Explore Istanbul’s iconic treasures with skip-the-line tickets to Hagia Sophia and a visit to the majestic Blue Mosque. Immerse yourself in history as you wander these architectural wonders with a detailed audio guide that brings the past to life.
Step into the heart of Istanbul’s rich cultural heritage with this exceptional tour that grants you priority access to the legendary Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s most remarkable architectural marvels. Avoid the long queues and dive straight into a journey through time where Byzantine and Ottoman influences merge in breathtaking mosaics, grand domes, and intricate calligraphy. Your audio guide offers fascinating insights, helping you uncover hidden stories and historical secrets as you explore at your own pace.
After marveling at Hagia Sophia, continue your adventure with a visit to the Blue Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture known for its exquisite blue Iznik tiles and towering minarets. Although entry to the mosque is free, this tour ensures you experience its serene beauty and spiritual ambiance fully.
This experience is designed for those who appreciate history, architecture, and culture, offering an in-depth understanding of two of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks without the hassle of waiting in lines or crowded group tours. Perfect for independent travelers and families alike, the tour combines freedom with expert knowledge, making your visit unforgettable.
Included
Not Included
What to Bring
Information Before Booking
Know Before You Go
Rosemarie Fioralba - Italy
Breathtaking points of interest, truly impressive. The Italian audio guide was very helpful and explained everything clearly. We didn’t have to wait in line at all, not even at the security check. If you're visiting wearing sandals or flip-flops, I recommend bringing a pair of socks in your bag to...
Read More
Caleb Fulvio - Germany
Everything was perfect—it allowed us to enter immediately without having to stand in a long line under the sun.
All reviews are from verified customers who purchased the activity. Reviews can only be submitted after the activity takes place.
Overall Rating
4.4/5
Based on 148 Reviews
4.4/5
4.4/5
4.4/5
Breathtaking points of interest, truly impressive. The Italian audio guide was very helpful and explained everything clearly. We didn’t have to wait in line at all, not even at the security check. If you're visiting wearing sandals or flip-flops, I recommend bringing a pair of socks in your bag to wear inside the mosques, so you don't have to walk barefoot on the carpet.
Helpful? Yes
Everything was perfect—it allowed us to enter immediately without having to stand in a long line under the sun.
Helpful? Yes
Highly recommended—entry to Hagia Sophia was quick, and the guides were excellent. The line for the Blue Mosque seems never-ending at first glance, but it actually moves quickly. Enjoy your visit!
Helpful? Yes
Maybe it was just good timing, but we didn’t have to wait at all to enter either site. We received our tickets the day before and managed to download the audio guides at the hotel, which helped us avoid any connection issues during the visit. We began the day with the Blue Mosque in the morning (it's free, so there's no skip-the-line access), then continued on to Hagia Sophia, where we saw many people queuing to buy tickets. Overall, it was a flawless experience!
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide provides a good amount of historical background and detailed information about Hagia Sophia.
Helpful? Yes
The line to buy tickets on-site is extremely long. With this ticket, we were able to enter right away. I want to thank the team because I had made a mistake with the date of my visit, but they were available on WhatsApp and immediately sent me a new QR code. And this happened on a Sunday. The team was fantastic—I'm truly grateful!
Helpful? Yes
It's definitely worth visiting, though the cost is quite high. Hagia Sophia didn’t offer much value in my opinion, but the Blue Mosque is absolutely worth your time.
Helpful? Yes
We didn’t hear from the agency at all, and it was only with the help of a local that we finally managed to receive the tickets.
Helpful? Yes
This experience is perfect for those who prefer to avoid crowds and explore at their own speed. Hagia Sophia was truly impressive to see!
Helpful? Yes
We used a voucher for this visit, and everything went smoothly with the help of the audio guide’s explanations. Thank you.
Helpful? Yes
Absolutely worth it! Purchase your ticket for Hagia Sophia and secure your Blue Mosque ticket ahead of time to avoid long waits. The audio guide offers plenty of information, although sometimes it’s a bit unclear if you should be inside or outside the mosque.
