You need to know this before you make your plan to visit Ayasofya in Istanbul

As one of Turkey’s oldest historical monuments, Hagia Sophia is centuries old. Profit Mohammed was not born when it was built. Originally, it was a Roman Greek church and used as a church 916 years. After Turkish people conquered Constantinople, it became a mosque and was used as a mosque for 481 years. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk turned the historical monument into a museum after the Turkish Republic was established.

As it changed over the centuries, it went from a church to a mosque to a museum. Eventually, the historical monument was converted into a mosque again in 2023.

It was free entry for all visitors when it became a mosque, regardless of their religion or nationality.

While the Muslims use the first floor as a mosque, the government turned the upper gallery into a museum where you can see beautiful mosaic from the Byzantine era.

You can enter the mosque first floor, where there is apsis (mihrap) anytime during the day, if you are a Turkish Muslim citizen. If you are Muslim, but not a Turkish citizen, then you may enter the first floor where people pray only during prayer times, which are five times a day. Non-Muslims and non-Turkish citizens can only enter the upper gallery, which is on the east side of the building before you entered the Topkapi Palace.

The entrance fee is 25 euros per person. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The upper gallery opens the gate for tourists after 2.30 p.m. on Fridays.