Date announced: Hagia Sophia to charge entry fee for foreign tourists

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy held a press conference at the Atatürk Cultural Center to evaluate current issues, including tourism data and the restoration of Hagia Sophia.

According to the report on TRT Haber; Minister Ersoy stated the following in his announcement:

“We are transitioning to a visitor management system at Hagia Sophia. Visitor quality and safety will be enhanced. Our prized mosque, Hagia Sophia, which is a common heritage of humanity and a center of attraction, will be integrated into a very well-protected ecosystem.

There are no changes to the places of worship for Turkish citizens visiting the mosque for prayer.

We are changing the entrance gate for the visits of foreign nationals. We are taking them through the gate on the upper level where Topkapı Palace is located, opening the gallery for service, and ensuring they exit through the exit gate.

By minimizing the density of visits and usage, the quality of both visits and worship is being increased.

Those visiting Hagia Sophia will be provided with information in 16 languages via an application on their mobile phones.

Visits by foreigners will be subject to a fee as of January 15. Worship and visits will remain free for Turkish citizens."