Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)

Kariye Camii

Byzantine mosaics on Hagia Sophia level, without the crowds

⚠ Foreigners €20, Friday limits

Hours

09:00–18:00. Restricted on Fridays and at prayer times

Tickets

Foreigners about €20 (may vary by source). Museum passes not valid

Address

In a lane near Edirnekapı and the Theodosian Walls, among old timber houses

From outside it looks like a modest neighbourhood mosque, but the ceilings and walls are covered in 14th-century mosaics and frescoes. The lives of Mary and Christ run across gold backgrounds, and the Anastasis fresco in the side chapel is the highlight. It became a mosque again in 2020 and since August 2024 opens to foreign visitors for a fee. Looking up for long hurts the neck, so take a breather now and then.