Hello Ralap, I’m glad you found this article helpful. Have a great holiday in Istanbul.

Hi Manoj, for both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, the best time to visit the monuments outside of prayer time is between 09:00 and 12:00 noon.

Prayer times vary greatly from summer to winter. In addition, mosques close more frequently after noon prayers, making it difficult to predict when they will be open.

What I said is valid for every day of the week except Fridays. However, on Fridays, mosques in Istanbul are closed for half a day until 14:30. For this reason, they cannot be visited in the morning.

Found this blog by chance. Thank you for your details.

I am planning to visit during the last week of Ramadan this year in March.

What is the best time to visit during Ramadan outside of Prayer time? I was thinking of coming early around 8:30 a.m or Late in the evening after 8 p.m.

Similar question for the Blue Mosque. Any information greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Hello Akmal, although I know the conditions for touristic visits to Hagia Sophia, I do not have exact information about every scenario. Therefore, I can answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

1) Yes, Muslim visitors are allowed to enter Hagia Sophia for Friday prayers. However, foreigners are only allowed in during prayer hours. It is not possible to enter in advance and make a touristic visit.

It should also be noted that Fridays are the days when locals visit Hagia Sophia the most. For this reason, it is difficult to enter early and find available space in front.

2) As far as I know, both men and women can enter for Friday prayers. There is already a separate section reserved for women inside.

Thank you in advance for your detailed information

Hello Deen, frankly, I have no knowledge about this subject and I have never experienced it. This seems plausible if visitors in wheelchairs enter through the main gate on the square side.

Yes, there is indeed a long ramp at the tourist entrance to reach the upper floor galleries. Additionally, when descending, you go down another ramp for a few minutes.

By visiting the lower floor, you get the same experience as everyone who visited Hagia Sophia between 2020 and 2023. The upper floor galleries and the Byzantine mosaics there could not be seen in recent years.

If you read people’s experiences in the last three years from Google reviews, you can predict that you will get the same impression by visiting the lower floor, and I think you will be happy about it.

In Turkey, women with babies and handicapped people generally receive the highest level of attention. For this reason, you can be sure that they will approach you very friendly at the main entrance and help you have the best visiting experience possible.

Can I take her and escort her through the Turkish Citizens entrance? What will we see? I assume we can only go outside prayer times as we aren’t Muslim, could you confirm this as I can’t find these details anywhere… Thanks Deen

Hello Franciszek, unfortunately Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid at the entrance to Hagia Sophia.

You are welcome. Museum tickets are valid for the day they are purchased. So, you can buy your Topkapi Palace ticket in the morning and use it when you return after visiting Hagia Sophia.