Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Fast-Track Entry

Price: € 15
( $ 16 / € 15 / ₺ 447 / £ 13)

The iconic Hagia Sophia, with its spectacular architecture and long history of use, is one of the most famous monuments in the world. For over 1,500 years it has been a symbol of religious power and wonder - first as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, then as a Roman Catholic basilica and today as a museum. Its grandeur and beauty continue to be admired by thousands, making it one of the most impressive buildings in human history.

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Prices may vary periodically

About this activity

  • Departure Location: Istanbul
  • Event days:
    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday
  • Tour duration (Approx - including transfers): 1 Hour
  • Guiding & Support: English , Turkish , German
  • Booking confirmation: Instant confirmation
  • Printed or mobile voucher: Both is accepted.
  • Wheelchair accessible: Available
  • Cancellation policy: Flexible
  • Easy Online Booking: Fast, Easy & SSL Secure Booking
  • Tour ID: 340

Highlights

  • Take a tour of the fabled Hagia Sophia and marvel at this architecture masterpiece! Explore its history, grandeur, and learn why it still stands as an icon of Istanbul today.
  • Learn all about the Hagia Sophia - its renowned architecture, intricate design, extraordinary history, and its various uses throughout time. Discover why it remains captivating to tourists till today.
  • Delve into the fascinating history of the Hagia Sophia! This amazing building has embodied everything from religion to royalty - find out what makes it one of Istanbul's most famous icons in this guide.
  • Visit the grandest monument in Istanbul – the Hagia Sophia! Experience how artistry and faith collide with history, culture, and architectural beauty inside this iconic landmark.

Full Description

Istanbul Hagia Sophia: A Symbol of Religious and Cultural Diversity

Hagia Sophia tour with an expert guide

Want to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia? Pre-book your tickets and make sure entrance to this iconic museum is guaranteed! Hagia Sophia, a historic architectural wonder, is best explored with the help of an informative guide to ensure that no detail is missed.

After being converted into a mosque, the skip-the-line and fast-entry option unfortunately doesn't work but our guide provides an easy and a stress free entrance.

Hagia Sophia is a magnificent building that challenges centuries!

Once church, then mosque, then museum A masterpiece of architectural history.

Hagia Sophia, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics, has been fighting against time for hundreds of years. It is the largest Eastern Roman church in Istanbul. Three churches were built at the same location, the oldest and fastest built cathedral in the world. The breathtaking dome image hangs in the air, the monolithic marble columns and unparalleled mosaics are one of the wonders in the history of world architecture.

Hagia Sophia: History, Architecture, and Iconography

Hagia Sophia, which is the largest church built by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul and built three times in the same place and means “Holy Wisdom”, served as the cathedral as the largest church of the capital, where the rulers were crowned throughout the Byzantine Empire since the 5th century.

Explore the iconic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul with a guided tour. Learn about the history and architecture of this stunning landmark.

Emperor Justinianos ordered the most beautiful architectural pieces to be collected for use in Hagia Sophia, by sending news to all provinces to make Hagia Sophia more spectacular and flashy. Columns and marbles used in this structure; It was brought from the ancient city ruins in Anatolia and Syria, such as Aspendos, Ephesus, Baalbek and Tarsus.

Don't miss the chance to visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Book your entry with a guided tour and discover the secrets of this ancient wonder.

All surfaces except the marble covered walls of Hagia Sophia are decorated with beautiful mosaics. Gold, silver, glass, terracotta and colored stones were used to make the mosaics.

Your professional licensed guide will be waiting for you with Vigo Tours logo in front of Hagia Sophia. Here, your guide will first give you a brief historical information about Istanbul and then quickly take you into Hagia Sophia without waiting for the long queue. This entrance is the fast travel agency entrance door, it is entered only with a licensed tourist guide.

Experience the beauty of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul with a guided tour. Get an in-depth look at the art and culture of this historic site.

Your guide in Hagia Sophia will continue to inform you about this extraordinary structure. Total guidance time can be approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. You will also have free time in the Hagia Sophia museum. You will be amazed by this magnificent structure that is unique in the world.

Price included

  • Express Entry Ticket (without queuing)
  • Guidance
  • Free time in Hagia Sophia
  • Food and drink
  • Pick-up and transfer from hotel

Pick Up Place

Hotel pick-up and drop-off service is not available on this tour. The tour begins with a meeting with the guide in front of Hagia Sophia and includes only Hagia Sophia's visit and guidance.

Pick up Point

In front of Hagia Sophia

Details to know

Istanbul Tourist Guide: Small Group Tour of Hagia Sophia

Please write to us for your requests for guided Istanbul tours for small groups in any language!

The tour ticket issued by Vigo Tours to enter Hagia Sophia is not an adequate document. It is absolutely necessary to meet the tour guide to enter Hagia Sophia.

It is obligatory for children to present a passport at the entrance to Hagia Sophia.

Tour ends in front of Hagia Sophia.

The tour is for small group with minimum 5 people. If you are less than 5 people you can still book the tour with paying 5 people.

Additional information

Small Group Tour of Hagia Sophia with a Professional Guide

Hagia Sophia, the lord of the buildings!
Hagia Sophia is a most valuable places "must seen" of the world!

