Combos

Combo (Save 12%): Entry Tickets to Galata Tower with Optional Audio Guide + Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

Father and son with backpacks facing Galata Tower in Istanbul.

Galata Tower exterior with nearby buildings in Istanbul under a clear blue sky.

Pillars inside the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul with reflections on the water.

Illuminated sculptures resembling jellyfish in the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

Open today

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

4.2/5

(3,116)

Peter

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Buying the tickets was easy and convenient. Unlike other services, the tickets from Headout were delivered electronically right away rather than requiring me to go pick up tickets at a meeting point. The Headout app on my phone worked great to show the digital tickets and download the audio guide. (Be sure to download the guide before actually entering the Cistern as there is poor Internet below ground.) As for the Basilica Cistern itself, it was absolutely amazing--well worth cost of admission.

Tina

Oct 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Istanbul is an amazing city. So much to experience you get sensation overload! The Cistern is breathtaking and I wouldn't miss going to experience this. Lineups are quick and efficient so don't let that dissuade you. Haigia Sofia is beautiful however please note the audio tour is confusing. The flow of walking through does not align with how each landmark is noted in audio. I would get the audio ready and simply listen to each station as you approach it.

Anna

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

When we arrived at Basilica there was a really long queue... I'm very impatient so I decided to check if there is a fast track and we bought it. We skipped the line very fast, in 4 minutes we were inside basilica cistern. It was amazing! Beautiful, good audio guide. The most important fact is that a minute after we entered the rain started, so if we were in the line we wouldn't make it, so I really reccomend this fast track.

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.2
3,116 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Valentina
Nov 2025
Verified booking
3/5
The cistern is beautiful and should definitely be visited. Hagia Sophia a bit disappointing. For the entrance to St. Sophia we had serious problems with the voucher sent by the company because it was not the one requested at the entrance. After half an hour of discussion at the entrance we realized that we had to apply for a new voucher, which then arrived, which allowed us to enter. Pay attention to this aspect. No problem, on the other hand, with the entrance to the tank.
Céliane
Nov 2025
Verified booking
3/5
All three monuments are well worth a visit. However, for the price I paid, I was expecting a much more detailed audio guide, especially for the Topkapi Palace, where there is no audio guide for the harem. What's more, in November, there was no real need for a line-up of tickets, so it would have been better for me to take my tickets on the spot. On the other hand, the guide to Saint Sophia is very comprehensive.
Antonio
Nov 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Correct tickets, but I had problems with the audio guide. Difficulty to share it, since I bought tickets for more people and secondly, impossible to reproduce it "offline" as we were informed. I would also like to point out that when you make the purchase, at no time is informed that to enter the palace there are set times. Even so, the guide informed us very well.
Armand
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Simple, effective and with no surprises. For St Sophie, enter directly outside TopKapi. No need to queue. Same for the cistern. The queue breaker is very pleasant. For TopKapi, it's very easy to find the place to meet the person who's letting us in. There's nothing to worry about, and it's a stone's throw from the site in a charming alley. I sincerely recommend it.
Patricia
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Buying tickets in advance avoids a long queue. Although there is one, it is shorter. Santa Sofia impressed me with the antiquity of its construction but it is in pretty bad shape and only the second floor can be visited. I highly recommend the cistern for its history and the work that has been done to make your visit enjoyable!

Basilica Cistern

Monday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Tuesday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Wednesday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Thursday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Friday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Saturday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm
Sunday	09:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 06:30pm

Galata Tower

Monday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm
Tuesday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm
Wednesday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm
Thursday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm
Friday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm
Saturday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm
Sunday	08:30am - 06:15pm	last entry 06:00pm

Your voucher will be emailed to you 1 day before the visit.

Please arrive at the redemption point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Please display the same at each ticket redemption point along with a valid photo ID.

Ticket redemption points

Entry Tickets to Galata Tower with Optional Audio Guide

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.