Helpful? Yes
A great option to skip long lines. The audio guide was very helpful and included engaging explanations.
Helpful? Yes
The tickets and audio guide were both satisfactory. However, the only issue was that we arrived at the meeting spot at 10 a.m. to collect paper tickets, as instructed, but nobody was there. The tickets we needed had already been sent via email. This process needs to be improved because we lost 30 minutes trying to understand that the online tickets were sufficient and there was no need to pick up physical copies as mentioned in the email.
Helpful? Yes
Accessing Hagia Sophia was very simple using the barcode sent to us the night before. The audio guide functioned perfectly and was quite engaging. It helped me appreciate the significance of Hagia Sophia. The audio guide for the Blue Mosque was also informative and captivating.
Helpful? Yes
Absolutely stunning and a must-see. It’s a shame there isn’t a French audio guide for all the tours. Nevertheless, it’s definitely worth experiencing.
Helpful? Yes
The guides were excellent for the visits; they were beautiful and very tourist-friendly. The suggested time for the visit was ideal.
Helpful? Yes
It was an incredible experience; the people were wonderful and the owner was fantastic. The service was punctual, and the boats operated smoothly.
Helpful? Yes
It was a great experience and very straightforward. The explanations were quite detailed, which at times made it a bit hard to follow, but I have no regrets.
Helpful? Yes
A wonderful activity! The locations are stunning! While the price is high for a visit, it’s the same everywhere and in the square. It’s still a must-see place!
Helpful? Yes
The staff at the entrance could be more friendly, and it would be helpful if they were taught English as a language.
Helpful? Yes
Visiting both mosques is a must if you're in Istanbul. The audio guides are incredibly interesting and very helpful in understanding the history behind these sites. The tickets were sent to us at 6 p.m. the day before the reservation, as mentioned, and we had no issues presenting them. They were indeed "fast-line" tickets. We were lucky as there weren't many people when we visited.
Helpful? Yes
There’s nothing more to say except that these are two attractions you definitely shouldn’t miss. With the priority entry and audio guides, I was able to enjoy all the possible advantages, saving time while receiving all the explanations needed to better understand the history of these two places.
Helpful? Yes
The entire visit and the guide were very detailed.
Helpful? Yes
It was a fantastic experience. Both the Basilica of Saint Sophia and the Blue Mosque are truly stunning and awe-inspiring. The audio guide was clear and informative, which made it easier for us to explore and enjoy the sites at our own pace. It was incredibly beautiful. I highly recommend this experience. Istanbul is absolutely amazing.
Helpful? Yes
As always, everything went smoothly from booking to the excursion. The tickets were sent to us by the provider via email the day before. They could be downloaded (though this is optional) and we used them the next day to enter the Hagia Sophia. It's important to note that women need to bring a headscarf or shawl, as entry is strictly regulated. Only neutral clothing is allowed. I was wearing a T-shirt with a flag on it and almost wasn't allowed inside. However, I managed to cover it with the shawl, and it was fine. The audio guide was excellent, available in many languages, and I highly recommend adding it to your booking. It provided fantastic insights into the Hagia Sophia. Our package also included the Blue Mosque, but you need to pay attention to prayer times in order to visit. Entry was free for everyone, so there was no need to book it. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it.
Helpful? Yes
It was a great experience. The audio guides were interesting and easy to use. Despite what was mentioned in the app, we were able to enter the Hagia Sophia directly with the QR code sent to us by email.
Helpful? Yes
Definitely worth seeing. The audio guide was informative and not too lengthy.
Helpful? Yes
The attraction itself was amazing, but the meeting point was poorly marked, and we couldn't find it. Fortunately, we managed to enter the Hagia Sophia on our own.
Helpful? Yes
There were no crowds. The audio guide works through a link.
Helpful? Yes
I loved Turkey, and I really enjoyed the Mosques! Thank you.
Helpful? Yes
It's a very beautiful building, but a bit pricey compared to other free and much larger mosques where you can see everything.
