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Combo (Save 13%): Galata Tower Tickets + Basilica Cistern Tickets with Audio Guide

Galata Tower exterior with nearby buildings in Istanbul under a clear blue sky.
Staircase inside Galata Tower, Istanbul, with stone walls and arched ceiling.
Pillars inside the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul with reflections on the water.
Illuminated sculptures resembling jellyfish in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

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Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

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Mobile ticket

This cost-saving combo gives a bird’s eye view of Istanbul on Galata Tower and get skip-the-line tickets to the 6th-century Basilica Cistern.

4.2/5

(2,477)

Charles Dechamps

Charles

Jun 2025
Verified booking
We had misread the instructions and entered the palace. We were directed to the ticket office and the clerk told us where to find our guide. Once there, he accompanied us to join a group who were already going through the entrances, so we didn't have to wait 30 minutes for the next departure (very nice of him). The fast pass allowed us to do all 3 activities without a hitch, although you need to allow quite a bit of time for the palace and less for the cistern and Saint Sophia. It was really great
Angelina Purwin

Angelina

Jun 2025
Verified booking
Both the Hagia Sophia and the sunken palace were beautiful! It is very worthwhile. And especially for the Hagia Sophia, it's worth buying tickets online in advance to avoid the queue at the ticket office. It's also worth it for the Basilica Cistern, as there are 2 different queues here and the one for the e-tickets was quicker in our case.
marcello ricciuti

Marcello

Jul 2025
Verified booking
Two must-see fascinating places. The Cistern an 'incredibly evolved Roman work for that time and very well maintained. St. Sophia a mosque yes but on the layout of a Christian Church, and you can also see it from the mosaics of the Virgin and Jesus preserved in the right side of the structure. Not to be missed.
    • Experience Istanbul from a different perspective atop the Galata Tower, where an express elevator ride takes you to the lookout platform for a hassle-free view.

    • Spot iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia Museum, Suleymaniye Mosque, and Topkapi Palace while benefiting from an informative audio guide detailing tower facts.

    • Tour the expansive Basilica Cistern, the largest ancient water reservoir, and enrich your experience with a multilingual audio guide available in 8 languages.

    • See the renowned Hen’s Eye Column and Medusa Pillar Bases, immortalized in numerous Hollywood films for their iconic presence.

    • Fun fact: The cistern is has the capacity to hold up to 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cubic feet) of water.

  • Galata Tower

    • Entry tickets to Galata Tower

    • Multilingual audio guide

    • Express elevator to the lookout platform of the Galata Tower

    Basilica Cistern

    • Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern

    • Instant mobile ticket

    • Multilingual audio guide

  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • How do we collect reviews?

    4.2
    2,477 ratings
    5/5
    1.3K
    4/5
    774
    3/5
    195
    2/5
    113
    1/5
    117
    • United States
    • Spain
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    • France
    • United Kingdom
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    • Canada
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    Guests from United States, Spain, Italy and over 86 countries have loved this experience

    Angelina Purwin

    Angelina

    Jun, 2025Verified booking

    5/5
    Both the Hagia Sophia and the sunken palace were beautiful! It is very worthwhile. And especially for the Hagia Sophia, it's worth buying tickets online in advance to avoid the queue at the ticket office. It's also worth it for the Basilica Cistern, as there are 2 different queues here and the one for the e-tickets was quicker in our case.
    JUAN LUIS GARCIA ROSADO DOMINGO

    Juan

    Jun, 2025Verified booking

    5/5
    The architecture of the basilica cistern is amazingly beautiful, very well lit and with a well organized traffic. It has generously met my expectations. But the number of visitors per shift or hour should be reduced.
    Ashokkumar Parbhubhai Kushal

    Ashokkumar

    May, 2025Verified booking

    5/5
    Tickets were easy to book, great instructions and saved a lot if time by not queuing. In terms of the sites they were really good to see and understand the history behind it. Great addition to our Istanbul trip.
    Christoph Arzt

    Christoph

    Jul, 2025Verified booking

    5/5
    Tickets were a perfect fit. We got in straight away at 17:00 without having to wait. A great experience.
    Adalgiza Andrade Agudelo

    Adalgiza

    Jul, 2025Verified booking

    5/5
    Impressive! A must see underneath the city. So old and still standing
  • Galata Tower

    Experience the magnificence of Istanbul's skyline with entry to the legendary Galata Tower. Standing tall for over six centuries at its prominent location, this towering landmark has etched itself as an enduring symbol of the city. Ascend to its terrace and see a panoramic vista that captures the essence of Istanbul's beauty: the historic peninsula, the majestic silhouette of the Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia, the meandering Bosphorus Strait, the iconic Bosphorus Bridge, the tranquil waters of the Marmara Sea, and the juxtaposition of the European and Asian quarters. Let the multilingual audio guide share fun tower facts, enlightening your visit with engaging narration and interesting tidbits.

    Basilica Cistern

    From Dan Brown's widely acclaimed novel "Inferno" to the iconic 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love," the Basilica Cistern has long been embedded in popular culture. Gain skip-the-line access to this vast subterranean wonder, where you'll be welcomed by a subdued golden radiance reflecting off the water's surface. As you traverse the elevated wooden walkways amidst the 336 imposing columns upholding the structure, brace yourself to be mesmerized by the soft pattern of water droplets trickling from the arched ceiling and the ethereal silhouettes of carp gliding through the water. Utilize the multilingual audio guide for an enriched experience.

  • Basilica Cistern

    Monday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Thursday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Friday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Saturday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Sunday09:00am - 10:00pmlast entry 06:30pm

    Hagia Sophia

    Monday09:00am - 07:30pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 07:30pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 07:30pm
    Thursday09:00am - 07:30pm
    Friday09:00am - 07:30pm
    Saturday09:00am - 07:30pm
    Sunday09:00am - 07:30pm

    Galata Tower

    Monday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Tuesday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Wednesday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Thursday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Friday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Saturday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Sunday08:30am - 06:15pmlast entry 06:00pm
  • What to bring

    Galata Tower

    • Remember to bring your earphones.

    Basilica Cistern

    • It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

    Additional information

    Galata Tower

    • Please note that there is mostly no internet or very little signal in the museum. Please download the Audio Guide App on your own smartphone before your visit.

    • Please check your voucher for the audio guide instructions.

    • Final confirmation and vouchers will be sent to you 1 day before the visit.

    • Please display the same at each ticket redemption point along with a valid photo ID.

    • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

    Ticket Redemption Points

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