Experience only the best of Basilica Cistern Tickets
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Must-see highlights & key info

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Marvel at the cistern's vast underground chambers, supported by 336 marble columns, and learn more about its role as a water reservoir for Constantinople from your guide.
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Skip the lines and explore Basilica Cistern with a local expert or a multilingual audio guide.
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Choose a self-guided audio tour to explore at your own pace or join a local guide for expert commentary and insider stories that bring this underground marvel to life.
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Upgrade your experience to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia with skip-the-line access, allowing you to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks in one seamless visit.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern is home to two upside-down Medusa head statues, which are believed to have been repurposed from ancient Roman temples, adding an air of mystery to the site.
More details
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Marvel at the cistern's vast underground chambers, supported by 336 marble columns, and learn more about its role as a water reservoir for Constantinople from your guide.
-
Skip the lines and explore Basilica Cistern with a local expert or a multilingual audio guide.
-
Choose a self-guided audio tour to explore at your own pace or join a local guide for expert commentary and insider stories that bring this underground marvel to life.
-
Upgrade your experience to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia with skip-the-line access, allowing you to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks in one seamless visit.
-
Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern is home to two upside-down Medusa head statues, which are believed to have been repurposed from ancient Roman temples, adding an air of mystery to the site.
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Get convenient skip-the-line tickets to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks at your own pace, complete with immersive audio guides.
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Discover the mysterious Basilica Cistern, where you’ll find towering stone columns and the legendary Medusa heads hidden beneath the city streets.
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Walk into Hagia Sophia and head up to the Upper Gallery for a close-up view of its dazzling golden mosaics.
More details
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Get convenient skip-the-line tickets to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks at your own pace, complete with immersive audio guides.
-
Discover the mysterious Basilica Cistern, where you’ll find towering stone columns and the legendary Medusa heads hidden beneath the city streets.
-
Walk into Hagia Sophia and head up to the Upper Gallery for a close-up view of its dazzling golden mosaics.
5% off
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Skip the line at three iconic Istanbul landmarks with a single discounted combo ticket.
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Explore Topkapi Palace’s courtyards, Imperial Harem, and Ottoman treasures at your own pace.
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Admire Hagia Sophia’s mosaics, minarets, and layered history with an included audio guide in 5 languages.
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Descend into the eerie, columned world of the Basilica Cistern — the city's ancient underground water system. Catch a glimpse of ancient columns and the large, mysterious Medusa’s head.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern's Medusa heads are still a mystery — no one knows where they came from or why they’re sideways.
More details
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Skip the line at three iconic Istanbul landmarks with a single discounted combo ticket.
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Explore Topkapi Palace’s courtyards, Imperial Harem, and Ottoman treasures at your own pace.
-
Admire Hagia Sophia’s mosaics, minarets, and layered history with an included audio guide in 5 languages.
-
Descend into the eerie, columned world of the Basilica Cistern — the city's ancient underground water system. Catch a glimpse of ancient columns and the large, mysterious Medusa’s head.
-
Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern's Medusa heads are still a mystery — no one knows where they came from or why they’re sideways.
7% off
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Begin your experience at the Blue Mosque, where over 20,000 hand-painted tiles and stained-glass windows create a calm, glowing space of worship and design.
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Take in the grandeur of Hagia Sophia’s Upper Gallery, look up at its golden mosaics, and uncover centuries of imperial history with your audio guide.
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Explore the hidden terrains of the Basilica Cistern, where rows of ancient columns stand in water and the haunting Medusa heads wait in the shadows.
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Enjoy the comfort of exploring Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with skip-the-line tickets, an expert guided tour, and multilingual audio guides, all in one day.
More details
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Begin your experience at the Blue Mosque, where over 20,000 hand-painted tiles and stained-glass windows create a calm, glowing space of worship and design.
-
Take in the grandeur of Hagia Sophia’s Upper Gallery, look up at its golden mosaics, and uncover centuries of imperial history with your audio guide.
-
Explore the hidden terrains of the Basilica Cistern, where rows of ancient columns stand in water and the haunting Medusa heads wait in the shadows.
-
Enjoy the comfort of exploring Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with skip-the-line tickets, an expert guided tour, and multilingual audio guides, all in one day.
13% off
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This ticket offers skip-the-line entry and a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern, plus the option to add guided tours of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
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Choose a self-guided audio tour for a flexible experience, or join a local guide to explore the underground chambers of the Basilica Cistern and learn about its role as a water reservoir in ancient Constantinople.
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Upgrade to a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, where an expert guide reveals the history behind its stunning mosaics, grand dome, and transition from church to mosque.
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Add a guided tour of the Blue Mosque to explore its six minarets, grand prayer hall, and intricate Iznik tiles, with insights from an expert guide.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern features 336 marble columns, some dating back to Roman times, creating a stunning, otherworldly atmosphere.
More details
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This ticket offers skip-the-line entry and a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern, plus the option to add guided tours of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
-
Choose a self-guided audio tour for a flexible experience, or join a local guide to explore the underground chambers of the Basilica Cistern and learn about its role as a water reservoir in ancient Constantinople.
-
Upgrade to a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, where an expert guide reveals the history behind its stunning mosaics, grand dome, and transition from church to mosque.
