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- Address: Yerebatan Caddesi 13, Istanbul 34400, Turkey
- Hours: 9 am- 8 pm
- Admission: 10 TL
Basilica Cistern Tours
Atmospheric music, rosy flood lighting and the lilting sound of water lapping on marble – entering the Underground Cistern known in Turkish as Yerebatan Sarayi - or Basilica Cistern, is an experience that charms all the senses.
Built to store water, this has to be the fanciest and most enormous well you’ll ever see. The cistern dates back to Byzantine days when the city was called Constantinople.
Built by Emperor Justinian in the mid-500s, the cavernous underground water-storage area has a vaulted brick ceiling supported by a forest of Corinthian-carved marble columns.
If this eerie, magical place looks a little familiar, you may recognize it from a scene in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love.
On your walk around the Basilica Cistern, seek out the two pillars that have the face of Medusa carved onto their base.
Practical Info
The Basilica Cistern is in Sultanahmet. The entrance is opposite Hagia Sophia on Yerebatan Caddesi.
Tours & Tickets
Imperial Istanbul Half-Day Tour: Hagia Sophia, Basillica Cistern and Grand Bazaar
Get a glimpse of Istanbul's fascinating Imperial legacies on this half-day sightseeing tour with an expert local guide. First visit Hagia Sophia, once one of ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
Private Half-day Tour: Imperial Istanbul - Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar
Discover Imperial Istanbul on this private half-day sightseeing tour. Visit Hagia Sophia, which is today one of the most magnificent museums in the world and ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
Top Sites Of Istanbul: Half Day Small-Group tour
The best choice for any first timer, Top sites of Old Istanbul, is a half-day, small group tour. Discover what has made Istanbul such a majestic and ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 6 hours (approx.)
Best of Istanbul Tour
Experience the scope of Istanbul with this full-day, small-group tour. Led by a local guide, explore the main attractions of the city, including Pierre Loti ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 1 day (approx.)
Istanbul Old City Private Walking Tour
Pressed for time? Hit the key attractions of Istanbul's Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in just seven hours on this walking tour with private guide. ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 7 hours (approx.)
Istanbul Old City Private Tour - Sultanahmet Tour
Have an ideal tour to enhance the experience of your journey, including the most famous attractions located in Sultanahmet area, such as Blue Mosque, Hagia ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 7 hours (approx.)
Small-Group Istanbul Old City Sightseeing Tour
Immerse in Istanbul's UNESCO-listed Old City and visit the highlights of the ancient city of Constantinople on this 9-hour, small-group sightseeing tour led ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
Private Full-Day Tour of Byzantine Empire Sites in Istanbul
Discover the Byzantine history of Istanbul, including the Hagia Sophia, the Chora Museum, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. From the 4th to the 15th century, ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
Small-Group Full-Day Istanbul City Tour
Your visits will be to the following sights with an experienced and licensed professional guide. Pick up at around 08:30 from either your Istanbul hotel or the ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
Full-Day Istanbul Culture and Food Tour
This food and culture tour is one of the most popular daily Istanbul tours. Be ready for some amazing and unforgettable moments as you discover Istanbul along ... Read more
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 14 hours (approx.)
