Headout logo. Link to home.
Help
Combos

Combo: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide + Bosphorus Cruise

Tourist exploring ancient cistern with columns in Istanbul.
Medusa head column in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, part of Blue Mosque & Basilica Cistern tour.
Tourists boarding a Bosphorus cruise ship in Istanbul for an audio guide experience.
Pillars inside the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, with reflections on the water.

Open today

09:00am - 10:00pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

Uncover Istanbul's hidden treasures with this cost-saving combo. Explore the Basilica Cistern with skip-the-line tickets and sail the picturesque Bosphorus Strait.

4.3/5

(4,562)

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.
    • Step into the Byzantine architectural wonder that is the Basilica Cistern with skip-the-line tickets, and explore one of the most-visited museums in Istanbul.

    • Experience the mystery of the Medusa column bases in the Basilica Cistern, as your audio guide unravels intriguing theories about their origin.

    • Board a 2-hour cruise along the Bosphorus Strait with an audio guide in 8 languages, offering a unique perspective of Istanbul’s beauty.

    • Witness architectural gems like the Galata Tower, once the tallest building in Istanbul, and the Dolmabahce Palace, the residence of 6 Ottoman sultans.

    • Fun fact: Each of the 336 columns of the Basilica Cistern is different from the other.

  • Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

    • Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern

    • Multilingual audio guide

    Bosphorus Cruise

    • 2-hour Bosphorus cruise

    • Audio guide available in 8 languages

  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • How do we collect reviews?

    4.3
    4,562 ratings
    5/5
    2.7K
    4/5
    1.2K
    3/5
    269
    2/5
    179
    1/5
    251
    • United States
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • Australia
    • Germany
    • Romania
    • Canada
    • Argentina
    Guests from United States, Italy, Spain and over 88 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
  • Enjoy a cost-saving combo that gives you access to two of Istanbul's must-visit sites: the Basilica Cistern and a cruise along the Bosphorus. Delve into Istanbul's rich history and mesmerizing beauty with this combo.

    Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

    Step back in time with a tour of the Basilica Cistern, a marvel of 6th-century Byzantine architecture. With your skip-the-line tickets, gain immediate access to this cavernous subterranean beauty. Walk along wooden platforms, surrounded by 336 massive columns, while listening to the enchanting sounds of water dripping from the vaulted ceiling. Witness the famous Hen’s Eye Column and the mystifying Medusa Pillar Bases, and learn about their intriguing history through the multilingual audio guide.

    Bosphorus Cruise

    Next, sail away along the beautiful Bosphorus waterway. This 2-hour cruise offers stunning views of Istanbul's landmarks, including the iconic Hagia Sophia and the popular Ortaköy Mosque. You'll also pass the legendary Bosphorus Bridge, a testament to the city's connection between Europe and Asia. An audio guide available in 8 languages will provide intriguing insights about the attractions you'll pass by.

    Sites you'll come across

    • Galata Tower

    • Dolmabahce Palace

    • Ciragan Palace

    • Ortaköy Mosque

    • Bosphorus Bridge

    • Beylerbeyi Palace

    • Üsküdar

    • Maiden Tower

    • Topkapi Palace

    • Hagia Sophia

    • Seaside Villas

  • 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
  • What to bring

    Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

    • It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

    Bosphorus Cruise

    • Don’t forget to bring along your headphones to listen to the audio tour.

    Accessibility

    Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

    • The attraction is wheelchair and stroller-accessible.

    Additional information

    Bosphorus Cruise

    • The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese.

    • There is limited internet at the pier so please download the app before the tour.

    • The app does not require internet once it has been downloaded but ensure you have activated GPS.

    • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

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

    Ticket redemption points

    Basilica Cistern

    • 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

    Bosphorus Cruise

    • Board your cruise at DENTUR Istanbul Welcome Card Kabatas Pier.

    • Address: Ömer Avni, Mahallesi, Meclis-i Mebusan Cd. No:3, 34427 Beyoğlu/İstanbul.

    • Landmark: It is located across tram line no 1 and the funicular, come to the wooden house behind the red petrol station and look for the Istanbul Welcome Card ticket window.

    Get directions to the boarding point

Download app section background

We've served 40 million+ guests and we are here for you

40 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime