No mosque in all of Turkey, or perhaps even the world, is quite like the Hagia Sophia. Not just in beauty, but also in aesthetics, religious co-existence, engineering, the jaw dropping décor and the iconic yellow hues.

With cathedral-like chandeliers and an atmosphere that is beautifully balanced between that of a mosque and the past of a church, Hagia Sophia is a must-see place in Istanbul and shouldn’t be skipped no matter the cost.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hagia Sophia is more than just a religious symbol – it has a history spanning 1500 years with stories to tell and hands that crafted the mosque from different parts of the globe. An ancient place that has seen many worshippers come and go, here is what you should know about Hagia Sophia and why it is worth the stop while you’re in Istanbul.

Visiting Information for Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia, now a functioning mosque, remains open to visitors throughout the week, but non-Muslims can only visit after or before Muslim prayer times.

Tickets and Pass Options

Admission: As of 2024, Hagia Sophia entrance fee is 25 euros per person. Muslims can access the ground floor for free. That said, the second-floor gallery (which is what the entrance fee is for) is a must see for all as that’s where the famous mosaics are and where you can truly witness the beauty of Hagia Sophia.

Skip-the-Line options: During the season and sometimes even off season, the line to Hagia Sophia can get increasingly long with a waiting time of at least 45 minutes. Skip the line tickets can be very useful, and you can even use ones that bundles the mosque, Topkapi palace and Basilica cistern in one as a super money saver.

The Istanbul E-pass include Hagia Sophia as part of a guided tour only on the outside, but you still need to get an entry fee to go inside the mosque.

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The Story of Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia history is quite a fascinating one. Before it started out as a church and then becoming a mosque, it is said to originally have been a pagan temple. It was Constantine I who built the structure as a church in 325. Hagia Sophia, meaning “Holy Wisdom” in Greek was considered the central church of faith for the Byzantine empire as Greek Orthodox was their official religion. It stood as the largest cathedral of the time and served as the ceremonial site for the coronation of new emperors.

Even today you can see the spot where these ceremonies took place. Hagia Sophia has several large colorful circles on the floor towards the corner of the mosque. These circles are known as the Omphalion (the “navel of the earth.”).

The church remained this way and served a significant political role for nearly a thousand years for the Byzantine empire. But all that came to an end in 1453, when Constantinople fell under the Ottomans. Mehmed the Conqueror took over the city and Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed II. In 1935, after the establishment of the secular Republic of Turkey, it was turned into a museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, but in 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque.

The Construction of Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sohpia came into existence thanks to the brilliant minds of Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus who were well known with mechanics and mathematics. They had the entire structure completed in 537 AD, a matter of six years – an impossible feat at that time.

Emperor Justinian wanted Hagia Sophia to be a grand basilica that represented all of the Byzantine Empire, and to accomplish that he ordered all provinces to send architectural pieces, be it houses, temples, churches, bath houses, for use in its construction. Some citizens willingly gave up their properties to use for construction while others demanded things of equal worth in return such as being buried at the church’s graveyard or being able to see the horse races at the hippodrome – an extremely noble event at the time.

The objects used to create the cathedral came from all over Turkey and neighboring countries. The marble used for the floor and ceiling was produced in Anatolia while the bricks and parts of the wall were brought from Syria and places in North Africa. The interior of Hagia Sophia is lined with enormous marble slabs that are said to have been designed to imitate moving water.

Things to See in Hagia Sophia

Now you might be wondering what there is to see in a mosque and what makes Hagia Sophia so famous? The beautiful yellow and contrasting grey colored decor speaks for itself but it’s also the bits of history, and how the place came to be that makes the famed Hagia Sophia architecture iconic.

Mosaics and Frescos

The Christian mosaics of Hagia Sophia are some of the most remarkable and enduring examples of Byzantine art, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and profound religious significance.

Among the most famous is the Deësis Mosaic, located on the south gallery, which dates back to the 13th century. This mosaic portrays Christ in the center with the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist on either side, pleading for humanity’s salvation.

Another iconic piece is the Virgin and Child Mosaic in the apse, crafted in the 9th century. This depiction shows the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, showing divine protection over the Byzantine Empire and Constantinople.

The Christ Pantocrator mosaic is also another famous piece of art, featuring Christ as the Almighty.  Dating back to the 11th century, the Christ is clad in dark blue Byzantine robe while Constantine IX Monomachus and Empress Zoe stands on the sides, both in ceremonial costumes. Constantine is offering a purse, as a symbol of donation, he made to the church, while the empress is holding a scroll, symbol of the donations she made.

Although some mosaics were plastered over or covered during its conversion to a mosque in 1453, many have been restored, revealing their vivid colors and intricate detail.

Omphalion

On the ground floor of the Hagia Sophia, a space with several ring design can be easily spotted. This was traditionally where Byzantine emperors were crowned, symbolizing the center of imperial and religious authority in the empire. The Omphalion’s design and positioning also represent a spiritual “center of the world,” connecting earthly power with divine wisdom embodied in the structure of Hagia Sophia.

In Byzantine culture, spaces like the Omphalion emphasized the unity between the emperor, seen as God’s representative on earth, and the celestial.

The pillars

The beautiful 104 coloumns/pillars inside Hagia Sophia Photo Credit: (Top image) Ameena Navab (Bottom left image) Raimond Klavins

Contrasting the yellows of Hagia Sophia, the grey and purple-colored columns of the mosque has more than it meets the eye. The 104 columns, including the prominent green ones flanking the nave, were brought from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Others were imported from Egypt, carved from porphyry and granite, and showcasing a purple hue associated with imperial power.

In addition to their monumental size, some of Hagia Sophia’s columns feature elaborately carved Corinthian-style capitals, adorned with acanthus leaves and intricate Byzantine crosses. Thanks to its genius design, these ancient columns have withstood numerous earthquakes.

The “Flying” Dome

The “flying dome” or the “floating dome” of Hagia Sophia is one of its most astonishing architectural features, creating the illusion that the dome is almost floating above the structure.

When Hagia Sophia was completed, its massive central dome was revolutionary, with a diameter of about 31 meters (102 feet), making it the largest dome in the world at that time. The dome’s effect is enhanced by a row of 40 arched windows at its base, allowing light to flood in and create an ethereal glow that makes the dome appear to hover, or “fly,” over the nave. This architectural innovation had both spiritual and symbolic significance, as the light streaming through was intended to evoke the presence of divine light and heaven itself.

Religious Tolerance

Hagia Sophia in today’s world is one of the best examples of religious tolerance. This certain church turned mosque stands as a symbol of peace and co-existence, showing the people that we can stand smiling side by side in harmony and understanding by respecting all religion in the same land or even the same floor.

Despite being used by Muslims for prayer, the government of Turkey has preserved and kept the mosaics of Jesus, the archangels, Mother Mary and all other Christian drawings in its original form beside Islamic calligraphy art that speaks of Allah. Muslims gather for prayer under cathedral-styled chandeliers which are not commonly, if at all, used in mosques while Christian, Hindu and Buddhist believers watch in silence and respect from the floor above.

Dress Code

Since Hagia Sophia is an active mosque modest dress is required. Men should cover their shoulders and knees. Women are expected to cover their body completely with lose fitting clothes and a head scarf. Scarves are usually provided at the entrance for free if needed.

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