-7%
Foreign visitors pay a €25 entrance fee to tour the upper gallery of Hagia Sophia. Praying on the ground floor is free. Children under 8 enter at no cost, and the quickest way past the queue is a timed skip-the-line ticket.
Source: official figures published by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism / Directorate of Religious Affairs (muze.gen.tr), verified June 2026.
How much does Hagia Sophia cost?
Since the upper galleries reopened to tourists in January 2024, foreign visitors pay a single €25 fee for the "Historical Experience" route. The price is set by the authorities and is the same whether you buy at the gate or online; what changes is how long you wait.
| Foreign visitor (gallery) | €25 |
|---|---|
| Children under 8 | Free (with ID/passport) |
| Worshippers, ground floor | Free |
| Headscarf at the gate | ≈ €1 |
| Body cover at the gate | ≈ €3 |
Figures published on the official source (muze.gen.tr). Prices in euro; pay in Turkish lira at the equivalent rate.
What's free and what you pay for
- Free: entering the ground-floor prayer area to worship.
- Free: children under 8 with valid ID.
- Paid (€25): the upper gallery, mosaics route and dome-level views for tourists.
- Extra: audio guides and live guided tours, sold by tour operators.
Skip-the-line tickets vs. the gate
The €25 official ticket gets you in, but in summer the standby queue can swallow an hour. Skip-the-line tickets from our partner Headout pair gallery entry with a timed slot and an audio guide, so you enter through the visitor lane at your chosen time.
| Ticket type | Typical price | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Official gate ticket | €25 | Lowest price, longest wait |
| Skip-the-line + audio | from ~US$37 | Timed entry, self-paced commentary |
| Guided tour | from ~US$43 | A guide decodes the mosaics and history |
| Blue Mosque combo | from ~US$37 | Two landmarks, one booking |
Compare live ticket prices
See real-time availability and pick a timed slot that fits your day.
How to save on your visit
💡Smart ways to spend less
- Travel with under-8s? They enter free — bring passports.
- Bring your own scarf and shawl to skip the €1–€3 cover rental.
- Combine nearby sights on one combo ticket to cut the per-site cost — see our Blue Mosque combo.
- Visit at opening or late afternoon so a cheaper standard ticket still means a short wait.
Good to know before you pay
Prayer times briefly clear the visiting route, and the gallery closes around midday on Fridays. Check our opening hours so your ticket time doesn't clash with a closure, and read what's inside to know what the €25 actually buys you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Hagia Sophia ticket in 2026?
The official entrance fee for foreign visitors is €25 for the upper-gallery route. Skip-the-line and guided options bundle entry with a timed slot or audio guide and cost more.
Is Hagia Sophia free for children?
Children under 8 enter free with valid ID or passport, according to the official source. The ground-floor prayer area is free for all worshippers.
Can I pay at the door?
Yes, you can buy the €25 ticket at the gate, but you queue twice — once to pay and once to enter. A timed online ticket lets you walk straight to the visitor entrance.
Why are online tickets more than €25?
The €25 is the bare entry fee. Online skip-the-line tickets add a timed slot, audio guide or live guiding and the convenience of avoiding the standby line, so the total is higher.
Do I have to pay to pray at Hagia Sophia?
No. As a working mosque, the ground-floor prayer hall is free. The ticket applies only to the historic upper gallery for tourists.