Last updated: October 30, 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and transport fares below are the 2026 rates published by the operators and reported by Istanbul visitor sources; flight and hotel prices were checked on Google Flights and Trip.com on October 30, 2026. Prices in Turkey change often, so confirm before you go.
Short answer: Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across Sultanahmet Square, about a 5-minute walk apart, so you do not need any transport between them. Foreign visitors pay €25 for Hagia Sophia’s upper gallery; the Blue Mosque is free. Plan around prayer times and Friday midday closures, and dress modestly for both.
Tickets and hours at a glance
| Hagia Sophia | Blue Mosque | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry for foreign visitors | €25 (about $28) for the upper gallery; children under 8 free | Free, no ticket |
| What you see | Upper galleries with the Byzantine mosaics; the ground floor is for worship | Main prayer hall with the blue Iznik tiles |
| Hours | About 9:00–19:30 (earlier opening in summer); closed about 12:30–14:30 on Fridays | From about 8:30 until early evening; closed to visitors at each of the five daily prayers and on Fridays until about 14:30 |
| Time needed | 45–90 minutes | 30–45 minutes |
| Museum Pass Istanbul | Not valid for the upper gallery | Not needed |
Sources: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism ticket price (in force since January 2024 and unchanged in 2026), Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmed Mosque visitor information, checked October 30, 2026. Hours shift with the seasons and daily prayer times.
Getting from Hagia Sophia to the Blue Mosque
Walk. The two buildings are about 300–400 meters apart on opposite sides of Sultanahmet Square and Park, on flat paved paths. No taxi, tram or car is needed, and cars cannot drive up to either entrance anyway, because much of the square is pedestrian.
To reach Sultanahmet from elsewhere in Istanbul, take the T1 tram to the Sultanahmet stop. A ride costs about 42–46 Turkish lira (around $1) with an Istanbulkart transit card, which costs about 165 lira and can be shared by several travelers.
Best order and timing
- Start early. Get to Hagia Sophia at opening; the gallery queue is short in the first hour and long by midday.
- Then cross to the Blue Mosque between prayer times. Closures last roughly an hour around each prayer; check the times posted at the entrance or in a prayer-times app on the day.
- Avoid Friday midday. Both close to tourists for Friday prayers until about 14:30.
- Add the neighbors: the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace are a few minutes’ walk away. Topkapi is closed on Tuesdays. See our Topkapi Palace guide.
Dress code
- Everyone: shoulders and knees covered; no shorts or sleeveless tops.
- Women: hair covered with a scarf.
- Shoes come off inside the Blue Mosque; plastic bags are provided.
- Scarves and wraps are handed out free at the Blue Mosque entrance if you need them.
Avoid paying too much
- The Blue Mosque is free. Online “Blue Mosque tickets” are guided tours, not entry fees.
- Hagia Sophia costs €25 at the ticket office. Skip-the-line or guided options from resellers cost more; they are only worth it if you value the guide or want to avoid the ticket queue at peak times.
- Ignore people offering “special” entry or insisting a sight is closed. Check the entrance yourself.
- Museum Pass Istanbul (about €105 for 5 days in 2026) covers Topkapi and other state museums, but not Hagia Sophia’s gallery. It pays off only if you visit several museums.
More tips: how to avoid tourist traps and scams.
What a short Istanbul trip costs
Flights from the US
Round trips for March 10–17, 2027, economy, one adult, checked on Google Flights on October 30, 2026:
- New York (JFK) – Istanbul (IST): $703 with one stop, $811 nonstop on Turkish Airlines
- Chicago (ORD) – Istanbul: $775 with one stop, $899 nonstop on Turkish Airlines
Hotels near Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Trip.com prices for 3 nights, March 10–13, 2027, 2 adults, including taxes:
| Hotel | Area | 3 nights | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Queens Land | Fatih, near Hagia Sophia | $151 | ~$50 |
| Edition Old City Hotel | Beyazit / Old City | $192 | ~$64 |
| Sultanahmet Palace Hotel | Next to the Blue Mosque | $204 | ~$68 |
| Holiday Inn Istanbul – Old City | Laleli | $305 | ~$102 |
| Sura Design Hotel & Suites | Sultanahmet | $443 | ~$148 |
| Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel | Sultanahmet | $502 | ~$167 |
Source: Trip.com, searched October 30, 2026 for March 10–13, 2027. Total for 2 adults including taxes.
Getting in from the airport
From Istanbul Airport (IST), the cheapest way to Sultanahmet is the M11 metro, then the M2 metro and T1 tram, on an Istanbulkart (about 75 minutes, a few dollars). The Havaist airport bus goes to Aksaray, from where the T1 tram continues to Sultanahmet. A taxi or pre-booked transfer is easiest with luggage but costs much more.
Do you need a car?
Not in central Istanbul. Traffic is heavy, parking in the old city is hard, and trams, metro and ferries reach almost everything. A rental car makes sense only when you leave the city, for example on a road trip along the Aegean coast to Izmir. In that case, pick it up on the day you leave Istanbul, not before.
FAQs
How much is the Hagia Sophia ticket in 2026?
€25 for foreign visitors, for the upper gallery. Children under 8 enter free. The ground floor is reserved for worship. The Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid.
Is the Blue Mosque free?
Yes. There is no ticket. It closes to visitors during the five daily prayers and on Friday until about 14:30.
How far is Hagia Sophia from the Blue Mosque?
About 300–400 meters, a 5-minute walk across Sultanahmet Square.
Can I visit both in one morning?
Yes. Start at Hagia Sophia at opening, then walk to the Blue Mosque between prayer times. Allow about two to three hours for both, plus queues.
What should I wear?
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for everyone, and a headscarf for women. The Blue Mosque lends scarves and wraps for free.
