Hagia Sophia Αγία Σοφία
Istanbul, Turkey UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hagia Sophia is a mosque and museum located in Istanbul, Turkey, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 537 with Byzantine architecture, it is one of the most looked-up sights in Turkey, ranking 3rd among the country's sights on this site. Visitors can explore the historic structure dedicated to Holy Wisdom, featuring brick construction and a height of 55 meters.
Planning a visit
The warmest months to visit are July and August, with daily highs of 26 °C and 27 °C respectively, and lower rainfall of 28 mm to 33 mm. The coolest months are January and February with highs of 8 °C and lows down to 4 °C, while December is the wettest month with 119 mm of rain over about 12 days. Hagia Sophia is open Monday through Sunday from 09:00 to 19:30, and adult admission is €25. Wheelchair access is available.
The nearest airport is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, located 30 km away, and the capital Ankara is 347 km away. You can easily combine a visit with other nearby locations in the Historic Areas of Istanbul, such as the Basilica Cistern at 0.2 km away, the Istanbul Archaeology Museums at 0.4 km away, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul at 0.4 km away, and Topkapı Palace at 0.6 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 27 °C. The wettest is December, with about 119 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 10 |
| Average low, °C | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 95 | 77 | 68 | 47 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 33 | 49 | 88 | 95 | 119 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
