Hagia Sophia: is it open to visitors on your date?
Short answer: Sat 7 Nov 2026: Open to visitors 09:00–19:00.
Since January 2024 foreign visitors no longer enter the prayer hall: they buy a ticket for a gallery route upstairs, where the Byzantine mosaics are. Worship continues below, so the route is not interrupted by the five daily prayers, only by Friday noon.
Sat 7 November 2026
Open 09:00–19:00
| 09:00–19:00 | Open to visitors |
Prayer times (Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Türkiye): Dawn (Fajr) 06:08 · Sunrise 07:35 · Noon (Dhuhr) 12:53 · Afternoon (Asr) 15:35 · Sunset (Maghrib) 18:00 · Night (Isha) 19:22
Closing times are approximate: staff may close the doors a little earlier when the mosque fills up.
The rule
Foreign visitors use a separate route to the upper galleries (€25), which stays open during the daily prayers. On Fridays the visit closes from 12:00 to 14:30 for the congregational prayer.
Tickets are €25 for foreign visitors and the Museum Pass is not valid. Muslim visitors may join a prayer through the main gate at prayer times. Dress modestly; women cover their hair.
Hagia Sophia tours and tickets
Is Hagia Sophia under scaffolding?
Source: Istanbul Clues, checked on site April 2026. Rule last checked April 2026.
Through the year
| Mid-month Wednesday | Open to visitors |
|---|---|
| 20 Jan 2027 | 09:00–19:00 |
| 17 Feb 2027 | 09:00–19:00 |
| 17 Mar 2027 | 09:00–19:00 |
| 14 Apr 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 19 May 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 16 Jun 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 14 Jul 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 18 Aug 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 15 Sep 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 20 Oct 2027 | 08:00–19:00 |
| 18 Nov 2026 | 09:00–19:00 |
| 16 Dec 2026 | 09:00–19:00 |
Hagia Sophia by month
Questions
What time is Hagia Sophia open to visitors today?
Sat 7 November 2026: open to visitors 09:00–19:00. Pick another date above; the times move every day.
Is Hagia Sophia open on Friday?
Fri 13 November: open to visitors 09:00–12:00 and 14:30–19:00; closed for the Friday prayer.
When is Hagia Sophia closed to visitors?
Foreign visitors use a separate route to the upper galleries (€25), which stays open during the daily prayers. On Fridays the visit closes from 12:00 to 14:30 for the congregational prayer.
What is the best time to visit Hagia Sophia?
Go early on any day but Friday: the morning window is the longest and least crowded. On 7 Nov the first window is 09:00–19:00.
Is Hagia Sophia open on Saturday and Sunday?
Yes, weekends follow the normal prayer pattern. Sat 7 November: open to visitors 09:00–19:00.
Prayer times are calculated from the sun's position with the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Türkiye method (dawn at 18° and night at 17° below the horizon, afternoon when a shadow equals its object plus its noon shadow, plus the published safety minutes). For Istanbul they match the official timetable to within a minute. Opening hours can change for religious holidays, state ceremonies and restoration work; times are local (Europe/Istanbul).