Combos

Combo (Save 16%): Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Guided Tour + Galata Tower Tickets

Small group of tourists exploring the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel on a guided tour, highlighting unique artifacts and artworks

Hagia Sophia exterior with tourists on guided tour in Istanbul, Turkey.

A female tourist standing on Galata tower bridge

Portrait of beautiful mother and son tourists with view of Galata tower in Beyoglu, Istanbul

Enjoy panoramic views from Galata Tower, plus a guided tour and skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia with this pocket-friendly combo.

Highlights

Skip the lines and explore Hagia Sophia, a symbol of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, that has weathered centuries of conquest.
Your guide will describe the fascinating story of the monument’s transformations through the Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy.
Soar 167 feet above Istanbul atop the Galata Tower with an engaging audio guide that narrates the tower's fascinating history.
From the tower’s observation deck, identify the distinct silhouettes of Dolmabahce Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Suleymaniye Mosque.
Fun fact: Legend says that if you place your finger in a hole in the Weeping Column at the Hagia Sophia and it becomes wet, your wish will come true.

Inclusions

Hagia Sophia

1-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia
English-speaking tour guide
Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia
Self-paced exploration after guided tour
Audio guide app in 23 languages

Galata Tower

Entry to Galata Tower
Downloadable audio guide
Express elevator to the lookout platform

Exclusions

Hagia Sophia and Galata Tower

Headphones

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

4.4

2.6K ratings

5/5

1.8K

4/5

446

3/5

2/5

1/5

184

Janine

5/5

Nov, 2024

The pre-loaded audio was excellent and saved me around £8 extra buying earphones from the kiosk. The description leading up to the tower was great to listen to whilst in the queue. I would have liked the audio to tell me which window to look out of to see each of the historical sites below. Just saying "look north" meant nothing to me. So I had to walk around trying to find them.

Jon

5/5

Oct, 2024

We had a great day around the Hagia Sofia and the Hippodrome. The tickets for the Hagia Sofia worked as advertised and made the experience smoother and much more pleasant. Recommended!

Mohamed

3/5

Oct, 2024

It was a perfect experience, in the end we wanted to access the lowest praying floor but security was saying only during prayer hours, after asking multiple times, after almost 2 hours again we asked what if we have ticket, then he said you can even go now, no need to wait till prayer time.

Paraskevopoulou

5/5

Oct, 2024

A great experience (second visit in 10 years) due to Yakupha who was well informed about historical details and looked really passionate with his job. Thank you again and again!

Udo

3/5

Oct, 2024

The organization (meeting point and information) was very good. Negative: In the mosque itself, the tour guides can only provide little information. So it is not explained "on site" in the mosque, but you hear a 30-minute lecture at the first meeting point of the tour in front of the mosque. We had not expected this.

View original review in German

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Your experience

Combine panoramic views from the Galata Tower with an in-depth guided tour of the Hagia Sophia with this affordable combo.

Hagia Sophia

Skip the line and go on a journey through history at Hagia Sophia. Your guide will unlock the secrets of this architectural marvel that has witnessed centuries of empires rise and fall. Look at the soaring dome, its intricate mosaics detailing biblical scenes. Explore the main floor, each step echoing with the footsteps of sultans, scholars, and worshippers. Learn about the blend of Byzantine and Ottoman influences that shaped the Hagia Sophia's unique character on your guided tour.

Galata Tower

Standing tall for centuries, Galata Tower whispers tales of its rich past as a watchtower, prison, and observatory. See all of Istanbul from the Galata Tower's observation deck and witness the city's European and Asian sides unfold before you, covering over 1,000 years of history. Identify symbols of the city's heritage like Dolmabahce Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Suleymaniye Mosque, their grandeur magnified by the Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn. The audio guide unveils the tower's fascinating history as a defensive structure, while the observation deck provides the perfect platform for capturing panoramic photos.

Operating hours

Hagia Sophia

Monday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Tuesday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Wednesday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Thursday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Friday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Saturday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Sunday	09:00 AM - 07:30 PM

Galata Tower

Monday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday	08:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Know before you go

What to bring

Hagia Sophia

Strict dress code: Guests must dress modestly and cover their knees and shoulders. Women should also partially cover their hair with a scarf.
For optimal enjoyment, bring your earphones to use with the audio guide.

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower's open-air deck can get chilly so dress in layers to stay comfortable.
Comfortable shoes are recommended for climbing the tower.
Bring a pair of earphones or headphones to enjoy the audio guide.

What's not allowed

Hagia Sophia

Flash photography and tripods are not permitted.

Accessibility

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia features ramps and elevators for wheelchair accessibility.

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower's observation deck requires climbing over 200 stairs. This may not be suitable for guests with mobility issues.

Additional information

Hagia Sophia

During high season, the security check waiting time for Hagia Sophia is around 1 hour.
Hagia Sophia may be closed during prayer times as it is a place of religious worship.

Galata Tower