Balat and Fener
Istanbul, Turkey
Chora Church (Kariye Mosque), Istanbul
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Photo: Tadam, CC0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket (foreign visitors)
- €20, paid at the gate
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Saturday–Thursday, 9:00–18:00, paused for prayers; Friday worshippers only
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Better without small kids
- Free
- Turkish citizens and anyone coming to pray
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Children
- 8 and under free
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Museum Pass
- Not valid — it's a mosque, not a museum
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Visiting hours
- 9:00–18:00, ticket office until 17:55
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Friday
- Closed to tourists all day
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Prayer times
- Entry stops 15 minutes before each prayer
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Dress code
- No shorts; headscarf for women — covers sold at the ticket office
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Photos
- Allowed for personal use; no flash or extra lighting
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Getting there
- T5 tram to Balat or Ayvansaray, then 15–20 min uphill on foot
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- Kariye Camii Sk. 18, Edirnekapı, Fatih
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
1321Theodore Metochites finished rebuilding the church — the mosaics and frescoes you see date from then
2 sourcesi
TDV Encyclopedia of IslamRussian Wikipedia (work 1315–1321)6 May 2024reopened as the Kariye Mosque after restoration
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaKüre AnsiklopedisiAnastasisthe side chapel's great fresco: Christ pulling Adam and Eve from their tombs
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaRussian Wikipedia“Chora”Greek for “country” — the monastery stood outside the early city walls; “Kariye” is the Turkish form
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaRussian Wikipedia1077–1081rebuilt by Maria Doukaina, mother-in-law of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
Sourcei
English and Russian WikipediaMetochiteskneels in the mosaic above the door to the nave, offering the church to Christ
2 sourcesi
TDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish WikipediaIsaac Komnenosson of Alexios I, restored the church in the 12th century; his portrait is in the inner-narthex Deësis
2 sourcesi
TDV Encyclopedia of IslamRussian Wikipedia1511Grand Vizier Atik (Hadım) Ali Pasha turned it into a mosque under Bayezid II; the images were plastered over
2 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaTDV Encyclopedia of Islam (vizier, no year)1945made a museum by Turkish government decree
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaKüre Ansiklopedisi1948the Byzantine Institute of America (Thomas Whittemore, then Paul Underwood) began uncovering the mosaics
2 sourcesi
TDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish WikipediaAugust 2020a presidential decree turned the museum back into a mosque
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English WikipediaRussian WikipediaChora Church tickets and entrance fee
Foreign visitors pay €20, the fee Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced in August 2024. Turkish citizens and anyone coming to pray enter free. The Museum Pass Istanbul isn't valid here.
Pay at the ticket office by the garden gate — there's nothing to book in advance. Audio guides, body covers and headscarves are sold there too; bring your own earphones for the QR audio guide.
We found no official 2026 tariff on the Directorate General of Foundations' site, and Turkish sight prices are usually revised in January, so treat the fee as “verifying”.
Opening hours
Tourists are admitted 9:00–18:00, Saturday to Thursday, with the ticket office closing at 17:55. Older guides list 9:00–16:30 and a Tuesday closure — that was the museum timetable before 2020.
Prayer times today — when visitors can't enter
Loading today's times…
Prayer times follow the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). Tourist entry stops 15 minutes before a prayer starts and reopens once it ends.
Can you still see the Chora mosaics?
Yes — almost all of them. The outer and inner narthexes, where most of the mosaics are, and the side chapel with its frescoes are on the visitor route. Only the nave is now a carpeted prayer hall, and its three figural mosaics — the Dormition above the door and Christ and the Virgin by the pulpit — are hidden behind curtains.
What to see
- Outer narthex — the life and miracles of Christ, scene after scene across the vaults. Look up.
- Inner narthex — the life of the Virgin and two domes of Christ's ancestors. Above the door to the nave, Metochites in his huge hat offers the church to Christ.
- The Deësis in the inner narthex, with the portrait of Isaac Komnenos — one of the largest mosaics in the building.
- Parekklesion (side chapel) — frescoes from around 1320, with the Anastasis in the apse and the Last Judgement in the vault.
- The nave — now the prayer hall: shoes off, curtained mosaics, marble panelling still on the walls.
Is Chora Church worth it?
If you care about Byzantine art, absolutely: nowhere else in Istanbul has this many 14th-century mosaics, and here they're a few metres above your head rather than across a gallery as in Hagia Sophia.
If mosaics aren't your thing, €20 for 45 minutes plus a 30–40 minute trip from Sultanahmet is a lot. Spend the time wandering Balat instead — it's free and just downhill.
How to get to Chora Church from Sultanahmet
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map: on foot, by tram and by taxi. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Balat and Fener is about 13 min away on foot.
- Fatih Mosque is about 25 min away on foot.
More tips
- Take tram T1 to Eminönü and change to the T5 tram along the Golden Horn.
- Get off at Balat or Ayvansaray — about 15 minutes.
- Walk uphill towards Edirnekapı — 15–20 minutes through steep lanes.
- Alternative: T1 to Topkapı, change to T4 for Edirnekapı, then walk 10–15 minutes. A taxi from Sultanahmet takes 15–20 minutes without traffic.
