Hagia Sophia Opening Hours

Hagia Sophia is open every day of the year, but the upper-gallery museum and the ground-floor mosque follow different schedules. The mosque area also closes briefly five times a day for prayer. See our best time to visit page for quieter slots and the visitors guide for what to do once you arrive.

Upper Gallery (Hagia Sophia Experience Museum, paid ticket)

Daily (summer, Apr–Oct)	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Daily (winter, Nov–Mar)	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Last Admission

Summer	6:00 PM
Winter	4:00 PM

Ground Floor (Mosque, free)

Daily, outside prayer times	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed briefly 5 times per day)
Friday Jumu'ah prayer	12:00 PM – 2:30 PM (closed)

Prayer Times (approximate, daily)

Closures during prayer

Approx. 30 min, 5 times per day

Important: The upper-gallery museum stays open through prayer times — only the ground floor closes. Hagia Sophia is open on all major holidays including Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, with shorter hours on those days. During Ramadan, the ground-floor mosque is busier in the evenings; the upper gallery is unaffected.

Opening Hours FAQ

Hours, prayer times, and last admission

Is Hagia Sophia open every day?

Yes — open all 365 days, including major holidays. The ground-floor mosque has brief prayer-time closures; the upper-gallery museum does not.

What time is the last admission?

For the upper gallery, last admission is 6:00 PM in summer (April–October) and 4:00 PM in winter (November–March). The galleries close one hour later.

Is the mosque ever closed to tourists?

Yes — the ground-floor mosque is closed to non-worshippers during the five daily prayers (each lasting about 30 minutes) and during Friday Jumu'ah prayer from approximately noon to 2:30 PM.

Can I still visit the upper gallery during prayer times?

Yes — the upper-gallery museum has its own entrance and stays open through all prayer times. This is one of the smartest times to visit if you want to avoid crowds on the ground floor.

What about Ramadan and religious holidays?

Hagia Sophia is open on all religious holidays. During Ramadan the mosque is much busier in the evenings around iftar; the upper gallery is unaffected. On the first day of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, hours may be shorter.

Are tickets cheaper at the end of the day?

No, the price is the same all day. But last-slot tickets (5–6 PM in summer) are usually the easiest to find at the last minute.

How long can I stay inside once I've entered?

As long as you like up to closing time. The timed slot only governs when you can enter, not how long you can stay.