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Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

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Enjoy an informative guided tour of one of the largest ancient water cisterns in Istanbul with exclusive skip-the-line tickets!

Highlights

  • Skip the long lines and discover one of the most-visited museums in Istanbul.

  • Learn more about the Basilica Cistern’s history and the outstanding engineering prowess of the Byzantines.

  • Witness the famous Hen’s Eye Column and Medusa Pillar Bases, which have been featured in several Hollywood films.

  • Opt for the multilingual audio guide to gain intriguing insights into the museum and its exhibits.

  • You can make your experience even better by upgrading your ticket to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque.

Inclusions

  • Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern

  • Multilingual audio guide in (optional)

  • Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia English guided tour (optional)

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
3.3K Ratings
5/5
2.5K
4/5
332
3/5
112
2/5
116
1/5
180
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  • United States
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Romania
  • France
  • Mexico
  • Australia
  • Germany
  • Canada
Guests from United States, Spain, United Kingdom and over 87 countries have loved this experience
Flavia Andra Constantin

Flavia

5/5

Mar, 2024

Very quick getting inside the cisterna, and managed to enjoy the experience all the more so, thanks to the skip the line tickets
Antonio Fernando Ruiz

Antonio

3/5

Mar, 2024

Hello, everything was fantastic. But the audio guide service did not exist I could not know details of such a wonderful work. Dates years events.
View original review in Spanish
Cecilia Ariagno

Cecilia

5/5

Mar, 2024

The purchase of tickets was very simple. I didn't have a personal guide... I couldn't listen to the explanation of the application because I didn't have a good signal in the place...they should offer wifi.
View original review in Spanish
Maria Ioannidou

Maria

5/5

Mar, 2024

We liked the mysterious atmosphere and the lightening. We liked that we could keep a very long queue of people and visit instantly the attraction.
Stephen Young

Stephen

4/5

Mar, 2024

The cistern is fantastic. Unfortunately, the "skip the queue" part didn't happen as we had to wait in line to enter teh Cistern.

From Dan Brown’s wildly popular novel Inferno to the 1963 James Bond film ‘From Russia With Love’, the Basilica Cistern has always been a part of popular culture. Built during the reign of Justinian I, the cistern itself is a paragon of 6th century Byzantine architecture. As you enter this cavernous subterranean marvel, you will be greeted by a dim golden hue that glistens off the surface of the water.

As you walk on the raised wooden platforms amongst the 336 massive columns that support the structure, prepare to be enchanted by the gentle pitter-patter of water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and the ghostly outlines of carp that populate the water. The Medusa column bases in the northwest portion of the cistern are a particularly mesmerizing sight. Your guide will tell you about the various theories surrounding the mysterious origin of the two stone heads that are oriented sideways.

Upgrade to Include Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace

Enhance your experience with guided tours. When you sign up for this exclusive offer, your name will be added to the list of monuments over the course of three days. Visit any monument at any available time, or meet us outside two museums where we'll guide you past long lines! With a flexible combo ticket that allows access to all three attractions, feel free to explore them together or independently - it's totally up to you!

Basilica Cistern

Monday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM
Saturday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM
Sunday9:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 6:30 PM

Important Information

  • It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
  • Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly after the purchase.

  • Please display the same along with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

  • Kindly ensure that you arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time to avoid any delays.

Ticket redemption point

  • 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

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