Combos

Combo (Save 2%): Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide + Bosphorus Cruise

Tourist exploring the ancient columns of the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

Medusa head column in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, part of Blue Mosque & Basilica Cistern tour.

Tourists boarding a Bosphorus cruise ship in Istanbul for an audio guide experience.

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

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

Uncover Istanbul's hidden treasures with this cost-saving combo. Explore the Basilica Cistern with skip-the-line tickets and sail the picturesque Bosphorus Strait.

4.3/5

(5,034)

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.

Step into the Byzantine architectural wonder that is the Basilica Cistern with skip-the-line tickets, and explore one of the most-visited museums in Istanbul.

Experience the mystery of the Medusa column bases in the Basilica Cistern, as your audio guide unravels intriguing theories about their origin.

Board a 2-hour cruise along the Bosphorus Strait with an audio guide in 8 languages, offering a unique perspective of Istanbul’s beauty.

Witness architectural gems like the Galata Tower, once the tallest building in Istanbul, and the Dolmabahce Palace, the residence of 6 Ottoman sultans.

Fun fact: Each of the 336 columns of the Basilica Cistern is different from the other.

Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern

Multilingual audio guide

Bosphorus Cruise

2-hour Bosphorus cruise

Audio guide available in 8 languages

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.3
5,034 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.

Enjoy a cost-saving combo that gives you access to two of Istanbul's must-visit sites: the Basilica Cistern and a cruise along the Bosphorus. Delve into Istanbul's rich history and mesmerizing beauty with this combo.

Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

Step back in time with a tour of the Basilica Cistern, a marvel of 6th-century Byzantine architecture. With your skip-the-line tickets, gain immediate access to this cavernous subterranean beauty. Walk along wooden platforms, surrounded by 336 massive columns, while listening to the enchanting sounds of water dripping from the vaulted ceiling. Witness the famous Hen’s Eye Column and the mystifying Medusa Pillar Bases, and learn about their intriguing history through the multilingual audio guide.

Bosphorus Cruise

Next, sail away along the beautiful Bosphorus waterway. This 2-hour cruise offers stunning views of Istanbul's landmarks, including the iconic Hagia Sophia and the popular Ortaköy Mosque. You'll also pass the legendary Bosphorus Bridge, a testament to the city's connection between Europe and Asia. An audio guide available in 8 languages will provide intriguing insights about the attractions you'll pass by.

Sites you'll come across

Galata Tower

Dolmabahce Palace

Ciragan Palace

Ortaköy Mosque

Bosphorus Bridge

Beylerbeyi Palace

Üsküdar

Maiden Tower

Topkapi Palace

Hagia Sophia

Seaside Villas

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 Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

Bosphorus Cruise

Don’t forget to bring along your headphones to listen to the audio tour.

Accessibility

Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

The attraction is wheelchair and stroller-accessible.

Additional information

Bosphorus Cruise

The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese.

There is limited internet at the pier so please download the app before the tour.

The app does not require internet once it has been downloaded but ensure you have activated GPS.

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

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

Bosphorus Cruise

Board your cruise at DENTUR Istanbul Welcome Card Kabatas Pier.

Address: Ömer Avni, Mahallesi, Meclis-i Mebusan Cd. No:3, 34427 Beyoğlu/İstanbul.

Landmark: It is located across tram line no 1 and the funicular, come to the wooden house behind the red petrol station and look for the Istanbul Welcome Card ticket window.

Get directions to the boarding point