Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Basilica Cistern + Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

Woman exploring the illuminated columns inside the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

Upside-down Medusa head column in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia with minarets under clear blue sky in Istanbul.

Mosaic of Virgin Mary and Christ Child with emperors in Hagia Sophia, 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

4.2/5

(3,323)

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.

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.

Basilica Cistern

Skip-the-line entry

Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish & Turkish

Hagia Sophia

Skip-the-line entry

Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian & Spanish

Exclusive access to the Upper Gallery visiting area

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.2
3,323 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
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.
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!
Patricia
Nov 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Very good to be able to enter directly for having bought the ticket online, the only point that should be taken into account is that the cistern does not offer Internet service and then the audio guide with the cell phone did not help me because it did not have data on the phone. Everything else, excellent
Marjolyn
Nov 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The process of purchasing the tickets was very easy however the description wasn't clear. We went to the museum instead of the mosque thinking that’s where had bought tickets too. Interesting but would have preferred the museum. The Basilica Cisterns was amazing!

Explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic sites with a single, hassle-free combo ticket. Both locations offer downloadable audio guides in 5+ languages, giving you rich context as you explore. Take your time, move at your own pace, and enjoy the experience.

Basilica Cistern

Descend into Istanbul’s undergrounds supported by 336 ancient marble columns, once used to store water for the Great Palace. The famous Medusa heads are tucked away at the far end and are worth viewing, so don’t miss them. Uncover stories and engineering legends that make this space unforgettable, with a multilingual audio guide.

Hagia Sophia

Walk into the grandeur of Hagia Sophia, and head up to the Upper Gallery, which offers stunning close-up views of its mosaics and domes. Once a cathedral, then a mosque, and now a mosque-museum hybrid, this site captures Istanbul’s layered history. The multilingual audio guide shares insights into emperors, architecture, and spiritual life.

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

What to bring

Basilica Cistern

Bring your old-school wired earphones or headphones for your audio guide as Bluetooth headphones might not work well underground.

The skip-the-line ticket helps you avoid long queues, but you'll still need to go through a security check. Have your tickets ready on your device to speed up entry.

Download the audio app beforehand to avoid any network glitches at the location.

Hagia Sophia

Both men and women must wear modest clothing that covers their shoulders and knees.

Women are required to cover their heads inside, so bring along a scarf. There are scarves available at the entrance as well.

Use wired headphones if you plan to use a self-guided audio tour.

Make sure your phone is fully charged for tickets, audio guides, and taking photos.

Sunglasses or a hat will help if you’re waiting outside in the sun during busy hours.

What's not allowed

Basilica Cistern

Flash photography is not allowed.

Hagia Sophia

Visitors are not permitted to enter the main prayer hall on the ground floor.

Flash photography is not allowed.

Accessibility

Basilica Cistern

For people with mobility difficulties, it’s best to have someone to help you around the place as the flooring inside is uneven.

Hagia Sophia

The site is not wheelchair accessible. You have to climb a flight of stairs to reach the Upper Gallery visiting area.

Some areas may be closed due to ongoing renovations.

Additional information

Basilica Cistern

Tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled

Hagia Sophia

Security checks can take time. Keep 30 to 40 minutes on hand for possible delays, especially during midday or after prayer hours.

The Deësis mosaic in the Upper Gallery is a must-see and easily missed without a guide.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

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

Ticket redemption points

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

Show your ticket at Basilica Cistern.

Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye.

Landmark: In front of the Exit Gate of the Basilica.

Get directions to the redemption point

Hagia Sophia Admission Tickets

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