Chora Church, now known as Kariye Mosque, is one of Istanbul’s most extraordinary monuments, celebrated for its late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes—often considered second only to those of Hagia Sophia. Located near the Theodosian Walls, this compact yet profoundly rich complex captures Constantinople at its artistic and spiritual peak.
What makes Chora exceptional is not its scale, but its narrative density. Golden mosaics unfold the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary with remarkable clarity, while the frescoes of the burial chapel offer one of the most powerful visual interpretations of death and resurrection in medieval art. Having functioned over centuries as a church, a mosque, and later a museum, Chora reflects Istanbul’s layered identity in a uniquely intimate way.
This guide is written from the perspective of a licensed Istanbul tour guide with over 20 years of experience, specializing in Byzantine history and heritage walks across the Historic Peninsula. Below, you’ll find up-to-date visiting information for 2026, clear historical context, and practical, on-site insights shaped by years of guiding—so you can plan your visit with confidence and realistic expectations.
The History of Chora Church
The story of Chora begins in the 4th century, when the site was established as a monastery outside Constantine’s original city walls. The very name Chora—meaning “countryside”—reflects this early setting.
As Constantinople expanded under Theodosius II, the monastery came to lie within the new defensive perimeter. While the imperial heart of the city remained around today’s Sultanahmet, attention gradually shifted west and north, particularly after the rise of the Blachernae Palace along the Golden Horn. Chora’s proximity to both the palace and the city walls elevated its importance.
The complex was rebuilt in the 11th century during the reign of Alexios I Komnenos, but the transformation that defines Chora today occurred in the early 14th century under Theodore Metochites, one of the empire’s most powerful intellectuals and statesmen. As Grand Logothete, Metochites invested his wealth and vision into a complete artistic program that turned Chora into a masterpiece of late Byzantine art.
The mosaics and frescoes commissioned during this period remain largely intact, offering an unparalleled window into the theology, aesthetics, and storytelling traditions of medieval Constantinople.
Things to See in Chora Church
The interior unfolds in four distinct sections, each contributing to a carefully designed narrative journey.
1. Outer Narthex
The outer corridor introduces the Life of Christ through luminous mosaics. Despite damage from earthquakes over the centuries, most scenes are remarkably well preserved. During the Ottoman period, these mosaics were covered with plaster when the building functioned as a mosque—ironically protecting them until their careful restoration in the Republican era.
2. Inner Narthex
Here, the focus shifts to the Life of the Virgin Mary, depicted through scenes drawn partly from apocryphal sources rarely illustrated elsewhere. Along the southern wall, mosaics of Christ’s miracles lead the visitor toward the burial chapel, seamlessly guiding the visual narrative forward.
3. The Nave
In contrast to the richly decorated corridors, the nave is intentionally restrained. Flanked by mosaic images of Christ and the Virgin near the altar, this space emphasizes contemplation and silence, reflecting the monastery’s original spiritual purpose.
4. Parecclesion
The Parecclesion is the emotional and artistic climax of the complex. Added by Theodore Metochites—who was later buried here—it is adorned with dramatic frescoes depicting martyrs, patriarchs, and, most famously, scenes of the Resurrection and Last Judgment. These frescoes are widely regarded as among the finest surviving examples of Byzantine wall painting.
Chora Church Entrance Fee 2026
- Entrance fee: €20
- Museum Pass Istanbul: Not valid
Ticket information was last updated on February 10, 2026.
Chora does not experience the long queues common at Istanbul’s major landmarks, but with only a single ticket booth, even a short line can slow entry. Purchasing a QR-code ticket in advance helps ensure a smoother visit.
Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) Entry Tickets
You can reserve an entry ticket for Chora Church online and visit the site independently, outside prayer times.
Kariye Mosque Opening Hours 2026
- Open daily: 09:00 – 18:00
- Closed to visitors: Fridays during congregational prayers
Visiting hours were last updated on February 10, 2026.
Please plan around prayer times: the site closes approximately 30 minutes before the call to prayer and reopens afterward. As the building functions as an active mosque, modest dress is required—women should cover their heads, and men should avoid wearing shorts.
How to Get to Kariye Mosque?
Kariye Mosque is located near Edirnekapı, within the Ayvansaray area. It is about a 20-minute walk from Ayvansaray Tram Stop on the T5 Golden Horn line.
- From Sultanahmet: Take T1 to Eminönü, then transfer to T5 (toward Alibeyköy) and get off at Ayvansaray.
- From Taksim: Take M2 to Haliç (Golden Horn), walk to the T5 station, and continue toward Alibeyköy to Ayvansaray.
- From Beyazıt, Laleli, or Aksaray: Take T1 toward Bağcılar, get off at Pazartekke, then continue by taxi (about 10 minutes).