Helpful? Yes
A fantastic experience. I definitely recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds.
Helpful? Yes
There was a lack of information regarding the free entry to the Blue Mosque and the details of the tour inside.
Helpful? Yes
No lines to wait in and the audio guides were easy to follow.
Helpful? Yes
The visit was incredible, and the value of this monument is truly priceless. The experience was beyond words. The only downside is that access to the ground floor is not allowed.
Helpful? Yes
Everything went well, and the entry without having to wait in line was great.
Helpful? Yes
A historic monument with a good audio guide. The skip-the-line service works perfectly as well.
Helpful? Yes
A historic monument with a good audio guide. The skip-the-line service works perfectly as well.
Helpful? Yes
The buildings are impressive. The audio guide worked perfectly and provided valuable information about the history and architecture. Both structures are within walking distance of each other, as they are located close together.
Helpful? Yes
It's beautiful, but in my opinion, it is quite expensive.
Helpful? Yes
It’s a shame that there’s no priority access for the security checks.
Helpful? Yes
The tour guide was very passionate and provided us with an excellent summary of the key sites and their history, along with many helpful tips and details. It served as a great introduction and overview before we ventured into each building and explored at our own pace in the following days.
Helpful? Yes
The access was straightforward, and it offered excellent value for the price.
Helpful? Yes
The mosques are absolutely stunning, and it's a great place to visit. I don't want to give too much away, so I recommend exploring it for yourself. Definitely worth the visit!
Helpful? Yes
Skipping the line was great, and the audio guide was full of information. It's also very convenient to receive it on your phone.
Helpful? Yes
The price was great, but we were told that we needed to exchange our code for a ticket. This wasn't necessary, as the code worked directly at the entrance.
Helpful? Yes
The show, cruise, and food were all excellent. It was the best value for money experience in Istanbul.
Helpful? Yes
The guide's positive energy and cultural knowledge were excellent.
Helpful? Yes
Everything was very fascinating, though quite expensive.
Helpful? Yes
The ticket saved me a lot of time, especially since the line at the Hagia Sophia ticket counter was extremely long. It worked perfectly! Both audio guides were easy to access and offered detailed insights.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide provided clear and detailed explanations.
Helpful? Yes
Visiting Hagia Sophia is a must when in Istanbul. Unfortunately, since it was converted back into a mosque, access to the ground floor has been restricted. This is especially surprising since other mosques still allow access to their ground floors. On the bright side, the upper gallery is definitely worth visiting. The audio guide is good, and the entry fee is, as with most attractions in Istanbul, relatively high.
Helpful? Yes
The experience was wonderful and very beautiful, but the entrance fee felt excessively high and not really justified.
Helpful? Yes
It was very convenient because as we moved forward, we could listen to the audio guide. 10/10.
Helpful? Yes
An interesting and captivating experience, a true dive into the history of Istanbul.
Helpful? Yes
While entry to the Blue Mosque is free, the audio guide was really helpful in gaining a better understanding of its history. The same applies to Hagia Sophia, where the guide provided a lot of useful details that complemented the information shared by the live guides. The map of the site could use some improvement for better navigation. On the positive side, important areas of interest were highlighted in the images, which made it easier to know where to focus your attention.
Helpful? Yes
It would be easier to find if the location for ticket exchange was marked with a pin on the map.
Helpful? Yes
The mosques are beautiful. The Blue Mosque is more impressive and better maintained. It's definitely worth visiting.
Helpful? Yes
Hagia Sophia: A very cool experience, definitely a must-see in Istanbul despite the extremely high price. As a non-Muslim, you can only visit the gallery, even though the main prayer hall downstairs was completely empty. The ticket collection process was straightforward. Blue Mosque: The audio guide isn't really necessary, it’s better to just book the Hagia Sophia and save 5 Euros since the entry to the Blue Mosque is free.
Helpful? Yes
It was a pleasant visit. Unfortunately, you can no longer access the lower section of the Basilica, which is a bit disappointing.
