BASILICA CISTERN (YEREBATAN SARAYI)

Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern in Istanbul on a tour with all skip-the-line tickets included. See the major highlights with an expert guide on a small group tour

Visit Istanbul's Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir with a mysterious ambiance. Skip the ticket line to explore Medusa heads, marble columns, and serene waters with a digital audio guide.

Explore the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia Museum with combo tickets featuring skip-the-ticket-line entry

Skip the lines and explore the Basilica Cistern with expert-led tours or audio guides. Getting started Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled time and keep your mobile ticket and a valid photo ID ready. A staff member will meet you at the entrance and help you check in. You’ll breeze past the ticket queue, but do note that all visitors must go through a security check. Basilica Cistern The Basilica Cistern is one of Istanbul’s most atmospheric spots—a vast, ancient underground reservoir built in the 6th century. It’s best known for its forest of marble columns, the serene reflections in the water, and, of course, the mysterious Medusa heads hidden at the far end. Depending on the ticket you choose, an expert guide will accompany you through the cistern. You’ll get the backstory behind the Medusa heads, learn how this shadowy space once supplied water to emperors, and hear quirky details you’d probably miss on your own. Prefer to explore at your own pace? You can use the included audio app, available in five languages, to guide you through the cistern. If you want to see more of Istanbul, upgrade your ticket to include a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, an architectural masterpiece known for its massive dome and golden mosaics.

With this combo ticket, save time and money as you enjoy hassle-free entries to Topkapi & the Basilica Cistern. That’s not all - enjoy the benefit of a guided tour for each of the museums including Hagia Sophia and audio guides which are available too in 9 different languages on iOS and Android. After signing up for this experience, your name will be on the list for each of the monuments for 3 days. Be free to visit at the available times, gathering at the meeting points in front of the museums to skip the lines at 2 of them with an authorized host. With the flexibility of this combo ticket, feel free to visit all 3 museums in one day or choose to visit them on separate days. For each museum, gain as much information as possible about the uniqueness of the monuments from your guide within a 30 to 45-minute time frame. Following this, you may explore the museums on your own at your own convenience and listen to the fascinating stories available in the audio guide.

Explore the Basilica Cistern at your leisure with skip-the-line tickets.

Experience the magnificence of Istanbul's skyline with a fast-access visit to the legendary Galata Tower. Standing tall for over six centuries at its prominent location, this towering landmark has etched itself as an enduring symbol of the city. Ascend to its terrace and see a panoramic vista that captures the essence of Istanbul's beauty: the historic peninsula, the majestic silhouette of the Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia, the meandering Bosphorus Strait, the iconic Bosphorus Bridge, the tranquil waters of the Marmara Sea, and the juxtaposition of the European and Asian quarters. Let the audio guide share fun tower facts, enlightening your visit with engaging narration and interesting tidbits along the way. Basilica Cistern From Dan Brown's widely acclaimed novel "Inferno" to the iconic 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love," the Basilica Cistern has long been embedded in popular culture. Gain skip-the-line access to this vast subterranean wonder, where you'll be welcomed by a subdued golden radiance reflecting off the water's surface. As you traverse the elevated wooden walkways amidst the 336 imposing columns upholding the structure, brace yourself to be mesmerized by the soft patter of water droplets trickling from the arched ceiling and the ethereal silhouettes of carp gliding through the water. Utilize the multilingual audio guide for an enriched experience.