Landmarks

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

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

4.5

5.3K ratings

5/5

3.8K

4/5

869

3/5

194

2/5

198

1/5

276

Melanie

4/5

Jul, 2024

Great tour with good coverage of histoey and rhen great to be avle to take our time to explore at our own pace Worth it to skip the lines also

Marina

5/5

Jul, 2024

We arrived early, few people, zero line. Tickets ok (a little expensive) The Cistern is beautiful and I gladly saw it again years later, they have maintained it well--and there are no more carp

View original review in Italian

Muhammad

5/5

Jul, 2024

It was great. The one thing I will suggest is that the app did not give any option for the tickets on the PDF to be dispayed. I had to use my laptop to get the tickets as PDF.

William

5/5

Jul, 2024

Easy to purchase tickets. The mobile app for managing your events is best!! Kudos to our guide, who was an effective communicator with a nice dose of humor thrown in. The annoys exoskeleton is highly recommended!?

Anna

3/5

Jul, 2024

In general it was t bad and was good value for money , but in Hagia Sofia the guide who helped us to enter did not explain how it works and when our group entered he just disappeared without any notice . The whole group could not understand what to do and waited for him for 10 min . Then we just went on our way

Your Experience

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!

Know Before You Go

Important information

It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

My tickets

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.