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Combo (Save 5%): Basilica Cistern + Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Tickets

Tour guide leading a group through the historic Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, included in the Combo: Hagia Sophia + Topkapi Palace or Basilica Cistern Tickets
Basilica Cistern's illuminated columns in Istanbul, part of the Istanbul Combo tour.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul on sunny day
Hagia Sophia exterior with tourists on guided tour in 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 23 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 23 languages

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

4.0
1.9K ratings
5/5
912
4/5
607
3/5
125
2/5
153
1/5
143
Nancy Litjes

Nancy

5/5

Nov, 2024

We were very disappointed and felt discriminated against that we were separated from the Muslims and only allowed upstairs in the Hagia but not downstairs even after prayer times, in my opinion not worth the money! Sultan ahmet opposite is free.
View original review in German
Cociug Svetlana

Cociug

5/5

Nov, 2024

It was fast, in-no-time entry, the place is a must-visit attraction of the city as it's absolutely unique. We were amazed by the architecture, engineering and atmosphere of the place and definitely recommend it!
Melanie Mitchell Morris

Melanie

5/5

Nov, 2024

The cistern is a treasure! We loved the haphazard placement and stacking of column sections to hold the ceiling. The brickwork was amazing, the lighting was fun as were the modern sculptures. We especially loved the column bases that were heads - one upside down and one sideways. And the Medusa sculpture and shadow perfectly projected on the wall. The skip the line process was simple and saved a tremendous amount of time standing in line. Well worth it!
Montluet Sylvie

Montluet

5/5

Nov, 2024

Must-see tours Audioguide on the cell phone, great, it allows us to cut ourselves off from the ambient noise and immerse ourselves totally in the visit to the site.
View original review in French
Marcelle Raymond

Marcelle

4/5

Nov, 2024

Very picturesque site. Difficult to access my ticket without WIFI. Finally, I was able to listen to the audio guide after the tour.
View original review in French

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 23 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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