Wonderful! - Hagia Sophia is absolutely magnificent! The mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture is stunning, with incredible mosaics and grand domes. Walking through its halls, you feel the weight of history and culture. It’s a masterpiece that leaves you speechless. It was beautiful!

Beautifull Mosque - Hagia Sophia Mosque is beautiful place. A truly awe-inspiring sight. It's a must-see, even with the longer lines, which moved surprisingly fast. A guided tour wasn't necessary for us. Best of all, it's free! Don't forget to bring a plastic bag to keep your shoes clean.

Incredibly wonderful - It is definitely a must-see of Istanbul. The mix of styles, all its hidden treasures and surroundings, make it unmatched

Magnificent - I'm really thinking about how to start writing about something so magnificent and so important for history that I'm afraid I'll write something wrong. It takes your breath away when you enter the interior because it is a beautiful mosque. Hagia Sophia or Hagia Sophia is a monumental basilica in Istanbul, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, one of the most daring architectural achievements in general. Construction began in 532 during the reign of Emperor Justinian, who entrusted the construction to Anthemius from Tralus and Isidore from Miletus. The church was consecrated in 537. In 558, the main dome collapsed after an earthquake, and a new one, 7 m higher, was built by Isidore the Younger. In 1453, it was turned into a mosque; at the same time, minarets were added to it, and considerable changes were made in the interior. By order of Kemal Atatürk, it was turned into a museum in 1934; then many mosaics and archeological remains of the older Constantine's Basilica were discovered. At the instigation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, it became a mosque again in July 2020 (the decision from 1934 was declared illegal by a court ruling, and Hagia Sophia was placed under the state Administration for Religious Affairs). Hagia Sophia is a basilica with a dome, placed so as not to disturb the basic layout of the longitudinal basilica; its interior has an almost square floor plan,divided by two rows of columns into three naves. The middle nave is wider than the side naves and ends with an apse. The middle of the church is covered by a dome (diameter 32 m, height 54 m). The main load of such a huge dome is carried by four arches that rise on four pilasters. There are galleries above the side naves. The church, in front of which is a large atrium, is entered through a double narthex. The uniquely designed space of Hagia Sophia and its luxurious interior is the most valuable achievement of Byzantine architecture and related decorative art.

Mesmerizing and Blissful Experience - Breathtaking views of ancient history and ever evolving cultures. Deep dive into how these walls have seen the changing eras of history and religion unfold yet stands strong keeping it all together.

A piece of history - What a treat to see such an old piece of history. This building was built in 360 AD and has an incredible story. It's been a church, a mosque and a museum and is still standing today. This is a must see.

Must-see - Beautiful mosque under renovation. Indeed we only had access upstairs and only Muslims have access to the downstairs space which is the prayer room. We paid 950 Turkish lira per person (or 26 euros). We regret that we are not allowed access from below because it seemed very nice and full of history

Breathtaking , one of the most impressive structures of antiquity - Without a doubt a breathtaking building . However I’m trying to work out how it’s free to get into the Blue Mosque which I they built , yet you have to pay to get in here when it is conquered loot

No longer a must see - Given the historical significance of it and its unparalleled influence on churches and mosques around the world, this is a tough one to skip. I have wanted to visit the Haggia Sophia for a long time, and like other recent reviewers I was disappointed. The Hagia Sophia belongs to the world, but by restricting non-Muslim access to the second floor Turkey has failed its responsibilities as custodian of the building. You can’t fully appreciate the architectural grandeur from the second floor alone. The beautiful marble floor is covered with a carpet and the first floor mosaics are either covered or not visible from the second floor. All the artifacts have been removed to a separate museum that costs an extra fee to visit. Given the cost and long lines I would characterize it not as a must see but something to visit if you have time. They should have kept it a museum. Trip Advisor should have reset the reviews for the Haggia Sophia when it was converted back into a mosque. It has such a high ranking because of all the 5 star reviews from when it was a museum. It’s a different experience now and those old reviews from when it was a museum are no longer relevant.

This should have been a highlight, but what a setback. Pure scams. - This should have been a highlight, but what a setback. First we waited a long time at the box office, where we heard that you were only allowed to visit a part from a gallery. You weren't allowed in the mosque itself! Paying 50 euros for this: no way. Pure scams.