Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia stands on Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, between Topkapı Palace and the Blue Mosque. It was built in 532–537 on the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I and was the largest church in the world for almost a thousand years.

History of Hagia Sophia

The architects were Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus. After Mehmed II took the city in 1453, the building became a mosque and the minarets were added. It was turned into a museum in 1934 and became a mosque again in 2020.

What to see inside

The main dome, more than 30 metres across, rises 55 metres above the floor, and the ring of windows at its base makes it seem to float. Byzantine mosaics survive in the upper gallery, while large Ottoman calligraphy roundels hang below.

Tips for visiting

• Since 2024 foreign visitors use a separate ticketed entrance and see the interior from the upper gallery.
• Tourist access pauses at prayer times, so go early in the morning.
• Women need a headscarf; shoulders and knees should be covered.
• The Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque are a few minutes' walk away.