The T5 line is relatively new and may not appear on older maps, but it offers one of the most direct routes along the Golden Horn to this part of the Historic Peninsula.
Conclusion
Known today as Kariye Mosque, Chora Church holds the most complete and emotionally powerful cycle of Byzantine art in Istanbul. After serving as a museum for nearly 90 years, the building was converted back into a mosque in 2020 and remained closed during a long restoration period. Since reopening to visitors in 2024, it has functioned as a mosque while remaining fully accessible outside prayer times, allowing visitors to experience its mosaics and frescoes much like a museum setting.
If you are interested in medieval Christian art, late Byzantine theology, or the quieter, more reflective corners of Istanbul’s history, Chora is not optional—it is essential. Few places in the world preserve such a coherent and moving artistic program from this period, and fewer still do so in a space of this scale and intimacy.
This article—along with other Byzantine-themed guides on Istanbul Clues—is written with inspiration from the works and perspectives of Turkey’s most influential Byzantine historians, such as Semavi Eyice and Stefanos Yerasimos. In the History and Old City sections of the site, you can continue tracing the legacy of this thousand-year civilization, following the layered remnants of Byzantium across Istanbul’s historic peninsula.
Written by Serhat Engul
For many years, most visitors visited the Kariye Church/Museum/Mosque to see the stunning Byzantine frescoes and, if Hagia Sophia is anything to go by, these will not be showcased for visitors. It is such a shame to be revising history and religious icons in favour of political parties.
Hello Althea, we do not yet know how to make touristic visits to Chora Church. For this reason, it is not possible to make a sound evaluation. I hope the unique mosaics and frescoes can be seen.
Hello Serhat,
I am planning to travel to Istanbul in May.
Will Kariye Muzesi be open by then?
Thank you very much for everything.
Hello Matias, Kariye Museum (former Chora Church) is now Kariye Mosque. I am hearing that the restoration is nearing its end, but the exact opening date has not been specified yet. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will open in a month’s time.
Edit (May 2024): I was wrong when I said it wouldn’t open within a month and I’m so glad I was wrong. I am pleased to state that, according to the official statement, Chora Church will be opened to visitors as of May 7, 2024.
Thank you very much for the information.
At the end of May, I could finally enjoy the wonderfull mosaics and paintings and it was free.
thank you again,
Matias Zapirain
Hi Matias,
I’m so glad you could finally enjoy the magnificent mosaics and frescoes of Chora.
Chora is the shining jewel of Istanbul and it is great that it will remain so.
All the best,
Serhat
Hello Serhat, on the web is written that the ´Chora Mosque´ should have opened in Feburary 2024, but it is still closed now. Do you have any clue if it will be open in the first week of April? It’s the only building on the Roman route I’ve never managed to visit since my 3 trips to Istanbul since 2018.
I’m thinking about visiting it with a day trip to Enez and the aqueduct outside istanbul together with Chora/Fethiye and Hagia Sophia’s upper gallery.
Given the risk of earth quakes, let’s just hope the works will finish soon :(..
Hope to hear from you.. and, if we can go on a trip, do you have a page about a tarif for custom tours? We are traveling with 2, and what we would like to discover I’ve already described :).. It’s a difficult program with all the changes going on.
Hello Bas, yes there have been some news about Chora in the newspapers, but I do not take any rumors into account until there is an official statement. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to obtain accurate information about the restoration status of Chora.
If Chora is opened, it will be published immediately on the communication platform of the Istanbul Guides Chamber. This way, all licensed guides in the city will be notified on the same day. But unfortunately, no notification has been received yet.
Currently both Chora and Fethiye (Pammakaristos) are closed. I don’t think both of them will open until April. I hope you see at least one. The tours I offer include some fixed programs. Unfortunately, I don’t do custom tours these days.
Dear Serhat Engül,
Thank you for such a fantastic website!
I’ve found some announcements suggesting that Kariye Mosque will reopen in either February or May this year (2024).
Do you know whether tourists will be able to visit outside of prayer times once it reopens?
Many thanks,
Rory
Dear Rory, thank you for your kind words about the site.
Yes, it is written in some newspapers that Kariye Mosque will be opened for worship on February 29. However, I could not see any information in these news about whether the mosaics and frescoes in the building are open or closed.
In other words, it is not yet clear under what conditions Chora will accept tourist visitors. No official statement has been made about whether the mosaics and frescoes can be seen.
I will update the post when all this becomes clear.
Dear Serhat Engül,
Thank you very much. Please let me know when any of the Byzantine churches and sites are reopened, including the second floor of Hagia Sophia. My name and email are below.
