Experience only the best of Basilica Cistern Tickets
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Visitor's guide
Must-see highlights & key info

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Marvel at the cistern's vast underground chambers, supported by 336 marble columns, and learn more about its role as a water reservoir for Constantinople from your guide.
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Skip the lines and explore Basilica Cistern with a local expert or a multilingual audio guide.
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Choose a self-guided audio tour to explore at your own pace or join a local guide for expert commentary and insider stories that bring this underground marvel to life.
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Upgrade your experience to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia with skip-the-line access, allowing you to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks in one seamless visit.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern is home to two upside-down Medusa head statues, which are believed to have been repurposed from ancient Roman temples, adding an air of mystery to the site.
More details
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Marvel at the cistern's vast underground chambers, supported by 336 marble columns, and learn more about its role as a water reservoir for Constantinople from your guide.
-
Skip the lines and explore Basilica Cistern with a local expert or a multilingual audio guide.
-
Choose a self-guided audio tour to explore at your own pace or join a local guide for expert commentary and insider stories that bring this underground marvel to life.
-
Upgrade your experience to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia with skip-the-line access, allowing you to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks in one seamless visit.
-
Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern is home to two upside-down Medusa head statues, which are believed to have been repurposed from ancient Roman temples, adding an air of mystery to the site.
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Enter the Basilica Cistern after dark with fast-track access for a quieter, more atmospheric visit far from daytime crowds.
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Listen to a multilingual audio guide that brings the cistern’s architecture, history, and mythic Medusa columns to life.
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Walk among 336 ancient marble columns in the underground reservoir commissioned by Emperor Justinian I and beautifully lit for nighttime viewing.
More details
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Enter the Basilica Cistern after dark with fast-track access for a quieter, more atmospheric visit far from daytime crowds.
-
Listen to a multilingual audio guide that brings the cistern’s architecture, history, and mythic Medusa columns to life.
-
Walk among 336 ancient marble columns in the underground reservoir commissioned by Emperor Justinian I and beautifully lit for nighttime viewing.
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Get skip-the-line tickets to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with a single cost-effective combo, including immersive audio guides.
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Descend into the Basilica Cistern and wander among its eerie marble columns, spotting the mysterious Medusa heads.
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Marvel at Hagia Sophia, a breathtaking blend of Byzantine and Ottoman design, and visit the Upper Gallery for views of its golden mosaics.
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Explore both sites at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide that brings centuries of history to life.
More details
-
Get skip-the-line tickets to explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with a single cost-effective combo, including immersive audio guides.
-
Descend into the Basilica Cistern and wander among its eerie marble columns, spotting the mysterious Medusa heads.
-
Marvel at Hagia Sophia, a breathtaking blend of Byzantine and Ottoman design, and visit the Upper Gallery for views of its golden mosaics.
-
Explore both sites at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide that brings centuries of history to life.
5% off
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Skip the line at three iconic Istanbul landmarks with a single discounted combo ticket, complete with an included audio guide.
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Descend into the Basilica Cistern, the city’s ancient underground water system, and catch a glimpse of the mysterious Medusa heads.
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Admire Hagia Sophia’s Byzantine mosaics, minarets, and layered Ottoman history in the famous Upper Gallery area.
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For more history, continue to explore Topkapi Palace’s courtyards, Imperial Harem, and Ottoman treasures at your own pace.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern’s Medusa heads remain a mystery. No one knows where they came from or why they are sideways!
More details
-
Skip the line at three iconic Istanbul landmarks with a single discounted combo ticket, complete with an included audio guide.
-
Descend into the Basilica Cistern, the city’s ancient underground water system, and catch a glimpse of the mysterious Medusa heads.
-
Admire Hagia Sophia’s Byzantine mosaics, minarets, and layered Ottoman history in the famous Upper Gallery area.
-
For more history, continue to explore Topkapi Palace’s courtyards, Imperial Harem, and Ottoman treasures at your own pace.
-
Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern’s Medusa heads remain a mystery. No one knows where they came from or why they are sideways!
3% off
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See Istanbul’s imperial glory and ancient marvels with a time-saving combo that lets you move past the crowds with ease.
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Wander through the Dolmabahçe Palace as its glittering halls, grand staircases, and waterfront gardens showcase the elegance of the late Ottoman era.
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Descend into the Basilica Cistern, where forest-like columns, gentle lighting, and the enigmatic Medusa heads create a uniquely haunting atmosphere.
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Enhance your visit with in-depth audio storytelling, offering clear explanations of palace traditions, imperial rituals, ancient engineering, and the legends that shaped each site.
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Enjoy seamless planning with mobile tickets, flexible timing, and two attractions located close enough to explore comfortably in one smooth route.
More details
-
See Istanbul’s imperial glory and ancient marvels with a time-saving combo that lets you move past the crowds with ease.
-
Wander through the Dolmabahçe Palace as its glittering halls, grand staircases, and waterfront gardens showcase the elegance of the late Ottoman era.
-
Descend into the Basilica Cistern, where forest-like columns, gentle lighting, and the enigmatic Medusa heads create a uniquely haunting atmosphere.
-
Enhance your visit with in-depth audio storytelling, offering clear explanations of palace traditions, imperial rituals, ancient engineering, and the legends that shaped each site.
-
Enjoy seamless planning with mobile tickets, flexible timing, and two attractions located close enough to explore comfortably in one smooth route.
