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Combo (Save 11%): Basilica Cistern + Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Tickets

Woman exploring Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, with illuminated columns and arches.
Basilica Cistern's illuminated columns in Istanbul, part of the Istanbul Combo tour.
Hagia Sophia exterior with visitors in Istanbul on a sunny day.
Hagia Sophia mosaics detail, Istanbul, Turkey.

Explore Istanbul's iconic landmarks with a budget-friendly combo: skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia. Dive into history and save!

Highlights

  • Experience the magic of the Basilica Cistern as you skip the queue and explore the ancient water storage, marveling at the 336 massive columns.

  • Immerse yourself in the mystery of the sideways Medusa head columns in the Basilica Cistern and listen to the intriguing theories from your multilingual audio guide.

  • Bypass the crowds with skip-the-line entry to the world-renowned Hagia Sophia, a monument that has served as a church, a mosque, and now a museum.

  • Admire the intricate mosaics and the imperial dome of Hagia Sophia at your own pace, equipped with an informative audio guide available in 5 languages.

  • Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern, known as the 'Sunken Palace', is capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters of water, enough to fill around 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools!

Inclusions

Basilica Cistern

  • Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern

  • Multilingual audio guide

Hagia Sophia

  • Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia

  • Entry to Hagia Sophia visiting area

  • Audio guide in 5 languages

Cancellation Policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

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4.0
1.1K ratings
5/5
516
4/5
344
3/5
75
2/5
98
1/5
76
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Guests from United States, Spain, Italy and over 90 countries have loved this experience
Matthew Timmermann

Matthew

4/5

Oct, 2024

We booked last minute and were still able to see everything we wanted to. Ticketing was straightforward. The Topkapi Palace tour was what we hoped for: descriptive, informative, and quick so we could go exploring on our own. Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cisterns were amazing to witness. Thank you for helping to make this a good experience.
Elsa Antonia Mateo Díaz

Elsa

5/5

Oct, 2024

Everything was great, no queues to get in and , seeing the Basilica cistern is the most beautiful thing I have done on the trip. Thank you .
View original review in Spanish
Aparna Tandon

Aparna

5/5

Oct, 2024

Awesome experience. We went to Hagia Sofia at about 11 am . The line with online tickets was also long but with our tickets we got to get in very fast and smooth . At basilica , again the line was more then one hour wait , but with our skip the line tickets , we went inside in like 5 mins , the gate keeper stopped everyone and let us go in first, as they were skip the line tickets. Very smooth process of booking and having the app on phone was very helpful and fast.
MARCUS OCTAVIA ANA

Marcus

5/5

Oct, 2024

Everything went smooth, from entrance to finish! A little bit complicated until I discovered how to download the audio guide.
Taelemans Linda

Taelemans

4/5

Sep, 2024

It was worth seeing it. Luckily we had bought a skip the line ticket so we didn't have to queue. The space inside was overwhelming and the colour gradations on the artworks beautiful.

Save time and money with this combo ticket that gives you access to the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia.

Basilica Cistern

Dive into the mysterious world of the Basilica Cistern, a remarkable feat of Byzantine architecture. With your skip-the-line ticket, bypass the queues and step into this ancient subterranean wonder. Walk on the raised wooden platforms and marvel at the 336 massive columns. The ethereal atmosphere heightened by the gentle pitter-patter of water dripping from the ceiling will leave you enchanted. Don't miss the intriguing Medusa column bases, set sideways for mysterious reasons. Enhance your experience with the included multilingual audio guide that provides fascinating insights into the cistern’s history and the engineering prowess of the Byzantines.

Hagia Sophia

Use your skip-the-line ticket to explore the spectacular Hagia Sophia, a gem of Istanbul that has served as a church, a mosque, and now a museum. With this ticket, you can beat the long lines and head straight to discover the magnificent art and architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The audio guide, available in 5 languages, enriches your visit. Be sure to explore the 2nd-floor Visitors' Center, home to mesmerizing mosaics and the imperial dome.

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

Hagia Sophia

Monday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Tuesday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Wednesday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Thursday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Friday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Saturday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM
Sunday09:00 AM - 07:30 PM

What's not allowed

Hagia Sophia

  • The prayer area on the first floor can only be entered by Turkish citizens.

  • Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing with exposed shoulders or chests. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf.

  • Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing with exposed shoulders.

What to bring

Hagia Sophia

  • Don’t forget your trusty earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

Accessibility

Basilica Cistern

  • This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Hagia Sophia

  • This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Additional information

Basilica Cistern

  • It’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

Hagia Sophia

  • You skip the ticket lines but you cannot skip the security check.

  • The security check can take up to 60 minutes during peak seasons.

  • Appropriate and respectful clothing is mandatory while visiting the Hagia Sophia.

  • Hagia Sophia is under renovation, therefore, not all parts of the building are open to the public.

  • Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommend visiting after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.

  • 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

Skip-the-Line Tickets to 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

Hagia Sophia Admission Tickets

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

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