Chora Church (Kariye Mosque): Tickets, Hours, Mosaics & How to Visit

Chora Church—today operating as Kariye Mosque (Kariye Camii)—is one of the most rewarding art stops in Istanbul, Turkey. If you love Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, this is the place where you’ll catch yourself looking up every 10 seconds (and leaving with a sore neck in the best way).

It’s also a site with “new rules” compared to the classic Old City sights: it functions as a mosque, it has a visitor management plan, foreign visitors pay an entrance fee, and tourist visits have specific time windows.

📍 Quick facts (save this)

⚠️ Important: You’ll still find older pages online listing low TRY prices or “MuseumCard valid.” Those are outdated for the current visitor system—use the official listing + current announcements as your source of truth.

Why Chora Church is worth it (even if you’re “museum-ed out”) ✅

Most visitors do Istanbul’s “big five” first (Hagia Sophia / Blue Mosque / Topkapı / Basilica Cistern / Grand Bazaar). Chora is different:

• 🎨 Mosaics + fresco cycles that are among the most celebrated surviving Byzantine artworks in the city (many scenes are high up, so bring your “look up” energy).
• 🧭 Less central location = fewer “accidental crowds.” People come intentionally, which usually means a calmer vibe than Sultanahmet’s main drag (though it can still get busy).
• 🏛️ A layered identity: church → mosque → museum → mosque again, with modern visitor management created to separate worship and touristic access.

Chora Church tickets and entry rules 💳

🎟️ Current pricing logic

Under the visitor management plan, foreign visitors pay €20. At the same time, the site remains a functioning mosque where worship access is handled separately.

✅ What to expect at the entrance

• Ticket purchase is on-site (follow signage and staff directions).
• Tourist access can be stopped before prayer—a reported rule is that touristic visits are paused shortly before prayer times.
• Friday: tourist visits are closed; the mosque is open for worship.
• Museum Pass: not accepted.

👗 Dress and behavior (practical)

Because it operates as a mosque:

• ✅ Dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered is the safest rule).
• ✅ Speak quietly; no flash; keep moving if it’s crowded.
• ✅ If you arrive near a prayer window, expect to wait a bit.

Hours and best time to visit ⏱️

Tourist hours are generally 09:00–18:00, but the site can pause visits around prayers and has a different tourist policy on Fridays.

Best timing (real-world strategy)

• 🌅 Go early (09:00–10:30) to avoid both crowds and prayer-time interruptions.
• 🗓️ Avoid Friday if your goal is sightseeing, not worship access.
• 📸 If photography matters, early light + fewer people = better shots and more time to study details.

How to get there 🚇 🚌 🚕 (easy routes that actually work)

Chora Church is in Edirnekapı (Fatih), not in the core Sultanahmet cluster. The simplest approach is to use the tram network and walk.

Option A: From Sultanahmet (most common tourist start) 🚋

1. Take T1 tram from Sultanahmet toward Topkapı.
2. Transfer to T4 tram and ride to Edirnekapı station.
3. Walk uphill to the site (roughly ~10–15 minutes depending on pace).

Why this is good: it’s mostly rail-based, predictable, and avoids guessing bus routes.

Option B: From Taksim / Beyoğlu 🚕

• Taxi / ride-hail is often the least confusing because traffic patterns are easier than multi-transfer transit when you’re unfamiliar with stops.
• If you prefer transit, aim to reach a T1 hub (Eminönü / Karaköy area) then follow Option A.

Option C: Combine with the Old City Walls + Edirnekapı vibe 🧭

Edirnekapı is close to historic walls and neighborhoods many tourists skip. If you like “less Instagram, more real Istanbul,” Chora fits perfectly as a half-day route.

Pro tip: For buses, use İETT route search (“How can I go?”) because bus numbers and stops can change.

✈️ Airport connections (IST & SAW) to Chora Church

You don’t need a private transfer—just aim to get into the tram network.

From Istanbul Airport (IST) ✈️

1. Take airport transit into the city (metro/shuttle options depend on your arrival time).
2. Aim to reach T1 tram line (for example, Eminönü / Sirkeci / Sultanahmet area), then follow T1 → Topkapı → T4 → Edirnekapı.

From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) ✈️

1. Get to the European side / Old City area via metro + connections or shuttle options.
2. Then do the same T1 → T4 transfer plan.

(If you tell me where your hotel is—Sultanahmet, Galata, Kadıköy, etc.—I can give a clean step-by-step route.)

Tips & common mistakes ✅ ⚠️

✅ Do this

• ✅ Arrive early to maximize art-viewing time.
• ✅ Bring a scarf/light layer (useful for modesty + temperature changes).
• ✅ Bring headphones (some sites use QR/audio systems; even if not, you’ll want a quiet “museum mode” experience).

⚠️ Avoid this

• ⚠️ Don’t show up on Friday expecting a normal museum visit. Tourist visits are closed that day.
• ⚠️ Don’t rely on old “45 TRY” / “MuseumCard accepted” info. The current visitor plan sets €20 for foreign visitors and says Museum Passes aren’t accepted.
• ⚠️ Don’t arrive right before prayer windows if your priority is mosaics/frescoes—tourist entry can pause.

FAQ

Is Chora Church open to tourists right now?

Yes, it is listed as open with a structured visitor plan (including tourist hours and a foreign visitor ticket).

How much is the ticket?

Foreign visitors: €20 under the visitor management plan.

Is Chora Church closed on Fridays?

Touristic visits are closed on Friday; the building is used for religious services.

Do museum passes work?

The official listing says Museum Passes are not accepted.

What’s the easiest public transport route?

For most tourists: T1 → Topkapı → T4 → Edirnekapı + walk.

Conclusion

Chora Church is one of those Istanbul sights that feels like a secret—despite being world-famous among art lovers. Go early, plan around Friday/prayer-time rules, and use the T1 + T4 tram combo to keep transport simple. If you want one “serious art” stop in Istanbul beyond the main Sultanahmet loop, make it this one. ✅