With this cost-effective combo ticket, enjoy a guided tour and skip-the-line access to Istanbul's captivating Basilica Cistern as well as the magnificent Topkapi Palace.
highlights
highlights
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Immerse yourself in history and skip the lines as you see hundreds of ancient cisterns in the Sunken Palace beneath Istanbul.
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With a guide, witness the 336 well-preserved columns from Byzantine times and two Medusa heads.
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Get insights into the Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans during the 15th century, with your expert guide.
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Experience the splendor of the Topkapi Museum Palace's centuries-old, distinctive art and architecture, and listen to the Topkapi Palace audio guide.
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Fun Fact: The Topkapi Palace was the epicenter of the Ottoman Empire, serving as both the sultan's abode and home to its governmental functions.
inclusions
inclusions
Basilica Cistern
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Skip-the-line entry
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Free time to explore more
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20-minute guided tour
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English-speaking tour guide
Topkapi Palace
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Skip-the-line entry
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Free time to explore more
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60-minute guided tour
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English-speaking tour guide
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Topkapi Palace audio guide app
exclusions
exclusions
Topkapi Palace
- Admission to the Harem
cancellation policy
cancellation policy
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
your experience
your experience
Pick this super-saver combo which includes access to two of Istanbul's must-visit attractions.
Basilica Cistern
Start your 20-minute tour of the mysterious, well-preserved underground reservoir known as Yerebatan Cistern. You will walk down 52 steps and pass 336 columns arranged in the 12 rows used to build it. Built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian the First (527–565) to meet the water needs of Constantinople, you will be amazed by the marble pillars and the artificial freshwater lake, which is the size of two football fields. Your tour guide will take you to the locations where the first James Bond film, "From Russia with Love," was shot in the 1960s. Your guide, while giving you an in-depth tour, will show you the ancient Hen's Eye Column and will narrate the story of the mysterious Medusa Heads from Greek mythology. Once your guided tour is over, stay back and explore the maze of the cisterns at your own pace.
Topkapi Palace
Your skip-the-line tickets mean you bypass the large crowds and head straight for the security check. Take a 60-minute guided tour of the beautiful Topkapi Palace, a museum with exhibits of imperial collections from the Ottoman Empire. Your guide will regale you with stories and the colorful history of the palace, once the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans. You will see 30,000 archived documents. Visit the holy relics and the imperial kitchens and see magnificent Chinese porcelain. Step out to the outside terraces to catch views of the Golden Horn. After the tour, stay longer and delve deeper into its history with an audio guide.
know before you go
know before you go
Operating Hours
Basilica Cistern
- Daily: 12pm, 1pm and 3pm
Topkapi Palace
- Wed to Mon: 10am, 12pm and 2pm
my tickets
my tickets
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Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
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Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
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Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.
Meeting Points
Basilica Cistern
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Meet your guide at Basilica Cistern.
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Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey.
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Your guide will be waiting for you near Istanbul Welcome Card flag at the exit gate of Basilica Cistern.
Get Directions to the Meeting Point
Topkapi Palace Museum
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Meet your guide at Topkapi Palace Museum.
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Address: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey.
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