Best regards,
George Cowan
Dear George Cowan,
Unfortunately I do not provide information via personal email. I note my answers to questions about mosques, churches and museums in Istanbul below the articles for the benefit of everyone.
Kariye Mosque (Chora Church) and Fethiye Museum (Pammakaristos Church), places where you can see the Byzantine history in Istanbul, are still closed as of January 26, 2024.
The upper floor galleries of Hagia Sophia were opened to visitors. You can see the Byzantine mosaics on the upper floor of Hagia Sophia by paying an entrance fee of 25 Euros.
Best regards,
Serhat Engul
Please email me as soon as the Kariye Mosque (Chora Church) will be re-opened for visitors. Many thanks in advance.
Dear Ernest Liu, as I noted in the article, there is no official statement yet regarding the opening of the Kariye Mosque (aka Chora Church).
If there was positive news about the opening, I would want to inform everyone who visits this page and would update the article immediately.
Hi, good morning.
Is it official that upper floor of Hagia Sophia will be open at January? I will visit Istanbul from 23 to 28 January. And other Byzantine sites?
Thanks
Hello Luis yes, on October 31, 2023, the Minister of Culture and Tourism made an official statement that the galleries on the upper floor of Hagia Sophia will open on January 15, 2024. However, I cannot guarantee 100% that it will open on those specific dates.
Hello, is Chora already open? And Fethiye Museum (Pammakaristos)? Thanks.
Hello Irena, unfortunately both Chora Church and Fethiye Museum are still closed as of November 2023. It was reported from official sources that the Byzantine mosaics in the upper floor galleries of Hagia Sophia will be opened on January 15, 2024, after being closed for 3 years.
In this context, we hope that Kariye Mosque and Fethiye Museum will be opened next year. However, there is no official statement on this issue yet and if there is, I will update immediately.
Hi!
I will visit Istanbul on 23-28 January 2024. Do you think that there is any possibility that Kariye/Chora will be open by this time? Or at least some place where is possible to admire Byzantine mosaics such as Pammakaristos or Second Floor of Hagia Sophia?
Tesekkur Ederim
Hello David,
Unfortunately, there is still no clear statement about Chora Church. The mosaics in the upper floor galleries of Hagia Sophia cannot be seen either. Finally, it is not clear when the renovation of the Fethiye Museum (Pammakaristos) will be completed.
Best,
Serhat
Dear Serhat:
It is with great sadness that I read about all the closures. I am going to Turkey in October and had hoped to see many mosaics. Since that was my main interest in Istanbul, what else is there for me to see and do? Perhaps I should spend more time in other areas of Turkey?
I do hope that your guide work has not been too terribly impacted by this.
Cheers,
Kim
Dear Kimberly Mack,
Unfortunately, 3 of 4 places where you can see Byzantine mosaics in Istanbul are closed for renovations.
Kariye (Chora), Fethiye (Pammakaristos) mosques are currently closed. The Great Palace Mosaics Museum has been under restoration since July 2023.
For this reason, the only original Byzantine mosaics that can be seen in Istanbul these days are Leo VI mosaic and Emperors Constantine and Justinian mosaic, both of which are located on the ground floor of Hagia Sophia.
There are many places outside of Istanbul where you can see Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. The main ones are the rock churches in the Goreme and Ihlara valleys in Cappadocia and the Sumela Monastery in Trabzon.
Apart from the Byzantine history-themed tours, I also have tours that include mainstream tourist destinations. In this way, my work was not affected too badly. However, these days, I can’t do the full-day Byzantine tour, which is my most unique tour.
Best regards,
Serhat Engul
Hello Mr. Engul,
Thank you for your updates. We are lucky to be visiting Istanbul October 24 to 26. Do you have any whether the Chora will reopen by then? I get the impression from other comments the local cafe owner may have an idea based on what the workmen tell him?
Thank you,
Mark Rigby
Dear Mark Rigby,
The opening time of the Chora Church is still unknown. There is no official statement yet.
On this site, I only share information that has been confirmed by official authorities.
Rumors about the reopening of the church may be misleading for people who are planning a visit to Istanbul.
If you ask my personal opinion, I do not think that the church will open in 2023.
Kind regards,
Serhat Engul
Thank you Mr. Engul,
What a shame. I see the Fethiye Museum and the Mosaics museum are also now (indefinitely?) closed for renovation as well. Had hoped to see those too.
There surely cannot be many skilled mosaic restorers working in Istanbul. Why not close one place at a time rather than all of them at once?
So it seems if you want to see high quality Byzantine mosaics it seems your only chance now is to go to Ravenna in Italy.
Not Athens by the way, they have also just closed their Byzantine museum for renovation for an unstated time.
