IgoUgo

  • Share Pictures & Reviews

Things To Do in Istanbul

Tweet

Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom

Sultanhamet, Istanbul, Turkey

Featured Review : The Aya Sofya, or Haghia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom, may no longer dominate the skyline of Istanbul as it once did, but it is still a beacon, an object of veneration, a sacred space to worshippers of many faiths. ...See Full Review

  • #2 most popular
    thing to do in Istanbul
  • Avg. User Rating:
    3 out of 5 stars

Nearby Things to Do

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Yerebatan Sarayi
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Hagia Sophia
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Sultanahmet District
User Rating: 2 out of 5
Cooking Alaturka
User Rating: 3 out of 5

Popular Istanbul Hotels

Hotel Sari Konak
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Angels Home Hotel
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Erguvan Hotel Istanbul
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Best Western Empire Palace
User Rating: 4 out of 5

Popular Things to Do in Istanbul

Topkapi Palace
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Basilica Cistern
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Bosphorus Strait
User Rating: 4 out of 5
Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)
User Rating: 4 out of 5

Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom Reviews

Have you visited the Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul? We're always looking for more Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom reviews and photos. Contribute yours today.

Amazingly Beautiful and Architecturally Important Historic Wonder

  • 3 out of 5 stars by davidparmeter from new york, New York
  • March 4, 2025
Quote: Be sure to explore every nook you possibly can. The real treasures are the recovered and exposed mosaics on the top floors. Get there early to avoid the large tour groups. You'll most likely be harassed at the entry gate by swarms of tour guides. We... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Winter Trip to Istanbul

Best of IgoUgo

The Pot of Gold at the End of My Rainbow

  • 4 out of 5 stars by Liam Hetherington from Manchester, United Kingdom
  • October 27, 2025
Quote: The Aya Sofya, or Haghia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom, may no longer dominate the skyline of Istanbul as it once did, but it is still a beacon, an object of veneration, a sacred space to worshippers of many faiths. As I made my way up overland... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Holy of Holies

Breathtaking Beauty and History

  • 4 out of 5 stars by oldscratch from New York, New York
  • November 7, 2025
Quote: Our first stop on our first full day was one of Istanbul's most famous attractions, the Hagia Sophia, a massively domed cathedral built in 532 AD that throughout the centuries has served as both a church and a mosque. Today it operates as a museum,... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Three Days in Istanbul

Best of IgoUgo

Aya Sofya, Church of Holy Wisdom

  • 5 out of 5 stars by barbara from Atlanta, Georgia
  • August 27, 2025
Quote: The Aya Sofya or Haghia Sophia is a marvel of architecture. Its giant dome is an amazing thing to see, and a walk through this great Christian Church, turned into Mosque, and turned into Museum is like a walk through Istanbul's religious history.... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Turkey with Teenager

Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom

  • 4 out of 5 stars by dackelynn from Misaka, Japan
  • July 13, 2025
Quote: Although this church may look a bit worn-down, especially on the outside, it still has a lot of heart. You don't need a tour guide to enter and if you don't want to pay for one then ignore the touts around the entrance. The Church of Holy... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Istanbul, Turkey: West and East

Best of IgoUgo

Aya Sofya/Church of Holy Wisdom

  • 3 out of 5 stars by reynosora403 from Hamilton, Ontario
  • April 8, 2025
Quote: Before entering the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Cami), we spent time wandering around the vast courtyard and gardens. In the center courtyard, as in all Moorish structures, a lovely central fountain predominates. Six minarets reached like stalagmites... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Istanbul Adventure

Best of IgoUgo

Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom

  • 5 out of 5 stars by hagnel2 from Hamilton, Ontario
  • October 24, 2025
Quote: Emperor Justinian(537 AD) planned that this church, a thousand years older than St. Peter’s in Rome, would be the most sumptuous and magnificent in the world. In fact, he almost drained the treasury with his lavish spending. He used the costliest... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Istanbul Mosaic

Best of IgoUgo

Sultanhamet Cami/ Blue Mosque

  • 5 out of 5 stars by hagnel2 from Hamilton, Ontario
  • October 24, 2025
Quote: Before entering the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Cami), we spent time wandering around the vast courtyard and gardens. In the center courtyard, as in all Moorish structures, a lovely central fountain predominates. Six minarets reached like... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Istanbul Mosaic

Best of IgoUgo

Aya Sofia

  • 5 out of 5 stars by mightywease from Carshalton, United Kingdom
  • June 13, 2025
Quote: Hagia or Aya Sophia (Church of the Divine Wisdom) was inaugurated in 537 by Emperor Justinian. It has been a church, a mosque and is now a museum, it has provided inspiration for architects, it has survived earthquakes and periods of unrest and... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Istanbul - Minarets and Magic

Best of IgoUgo

Blue Mosque

  • 5 out of 5 stars by mightywease from Carshalton, United Kingdom
  • June 13, 2025
Quote: The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) was built for Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616, a time of declining fortunes in the Ottoman Empire, by the imperial architect Mehmet Aga, a pupil of the renowned architect Sinan. The name "Blue Mosque" comes... Read the full Aya Sofya/ Church of Holy Wisdom review

From journal Istanbul - Minarets and Magic