Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia reopens to tourists after four years

Saturday, February 3, 2024

The upper gallery of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, renowned for its magnificent Byzantine-era mosaics, has been made accessible to the public once again since its closure in 2020, marking a significant development for cultural enthusiasts and historians. However, the reopening comes with certain restrictions, particularly for international visitors, who now face a significant reduction in access to other areas of this historic edifice.

In addition to being subject to a new entrance fee for tourists, non-Muslims are now restricted from accessing most of the ground-floor areas of the Hagia Sophia. This change follows the transformation of the 6th-century cathedral, which has served various roles as a mosque and museum over the centuries, back into a mosque under the directive of President Erdoğan of Türkiye four years prior.

The Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul’s prime attractions, has encountered issues with overtourism in recent years. The decision to revert it to a mosque led to the abolition of the entrance fee, causing a surge in visitor numbers. Official reports indicate an increase from 3.7 million visitors in 2019 to a staggering 13.6 million in 2022, leading to extended queues and instances of vandalism due to the overwhelming crowds.

Cihancan Sezgin, an Istanbul-based licensed tour guide, noted the challenges posed by excessive crowding within the ancient structure. He mentioned that while the increased entrance fee may be burdensome, particularly for Turkish citizens, it is a necessary measure for the preservation of the Hagia Sophia. The impact of these new regulations on visitor numbers and the overall visitor experience, especially during the peak tourist season, remains to be observed.

Effective January 15, 2024, two separate entrances have been established for the Hagia Sophia. Turkish citizens have a dedicated entrance for the worship areas, while international visitors and those from “Other Nationalities” are directed to a different entrance for the visiting area.

The implementation of these new rules, including access permissions for non-Turkish Muslim visitors wishing to pray, appears to be in a transitional phase, with expectations that clarity and adherence will improve over time.

This reorganization aims to manage the flow of visitors better, preserve the integrity of the Hagia Sophia, and enhance the tourism experience by alleviating the issues related to overtourism.

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