Best,
Mark Rigby
Dear Mark Rigby,
Yes, unfortunately, all the places where you can see Byzantine mosaics in Istanbul are currently under restoration. Only the Leo VI Mosaic and the Emperors Justinian & Constantine Mosaic, both of which are on the ground floor of Hagia Sophia, can be seen clearly.
I have no idea why all the museums are closed at the same time. Fethiye Museum was closed for 4-5 years, Kariye Mosque was closed for 3 years. The Great Palace Mosaic Museum was closed just last month. We have to wait until an official statement comes out.
Best,
Serhat Engul
Good day and thank you for this site. Are the mosaics of the former Chora Church, now the Kariye Mosque, currently available to the public to view? (June/Jul 2023).
Hi Keithea Schaedler, unfortunately Chora’s opening date doesn’t seem to be close. I’m afraid it will be closed this summer. If it does, I’ll update the post immediately.
Dear Serhat, if the Kariye museum bacame a mosque in 2020 & closed for restoration, doesnt it mean, in the first place, the mosaics will be covered and we will not see them any more, no matter when it re-opens?
Dusan.
Dear Dusan, this is more complicated than it seems. Hagia Sophia and Chora were two museums with the same status. Two structures that were originally churches, converted into mosques during the Ottoman period, and later became a museum in the Republican period.
When Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, they also made Kariye a mosque. However, there are only a few mosaics in Hagia Sophia. On the other hand, all the walls and ceilings of Chora are covered with mosaics.
Although Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque, the mosaics were not permanently closed. There is a curtain in front of one of the mosaics on the ground floor (as it is directly opposite the worshipers). The remaining two mosaics are open.
I don’t think the mosaics in Chora will be closed either. However, it seems that there is no easy way to use Kariye as a mosque and still display the mosaics. Perhaps a solution has been found and the building is undergoing restoration to put it into practice.
By the way, what I wrote are my own personal views and observations. No official statement has been made about this.
Serhat Bey,
Lütfen, tell me that the Kariye Camii will be open by April 20th, 2023! I realize that’s right at Ramadan which also might affect any yabancı visiting hours. If not April, are there any hopes for May?
I am pining for a sight of it which I have not seen since 1967. I’d been hoping to visit with two friends in April and then go to Asitane.
Saygılarımla, jc
Hello Judith, thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make a positive feedback about the opening of the Kariye Mosque. Because the Kariye Mosque (Former Kariye Museum or Chora Church) indefinitely closed.
There is no explanation about when to open. I certainly don’t think it will open in the first half of this year. Currently, Turkey’s agenda is busy with the recent earthquake and the upcoming election. Maybe there may be a light of hope towards the end of the year.
Isn’t the problem that they have made it a mosque again, even though it was built as a church, and so cannot have the glorious mosaics on view because they conflict with Islamic teachings. Rather than resolve that issue it is far easier to just keep it closed. It should have stayed as a museum. There are enough other mosques around and this was not built as a mosque.
Yes, when you think about it logically, you are right. But unfortunately things don’t work that way in the world. Although there are thousands of churches in Spain, the Great Mosque in Cordoba was converted into a church.
Hi Serhat, I will go to Istanbul in late May 2023, do you have any information about Kariye Mosque or Fethiye Mosque, if they will be open?
On google there is information that it is open for prayers only and visitors can visit it when there is no prayer time? or are those mosques completely closed due to restoration?
Thank you for the answer, I am planning my trip and wanted to enter those places a lot! : )
Hello Tomas, unfortunately, both Kariye Mosque (former Kariye Museum) and Fethiye Museum are currently closed to visitors due to restoration.
Both structures have been closed for more than 2 years and no official statement has been made yet as to when they will open. I don’t think they will open anytime soon.
Thank you! 🙂
You are welcome! 🙂
Hi Serhat, I’m an English teacher at Kadir Has University. I enjoyed your post. Do you have an update on the reopening of the Chora?
Hi Rob, I’m glad you liked the article. Unfortunately, there is no news about when Kariye will open. It doesn’t look like there will be any progress anytime soon.
Hi Serhat, is Chora still closed?
Hi Vladimir, yes Chora is still closed and no information on when it will open. If anything changes, I will try to update the post immediately.
Will it be open for visitors (not prayer) this summer ?
Hi Francis, unfortunately there is no information about this. If anything changes, I will update the post again.
Is the museum open now?
No, unfortunately it’s still closed. It is unclear exactly when it will open.
Hi Serhat, your blog is super useful, do you know if Chora Church is currently open for visitors? I’m planning a trip to Istanbul for next autumn
Hi Diego, thank you for the feedback on the blog. Unfortunately, Chora has been closed for renovations for a year. As far as I follow, there is no announcement about when it will reopen.