Landmarks

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Basilica Cistern

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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 in (optional)
Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia English guided tour (optional)

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled. However, you can use them any time until 31 Dec, 2024.

Ratings & Reviews

4.4

3.9K Ratings

5/5

2.8K

4/5

491

3/5

157

2/5

180

1/5

247

Guests from United States, Spain, United Kingdom and over 91 countries have loved this experience

John

3/5

May, 2024

Could not download guide until after the visit More pre-information should be given to download guides prior to tours as no signal in venue area

Wiesława

5/5

May, 2024

Amazing architectural feat. Technology meets beautiful art. Just wunderful in every aspect. To avoid quenes buy tickets online. Not to be missed.

Karine

5/5

May, 2024

Un coupe file indispensable pour visiter la citerne basilique d'Istanbul où la file d'attente de plusieurs centaines de personnes du soir au matin peut dissuader ! Une fois à l'intérieur, la magie du site opère. Une visite à ne pas manquer.

Paolo

3/5

May, 2024

L'audio guida offline non funzionava e i numeri sulla planimetria non coincidevano con l'audio. Per la crociera il battello era pessimo il più scadente utilizzato nei viaggi della mia vita oltre che l'audio guida non era tradotta in italiano . Il prezzo non vale l'esperienza se rapporto il costo del battello della linea pubblica. Non lo consiglierei. Inoltre per l'accesso alla cisterna non abbiamo avuto nessun salta coda ; abbiamo fatto una cosa più lunga del biglietto classico

L.a.

5/5

May, 2024

Arrived a few minutes after 9am opening to find a line half way up the block, but then realized I chose the SKIP THE LINE option, I breezed in. There are two lines, one along the wall and the other STL option right next to it but sort of street side. I was maybe one of the first 20 people in the door Very pleased I went with that option. A tiny bit disappointed that the downloaded audio didn't work, I had listed to it the night before so I had a good idea what to expect, but would have been nice if it had worked as advertised.

Ticket Validity

These tickets are valid until 31 Dec, 2024.

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	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM
Tuesday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM
Wednesday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM
Thursday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM
Friday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM
Saturday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM
Sunday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 6:30 PM

Know Before You Go

Important Information

It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly after the purchase.
Please display the same along with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Kindly ensure that you arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time to avoid any delays.