the mosque you can see magnificent mosaics, frescoes and stained glass windows that have survived to the present day. Especially impressive is the huge dome, which seems weightless and floating in the air.The Hagia Sophia Mosque is not just a religious building, it is a symbol of Istanbul's cultural and historical heritage. Visiting this mosque leaves an indelible impression and allows you to better understand the history and culture of Turkey.
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4
3
November 5, 2024
The mosque is very large. To feel the power of engineering in the 6th century is definitely worth it. The lower floor is now functioning for its intended purpose. The second floor is for tourists. Entrance to the mosque is now paid, 25 euros per person. Queuing for tickets takes longer than visiting the mosque itself. There are a lot of people.
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October 1, 2024
For 30 euros, you need to stand in a huge queue in the heat to get inside. And you will agree to this . It may happen that a speculator wakes up who will sell you a ticket for 35 euros immediately, instantly, and you can safely go to the entrance if your knees and head are blocked. If not, you will be offered to buy disposable scarves and rafts. There is a police at the entrance, not to shut you down, but in cases if you are a tourist, then you just won't be allowed anywhere. You will be allowed to enter because you have bought a ticket. There is even a kind of audio guide, 30 - second recordings on YouTube of 6 or 8 pieces. The palace looks huge, but it will take you 15-20 minutes to get around the area that you will be allowed to enter and the signs will very quickly take you back to the street. You will not be able to get to the 1st floor, since there is a mosque for Turks, you will not be allowed to walk in the garden, since you are a tourist and not a Turk . You will be able to go up to the 2nd floor to see that everything is fenced off , you cannot approach the edge of the balcony , and there is nowhere to sit down . All events will take no more than 15 minutes. Even though the castle looks huge .
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5
2
July 5, 2024
The Hagia Sophia Mosque is an absolute cultural must-have! In June 2024, it was just soulful inside: stunning architecture, the spirit of history at every step. The mosaics and the colossal dome structure were especially impressive. Definitely worth a visit if you are planning a tour of Istanbul — an incomparable experience!
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2
April 24, 2024
The Hagia Sophia Mosque is a beautiful and majestic landmark that is worth a visit. Inside the mosque, you can see ancient mosaics and frescoes, as well as enjoy the atmosphere of tranquility and tranquility. Entrance to the mosque is free, but it is necessary to follow certain rules of conduct and dress appropriately.
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4
September 27, 2024
An incredible historical building, breathtaking. We were a little disappointed that only Muslims were allowed on the ground floor, but we still had to leave it as a museum. The frescoes on the ceiling are incredible, it's a pity that they are almost covered with canvases (
We were on a weekday, we stood in line for about 15 minutes. The price of an entrance ticket is 25 euros, it is not worth that much money to visit only 2 floors.
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5
1
November 16, 2024
After Hagia Sophia Cathedral became a mosque again in 2020, the entrance for tourists turned out to be free than in the days when the cathedral was a museum (1935-2020). The cathedral is magnificent, which has been well known for almost fifteen hundred years...
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3
September 27, 2024
The interesting history of this temple is how it turned from a cathedral into a mosque. Located in the heart of historic Istanbul. Attracts a lot of tourists.
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3
November 5, 2024
The cathedral is still being restored from the outside, the square with the fountain is beautiful, bright, green. There are many shops for recreation and fantan is still open, at the end of October!
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3
September 26, 2024
This is a legend, a place equally valuable for different religions. The largest Christian church before the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The building is almost fifteen hundred years old. This is something grandiose both architecturally and historically.
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3
October 10, 2024
Sofia, must-visit. It's good that the museum is here again now. We must take advantage of this opportunity, otherwise they will close again. Only inside, walking on giant slabs worn by centuries of worshippers literally to the pits, do you realize how important this place is in history and for how many people. You can literally feel it.
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1
January 16
One of the main attractions of Istanbul, with its long history, of course, without visiting this temple, trains to Istanbul will be somehow incomplete. There are many other attractions of the city nearby.
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January 12
Majestic. Clean and well maintained. Good organization of the visiting process.
The downside is that the restoration is underway. Ticket =2000 lire.