-
Add a guided tour of the Blue Mosque to explore its six minarets, grand prayer hall, and intricate Iznik tiles, with insights from an expert guide.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern features 336 marble columns, some dating back to Roman times, creating a stunning, otherworldly atmosphere.
14% off
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Choose 2 to 10 attractions across Istanbul and create your own sightseeing route with one flexible pass that fits your travel style.
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This pass guarantees a public transport card, guided Blue Mosque tour, 90-min Bosphorus cruise, and audio guides, and two optional other landmarks or experiences.
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Get around the city with ease using a 5-ride transport card for trams, metros, and buses, all included with your pass.
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Enjoy added experiences like a visit to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, dinner cruises and cultural activities such as a hammam or dervish show, all included in your package.
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Once you book, all attraction tickets land directly in your inbox—no paper, no pickup, just fast and easy access at every site.
More details
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Choose 2 to 10 attractions across Istanbul and create your own sightseeing route with one flexible pass that fits your travel style.
-
This pass guarantees a public transport card, guided Blue Mosque tour, 90-min Bosphorus cruise, and audio guides, and two optional other landmarks or experiences.
-
Get around the city with ease using a 5-ride transport card for trams, metros, and buses, all included with your pass.
-
Enjoy added experiences like a visit to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, dinner cruises and cultural activities such as a hammam or dervish show, all included in your package.
-
Once you book, all attraction tickets land directly in your inbox—no paper, no pickup, just fast and easy access at every site.
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Skip the lines at Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern to start your guided tour, valid for 3 days.
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Reap the benefits of a guided tour included in this ticket which can be availed for 3 museums.
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Choose to visit the sites on one single day or on separate days with the flexibility of this ticket.
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Feel free to explore the museums after the guided tour and learn interesting facts about them with the help of the audio guides available in 9 different languages.
More details
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Skip the lines at Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern to start your guided tour, valid for 3 days.
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Reap the benefits of a guided tour included in this ticket which can be availed for 3 museums.
-
Choose to visit the sites on one single day or on separate days with the flexibility of this ticket.
-
Feel free to explore the museums after the guided tour and learn interesting facts about them with the help of the audio guides available in 9 different languages.
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Walk through the quiet underground of the Basilica Cistern and see ancient columns and Greek mythology’s infamous Medusa heads.
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Enjoy a relaxing 90-minute cruise along the Bosphorus strait with views of the Dolmabahce palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Galata Tower, and the Bosphorus bridges.
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Skip entry lines at both landmarks, and use the 5+ language audio guide to learn interesting facts and stories as you explore.
More details
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Walk through the quiet underground of the Basilica Cistern and see ancient columns and Greek mythology’s infamous Medusa heads.
-
Enjoy a relaxing 90-minute cruise along the Bosphorus strait with views of the Dolmabahce palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Galata Tower, and the Bosphorus bridges.
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Skip entry lines at both landmarks, and use the 5+ language audio guide to learn interesting facts and stories as you explore.
5% off
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Glide along Istanbul’s gems, including Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern, on a 1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour with 11 stops and buses every 30 minutes.
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Enjoy the best skyline views from the top deck while an 8-language audio guide fills your ears with tales of Istanbul’s rich history at every unique stop.
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Visit the ancient Galata Tower, after hopping off a convenient bus, and see the tower's evolution from a lookout post to a brilliant museum.
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Enjoy rotating exhibitions after taking the elevator to the tower's top and marvel at the skyline against the backdrop of the Bosphorus Strait.
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Fun fact: During the reign of Ottoman Sultan Süleyiman the Magnificent, the Galata Tower served as a high-security prison for important figures.
More details
-
Glide along Istanbul’s gems, including Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern, on a 1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour with 11 stops and buses every 30 minutes.
-
Enjoy the best skyline views from the top deck while an 8-language audio guide fills your ears with tales of Istanbul’s rich history at every unique stop.
-
Visit the ancient Galata Tower, after hopping off a convenient bus, and see the tower's evolution from a lookout post to a brilliant museum.
-
Enjoy rotating exhibitions after taking the elevator to the tower's top and marvel at the skyline against the backdrop of the Bosphorus Strait.
-
Fun fact: During the reign of Ottoman Sultan Süleyiman the Magnificent, the Galata Tower served as a high-security prison for important figures.
5% off
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Similar things to do in Istanbul
About Basilica Cistern
Explore the Basilica Cistern, a massive 6th-century Byzantine water reservoir. Emperor Justinian I initiated its construction to ensure water supply to the Great Palace of Constantinople. Its intriguing features, like the Weeping Column and Medusa's Heads, echo Istanbul’s centuries-old history.
Why visit Basilica Cistern?
Highlights
Plan your visit

Main Entrance (Yerebatan Caddesi)
The entrance to the Basilica Cistern is located on Yerebatan Caddesi (street), on the southwest side of Hagia Sophia. On average, the wait time at this entrance is around 10-15 minutes if you don’t have a pre-booked skip-the-line ticket.
Recommended duration of visit: 30 minutes to 1 hour
While strollers are allowed into the Basilica Cistern, there is no place to keep them aside while you explore the attraction. Visitors have to carry the stroller with them at all times.
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