Helpful? Yes
Visiting the Blue Mosque doesn't require an entrance fee, yet it was presented as part of the ticket price. This felt like misleading advertising.
Helpful? Yes
Visiting this site is definitely a must when in Istanbul. However, the ticket price for Hagia Sophia seems disproportionate, especially since the Blue Mosque is free and doesn’t have waiting times even in August. The condition of Hagia Sophia, currently under renovation, doesn’t quite justify the cost. There are many more beautiful mosques to see throughout Turkey!
Helpful? Yes
The skip-the-line tickets are convenient, but the audio guide link didn’t work for me. Just my personal view—if you’re not very interested in history, especially religious history, Hagia Sophia might not be worth the visit. The Basilica Cistern is quite fascinating and offers a refreshing break on a hot day. The Blue Mosque is absolutely stunning and free to enter. They even provide scarves and skirts for visitors who don’t meet the dress code.
Helpful? Yes
Given the cost of admission, the restoration could definitely be improved.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide would benefit from better organization, with the route matching the sequence of the explanations.
Helpful? Yes
The buying and confirmation process was straightforward and hassle-free. However, once we arrived, we were informed that we needed to wait in line to obtain a free child ticket, which wasn’t indicated anywhere on the website or on the ticket itself. Customer service via WhatsApp responded quickly but only explained that this is a fairly new procedure. As a result, we still had to stand in line for about 20 minutes under the sun to get the child’s ticket, despite having purchased fast track tickets. Additionally, the Blue Mosque is free to enter and doesn’t require a ticket, so the price you pay is only for the Hagia Sophia. Be sure to check the dress code for both men and women—men must cover their knees. If you don’t bring pants or your own covering, you’ll have to wait in line at Hagia Sophia to buy a cover for 3€, since they don’t provide them at the entrance (unlike the Blue Mosque, where they lend one that you return when you leave).
Helpful? Yes
Both sites are stunning and definitely worth a visit. Entry to the Blue Mosque is free, though there are often long lines. Thankfully, the queues move fairly quickly and are well organized. Men wearing shorts are required to cover their legs, and women need to cover their shoulders, and possibly their heads as well. The Hagia Sophia usually has shorter lines, but visitors must pass through security and have their bags checked. Access is restricted to the upper gallery.
Helpful? Yes
The mosque is truly beautiful, but I believe the damaged areas should be repaired using the funds collected from ticket sales.
Helpful? Yes
The impressive size of Hagia Sophia and the design of the Blue Mosque really stand out.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide was a bit too casual for my taste; I would have preferred more historical details. However, I still recommend it because it helps to better understand and fully appreciate the beauty of these mosques.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide was a bit too casual for my taste; I would have preferred more historical details. However, I still recommend it because it helps to better understand and fully appreciate the beauty of these mosques.
Helpful? Yes
Everything was fine and as described. The audio guide works with the Wi-Fi available at the location; without it, it can be a bit tricky.
Helpful? Yes
Entering Hagia Sophia is much simpler early in the day. If you begin your visit around 9:00 AM, the place will be nearly empty. Afterward, you can head over to the Blue Mosque.
Helpful? Yes
There were no lines to enter, and you’re free to spend as much time inside as you want. The audio guide had some issues with the app, but overall, it provides a solid overview of what to see.
Helpful? Yes
Both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are remarkable sites to visit. Entrance to the Blue Mosque is free, and if you arrive at Hagia Sophia before 10 a.m., you can enter without purchasing a ticket. The audio guide functioned smoothly and was very helpful.
Helpful? Yes
Hagia Sophia is truly a magnificent site, rich with history and emotion. Standing inside a building that has lasted for centuries—serving as a basilica, mosque, and museum—offers a powerful connection to the legacy of both Constantinople and Istanbul. The architecture is stunning, with its impressive dome, visible Byzantine mosaics, and grand columns, all conveying a sense of majesty and spirituality. One minor drawback is that non-Turkish women are not allowed in the main prayer hall, which is reserved for local men and women. Instead, women can visit a separate side area, which somewhat restricts the experience and the view of the monument. This restriction is understandable due to religious reasons, but it’s helpful information for female visitors. Nevertheless, Hagia Sophia remains an essential and profoundly moving place to explore, offering a unique spiritual journey.
