Private Tour: Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace Exploration with Fast-Track Entry

Embark on a private tour of Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace. Explore the underground marvel of the cistern and delve into the opulent world of Ottoman sultans at the palace. Fast-track entry included!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Basilica Cistern - After you meet your tour guide at the entrance of Basilica Cistern where Privileged Entry. Start to explore the ancient underground world of the Basilica Cistern on this private guided tour. Built in the 6th century, this mysterious subterranean chamber once held water for the city’s palaces and gardens. Now, you can wander through its dimly lit passages and marvel at the stunning Byzantine architecture, including the rows of marble columns and the eerie Medusa heads at the base of two pillars. Your guide will share fascinating stories and historical facts about the cistern, bringing this hidden gem of Istanbul to life.
What's Included
  • Guided tour of the Basilica Cistern
  • Services of a professional licensed tour guide
  • Topkapi Palace guided tour
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup
  • Entry fee of the Basilica Cistern ( 900 TL per person)
  • Entry fee of the Topkapi Palace ( 1700 TL per person)
Additional Information

Discover the captivating history and architectural wonders of Istanbul with our tour that takes you on a journey through the mysterious Basilica Cistern and the opulent Topkapi Palace. Our tour begins at the breathtaking Basilica Cistern, an underground marvel that dates back to the 6th century. Discover the ingenuity of Byzantine engineers who constructed this colossal subterranean reservoir, capable of holding over 80,000 tons of water. Our next stop transports you to the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years. Admire the palace’s distinctive architecture, lush gardens, and stunning views of the Bosphorus Strait. Explore the Harem, the most intimate and secluded part of the palace, where sultans and their families resided. Discover the secrets, intrigues, and luxurious lifestyles of the Ottoman royalty as you wander through these opulent chambers.

Location
Basilica Cistern
Yerebatan Caddesi
Meet your tour guide at the entrance of Basilica Cistern ( We will contact to you before your starts for more information )
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(49 Ratings)
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Lance5371
Aug 8, 2024
Private tour - Adam was great and very knowledgeable! Punctual , he told us exactly where to meet with pictures via WhatsApp. Istanbul can be very busy but under his direction , we had no problem . He was very knowledgeable with the Cistern and Topkapi Palace , great individual attention instead of a large group . Thanks again Adam !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lyndaco2950ky
Aug 1, 2024
One day in Istanbul - Very knowledgeable and patient with us. Had a wonderful day with Erdem!! We visited the palace and the cistern. Amazing history here
Review provided by Tripadvisor
George_j
Jul 27, 2024
Ancient Istanbul - We had a fantastic private tour of the ancient Basillica Cistern and the Topkapi Palace. Our guide was truly fantastic, moved at our pace, answered all the questions we had and was extremely well informed. He had stories, not just dates and names, to make the entire experience really engaging. The Cistern and the Palace were close together, so this makes for a great tour. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Fellowtraveler759192
Jul 22, 2024
Private guide in Istanbul is totally worth - We had great experience with Eden. He was very professional and knowledgeable with excellent communication. We were able to finish the whole tour and visited most of the places in Istanbul. We were also able to use fast pass for tickets due to Ereem. Also took us to areas of our interest for shopping near grand bazar.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A8466rzcatherinea
Jul 15, 2024
Skip the line Cistern and Topkapi Palace - Had an interesting time with our guide Erdem. Knowledgeable and good to talk to about life in Turkey. Cistern and Topkapi palace a great combo and worth paying to skip the line.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Agnes_l
Jul 14, 2024
Worth it all the way - Amazing tour with Erdem. Nice storytelling. Erdem is very knowledgeable and friendly. Reliable and safe tour.
Review provided by Viator
Cosmopolitan500566
Jul 7, 2024
Istanbul - Beautiful day, full of emotions. Erdem keskin is a very knowledgeable and nice guide. I highly recommend this experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
887anujb
Jun 26, 2024
Great half day tour of Basilica Cistern and Topkapi palace! - Our guide Erdem was friendly, knowledgeable and able to answer all the questions we had. He did a wonderful job of making the pace of the tour fit what we wanted but ensuring we did not miss anything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Florence
Jun 21, 2024
Clear and motivated guide - Very good visits to the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi with Erdem. Friendly, clear and motivated guide. He took all the time to explain to us and answer all of our questions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marcar11
Jun 14, 2024
Great English Speaking Guide - Great English speaking guide.Arrived at short notice and was extremely informative.Highly recommend.Cost great for a group.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 7 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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