Chora Church (Kariye)

Last updated: 1 October 2026 Read time: 3 min

Location Edirnekapı, Fatih

Hours 09:00–18:00 (closed Fridays) 09:00–17:00 (closed Fridays) Closed Fridays Last entry: 30 minutes before closing

Ticket price from $22

Typical visit 45–60 minutes

Nearest transport Taxi/rideshare from Sultanahmet, ~20 minutes

Chora Museum Istanbul — Chora Church, known today as Kariye Mosque, is a Byzantine church in Istanbul’s Edirnekapı neighborhood famous for its 14th-century mosaics and frescoes, widely regarded as among the finest surviving examples of late Byzantine art anywhere in the world. Converted to a mosque in 1511 and again in recent years after a period as a museum, it charges a separate entrance fee and is closed to tourists on Fridays.

Why visit Chora Church? (Chora Museum Istanbul)

The building began as a 4th-century church outside Constantinople’s original walls — its name, “Chora,” means “in the country,” referring to that original rural location. Its defining feature dates to a 1315–1321 renovation funded by Byzantine statesman Theodore Metochites: an extraordinary cycle of golden mosaics and frescoes depicting the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary, executed with a naturalism and emotional detail unusual for the period, part of what art historians call the Palaiologan Renaissance. The building was converted to a mosque in 1511 under Atik Ali Paşa, its mosaics plastered over — inadvertently preserving them for centuries. It became a museum in the 20th century, before reverting to mosque status again, which is why current visits involve both a ticket and a dress code, unusual for a working mosque.

Source: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

What should I know before visiting?

Closed to tourist visits all day on Fridays, unlike most other Istanbul mosques.
A separate paid ticket is required — the Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid here.
Dress modestly: covered shoulders and knees, headscarf for women, shoes off at the prayer carpets.
A QR-code audio guide is usually included with the ticket — bring your own headphones.
Far less crowded than Sultanahmet’s major sights, since it sits outside the main tourist cluster.

How much are tickets and what are the hours?

Entry runs approximately $22 (around €20). It’s open daily except Friday, roughly 09:00–18:00, with tourist access pausing around the other four daily prayer times.

How do I get to Chora Church from Istanbul center?

Chora sits in Edirnekapı, near Istanbul’s ancient land walls, a less central location than most Sultanahmet sights. The most straightforward route from Sultanahmet is a taxi or rideshare, roughly 20 minutes depending on traffic; public transit options exist but involve a bus transfer.

Chora Church: Interesting Facts

Its mosaic and fresco cycle dates to a 1315–1321 renovation and is considered among the finest surviving Byzantine art in the world.
Converted to a mosque in 1511, which plastered over — and inadvertently preserved — the Christian mosaics for centuries.
Unlike most Istanbul mosques, it’s closed to tourist visits all day on Fridays.