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3
February 6
There's no point in coming here. Take a look at the video review of this mosque. If you want to see a beautiful mosque for free, go to the Chamlija Mosque. There is almost no one there, but it is very beautiful and free. In Hagia Sophia, the entrance fee is 25 euros, you can only go to the second floor, walk and leave the mosque. I'm sorry for the money for that.
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1
March 9
Amazing and delightful. The only thing is that the ground floor is closed to Christian visitors, and there are many other restrictions, but it's definitely worth a look.
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February 8
There are a lot of people, a lot of people, just like a market crowd, but beautiful, authentic, lively.
But the crowd of people, I didn't want to go anywhere.
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1
October 4, 2024
I advise everyone to visit. We were in September 2024, the cost is 50 euros per person. Moreover, at the cash desks you can pay either in lira or by card. They are not allowed on the ground floor. But even the second floor of the Cathedral is worth a walk. It is a pity that they have now restricted the entrance down. This place is extraordinary.
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3
November 9, 2024
Before visiting the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, I recommend visiting the Hagia Sophia Museum (opposite the Sultanahmet Mosque). There you will hear the story of the construction and the change of religions of Hagia Sophia.
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March 14
It's beautiful, oriental, but there's nothing to look at for a total of 50 euros per person. A 10-minute leisurely walk, a few photos and for all this about 200 euros for four people.
I went there just to "be"😀, of course I won't go any more
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March 22
The most beautiful place. It's worth paying for a ticket to see all the beauty. For fans of Turkish culture, especially those who were fond of TV series) you can also watch from the Bosporus if you use a ferry.
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January 10
Definitely for a visit. A historical place about which you can read everything that is interesting on the Internet. A tourist destination, full of people from all over the world!
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3
July 29, 2024
I have long dreamed of visiting Hagia Sophia. Back when it was a museum. But, as they say, I did not have time. On my visit to Istanbul this year in May, I was lucky and there was practically no queue (I arrived at 10 o'clock in the morning). The sight is certainly exciting. The power and grandeur of the structure are felt. And the idea that Prince Vladimir visited this place before the baptism of Russia and now you are also involved with this place simply does not fit into your head. Although now you can only visit the upper galleries, undoubtedly this place is worth a visit. Byzantine mosaics and Christian images are side by side with surahs from the Koran. All Byzantine mosaics, except those on the ground floor, are available for inspection. The mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ is more difficult to see, it is now covered. But it is quite realistic to consider. Despite the high cost of the ticket, it is necessary to visit this place.
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6
1
August 15, 2024
Of course, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is an architectural monument that deserves all the stars of the World rating! BUT now tourists cannot enjoy the World Masterpiece to the fullest. The Turkish government has no right to deprive Humanity of this! Therefore, in order to somehow express this feeling of annoyance, I minus the asterisk. Alas...
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14
November 15, 2024
A place that fascinates with its scale, incredible aura, beauty and grandeur. A place that cannot be described in words is better to see, at least once!!!!!
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3
December 20, 2024
A wonderful place! I advise everyone who comes to Istanbul to visit this mosque and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a thousand years of history.
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August 23, 2024
A wonderful place, it looks very beautiful and majestic from the outside, even more beautiful in the evening. The interior is even more beautiful, goosebumps, A magnificent mosque
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3
1
November 25, 2024
The place is fascinating, especially because two religions are practically connected in one place.I did not like the fact that the visiting time is extremely limited + security clearly controls the time of "parking" near each fresco and movement along the balcony part.
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July 16, 2024
The mosque is gorgeous. It is better to enter it early in the morning, there will be fewer people.
I didn't like the fact that there are security guards at the entrance and they ask you to buy a special robe and a handkerchief, since you are wearing a T-shirt or too beautifully dressed. They make a remark selectively, let someone in shorts and a T-shirt, and buy someone a bathrobe.
I also didn't like the fact that due to the huge flow of people and the fact that it is necessary to take off shoes, the mosque stinks of sweaty smelly socks. Mosque attendants go specially and spray aromatic water, but unfortunately this does not help.
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3
January 25
Fragments of Byzantium. The remains of frescoes, the grandeur of architecture. It's the St. Sophia Cathedral. 1,500 years of history. Of course, it's a must-see if you're in Istanbul. It is unlikely that you will leave indifferent.
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