Hagia Sophia

As of today, a transformative policy takes effect at Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia, introducing a 25 euro entrance fee for foreign tourists, according to BGNES.

Foreign tourists will be required to pay an entrance fee of 25 euros to visit the Hagia Sophia Mosque as of Jan. 15.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry has completed its efforts to separate the entrances of worshippers and cultural visitors to the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Tourists will now be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the environment of worship.

Foreign tourists entering the former Orthodox Christian cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will have to pay an entrance fee from Monday, as announced by Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry. 

Tens of thousands of people on Jan. 1 gathered at a massive rally in Istanbul to commemorate the Turkish soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in Iraq and to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The new tone adopted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his interview with Kathimerini is positive, as he talks about a "new page" in relations with Greece and the benefits to both countries, while stating that we should not allow the issues on which we disagree to cause tension and contention between our governments and people.

A Turkish newspaper has published video footage showing fragments of building material falling from inside the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, raising concern about the integrity of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral and the safety of visitors.

Nearly 45,000 participants have competed in the 45th edition of the Istanbul Marathon this year, vying to cross from the Asian to the European side, with Kenyan athletes clinching the victory.

Foreign nationals visiting Istanbul's Hagia Sophia for tourism purposes will be subject to an entrance fee starting from Jan. 15, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has announced.

Tourists wishing to visit Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will have to pay admission starting in January 2024, the country's culture minister announced on Tuesday.

The 1,500-year-old Byzantine cathedral, which was converted from a museum into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2020, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and receives over 3.5 million visitors a year.

The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry has transformed an ancient land registry office building in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square into a museum that narrates all the changes in Hagia Sophia from its initial construction to the present day.