Free & Reduced Hagia Sophia Tickets

Children under 8, Turkish citizens praying as Muslims, MüzeKart holders, ICOM members, and one companion per disabled visitor — they all enter the upper gallery free. Plus the ground floor is free for everyone outside prayer hours. Here's exactly who qualifies and how to claim.

The ground-floor mosque portion of Hagia Sophia is free for everyone, every day, outside prayer hours. The upper-gallery Hagia Sophia Experience Museum has a more limited free-entry list, primarily for under-8s and a few card-holder categories. See our visitors guide and accessibility page for related information.

Who qualifies

Who enters free

    • Ground floor (mosque area): Free for everyone, every day, outside prayer hours. No ticket required.
    • Children under 8: Free to the upper gallery. A free timed-entry ticket is still required.
    • Turkish citizens (MüzeKart): Free with a valid MüzeKart and a timed-entry slot.
    • ICOM, ICOMOS and CIMAM members: Free with a valid professional card to the upper gallery.
    • Companion of a disabled visitor: One person, free of charge — added automatically when you book the disabled-visitor ticket.
    • Diyanet officials and accredited imams: Free entry to all areas with valid credentials.

Who gets a discount

Hagia Sophia does not currently offer a general student or senior discount on the foreign-visitor upper-gallery ticket. The €25 price is flat for all foreign adult visitors.

How to claim a free or reduced ticket

Children under 8: book a free timed-entry ticket online — it's in the same flow as the paying tickets, you just choose €0 for the child. Bring an ID document with date of birth on the day.

MüzeKart holders: book a free timed slot on the official Ministry of Culture site, then scan your card at the foreign-visitor entrance.

ICOM members: book a free slot on the official site and present your physical or digital ICOM card at the entrance. Photocopies are not accepted.

Companion of a disabled visitor: book the disabled visitor's ticket first; the companion ticket is added automatically at no extra charge during checkout.

Bring proof: ID with date of birth for under-8s, the relevant card or pass for everyone else. Staff at the entrance check randomly — having proof on you avoids any awkward conversations.

Free & Reduced FAQ

Eligibility, documents, and edge cases

Is the ground-floor mosque really free?
Yes — the ground floor is a working mosque and free for all visitors, every day, outside prayer hours. No ticket and no booking required. Modest dress and a head covering for women are mandatory.
Do under-8s really enter the upper gallery free?
Yes. A free timed-entry ticket is still required — book it in the same order as paying adults. ID with date of birth may be requested at the entrance.
Is there an EU citizens' free day?
No. The €25 foreign-visitor ticket applies regardless of nationality, with no general free-entry days for international visitors.
Do students get a discount?
Generally no. Turkish students with a MüzeKart enter free; international students pay the full €25 unless they hold an ICOM or comparable professional card.
Is the Istanbul Tourist Pass accepted?
Some commercial city passes include Hagia Sophia as a paid extra; check the small print before buying. The official MüzeKart is the only government-issued free-entry card.
Can carers enter free?
Yes — one companion of a disabled visitor is admitted free. See our accessibility page.
Is there a family ticket?
No single family ticket — under-8s are free, so families with young children only pay for the adults and any children aged 8 and over.
Are teachers free?
Teachers leading school groups enter free as part of the group booking. Individual teachers don't qualify unless they hold a MüzeKart or ICOM card.
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