Istanbul Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) – Complete Visitor’s Guide

Planning to visit Chora Church in Istanbul? You’re at the right place.

When you’re wandering through Istanbul’s historic streets, it’s easy to get lost in the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia, the mystical allure of the Basilica Cistern or the bustling energy of the Grand Bazaar.

But tucked away in the quiet Edirnekapı neighborhood is a hidden gem that will steal your breath: the Chora Church, now converted into a mosque known as Chora Mosque, Kariye Camii, or Kariye Mosque.

If you’re an art or history enthusiast, you cannot miss visiting Istanbul’s Chora Church, which is full of stunning Byzantine mosaics dating back centuries.

I visited the Chora Church on my recent Istanbul trip to see the tulips. However, I was slightly disappointed when I saw no on-site descriptions for the frescoes or mosaics. So, here’s my Istanbul Chora Church Visitor’s Guide with details about the mosaics and the frescoes that’ll hopefully enable you to have a more immersive experience than I did.

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Brief History of the Chora Church

• Chora Church, or the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, was built in the 4th century. It was a part of an ancient Christian monastery complex, right outside the old walls of Constantinople. You can still see the remains of these walls as you walk from the Edirnekapı bus stop to the church.
• The church structure that we see today dates mainly from the 11th and 14th centuries. Around this time, the walls and ceilings of Chora Church were decorated with frescoes and mosaics.
• The stunning 14th-century mosaics and frescoes, depicting biblical scenes and portraits of saints, are the real treasure of the Chora Church in Istanbul. They are among the finest surviving examples of Byzantine Christian art—rich in emotion, detail, and storytelling.
• The church later became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1511. In 1945, it was turned into a museum. In 2020, it’s been reconverted into a mosque, but—good news—you can still view its art treasures.

What to See at the Chora Church in Istanbul?

The facade of the Chora Church is fairly plain and not as grandiose as that of the Hagia Sophia.

The real treasure lies inside the church, on the walls and ceilings, in the form of mosaics and frescoes. There are 4 places (that you can see in the above picture) inside the church where you can see them.

Naos

• Naos is the central chamber that has a number of important mosaics, such as the Death of the Virgin, Virgin Hodegetria (Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus), and Jesus Christ holding the Book of Gospels.
• The Naos is currently the praying area for Muslims. So, you cannot enter it during prayer times. But, outside of that, you can enter the Naos and check out the mosaics.

Parekklesion

• The Parekklesion is the side chapel, with frescoes covering the walls and ceiling. It also houses lunettes and arched tombs, which shows that this room was probably used as the funerary chapel of the Chora Church.
• There are 24 frescoes in the Parekklesion. Look out for the Anastasis depicting the Resurrection of Christ, the Last Judgement, the Virgin & Child, and the Attendant Angels.

Inner Narthex

• The inner narthex is a rectangular hallway that’s filled with lunettes and vaults, filled with mosaics depicting the lives and miracles of Christ and the Virgin.
• The inner narthex contains about 52 Byzantine-era mosaics.
• Look up to the dome of the inner narthex, and you’ll see a powerful image of Christ Pantocrator surrounded by his ancestors—the Genealogy of Christ.
• Look out for the Genealogy of the Virgin, the Chalkite Christ and the Virgin, the Virgin Mary blessed by the priests, and Christ healing a blind man.

Outer Narthex

• The outer narthex is another rectangular hallway that runs parallel to the inner narthex.
• It contains 25 beautiful mosaics, many of which depict events from Christ’s life where he interacted with the people, which I found really interesting.
• Some of my favorite mosaics in the outer narthex were the Multiplication of Loaves, Enrollment for Taxation, the Temptation of Christ, Joseph’s Dream, and the Journey to Bethlehem.

Some of these frescoes and mosaics were quite powerful and evocative, enough to leave a lasting impression. I could not stop clicking my camera throughout the visit.

Remember to bring a good camera, but turn off your flash. Your phone will also do. Just turn off the flash.

Chora Church Tickets and Entry

Tickets for Istanbul’s Chora Church, or the Kariye Mosque, are priced at €20. Buy Chora Church tickets in advance here.

Museum passes do not work for the Chora Church.

You can buy a combo ticket for both Chora Church and Hagia Sophia and save some $$. They were offering us this combo ticket at the box office, but I could not find it anywhere online.

If you love a good guided tour, then this Full-Day Tour of Istanbul’s Ancient Monasteries is a great choice.

Also, ticket prices change very frequently in Turkey. So be sure to check the official website for the latest price before visiting.

Chora Church Opening Hours

Chora Church is open Saturday through Thursday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM. Since it is a functioning mosque now, it is closed on Fridays.

On weekdays, entry is restricted during prayer times (check out Istanbul prayer times here before visiting).

When I visited earlier this year, there was a note at the box office that read that the church was closed between 12:35-1:40 PM and 4:20-5:20 PM. That’s roughly an hour each around the Dhuhr and Asr prayer times.

How to Get to Chora Church from Sultanahmet

Getting from Sultanahmet to the Chora Church is easy.

You can take a taxi. The journey takes about 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.

You can also use a combination of the Istanbul tram and bus. Take the T1 tram from Sultanahmet to Eminönü. From Eminönü, take bus 31E, 36KE, or 38E and get off at Edirnekapı. From there, it’s about a 5-minute walk.

It’s a nice walk through the old city walls and local neighborhoods. You’ll get to see a quieter, more residential side of Istanbul.

Helpful Chora Church Travel Tips

• Dress modestly since this is a functional mosque. Cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf to cover their hair.
• Chora Church, now Kariye Mosque, is closed on Fridays. Even on the days that it is open, entry is restricted during prayer times.
• Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and tour groups.
• The church is not located in the city center, i.e. the Sultanahmet District. It is located in the Edirnekapı neighborhood, which is a bit off the beaten track. So, this visit needs a bit of planning.
• I recommend visiting Chora Church only after you’re done seeing Hagia Sophia because the mosaics at Hagia Sophia pale in comparison to those at Chora. I don’t want you to be disappointed at Hagia Sophia, which you will not be because there’s a lot more to see at Hagia Sophia.

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