10% off
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Begin your experience at the Blue Mosque, where over 20,000 hand-painted tiles and stained-glass windows create a calm, glowing space of worship and design.
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Take in the grandeur of Hagia Sophia’s Upper Gallery, look up at its golden mosaics, and uncover centuries of imperial history with your audio guide.
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Explore the hidden terrains of the Basilica Cistern, where rows of ancient columns stand in water and the haunting Medusa heads wait in the shadows.
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Enjoy the comfort of exploring Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with skip-the-line tickets, an expert guided tour, and multilingual audio guides, all in one day.
More details
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Begin your experience at the Blue Mosque, where over 20,000 hand-painted tiles and stained-glass windows create a calm, glowing space of worship and design.
-
Take in the grandeur of Hagia Sophia’s Upper Gallery, look up at its golden mosaics, and uncover centuries of imperial history with your audio guide.
-
Explore the hidden terrains of the Basilica Cistern, where rows of ancient columns stand in water and the haunting Medusa heads wait in the shadows.
-
Enjoy the comfort of exploring Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with skip-the-line tickets, an expert guided tour, and multilingual audio guides, all in one day.
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This ticket offers skip-the-line entry and a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern, plus the option to add guided tours of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
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Choose a self-guided audio tour for a flexible experience, or join a local guide to explore the underground chambers of the Basilica Cistern and learn about its role as a water reservoir in ancient Constantinople.
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Upgrade to a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, where an expert guide reveals the history behind its stunning mosaics, grand dome, and transition from church to mosque.
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Add a guided tour of the Blue Mosque to explore its six minarets, grand prayer hall, and intricate Iznik tiles, with insights from an expert guide.
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Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern features 336 marble columns, some dating back to Roman times, creating a stunning, otherworldly atmosphere.
More details
-
This ticket offers skip-the-line entry and a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern, plus the option to add guided tours of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
-
Choose a self-guided audio tour for a flexible experience, or join a local guide to explore the underground chambers of the Basilica Cistern and learn about its role as a water reservoir in ancient Constantinople.
-
Upgrade to a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, where an expert guide reveals the history behind its stunning mosaics, grand dome, and transition from church to mosque.
-
Add a guided tour of the Blue Mosque to explore its six minarets, grand prayer hall, and intricate Iznik tiles, with insights from an expert guide.
-
Fun fact: The Basilica Cistern features 336 marble columns, some dating back to Roman times, creating a stunning, otherworldly atmosphere.
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Skip the lines at Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern to start your guided tour, valid for 3 days.
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Reap the benefits of a guided tour included in this ticket which can be availed for 3 museums.
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Choose to visit the sites on one single day or on separate days with the flexibility of this ticket.
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Feel free to explore the museums after the guided tour and learn interesting facts about them with the help of the audio guides available in 9 different languages.
More details
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Skip the lines at Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern to start your guided tour, valid for 3 days.
-
Reap the benefits of a guided tour included in this ticket which can be availed for 3 museums.
-
Choose to visit the sites on one single day or on separate days with the flexibility of this ticket.
-
Feel free to explore the museums after the guided tour and learn interesting facts about them with the help of the audio guides available in 9 different languages.
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Choose 2 to 10 attractions across Istanbul and create your own sightseeing route with one flexible pass that fits your travel style.
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This pass guarantees a public transport card, guided Blue Mosque tour, 90-min Bosphorus cruise, audio guides, and two optional other landmarks or experiences.
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Get around the city with ease using a 5-ride transport card for trams, metros, and buses, all included with your pass.
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Enjoy added experiences like a visit to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, dinner cruises and cultural activities such as a hammam or dervish show, all included in your package.
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Once you book, all attraction tickets land directly in your inbox. No paper, no pickup; just fast and easy access at every site.
More details
-
Choose 2 to 10 attractions across Istanbul and create your own sightseeing route with one flexible pass that fits your travel style.
-
This pass guarantees a public transport card, guided Blue Mosque tour, 90-min Bosphorus cruise, audio guides, and two optional other landmarks or experiences.
-
Get around the city with ease using a 5-ride transport card for trams, metros, and buses, all included with your pass.
-
Enjoy added experiences like a visit to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, dinner cruises and cultural activities such as a hammam or dervish show, all included in your package.
-
Once you book, all attraction tickets land directly in your inbox. No paper, no pickup; just fast and easy access at every site.
Pro tips to help you make a pick
Similar things to do in Istanbul
About Basilica Cistern
Explore the Basilica Cistern, a massive 6th-century Byzantine water reservoir. Emperor Justinian I initiated its construction to ensure water supply to the Great Palace of Constantinople. Its intriguing features, like the Weeping Column and Medusa's Heads, echo Istanbul’s centuries-old history.
Why visit Basilica Cistern?
Highlights
Plan your visit

Main Entrance (Yerebatan Caddesi)
The entrance to the Basilica Cistern is located on Yerebatan Caddesi (street), on the southwest side of Hagia Sophia. On average, the wait time at this entrance is around 10-15 minutes if you don’t have a pre-booked skip-the-line ticket.
- Last daytime entry is around 6:30pm, after which standard admission closes.
- Special night sessions run from 7:30pm to 10pm, available only with dedicated night-entry tickets.
- Visiting at opening time or late afternoon offers fewer crowds and a smoother entry.
While strollers are allowed into the Basilica Cistern, there is no place to keep them aside while you explore the attraction. Visitors have to carry the stroller with them at all times.
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