Religious Sites in Istanbul

Booking skip-the-line tickets was the best decision. We arrived and entered quickly, avoiding a huge line outside. The Basilica Cistern totally exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere is almost cinematic: lights reflecting on the water, rows of ancient columns, and a mysterious atmosphere that makes you imagine the nearly 1,500-year history of that place. The Medusa heads are a fascinating and unique detail. It was undoubtedly one of the most memorable experiences of my trip to Istanbul. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Not such a smooth entry, because I had no wifi /data so couldn't show my ticket.... very helpful women on the gate sorted it out. I'd also downloaded the audioguide which again didn't work for me until they helped .... But my oh my, it really was BREATHTAKING, totally awesome!!! (I found the audioguide a little distracting, so wanted to walk around without it, but once I'd reached the end of the circuit, it was hard to go against the flow and start again) Feb visit - still quite busy! An amazing place, incredible atmosphere, I'm in awe of the brick/tile vaulting. Medusa heads are superb. Modern art installations are a nice touch. Later, I watched videos from the film 'Inferno' - which incldes a copy of the cistern for their set!