Helpful? Yes
Hagia Sophia offered free audio information and WiFi, so it’s best to bring your own earphones. The Blue Mosque is free to enter regardless, so GetYourGuide should clarify that their package including the Cistern and Hagia Sophia treats the Blue Mosque as a free bonus. The website was a bit confusing because it mixed instructions for group tours with those for individual visits. For solo visitors, simply printing or showing your barcode coupon is enough—there’s no need to go to a café or other location. Including details about public transport, such as tourist day passes for the tram that can be used every 30 minutes, would be very useful. There were helpful volunteer students around the tourist spots who provided excellent assistance. Reaching out to the organizer was straightforward, with quick replies during their business hours.
Helpful? Yes
Reserving the tickets again was easy, and the audio guide provided a lot of helpful information.
Helpful? Yes
There is no need for physical tickets. You can simply enter using the tickets on your phone.
Helpful? Yes
The title can be a bit misleading: the audio guide is included regardless, and the Blue Mosque has free entry.
Helpful? Yes
The Blue Mosque is truly beautiful, but I was a bit disappointed by Hagia Sophia since it needs more restoration. However, I understand that this isn’t your responsibility.
Helpful? Yes
The buildings are impressive, and everything worked perfectly. Overall, the prices for Istanbul’s attractions are quite steep.
Helpful? Yes
The entire experience went very smoothly. My only wish is that the audio guide was a bit easier to navigate.
Helpful? Yes
Everything was excellent except for the lack of WiFi access at the Blue Mosque.
Helpful? Yes
The experience was good, but the mosque has free entry, so the payment felt unnecessary.
Helpful? Yes
The booking and ticketing were straightforward, and the pre-visit instructions were very clear. Arriving early, around 9 a.m. as suggested, was definitely beneficial. Unfortunately, the audio guide didn’t work offline even though I had downloaded it beforehand, and the site’s WiFi didn’t provide access either. That said, the issue might have been user error.
Helpful? Yes
The booking and ticketing were straightforward, and the pre-visit instructions were very clear. Arriving early, around 9 a.m. as suggested, was definitely beneficial. Unfortunately, the audio guide didn’t work offline even though I had downloaded it beforehand, and the site’s WiFi didn’t provide access either. That said, the issue might have been user error.
Helpful? Yes
The booking and ticketing were straightforward, and the pre-visit instructions were very clear. Arriving early, around 9 a.m. as suggested, was definitely beneficial. Unfortunately, the audio guide didn’t work offline even though I had downloaded it beforehand, and the site’s WiFi didn’t provide access either. That said, the issue might have been user error.
Helpful? Yes
The experience went smoothly, although I did rely on the assistance of some young people. At 88 years old, I’m quite capable, but I would have preferred to have a printed ticket in hand.
Helpful? Yes
The Blue Mosque does not require an entrance fee, so it would be helpful if the ticket information clearly indicated that.
Helpful? Yes
The site is visually impressive, but the entrance fee feels excessively expensive.
Helpful? Yes
The building is stunning, but I found the entrance fee to be somewhat pricey.
Helpful? Yes
The experience was good, but I felt the price was a bit high for such a brief tour.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide provided a lot of useful information.
Helpful? Yes
Both are very beautiful, but Hagia Sophia is quite expensive considering that the mosques are free to enter.
Helpful? Yes
The visit was decent. Hagia Sophia is only open on one floor, which significantly limits the experience. It’s worth seeing, but I expected to find more to explore, especially after reading all the descriptions on the website. It’s useful to know that entrance to the Blue Mosque is free! The instructions provided were unclear, possibly due to translation issues. The audio guide was well done and offered detailed and interesting information.
