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The www.muze.gov.tr website for e-tickets- for Galata Tower and Chora Church

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Page 41 of the Eight Edition of the RS "Istanbul with Ephesus and Cappadocia" guide book states you can buy advance tickets by using the www.muze.gov.tr website.

I will be going on the RS Istanbul tour next month, will arrive a few days early and want to see the Chora Church and Galata Tower and not spend time in line for tickets.

I went to the Muze website and there is a place to register and they want you to upload a photo of yourself. Has anyone registered and why do they want a photo?

On page 41 of the guide it also reads you can buy advance tickets for the Chora Church on Muze but I did not see any Chora Church e-ticket options on the site, plus the Chora Church website says admission is free. Has anyone visited Chora Church the past month or so and was there an admission fee?

The Muze website does sell Galata e-ticket, has anyone seen lines at the tower?

Thank you.

Posted by
697 posts

Chora Mosque (formerly Museum) was closed for renovation when I was there last fall, and I suspect that it may be closed for a good while. Basically, converting it to a mosque in 2020 required that they cover all the mosaics, which made UNESCO unhappy. I think they are still arguing about it. I visited it in 2015 and found it quite beautiful, and I was disappointed that it was closed on my recent trip.

I did not have to provide a photo when I got a museum pass in October. Of course, rules can change quickly.

I did not visit Galata tower, but the advice I have heard is to be there as soon as it opens in the morning if you want to avoid lines, even with a ticket.

Posted by
230 posts

In 2019, we got to the Tower about 1/2 an hour after opening and waited 30 minutes in line.

Posted by
46 posts

Chora Church will be closed probably until 2023. It was closed when i was there in March 27 2022.

Posted by
3 posts

I tried to purchase Galata Tower tickets online and it never could process my credit card. Anyone else have this issue?

Posted by
1421 posts

Sorry to hear of the Chora Church closure-

Posted by
4614 posts

I tried to purchase Galata Tower tickets online and it never could process my credit card. Anyone else have this issue?

Yes, I've tried to purchase Galata Tower (and other) tickets on https://muze.gov.tr/ETicket and the transactions have failed across several attempts. My credit card company said the transactions are not being denied on their site; in fact, they are not even seeing the attempt. So something is awry on the site or its credit card processing.

I did not register on the site, and did not encounter the request to upload a photo.

I will buy the tickets in person, which is no great difficulty. I'd still be interested in hearing if anyone has had success.

Posted by
7 posts

I just attempted to get information on the Muze site and it does not appear to be functioning well / properly - to the point I would not even try to enter any personal credit card information or anything like that - I'd be afraid to.

Posted by
4614 posts

ejweibel, thank you for reporting your findings. It's good to know that it's not just a problem on my end.

Posted by
4614 posts

We went to Galata Tower today just after noon, sans tickets. One of us waited in the line to get tickets while the other waited in the line for entrance to the tower: each was about 15 minutes. Then up the tiny elevator for the 360 views and back down the circular staircases.

The views are worth it... unless you're afraid of heights. I am, but it didn't bother me up there with the guardrails. And you can stay inside and see the views through the big windows.

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