A unique place. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is an outstanding monument of Byzantine and world architecture, a symbol of the "golden age" of Byzantium, which is sometimes called the "eighth wonder of the world". In 2020, by decision of the State Council of Turkey, it has the status of a mosque, while the second floor is still a museum. The entrance to the cathedral costs 25 euros. A truly historical architectural monument that united Muslims and Orthodox under its arches. I definitely recommend that you familiarize yourself with the history of this amazing place before visiting, then you will not need a guide. Thank you for your time!
A place that is definitely worth visiting in Istanbul is to pay tribute to history and antiquity. The temple is more than 15 centuries old, the basilica-mosque-museum-mosque/museum has been rebuilt several times. It is located in the Sultanahmet district in the center opposite the Blue Mosque. There is a long queue constantly crowding the square in front of the main entrance - this is a queue for free admission for believers (and masquerading as believers). The ticket offices and the entrance for tourists are on the right side of the mosque from the side of the Bosphorus. Believers enter the lower part of the building, and tourists enter the upper galleries around the perimeter. It seemed to me more interesting to look at the beauty from above - more general plans, closer you can see mosaics, angels (only one of them has a face open), a general panorama of the cathedral, chandeliers, inscriptions, etc. Quite an adequate audio guide (included in the ticket price), but it is better, of course, to read in advance about the history of this miracle of Constantinople and already absorb the spirit of the times here. Together with the mosque itself, it is offered to visit the St. Peter's Museum for an additional fee.Sofia, which is located in the park opposite the Blue Mosque (walk 300 meters from Hagia Sophia). It is more interesting for children to move from hall to hall in small groups, accompanied by an audio guide and interactive paintings on the walls of the halls telling about the history of St. Sophia from the beginning of time to the present day.