Skip the line ticket and guided tour to the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul

Place: Istanbul

Duration: from 25 minutes to 35 minutes

Language: English

Availability: Daily

Mobile voucher accepted

Instant confirmation

Skip the line

Entrance fees included

Guided tour

Do this because

Multiple departure times throughout the day give you more control over your day of sightseeing
First time? Perfect chance to get to the know the area like a pro
Tell the guide what you want and let them focus the tour on your interests
Save time and see more with skip-the-line access
Smaller group size gives you a personalized experience in good company

What to expect

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.

Infants up to 2 years can join the activity for free
The tour guide will be carrying a white flag with Istanbul Tourist Pass logo

What’s included

Guided tour

Guided walking tour

Entrance ticket

Tour guide

What’s not included

Additional food and drinks

Tips (optional)

Hotel pick-up/drop-off

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100 EUR refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Location

Binbirdirek, BUSFORUS ISTANBUL (HOP ON HOP OFF TOURS), Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye

Meeting point:

The tour starts from the stop of the BusForUs (Red Double Decker Busses) touristic buses in the Sultanahmet Square, approximately 50 meters in front of the Hagia Sophia Museum. The Sultanahmet Square can be reached via the T1 Tram Line. Your guide carries a flag with the logo of Istanbul Tourist Pass.