Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Entry & Audio Guide

4.22334 out of 5 stars
4.2
4.22334 out of 5 stars
994 reviews
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Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Entry & Audio Guide
4.22334 out of 5 stars
4.2
4.22334 out of 5 stars
994 reviews

Explore Istanbul on your own or with a guide with these tickets and audio guides. Skip the long lines at the Basilica Cistern and stay in touch with friends with an eSIM.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 1 hour - 75 minutes
Check availability to see starting times
Skip the ticket line
Optional audio guide
English

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

S
Shawn – United States

All issues were worked out, made for a very nice visit .

K
Kathryn – United Kingdom

Guide was excellent, very informative and answered all questions well. It was quite noisy (school trip behind us) but he made adjustments and did well. Trip overall was great and very interesting.

Select participants and date

Highlights

  • Visit the Basilica Cistern with your experienced guide
  • Listen to the story of Medusa Heads
  • Recognize a scene in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love
  • See breathtaking views of Istanbul over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus
  • Discover the second biggest church of Istanbul Hagia Irene

Full description

Visit the Basilica Cistern, built in the 4th century and enlarged in 532 AD, used as water storage during Byzantine times. Listen to your guide as they explain the mystery of Medusa heads from Greek mythology.

Explore this cathedral-size cistern, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in 532 A.D. to supply water to the Great Palace. It stores up to 80,000 cubic meters of water, delivered via 20 kilometers of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea.

Descend the fifty-two stone steps into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 meters, coated with a waterproofing mortar. Hear how the Basilica Cistern's water comes from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest and travels through the 971-meter-long Valens Aqueduct and the 115-meter-long Mağlova Aqueduct, built by the Emperor Justinian.

Includes

  • Internet with eSIM (limited time)
  • Audio guide
  • Skip-the-line entry ticket for the Basilica Cistern (if option selected)
  • Hotel pickup

Meeting point

Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card

Know before you go

  • You will receive your Entry Ticket QR Codes link via separate e-mail from supplier Istanbul Tourist Pass. It is not possible to skip the security lines. There could be a line at the entrance and is mandatory for all visitors.

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.2 /5

based on 994 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.4/5
  • Value for money
    4/5

Customer photos

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S
Shawn – United StatesOctober 6, 2024 – Verified booking
All issues were worked out, made for a very nice visit .
K
Kathryn – United KingdomSeptember 24, 2024 – Verified booking
Guide was excellent, very informative and answered all questions well. It was quite noisy (school trip behind us) but he made adjustments and did well. Trip overall was great and very interesting.
M
Munimur – United StatesAugust 30, 2024 – Verified booking
It was surprisingly very cooling and a great getaway from the humidity and hot weather. The architecture was impressive. It was kind of strange to see random modern sculptures, perhaps there was an exhibition currently live. Overall, very much worth the price and time to explore the underground water tunnels of Istanbul.

Product ID: 192903

Activity provider:Istanbul Tourist Pass®

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