The tour is made with a minimum of 5 people. Tourist guide is possible in any language, but there will be only one guide per group. There is no pick-up service for the tour, the tour starts with a meeting with the guide in front of Hagia Sophia. The tour duration is 1 hour and includes only the Hagia Sophia visit.

  • Meeting with the guide in front of Hagia Sophia at the specified time
  • Tour starts with a brief history of Istanbul
  • Fast access to Hagia Sophia without waiting for a queue
  • Guidance in Hagia Sophia
  • Free time in Hagia Sophia
  • End of the tour and time to good bye

Period & Price

01 January 2023 / 31 December 2023 - Price

Location Person
07 >
Child
03 > 06
Istanbul € 15.0 € 0
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Have a question?

Hello, We regret to inform you that all of our guides are currently occupied with ongoing tours and are unavailable for the day. However, we would be happy to arrange a tour for you tomorrow at 09:00. The cost for a group of four would be 60€. Thank you for considering Vigo Tours, and we look forward to showing you the wonders of Hagia Sophia. Best regards.
If you're interested in touring Hagia Sophia, we'd be happy to help! To get started, please let us know when you'd like to visit and how many people will be in your group. Our guide will meet you at the front of Hagia Sophia, and we'll provide you with all the details once your booking is complete. Thanks for reaching out, and we look forward to hearing from you soon! Best regards, Vigo Tours.

10 Overall Rating

(4.8)

Total: (10 Review)

10 Review Summary

Service:

(4.6)

Organization:

(4.7)

Price:

(4.9)

Security:

(4.8)

01.08.2023

Maren Luebkert

(5.0)

Bewertung Istanbul

Wir waren alle sehr zufrieden mit dem Service, obwohl wir erst kurzfristig gebucht haben. Zum Service : - schnelle Antwortzeiten - kurzfristige Buchung war möglich - sehr engagiert - Guide Sami verfügte über großes kultur- und geschichtliches Wissen und arbeitete sehr leidenschaftlich Alles in allem auf jeden Fall weiterzuempfehlen, auch auf Grund einer unkomplizierten Abwicklung. Wir würden es definitiv erneut buchen.

18.03.2023

Nikola

(5.0)

It was a great tour!

The guide of Hagia Sophia were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, despite the busy atmosphere.

07.02.2023

Heiner

(5.0)

The tour of Hagia Sophia was excellent!

The tour of Hagia Sophia was exceptional, with punctual timing and a thorough and informative explanation.

19.01.2023

Sara

(5.0)

An amazing experience!

If you're planning a trip to Istanbul, make sure to add Hagia Sophia to your itinerary. To truly appreciate the history and beauty of this iconic landmark, I highly recommend taking a guided tour. During my visit, our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, providing us with a thorough understanding of the site's significance. Overall, I would give the experience a 10/10 and highly recommend it to others.

02.12.2022

Andreas

(5.0)

A beyond perfect experience with an amazing guide!

If you're looking for a tour that is both informative and easy to follow, the Hagia Sophia tour is a great choice. The guide provides plenty of historical context and interesting facts about the site, making it a highly recommended experience for anyone interested in learning more about this iconic landmark.

09.11.2022

Vilmos

(4.5)

An Excellent tour with a knowledgeable guide!

Visiting Hagia Sophia was made easy with the help of a knowledgeable guide who spoke English fluently. Despite the large group of over 60 people, the tour was well-organized with three guides to split the group. The only downside was waiting in the security line, which was unavoidable. Overall, the experience was enjoyable and informative.

22.10.2022

Antonio

(5.0)

A visit to Hagia Sophia is truly awe-inspiring

The tour of Hagia Sophia was a great experience, with a knowledgeable guide who provided interesting insights into the history and construction of the building. After a quick and efficient security checkpoint, the guide Samy led us through the interior, pointing out notable features such as the mosaic of Justinian, Constantine, and Mary. Throughout the hour and a half tour, the guide kept everyone engaged and informed about the modern day use of the building. Overall, a highly recommended tour for anyone interested in the history and architecture of this iconic landmark.

18.07.2022

Daniel

(4.8)

The Hagia Sophia is truly awe-inspiring

Visiting the Hagia Sophia was a truly breathtaking experience. Our guide Sami was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the ancient structure to life with his fascinating descriptions. The only downside was the unexpected wait in line, but fortunately it moved quickly and didn't detract from the overall experience. Highly recommend a visit to this historic site.

12.06.2022

Augusto

(5.0)

Best done with a knowledgeable guide

The tour of Hagia Sophia was a great experience thanks to our knowledgeable guide who made sure everything ran smoothly. He was able to answer all of our questions and provided us with a wealth of information about the history and significance of this iconic landmark. Overall, it was an excellent tour and I highly recommend it.

21.05.2022

Abella

(3.3)

Below my expectation!

Although the guide was pleasant and engaging, my experience at Hagia Sophia fell short of my expectations. Despite anticipating a bypass of the main waiting line, I found myself waiting in it nonetheless. Additionally, I was disappointed that I was unable to explore other areas of the monument.

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