Basilica Cistern tickets
The Basilica Cistern is a vast underground reservoir from the sixth century, a forest of columns standing in water beneath the old city. Here is how to visit.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ticket options compared
What each kind of ticket lets you see, and how the options differ in price and cancellation terms.
| Option | What’s included | Good for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard entry | Entry to the cistern and its raised walkways, at your own pace. | A short visit at your own pace | Book now |
| Skip-the-ticket-line entry | A ticket bought ahead, often handed over by a host at the door, so you avoid the queue at the ticket booth. | Midday visits in high season | Book now |
| Guided tour | Entry with a guide, usually as part of a walking tour that also covers Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome. | Understanding what you are looking at | Book now |
Check live prices
Open each option to see the price and the cancellation terms for your date.
About the Basilica Cistern
The cistern was built in 532 under Emperor Justinian to store water for the Great Palace and the buildings around it. Its roof rests on 336 columns, many reused from older temples.
In one corner, two column bases are carved blocks showing the head of Medusa, one set on its side and one upside down. Nobody knows for certain why.
After a long restoration the cistern reopened in 2022 with new walkways just above the water and changing light that picks out the columns.
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Good to know
Opening hoursOpen daily. Check the hours for your date.
How long to allowThirty to forty-five minutes.
Underground conditionsIt is cool, dim and damp all year. The walkways can be slippery, and there are stairs down and up.
Where to enterThe entrance is on Yerebatan Street, across the tram line from Hagia Sophia.
Nearby
Hagia Sophia
The 6th-century domed church that became a mosque. Visitors enter the upper gallery on a ticket.
Blue Mosque
The Sultanahmet Mosque. Free to enter, closed to visitors at prayer times.
Topkapı Palace
Home of the Ottoman sultans, with the Harem and the treasury. Closed on Tuesdays.
Sultanahmet
Walk to the main monuments. Quiet in the evening.
Also in Istanbul
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the queue?
In high season it can be an hour or more around midday. A ticket bought ahead removes the ticket queue but not the security check.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Children usually like the dark, the water and the Medusa heads. Hold hands on the walkways.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
Access is by stairs, and facilities for step-free entry are limited. Check with the provider before you book.
Is photography allowed?
Yes, without flash or tripod.