Helpful? Yes
There was almost no waiting since the tickets were sent via email. The overall value is very good, and the audio tours are of high quality. It’s important to note that group tickets need to be scanned directly at the entrance rather than exchanged, which caused us a small delay but nothing serious.
Helpful? Yes
The price feels steep considering you can only visit the upper floor of Hagia Sophia.
Helpful? Yes
It’s interesting, but the mosque itself offers free audio guides.
Helpful? Yes
Finding the entrance was quite challenging since the park contains multiple buildings and all the signs are only in Turkish. The signage is insufficient. There were separate lines for locals and tourists, which caused some confusion for us as well. The audio guide stations weren’t clearly marked inside the site, making it hard to follow the tour. Considering you can't access the ground floor, I felt the price was quite high. Overall, we didn’t find the visit very enjoyable.
Helpful? Yes
I didn’t find Hagia Sophia as spectacular as I had expected, although it’s still definitely worth visiting. We had some trouble finding our way around and followed the suggested route, but it felt like we might have missed a section. Is it possible to access the lower level? The Blue Mosque, on the other hand, was stunning and absolutely beautiful. The audio guide worked well, and I would recommend it.
Helpful? Yes
Hagia Sophia requires an entrance fee, but I found it less impressive compared to the Blue Mosque, which is free and truly beautiful.
Helpful? Yes
It was fine, but I had to call to have the QR code sent to me before I could enter. Also, the Blue Mosque does not require a ticket for entry.
Helpful? Yes
The claim about having priority and faster access didn't really hold true.
Helpful? Yes
These historic sites were truly amazing, filled with a great atmosphere. Each building was beautiful, unique in its own way, and all were iconic and unforgettable.
Helpful? Yes
We were able to avoid long waits by skipping the line, which was great. However, the audio guide was sometimes unclear. It would be helpful if written instructions were also provided to follow along more easily.
Helpful? Yes
The experience was very pleasant, and we were able to bypass the queue without any difficulty.
Helpful? Yes
Access to the Blue Mosque is free, so using it as an incentive to sell tickets for Hagia Sophia feels somewhat misleading.
Helpful? Yes
The Blue Mosque is free to enter, so I’m not sure why ticket sales are mentioned here. The instructions about collecting tickets were unclear. The email highlighted in red that I needed to swap the voucher for a ticket, yet the tickets were sent as a QR code, which created some confusion and worry.
Helpful? Yes
Absolutely worth a visit. The mosques are truly stunning.
Helpful? Yes
The tickets and audio guides were delivered digitally right after purchase. While this helps you avoid the ticket purchase line, it doesn't let you skip the entry queue. Because of that, the additional cost over the official ticket price feels a bit high. I suggest checking the location of the ticket counters and observing the queue first before buying.
Helpful? Yes
This is a stunning place that’s definitely worth visiting. The audio guide offers very thorough information—perhaps even more detail than necessary. The only downside was the cost, which felt a bit too expensive.
Helpful? Yes
Far too expensive for what it offers. The interior is lovely, but there isn’t much to explore. The price is definitely not justified by the experience. Also, the line was quite short—we would have waited no more than 10 minutes.
Helpful? Yes
A truly stunning monument. The audio guide was well-designed and provided excellent information.
Helpful? Yes
Purchasing the ticket ahead of time was definitely helpful, as it allowed us to avoid standing in a long line under the hot sun. The entry tickets were delivered by email the day before, right on time.
Helpful? Yes
Everything went smoothly and the experience matched what we were hoping for.
Helpful? Yes
A must-see location—truly magnificent. However, I’m not entirely convinced the phone call was necessary, and the audio guide seems easily available to all visitors.
Helpful? Yes
Hagia Sophia is stunning to see, but it's unfortunate that the audio guide constantly needs to be restarted, requiring a lot of effort, especially with frequent internet connectivity issues.
Helpful? Yes
The cost feels quite steep considering the visit is limited to the upper level, as the lower floor is reserved exclusively for Muslims.
Helpful? Yes
The reception was pleasant, but I wasn’t aware that the guide would leave us once we entered.
