The Chora
The Chora is a mosque in Istanbul that is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and is dedicated to Jesus Christ. The site was established in the 11th century, is named after Mary, and is one of the 32 most looked-up sights in Turkey on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The warmest months to visit are July and August, when daily highs are between 26 °C and 27 °C and rainfall is minimal, with only about 3 rainy days in August. December is the wettest month, with about 123 mm of rain. The coolest months are January and February, when daily lows are between 4 °C and 5 °C. The mosque is located in the Fatih district, 32 km from İstanbul Airport and 352 km from Ankara.
Nearby attractions include the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus, which is 0.3 km away, and the Pammakaristos Church, which is 0.6 km away. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is 1.1 km away, while the Fatih Mosque and Golden Horn are both located within 2 km of the site. The mosque is open from 09:00 to 18:00 and provides wheelchair access. Admission is free for Turkish citizens, while the price for everyone else is 20€.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 27 °C. The wettest is December, with about 123 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 10 |
| Average low, °C | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 98 | 79 | 70 | 48 | 34 | 35 | 29 | 34 | 50 | 90 | 98 | 123 |
| 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.
