For those who have been recently, what is a good approach to purchasing tickets? Is there one site or tour that is better than another? And that offer discounted rates for youth (under 26 years)? Tx
Posted by
516 posts
I would recommend just getting there very early and buying them on site.
I couldn't find any form of official site so for the first (and last) time I got tickets with Get Your Guide.
I paid more and it was a complete hassle trying to find the supposed meeting place that they said I needed to go to. It ended up that we didn't need to anyway, and we still didn't get to skip any lines.
We had the same situation with the Basilica Cistern, so we then cancelled the rest of the GYG bookings and just lined up.
Posted by
Singapore
1210 posts
Agreed that it's best just to go to the ticket counter and buy them.
No discounts for youth, it's a a flat rate of €25 for foreign visitors.
It's worth noting that for under 25 year old students with an ISIC, there are some discounts in Istanbul - is think both the Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace offer this.
Posted by
Lexington, KY (formerly Southeast US)
4614 posts
Best strategy: arrive about 20-30 minutes before opening time and queue at the ticket sales window. When I was there two years ago, the queue started at the far right of the row of windows for buying tickets (but the workers didn't set up the queue until about 5-10 minutes before the ticket window opened. This allows you to be one of the first to enter the Hagia Sophia and see it in all its glory before it is overrun with crowds, though apparently that glory is somewhat reduced at this time by scaffolding inside the building.