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Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern tour in Istanbul, showcasing historic architecture and cultural landmarks.
Tourists exploring the grand interiors of Dolmabahce Palace, marveling at the architectural beauty of Hagia Sophia, and descending into the historic Basilica Cistern on a guided tour
Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern tour in Istanbul, showcasing historic architecture and cultural landmarks.
Renovated Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet District Fatih, Istanbul

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 (optional)

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

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

4.3
6.8K ratings
5/5
4.5K
4/5
1.2K
3/5
327
2/5
329
1/5
418
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Guests from United States, Italy, Spain and over 97 countries have loved this experience
Alexander Ferrari Cocicov

Alexander

5/5

Nov, 2024

The line was so big and how I bought the tickets before it was so easy to get in without line. The place is amazing and the audio guide was excellent.
Cherese Johnson

Cherese

5/5

Nov, 2024

It is really worth it. I highly suggest getting your tickets online to skip the long wait at Hagia Sophia and the Basilica cistern. Beautiful Mosque and nice structure at the cistern.
Akke Mathilde de Jong

Akke

4/5

Nov, 2024

My hotel was very centrally located - less than a 5-minute walk from the major tourist attractions - and thus very nice to do everything on foot. The Hagia Sofia is enduring evidence of the vast civilization that the former Constantinople carried with it; for that reason alone it is important to visit this structure
View original review in Dutch
Angela Little

Angela

3/5

Nov, 2024

The ticket pickup point is very far from the Topkapi Palace ticket counter - give yourselves time to get there! It is a timed entrance. We had to hurry through Topkapi in order to make it to the others. Seeing these 3 things in one day may be too much. If we had to do it over, we'd buy tickets to each venue separately and only visit Topkapi in one day.
John McCrickard

John

5/5

Nov, 2024

We have never been in a cistern before, it was very interesting. We purchased an audio guide to learn about the history and Medusla. It was great.

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

Monday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM
Tuesday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM
Wednesday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM
Thursday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM
Friday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM
Saturday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM
Sunday09:00 AM - 10:00 PMlast entry 06:30 PM

Important information

  • It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
  • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

    • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
  • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting point

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

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