Sightseeing Cruises

Cruise Combo: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Ticket + Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise

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

Upside down Medusa head column in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

Couple on Bosphorus cruise pointing at Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul.

Ortaky Mosque with white stone architecture and twin minarets by the Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul.

Open today

9:00am - 10:00pm

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(3,456)

Melinda H

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The skip the line ticket for the Bascilica Cistern was definitely worth it! We basically walked right in past a long line of people waiting to buy tickets on site. I would recommend taking a screenshot of the ticket barcodes in case your WiFi is iffy. The cistern itself was beautiful and the audio guide gave us plenty of interesting facts about its history.

John G

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Very cool to see Roman history so well preserved. A must see when visiting Istanbul. Entrance is easy to miss. Not mobility friendly. Watch out for people that say they work there and are overly helpful. They will direct you to a carpet shop after your visit and try to hard sell you.

Antonio C

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Accesso alla Basilica velocissimo grazie al biglietto salta la fila fatto von Headout. La fila era lunghissima, ma mio siamo entrati su una corsia laterale dedicata a prenotazioni on Line. Grazie Headout, grazie !!

Julia K

Couple

Verified booking

5 days ago

Basilica Cistern was a magnificient experience. And moreover we were blessed, that we did not have to wait in the neverending line, with the skip-the-line tickets it was so quick and easy.

Marija V

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

We entered quickly, the line for previously bought tickets is much shorter than the regular line, so it's worth it. The place is very interesting to see. I recommend visiting.

Phil W

Couple

Verified booking

3 days ago

Although the tickets were difficult to download the cistern is very enjoyable. The skip the line tickets saved us 20 minutes waiting inline., well worth the cost.

Walk through the quiet underground of the Basilica Cistern and see ancient columns and Greek mythology’s infamous Medusa heads.

Enjoy a relaxing 90-minute cruise along the Bosphorus strait with views of the Dolmabahce palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Galata Tower, and the Bosphorus bridges.

Skip entry lines at both landmarks, and use the 5+ language audio guide to learn interesting facts and stories as you explore.

Basilica Cistern

Skip-the-line entry

Downloadable audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Turkish

Headset

Bosphorus cruise

Skip-the-line entry at the pier

90-minute cruise along the strait

Downloadable audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Turkish, Russian, Italian, Polish, and Chinese

Meet & greet with a marine officer

Bosphorus cruise map

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

3,456 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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Guests from Spain, Italy, United States and over 76 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Antonio C
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Accesso alla Basilica velocissimo grazie al biglietto salta la fila fatto von Headout. La fila era lunghissima, ma mio siamo entrati su una corsia laterale dedicata a prenotazioni on Line. Grazie Headout, grazie !!
Sara S
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
We really appreciated not having to wait in line at all, and it was very easy to buy the tickets ahead of time! I will definitely use Headout again in the future.
María D
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Headout's customer service is absolutely terrible. There's no way to contact them after they mistakenly sent us tickets that didn't work. The claim that you can skip the line at Galata Tower is a lie. There's only one line! So in that regard, the benefits they advertise aren't even true. As for the palace, the Harem is the only part worth visiting to gain access, but they don’t explain how to do it very well either. They just send you to a location and that’s it. My review of this company is very negative, and I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.
Irmgard S
Solo
Verified booking
Apr 2026
It wasn’t until after a long wait and thanks to the wonderful assistance of the staff at Hagia Sophia that I received the missing entry code for this remarkable mosque from the support team. I had already booked the combo tickets online two days earlier. Since I only had one day in Istanbul, this was very frustrating. I received the code for the Sunken Palace in time. Both attractions were fantastic, and the visit was worth it despite the delay.
Alejandra F
Group
Verified booking
3 days ago
The app is super easy to use, and I've already bought several tickets in different cities. The only thing to keep in mind is how long it takes for the tickets to arrive from the local provider. If you buy them at the last minute, they won't arrive right away. If you contact the local provider, they’ll send them to you, but there might be a delay when calling from abroad—waiting for someone to answer, dealing with AI, internet connection issues, etc. Given this preliminary step, I highly recommend it.

Cover the undergrounds and the waters of Istanbul with a single combo ticket that grants you skip-the-line access at both locations, and multilingual audio guides.

Getting started

Have your tickets ready—either printed or on your device—and make sure to download the audio guides in advance. Wear a light jacket, comfortable shoes, and bring water bottles as both experiences involve walking around.

Basilica Cistern

Spend some time walking into Istanbul’s underground world with skip-the-line entry amidst its stone columns, reused from Roman temples. Look out for the iconic Medusa heads tucked away at the far end and learn their mythological significance from your audio guide.

Bosphorus sightseeing cruise

Explore the highlights between Europe and Asia on a 90-minute cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. Skip the lines at the pier, meet your marine officer, and head straight to the upper deck for the best views of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks—including Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Galata Tower, and the Bosphorus bridges.

Basilica Cistern

Monday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Tuesday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Wednesday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Thursday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Friday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Saturday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Sunday	9:00am - 10:00pm	last entry 6:30pm

What to bring

Basilica Cistern:

Old-school, wired earphones work best in the Basilica Cistern.

Dress snugly in warm layers. The underground can get very cold at times, so make sure you bring along a light jacket or sweater.

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

Bosphorus cruise:

The cruise is held in all weather conditions and can get windy on the water. Make sure you bring a light jacket or sweater.

What’s not allowed

Basilica Cistern

Flash photography is not allowed, as it disrupts the lighting and other visitors.

Tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited due to space and safety concerns.

Bosphorus cruise

Large bags are not allowed on the boat, so it’s best to bring only what you can comfortably carry.

Selfie sticks are prohibited due to limited space and safety concerns.

Accessibility

Basilica Cistern

The entrance has a ramp, and a wheelchair platform lift is available at the exit on Alemdar Street.

Some parts of the Basilica Cistern have uneven floors. Keep this in mind if you are a visitor with mobility difficulties.

Bosphorus cruise

The cruise is partially wheelchair accessible, but it’s recommended to contact in advance for special arrangements, as there may be limitations due to the boat’s design.

Additional information

Basilica Cistern

Your ticket allows you to skip the ticket queue, but all visitors must go through a security check. During the peak summer season (June to August), this can take up to 30 minutes, so plan accordingly.

Ensure your device has Android version 10 or later to use the audio guide.

Arrive early in the morning or visit in the evening to avoid crowds from cruise ship tours.

Bosphorus cruise

The cruise departs near tram line no. 1 and the funicular, just steps from Dolmabahce Palace. Look for the Istanbul Welcome Card ticket window behind the red petrol station.

The Bosphorus cruise boats depart every hour. Arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes early to avoid rushing and settle in comfortably.

Ensure your device has Android 10 or later and download the audio guide before arriving at the Bosphorus pier to save time.

For the best views, head to the upper deck for an unobstructed look at Istanbul’s landmarks.

Early mornings or late afternoons provide the best lighting for photos along the Bosphorus.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption points.

Ticket redemption points

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