Helpful? Yes
Everything was fine. The instructions for exchanging tickets were straightforward. The kiosk is situated beside the Topkapi café, just by the entrance to the palace. Don’t try to find the audio guide on the Get Your Guide app. Instead, just scan the QR code at the entrance of Hagia Sophia’s first floor to access the site's audio guide.
Helpful? Yes
The mosque itself is impressive. However, the idea of entering without waiting in line is misleading. Many people who purchased tickets through this app also expect to skip the queue. Unfortunately, too many tickets are sold for the same time slot, causing long waits. We ended up standing at the entrance for more than two hours, which was very frustrating.
Helpful? Yes
The skip-the-line access isn’t exactly as expected. We still had to go to the meeting point to exchange our voucher for a ticket and then wait in line, although the line did move fairly quickly. You don’t need to buy the ticket there, just exchange it.
Helpful? Yes
Half of Hagia Sophia had no WiFi access, which made it impossible to use the audio guide. Considering this, I felt the price was too high for the experience.
Helpful? Yes
There was a lack of information available. Not being able to access the ground floor significantly diminished the overall experience.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide was not very effective. I would suggest hiring a professional tour guide to fully understand the complete history of Hagia Sophia.
Helpful? Yes
We purchased the skip-the-line ticket since the queue was very long when we arrived in the morning. But when we returned later that day, there was no line at all, making the ticket unnecessary.
Helpful? Yes
The experience was enjoyable. However, it’s important to know that the audio tour at Hagia Sophia is actually free for all visitors. The description of this tour might give a different impression. Also, there are two separate lines at the back of Hagia Sophia—one for purchasing tickets and another for security checks. You only bypass the first line with this ticket. The extra cost makes sense only if the ticket line is very long; otherwise, it doesn’t offer good value since the audio tour is free regardless.
Helpful? Yes
Hagia Sophia is truly captivating and remarkable. Our entrance to the mosque at 9:30 in the morning was quick and well managed. The details given in the audio guide were engaging, though somewhat basic.
Helpful? Yes
Overall, it was a positive experience, and the audio guide provided was quite helpful.
Helpful? Yes
The visit was quite fascinating. It’s unfortunate that access to the prayer area was not permitted.
Helpful? Yes
Locating the spot to pick up the tickets was quite confusing, and judging by other reviews, I’m clearly not the only one who struggled with it — hopefully that can be improved. Other than that, everything went smoothly; once you find the group at the café, entry is quick. However, one issue was the ticket purchase itself. I bought tickets for two adults but couldn’t select a child ticket, and there was no information about free entry for kids up to a certain age. Then, upon entering, they mentioned children don’t have to pay.
Helpful? Yes
Purchasing a skip-the-line ticket ended up being pointless. We had to wait in line just like everyone else.
Helpful? Yes
The system for picking up tickets at the designated spot was well organized, and the scheduled entry time was honored, allowing priority access without waiting in line. However, the audio guide app was quite disappointing—it kept cutting out and disconnecting. Even though we had downloaded it for offline use, it didn’t work without an internet connection. Instead, we ended up scanning the free QR codes available inside Hagia Sophia.
Helpful? Yes
The interior was amazing. I spent nearly an hour exploring the place.
Helpful? Yes
The price was quite high and didn’t seem justified for the entrance fee. It was confusing where to place the audio guide, and even when you did, it was difficult to focus on the details. In comparison, the Blue Mosque is a far better experience.
Helpful? Yes
The audio guide system definitely has room for improvement.
Helpful? Yes
I didn’t find it to be worthwhile. Even though we arrived by 9 or earlier to secure our spot in line, we had to wait until 9:30 to receive our tickets. After that, we had to walk all the way back to the start of the line and wait another hour. Additionally, the ticket doesn’t cover entry to the museum. During the visit, it feels like the museum is included, but in reality, you must buy a separate ticket costing 25€.
Helpful? Yes
My group and I were quite disappointed by how difficult it was to download the audio guide.
Helpful? Yes
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved