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34.50 EUR

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Free cancellation

Duration30 minutes

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Basilica Cistern Entry Ticket with Guided Tour

Name: Basilica Cistern Entry Ticket with Guided Tour
Start: 2025-02-22T09:00:00+0300
End: 2025-02-22T17:00:00+0300
Location: Basilica Cistern

Explore ancient wonders and myths in the Basilica Cistern!

Basilica Cistern

From:

34.50 EUR

Select tickets

Free cancellation

Duration30 minutes

Descend fifty-two stone steps into the intriguing depths of the Basilica Cistern Museum, an architectural marvel dating back to the 4th century, with significant expansions in 532 AD in this Basicila Cistern Guided Tour.

Initially serving as a vital water storage facility during Byzantine times, this cathedral-sized cistern, commissioned by Emperor Justinian I, continues to mesmerize visitors with its historical significance and engineering ingenuity. As you explore, your guide will unravel the enigmatic tale behind the Medusa heads adorning the columns.

Immerse yourself in the vastness of this underground reservoir, capable of holding up to 80,000 cubic meters of water. Constructed with meticulous precision, its firebrick walls, four meters thick and waterproofed with mortar, stand as a testament to ancient craftsmanship.

Learn about its impressive water supply system, spanning 20 kilometers of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea, including the renowned Valens and Mağlova Aqueducts, masterpieces of engineering from the era of Emperor Justinian. Experience the timeless allure of the Basilica Cistern beneath the bustling streets of Istanbul.

Explore the magnificent Basilica Cistern constructed in the 4th century
Discover the enigmatic Medusa heads adorning the columns, steeped in Greek mythology
Gain a deeper appreciation for the engineering ingenuity and historical context of the Byzantine Empire.

Expert English-speaking guide
Skip the line ticket to Basilica Cistern

Entrance to Basilica Cistern can only be done with our guide.
The Basilica Cistern tour is in the English language.
We recommend being at the meeting point 5 minutes before the start of the tour to avoid any problems.

Entry tickets are non-refundable.

Please meet the guide in front of the Busforus Bus Stop at Sultanahmet Square.
Our guide will hold the Istanbul E-pass flag at the meeting point and time.
Busforus Old City Stop is located across the Hagia Sophia, and you can easily see red double-decker buses.

It is located in the heart of the Old City Square of Istanbul. 100 meters away from the Hagia Sophia

From Old City Hotels: You can get the T1 Tram to the 'Sultanahmet' stop, which is 5 minutes walking distance.

From Taksim Hotels: Take a F1 funicular line to Kabatas and get T1 Tram to Sultanahmet.

From Sultanahmet Hotels: It is within walking distance from Sultanahmet Hotels.