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Basilica Cistern Guided Tour & Skip the Line Ticket

4.3 (1223 Reviews)

Starting From

₹ 3,464 per adult

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today

Discover the Basilica Cistern beneath the streets of Istanbul with a guided tour. Skip the long queues and wonder at the ancient site as you admire the architecture and Medusa heads.

About this activity

Cancellation Policy

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

Reserve now & pay later:

Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.

Duration 1.0 day

Check availability to see starting times.

Live tour guide

English

Choose from available dates

Details on this Activity

Itinerary

Get insights from local guide that bring this hidden marvel to life and transforms your visit into a truly memorable experience. Built in Byzantine times as a grand water reservoir, the cistern’s vast underground space is filled with hundreds of towering marble columns, their reflections shimmering on the water, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. Your guide willl share the cistern’s fascinating history, from its engineering feats to its vital role in Istanbul’s development, revealing details most visitors miss—such as the mysterious Medusa head columns with their intriguing legends. With your guide, you’ll understand not only the cistern’s function but its importance in both Byzantine and Ottoman times. The architectural brilliance and ancient stories woven into this space become clear, adding layers of depth to the experience. Guided insights elevate your visit, allowing you to truly appreciate the Basilica Cistern as more than an ancient structure—it becomes a doorway into Istanbul’s rich, storied past.

Highlights

In-Depth History: Learn the cistern's full story from a knowledgeable guide.
Hidden Details: Discover secrets and symbols you might miss on your own.
Medusa Myths: Hear intriguing legends behind the mysterious Medusa heads.
Enhanced Experience: Enjoy insights that make the cistern come alive.
Stay inside the Basilica Cistern after the tour as long as you want

Know before you go

You will skip the ticket lines, but you cannot skip the security line During high season the security check can take up to 30 minutes

Includes


Guide Skip-the-line entry Unlimited stay inside after the tour

Reviews from other travelers

Anna - Greece

5 /5

(Written on 2024-12-01)

Ο Mehmet ήταν πολύ φιλικός και αναλυτικός, μας ειπε πολλές ιστορίες τόσο για την Βασιλική Κιστερνα όσο και για την Πόλη. Μας άρεσε πολύ που ήταν πολύ μικρό γκρουπ.

Eloise - Australia

5 /5

(Written on 2024-10-13)

We're we glad we got skip the line tickets when we saw the line.

Marc - France

4 /5

(Written on 2024-10-04)

Very interesting visit. Unfortunately the guide spoke much too quickly, which made it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand.

GetYourGuide traveler - United States

5 /5

(Written on 2024-11-16)

Unexpected beauty

Alan - United States

5 /5

(Written on 2024-10-05)

This tour was worth the prices of admission if only for the fact that we avoided huge, huge lines and immediately got into this must see attraction in Istanbul. Guide was knowledgeable and friendly an (Read More)d made for a good tour.

Mauricio - Chile

5 /5

(Written on 2024-11-25)

The place is really amazing. The guide was not so friendly, I was expecting more from him, the audio tour was just good. Anyway we had a great time. You cannot miss it. Skipping the line was also a gr (Read More)eat thing.

GetYourGuide traveler - United States

1 /5

(Written on 2024-09-30)

The only good thing is we didn’t wait as long as everyone in the general line with a guide. However, when we got in, the guide took us aside to a corner and recited the basilica history to us. That wo (Read More)uldn’t have been so bad if we could hear the guide. It was so noisy and guide didn’t bother with headphones that we heard nothing. The most useless tour we’ve ever booked. Don’t bother with this booking; save your money and just go look at the basilica yourself.

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₹3,464 per adult