Sightseeing Cruises

Combo (Save 7%): Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Audio Guide + Basilica Cistern Skip the Line Tickets

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

09:00am - 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

(3,052)

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.

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

A Headset, and a downloadable audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Turkish

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.

4.2
3,052 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!

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	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

What to bring

Basilica Cistern:

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

Dress snug in warm layers. The undergrounds 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.