- The visitor entrance is from Kariye Türbesi Sokak: through the garden security check to the door on the south side.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Chora Church vs Hagia Sophia for mosaics
| Chora (Kariye)you are here | 14th century, dozens of scenes | Overhead, up close | €20 | Closed to tourists | 45 min | Light | By the land walls, above Balat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia | 9th–12th century, individual panels | From the upper gallery | ≈ €25 | Avoid midday | 1–1.5 h | Very busy | Sultanahmet |
Everyone sees Hagia Sophia. Chora is for those who want to actually read Byzantine art — more stories, closer to your eyes.
Istanbul's historic sights compared
Every historic sight in Istanbul rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Hagia Sophia | 91 | 1 h 15 min | €25 | 4.3 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mosque | 86 | 45 min | Free | 4.3 km |
| Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) | 77 | 20 min | Free | 4.1 km |
| Basilica Cistern | 70 | 45 min | ≈ 1,950–2,250 TL | 4.1 km |
| Topkapı Palace | 63 | 3 h | 2,750 TL with the Harem | 4.3 km |
| Fatih Mosque | 52 | 30 min | Free | 27 min walk |
| Little Hagia Sophia | 46 | 20 min | Free | 4.2 km |
| Üsküdar | 45 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 6.4 km |
| Valens Aqueduct | 45 | 15 min | Free | 37 min walk |
| New Mosque | 44 | 20 min | Free | 3.2 km |
| Chora Churchyou are here | 42 | 45 min | €20 | — |
| Taksim Square | 41 | 15 min | Free | 4.0 km |
| Museum of Innocence | 41 | 1 h | 800 TL | 3.4 km |
| Karaköy | 40 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 3.3 km |
| Theodosius Cistern | 39 | 30 min | 900 TL | 3.9 km |
| Balat and Fener | 37 | 2 h | Free | 14 min walk |
| Istanbul Archaeology Museums | 36 | 2 h | €15 | 4.2 km |
| Yıldız Palace | 35 | 1 h 15 min | 900 TL | 6.5 km |
| Miniatürk | 30 | 1 h 30 min | 900 TL | 3.3 km |
| Rahmi M. Koç Museum | 30 | 2 h | 550 TL | 25 min walk |
| Rumelihisarı | 29 | 1 h | €6 | 11.5 km |
Chora and Balat in half a day
Fatih Mosque, the Chora mosaics, downhill through Balat's colourful streets, then the T5 to Eminönü and the Spice Bazaar. Add them in one tap and YesGo fits in the timing, lunch and walks.
- Fatih Mosque30 min · Free
- 27 min walk from the previous stopChora Churchyou are here45 min · €20
- 14 min walk from the previous stopBalat and Fener2 h · Free
- 44 min walk from the previous stopSpice Bazaar40 min · Free
4 places · about 5 h 20 min with walks · 85 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Don't plan Chora for a Friday — tourists aren't let in.
- Do Chora first and walk down to Balat afterwards: downhill is easier.
- Bring earphones — the audio guide plays on your own phone via a QR code.
- Look up at the narthex vaults, not just the walls: the best scenes are overhead.
- The side-chapel frescoes look best in daylight, when sun comes through the windows.
Questions
How much is the Chora Church entrance fee?
€20 for foreign visitors. Turkish citizens and worshippers enter free. The Museum Pass isn't valid.
What are Chora Church opening hours?
9:00–18:00, Saturday to Thursday, ticket office until 17:55. Entry pauses for each prayer.
Is Chora Church open on Fridays?
Not for tourists — Friday is for worshippers only.
Can you still see the mosaics at Chora Church?
Yes. The narthex mosaics and side-chapel frescoes are on view; only three mosaics in the prayer hall are curtained.
Is Chora Church worth visiting?
If you like Byzantine art, yes — it has the best 14th-century mosaics in the city, up close. If not, €20 and the trip out may not be worth it.
How do I get to Chora Church from Sultanahmet?
T1 to Eminönü, T5 to Balat or Ayvansaray, then 15–20 minutes uphill. Or T1 to Topkapı and T4 to Edirnekapı, then a 10–15 minute walk. A taxi takes 15–20 minutes.
Is Chora Church a mosque now?
Yes. It became a mosque again by decree in 2020 and reopened as the Kariye Mosque on 6 May 2024, with a paid route for tourists.
What should I wear to Kariye Mosque?
No shorts, covered shoulders, and a headscarf for women. Covers are sold at the ticket office; shoes come off in the prayer hall.
How long do you need at Chora Church?
About 45 minutes. Add Balat and it becomes a half-day.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam: Kariye Camii (Semavi Eyice)
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Chora Church; Wikidata Q849489
- Küre Ansiklopedisi: Kariye (Chora) Camii
- DHA, Haber7 and Gazete Birlik, August 2024 — the €20 foreign-visitor fee and worshippers-only Fridays
- Müze İstanbul: Kariye Camii page, updated 27.05.2026 — hours, children, rules, entrance
- Istanbul.com, 2026 — hours and route through the building
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