Private Guided Hagia Sophia Tour
5.0
21 Ratings
Fatih

Explore Hagia Sophia’s rich history with a private guided tour, skip-the-line access, and exclusive insights into its Byzantine and Islamic past.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Hagia Sophia Mosque - Your guide will explain the mystery of the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, the Hagia Sophia has always been a precious building for the locals.
What's Included
  • All fees and/or taxes
Additional Information

You will see the recently opened (15th January 2024) upper gallery as the museum part of Hagia Sophia.
Private 1-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia, unraveling its rich Byzantine and Islamic past with an expert. You will enjoy the smooth entry with skip-the-line tickets. Your visit with direct access to the second-floor Visitors Area, the best top view of…

see more
Location
Fountain Sultan Ahmed III
Before entering the first gate of Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmed the 3rd Fountain near the entrance of Haghia Sophia's visiting area
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(21 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Bothaherman
Apr 21, 2025
A Day We'll Never Forget – Thanks to Our Amazing Guide - The tour was incredible! Our guide bought the tickets in advance and advised us to get to the Hagia Sophia early. We were almost first in line to enter, and there were no crowds inside. The guide was immensely knowledgeable and shared information in a way that made everything very interesting. His English was impeccable. After visiting the Hagia Sophia, we went to the Basilica Cistern—what a great experience! A tour of Galata and the Taksim district followed, rounding off an amazing day. Thank you for a day we’ll never forget. Your tour was truly unforgettable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roam18478178058
Apr 10, 2025
A guy who knows history - We were standing outside Haga Sophia to determine of we wanted to stand in line for the cheaper ticket or choose the more expensive ticket online. The best option walked up to us and it was Hasan :). He had a great vibe, was very enthousiastic and a good sense of humor. Very broad knowledge of the rich history of the Haga Sophia. We would definitely recommend Hasan!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adam_alix
Jan 19, 2025
Thanks Hasan! ❤️ - Hasan approached us as we were about to join the queue for the Hagia Sophia; he explained that he could provide a guided tour and we could also skip the queue with him, he also sorted a head covering for my Mum free of charge. His knowledge & humour enhanced the visit for us immeasurably, so we would very much encourage anyone to seek him out! The Hagia Sophia story is a remarkable one; Hasan explained it brilliantly to us and we came away enriched. Highly recommend! :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katy
Oct 1, 2024
Tour of Hagia Sofia - Very informative and interesting tour by Hassan of the Hagia Sofia. Missed the ticket queue and saved time. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go636168
Sep 14, 2024
Hasan was a very lucky find! - Hasan was a very lucky find! We were shocked by the length of the queue to get into the Hagia Sofia and were considering our options when Hasan offered us a tour avoiding the queues for a very reasonable price. He said we didn't have to pay until the end to make sure we were satisfied. He was so knowledgeable and informative and a delight to be with as we toured through the Hagia Sofia. We would absolutely recommend him. He was charming, polite, well-informed and very helpful. We understand he does other tours as well and if we had more time we would have contacted him again for a tour of another site.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gregpk6880ip
Aug 15, 2024
Hasan exceeded expectations - Meeting Hasan while standing in line for Hagia Sophia was a serendipitous experience . At first we were skeptical that a tour guide approaching us at random would turn out anyway other than mediocre. Instead, Hasan delivered an engaging, factual, and fun personal tour. It was just the two of us - he suggested picture moments, provided loads of history, culture and religion, and was able to relate them to the world we live in today. Can’t go wrong- if you find Hasan , take him up on a tour. Greg and Natalia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
581yanniap
Jul 10, 2024
Hasan is great - Hasan was absolutely amazing. He gave us all the relevant information about Santa Sophia Mosque and about the Basilica Cistern. He made the tour very interesting. Highly recommend him as a guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simonsmith72
Jul 9, 2024
A great storyteller. Highly recommended - Hasan brought this majestic place and it’s vast history to life. He’s a great storyteller, very knowledgeable, a great eye for detail and is fun to be around. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P401eoadis
Jun 20, 2024
Tour of Hagia Sophia - Hasan gave us a fun and comprehensive tour of the Hagia Sophia. He explained the site's historical relevance and the context surrounding it as well as providing a detailed explanation of the intricacies of the mosque. It was an enjoyable experience. Hasan has a great sense of humour as well as extensive knowledge of the site.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Delys1210
Oct 12, 2024
Positive Experience - We just returned from Istanbul and during our stay we were fortunate to meet Mr Hasan. His tour of the mosque was very thorough and his demeanor throughout the tour was friendly, and respectful. Don’t hesitate in contracting his services while you’re there
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Check Availability
From $117
From $117
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Select a date
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).
More activities from this operator
From $151
5.0
1 Rating
Turkish Shopping Tour: Tailored Product Sourcing
Fatih
From $140
5.0
32 Ratings
Private Guided Basilica Cistern Tour
Fatih