Experience only the best of Basilica Cistern Tickets
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Visitor's guide
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.
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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.
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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.
5% off
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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.
9% 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.
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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.
5% 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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Choose 2 to 9 attractions across Istanbul and create your own sightseeing route with one flexible pass that fits your travel style.
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Explore top landmarks like Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, and more, with expert-guided tours included for deeper insights.
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Enjoy added experiences like a Bosphorus cruise and cultural activities such as a hammam or dervish show, all included in your package.
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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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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 9 attractions across Istanbul and create your own sightseeing route with one flexible pass that fits your travel style.
-
Explore top landmarks like Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, and more, with expert-guided tours included for deeper insights.
-
Enjoy added experiences like a Bosphorus cruise and cultural activities such as a hammam or dervish show, all included in your package.
-
Get around the city with ease using a 5-ride transport card for trams, metros, and buses, all included with your pass.
-
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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The ticket gets you an an elevator up the Galata Tower, a medieval tower that has stood tall for centuries, it was originally a watchtower.
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Tickets also have skip-the-line access, so you can avoid long queues, and spend more like at the museum that houses exhibitions about Turkish history.
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Revel in the panoramic vista of the city and see iconic landmarks - from Topkapi Palace to the Hagia Sophia, and the Suleymaniye Mosque to the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
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Walk down some of the oldest streets in the Galata quarter of Istanbul as you head to the seaside.
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Upgrade your ticket to include an audio guide app and listen to fascinating facts and stories about the Galata Tower.
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Did you know? There is a restaurant on top of the Galata Tower. Indulge in fancy Turkish delicacies at the Galata Restaurant.
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Skip-the-Line Access – Avoid long queues and enjoy a hassle-free visit to one of the city's top landmarks.
More details
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The ticket gets you an an elevator up the Galata Tower, a medieval tower that has stood tall for centuries, it was originally a watchtower.
-
Tickets also have skip-the-line access, so you can avoid long queues, and spend more like at the museum that houses exhibitions about Turkish history.
-
Revel in the panoramic vista of the city and see iconic landmarks - from Topkapi Palace to the Hagia Sophia, and the Suleymaniye Mosque to the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
-
Walk down some of the oldest streets in the Galata quarter of Istanbul as you head to the seaside.
-
Upgrade your ticket to include an audio guide app and listen to fascinating facts and stories about the Galata Tower.
-
Did you know? There is a restaurant on top of the Galata Tower. Indulge in fancy Turkish delicacies at the Galata Restaurant.
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Skip-the-Line Access – Avoid long queues and enjoy a hassle-free visit to one of the city's top landmarks.
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Soar high above the mystical landscapes of Cappadocia, witnessing the sun's first rays painting the Goreme Valley landscape gold, on a hot air balloon ride.
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Kickstart your adventure with a pick-up from your hotel, a hot cup of coffee or tea, and some breakfast snacks to fuel your flight.
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Float over the ancient caves, vineyards orchards, and rock-cut dwellings, soaking in panoramic views.
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Upon landing, celebrate your journey with a traditional champagne toast, a flight certificate to take home, or a royal medal to take home.
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Get to choose how intimate your experience is, fly with 28 other adventurers on the standard flight, or limit it to 20 on the premium flight/royal queen flight.
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Fun Fact: Hidden beneath Cappadocia’s exquisite landscape are over 50 underground cities!
More details
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Soar high above the mystical landscapes of Cappadocia, witnessing the sun's first rays painting the Goreme Valley landscape gold, on a hot air balloon ride.
-
Kickstart your adventure with a pick-up from your hotel, a hot cup of coffee or tea, and some breakfast snacks to fuel your flight.
-
Float over the ancient caves, vineyards orchards, and rock-cut dwellings, soaking in panoramic views.
-
Upon landing, celebrate your journey with a traditional champagne toast, a flight certificate to take home, or a royal medal to take home.
-
Get to choose how intimate your experience is, fly with 28 other adventurers on the standard flight, or limit it to 20 on the premium flight/royal queen flight.
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Fun Fact: Hidden beneath Cappadocia’s exquisite landscape are over 50 underground cities!
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Tour the UNESCO World Heritage site – Topkapı Palace along with an expert multilingual local guide and enjoy priority admission with skip-the-line access.
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Explore the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.
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Admire the lavish interiors, see the brilliant artifacts on display, and bask in the glory of the Ottoman Era.
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Visit the Harem section and see the lavishly decorated marble hallways, and arched doorways with over 400 rooms!
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Fun Fact: The Palace has 20 chimneys in the kitchen, where roughly 800 employees worked making this the largest kitchen in the Ottoman Empire at the time.
More details
-
Tour the UNESCO World Heritage site – Topkapı Palace along with an expert multilingual local guide and enjoy priority admission with skip-the-line access.
-
Explore the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.
-
Admire the lavish interiors, see the brilliant artifacts on display, and bask in the glory of the Ottoman Era.
-
Visit the Harem section and see the lavishly decorated marble hallways, and arched doorways with over 400 rooms!
-
Fun Fact: The Palace has 20 chimneys in the kitchen, where roughly 800 employees worked making this the largest kitchen in the Ottoman Empire at the time.
Pro tips to help you make a pick
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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