Combos

Combo (Save 12%): Galata Tower Tickets + Basilica Cistern Tickets with Audio Guide

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

Staircase inside Galata Tower with stone walls and arched ceiling, Istanbul.

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

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

4.2/5

(2,971)

Alfonsina

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Everything... BUT 1) there is a lack of precise instructions on how to make the visit to the Hagia Sophia (because in some cases access to the lower part is interdicted but you don't understand it until you leave the visit of the upper part and there it is already late, so you lose all the explanations about the lower part) and the audio guide is reportable for everyone (so you have the feeling that you have been cheated; 2) there is a lack of instructions on how to find the audio guide in the Basilica Cistena (at the entrance, which is not well signaled, there is an almost invisible little man who swipes the Q-RCODE on his cell phone ..... UNACCEPTABLE given the human flood of visitors)

Alexandros

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

The Basilica Cistern is one of the most atmospheric and impressive places to visit in Istanbul. Walking through the forest of columns, with the dim lighting and reflections in the water, feels almost magical. The Medusa heads are especially fascinating and make the visit even more memorable. The only downside is that the entrance fee is on the expensive side compared to other monuments in the city. Still, the experience is unique, and you can really explore and appreciate the history and architecture up close — something that makes it worth the visit despite the price.

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.

Save time and money with this convenient combo ticket that includes skip-the-line entry to both the Galata Tower and the Basilica Cistern.

Ride the express elevator up the Galata Tower, once a medieval watchtower, and soak in 360° views of Istanbul’s skyline, including the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

Your visit to the Tower is flexible, allowing you to explore at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide to uncover stories behind the landmark.

Skip the lines at the Basilica Cistern and step into an underground wonder, often dubbed Istanbul’s “Sunken Palace,” with a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of water!

Wander past hauntingly beautiful columns like the Hen’s Eye and the Medusa Heads, famously featured in Hollywood films, as your audio guide reveals the cistern’s secrets.

Galata Tower

Skip-the-line entry to Galata Tower

Elevator access to the top

Multilingual audioguide

Basilica Cistern

Skip-the-line entry to Basilica Cistern

Multilingual audioguide

Galata Tower and Basilica Cistern

Guided tour

Food and drinks

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.2
2,971 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
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.
Patricia
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
I went at 5 pm and did not queue; the audio guide worked very well with her recommendations to have a charged phone battery and wired headphones, and was very clear and entertaining. Wonderful visit, highly recommended, the basilica cistern is impressive, and with very well planned lighting that adds drama to the experience.
Ana
Oct 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Nothing. The no queue thing is false, in Hagia Sophia everyone has to queue and during the whole time that the cruisers were there, the queues were more than 500 m long. Bringing two small children was unfeasible. When we were able to access with some speed, we did not have time to visit both and the cistern did not arrive on time.
Heike
Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
We were able to bypass the queue at the ticket counter and go straight to the security check. The wait there was not long. Our expectations of the Hagia Sophia experience were probably too high. Anyone who has been to Istanbul must have seen it, but we were not impressed. We really liked it in the cistern.

Discover two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with this money-saving combo ticket! Enjoy skip-the-line access to both the Galata Tower and the Basilica Cistern. From city views to mysterious underground chambers, this experience offers a perfect blend of history, architecture, and culture, enhanced by insightful multilingual audioguides.

Getting started

Begin your adventure by heading to the Galata Tower, where you’ll gain direct entry to one of the city's most recognisable symbols. Later, skip the queues and dive straight into the depths of the Basilica Cistern with your fast-track ticket. An included audio guide in multiple languages will help you uncover fascinating stories and little-known facts at both sites.

What to expect

Galata Tower

An ancient watchtower turned modern-day viewpoint, Galata Tower rises above Istanbul’s skyline with its distinctive cylindrical silhouette. Once you ride the elevator to the top, prepare to be captivated by 360-degree vistas of the city.

Features:

Observation deck: Panoramic views of landmarks like the Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus Strait, Bosphorus Bridge, Suleymaniye Mosque, the Marmara Sea, and the city’s European and Asian sides await you at the top.

Historical exhibits: Learn about the origins of the Galata Tower, originally built in 1348 during the Genoese colonial period, and its many uses over the centuries as a watchtower, fire observation point, and even a prison.

Flexible duration: Enjoy unlimited time (until closing hour) at the top to take in the scenery and snap photos at your own pace.

Audioguide: A multilingual audio guide provides historical background, fun facts, and engaging stories about the tower and the cityscape below.

Basilica Cistern

Step into a world steeped in mystery beneath the streets of Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground reservoir, offers an escape into the city's Byzantine past. As soon as you arrive, your skip-the-line ticket gets you in quickly, letting you bypass the long queues.

Features:

Underground wonder: Explore a sunken "palace" of 336 marble columns rising from still waters, illuminated by a soft golden glow.

Walk through a dream-like setting: Stroll on wooden walkways as you observe water droplets falling from vaulted ceilings and carp swimming through the vast cistern that measures almost the size of two football fields.

Pop culture significance: Discover the cistern's cultural significance, including its appearances in popular films and novels like Inferno and From Russia With Love.

Audioguide: Learn about its Byzantine engineering with the multilingual audio guide, available in eight languages.

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

Hagia Sophia

Monday	09:00am - 07:30pm
Tuesday	09:00am - 07:30pm
Wednesday	09:00am - 07:30pm
Thursday	09:00am - 07:30pm
Friday	09:00am - 07:30pm
Saturday	09:00am - 07:30pm
Sunday	09:00am - 07:30pm

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

What to bring

Galata Tower

Bring your ticket (received via booking confirmation email) and keep it with you throughout your visit, as you may be asked to present it at the exit.

Ensure your smartphone is fully charged and bring your own headphones to use the audio guide.

Download the audio guide in advance to avoid connectivity issues during your visit.

Basilica Cistern

Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip as the stone floor can be damp and slightly slippery.

Bring a light jacket or shawl; it stays cool underground even in warm weather.

Carry wired headphones if you plan to use an audio guide app, as Bluetooth often struggles underground.

Have your phone fully charged for photos and the audio guide (there are no charging stations inside).

What’s not allowed

Galata Tower

Food and drinks are not allowed inside the tower.

Pets are not permitted at the venues.

Skipping the security line is not possible; all visitors must wait in this queue.

Basilica Cistern

Flash photography is not permitted.

Tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed due to space and safety concerns.

Eating, drinking, and smoking are strictly prohibited inside the cistern.

Accessibility

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower is not wheelchair accessible.

Basilica Cistern

The site is partially accessible; there is a lift near the exit on Alemdar Street near the tram line, but the walking path inside may be uneven in places.

Wheelchair users may need assistance, especially around corners or where the lighting is low.

There are no elevators inside the cistern, and seating is extremely limited.

Additional information

Galata Tower and Basilica Cistern

Your ticket allows you to skip the ticket queue, but all visitors must go through a security check.

During high season, especially in summer, you may encounter wait times to enter the attractions.

Galata Tower

The ticket is valid for the entire day within the venue’s operating hours (Monday–Sunday: 8:30am–10pm; Saturday until 11pm).

Final confirmation and vouchers will be sent to you 1 day before the visit.

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

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Ticket Redemption Points

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