Landmarks

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

Tourists exploring the grand interiors of Dolmabahce Palace, marveling at the architectural beauty of Hagia Sophia, and descending into the historic Basilica Cistern on a guided tour

Renovated Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet District Fatih, Istanbul

Enjoy an informative guided tour of one of the largest ancient water cisterns in Istanbul with exclusive skip-the-line tickets!

Highlights

Skip the long lines and discover one of the most-visited museums in Istanbul.
Learn more about the Basilica Cistern’s history and the outstanding engineering prowess of the Byzantines.
Witness the famous Hen’s Eye Column and Medusa Pillar Bases, which have been featured in several Hollywood films.
Opt for the multilingual audio guide to gain intriguing insights into the museum and its exhibits.
You can make your experience even better by upgrading your ticket to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque.

Inclusions

Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern
Multilingual audio guide (optional)
Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia English guided tour (optional)

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

4.3

6.7K ratings

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3/5

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Françoise

4/5

Nov, 2024

The "ste Sophie, Topkapi, basilica cistern" combo is a must for anyone visiting Istanbul. Handy if you have an Internet connection, otherwise a bit complicated. Wire-cutting is relative. It's best to visit in the morning, as it's more crowded in the afternoon. For Topkapi, you have to wait for a guide (even if you're on your own) to pass the 2 controls (main entrance then harem), otherwise you'll be turned away (which is what happened to us 😉). Allow 1/2 day for the palace, it's very big and very beautiful.

View original review in French

Holly

5/5

Nov, 2024

The cistern alone is astounding and well worth the price of admission. The walkways that have been engineered so people can wander through the entire cistern are impressive. The skip the line ticket process is simple and worth the small extra cost. The audio guide was easy to use and interesting without being overly informative. One thing that I did not enjoy was the pop art style modern sculptures and colorful lighting. I would have preferred simple white or gold lighting. Nevertheless the cistern is a must see and is one of the most interesting places I've ever visited.

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

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

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!

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Your Experience

From Dan Brown’s wildly popular novel Inferno to the 1963 James Bond film ‘From Russia With Love’, the Basilica Cistern has always been a part of popular culture. Built during the reign of Justinian I, the cistern itself is a paragon of 6th century Byzantine architecture. As you enter this cavernous subterranean marvel, you will be greeted by a dim golden hue that glistens off the surface of the water.

As you walk on the raised wooden platforms amongst the 336 massive columns that support the structure, prepare to be enchanted by the gentle pitter-patter of water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and the ghostly outlines of carp that populate the water. The Medusa column bases in the northwest portion of the cistern are a particularly mesmerizing sight. Your guide will tell you about the various theories surrounding the mysterious origin of the two stone heads that are oriented sideways.

Upgrade to Include Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace

Enhance your experience with guided tours. When you sign up for this exclusive offer, your name will be added to the list of monuments over the course of three days. Visit any monument at any available time, or meet us outside two museums where we'll guide you past long lines! With a flexible combo ticket that allows access to all three attractions, feel free to explore them together or independently - it's totally up to you!

Operating hours

Basilica Cistern

Monday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Tuesday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Wednesday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Thursday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Friday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Saturday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Sunday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM

Know Before You Go

Important information

It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
- Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.