Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace Combo Tickets with Audio Guide
About this tour
Two of Istanbul's most famous landmarks on one combo ticket, with skip-the-line entry to both. At Topkapi Palace, the Ottoman sultans' longtime residence, your ticket includes the Harem along with the Treasury, the Holy Relics, and courtyards that look out over the Bosphorus. Across Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia lets you into the Upper Gallery, where Byzantine mosaics and Islamic calligraphy share the same enormous domed space. An audio guide comes with both, available in nine languages.
Audio Guide Languages
Turkish
English
German
Spanish
Italian
Russian
Arabic
Chinese
Highlights
- Walk through the Harem, the private living quarters of the Sultan and his family
- See jewels, ceremonial weapons, and imperial artifacts in the Treasury
- Stroll the palace courtyards and gardens overlooking the Bosphorus
- View sacred Islamic relics in the Holy Relics Chamber
- Take in the hand-painted Iznik tiles and Ottoman architecture across the complex
- See how Byzantine and Ottoman design meet under one roof at Hagia Sophia
- Stand beneath the vast central dome, a landmark of early engineering
- Find Byzantine mosaics and Islamic calligraphy side by side in the same hall
- Feel the atmosphere of a working mosque still open to worshippers and visitors
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace
- Harem Museum access
- Audio guide in English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish
- Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia
- Access to Hagia Sophia's Upper Gallery visitor area
- Audio guide in English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish
Opening Hours and Dress Code for Both Sites
Topkapi Palace is open every day except Tuesdays. From April 1 to October 1 the hours are 09:00 to 18:00, and from October 1 to April 1 they shift to 09:00 to 17:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The palace is also closed on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. There is no formal dress code here, though light, modest clothing makes sense if you're pairing the visit with Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque nearby, and comfortable shoes help since there is a lot of walking across the grounds.
Hagia Sophia is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:30. Because it is a working mosque, it closes to tourists during the five daily prayers, each lasting roughly 75 to 90 minutes, and for the main weekly prayer on Fridays from 12:30 to 14:30; time your visit around those windows. A modest dress code applies to everyone. Women should cover shoulders and arms, wear a skirt at least knee length or full-length trousers, and put on a headscarf inside; men need full-length trousers or knee-length shorts, and no sleeveless tops. The rules are relaxed for children under eight.
Available Days / Times
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Important Information
- Allow two to three hours for the palace, including the Harem and Treasury
- Everyone passes through security screening, which can take up to 30 minutes in high season even with a pre-booked ticket
- Wear comfortable shoes; the complex has uneven stone paths, courtyards, and stairs
- Booking online ahead of time lets you skip the long ticket-purchase lines, especially in peak months
- Check what your ticket covers; the Harem needs a separate ticket and shows the sultans' private life
- A combo ticket saves time and money since Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are within walking distance
- A guided tour or audio guide helps explain the palace's history, architecture, and imperial collections
- Hagia Sophia is a working mosque, so dress respectfully (see dress code)
- Visitor tickets cover the Upper Gallery only; the ground-floor prayer hall is for worshippers and not part of the standard visit
- Hagia Sophia closes to tourists during the five daily prayers and the Friday midday prayer, so plan around those times
- Security checks apply at entry; lines can reach 60 minutes in high season, June to August
- Set aside at least one to two hours for Hagia Sophia
- A guided tour or audio guide adds context on the history, symbolism, and artwork
- Ongoing conservation work means parts of the interior may be behind scaffolding
- Combo tickets are worth considering for nearby sites like the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace
- No eating or drinking in the exhibition rooms
- Photos are fine in outdoor courtyards and most areas, but no flash, and no photography in the Treasury or Sacred Relics rooms
- Do not touch or climb on the exhibits
- No smoking inside the palace buildings
- Follow instructions from museum staff and security
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees (see dress code)
- Remove your shoes before the prayer area; use the racks provided or carry them in a small plastic bag
- Keep quiet and respectful inside the mosque
- Photography is generally allowed, but no flash
- Follow instructions from mosque staff and guides