Basilica Cistern: Ancient Roman Marvel

Skip the lines and explore Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern with a guide. Discover ancient Roman engineering marvels and mysterious artifacts. Book your adventure now.

Duration: 50 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Basilica Cistern - Save your time and enjoy a great marvel of antiquity in best possible way!
    Join us in the journey into the Basilica Cistern, walk through underground Istanbul and learn about all the interesting details about the area.
    Every hour between 10:00 and 17:00, there is a tour by an official guide of the museum. You can join them as…
What's Included
  • Highlights by an Official Museum Guide (every hour between 10am-5pm, not at :30s)
  • Skip-the-Line Entrance to Basilica Cistern
  • Audio Guide App
Additional Information

Experience the ancient Roman marvel of Istanbul without the hassle of waiting in lines. Discover the grandeur of antiquity within a well-preserved, massive structure. Be amazed by the towering columns from the Roman era. Enjoy unparalleled flexibility with frequent sessions, allowing for a leisurely travel experience.
The renowned Basilica Cistern in…

Location
Basilica Cistern
Alemdar Mahallesi, Yerebatan Caddesi, No:1/3
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
3.4
(21 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Antonio
Sep 25, 2024
Unique experience - recommended spot with nice vibes that bring u back to past amazing spot rich of story so it's worth it The best period to visit it is after the summer
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_w
Aug 29, 2024
Great guide, great visit. - Our guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and friendly. He really made the visit very interesting.
Review provided by Viator
Bar_n
Jun 30, 2024
Nice place, worthy service - a big wow for the cistern. simply stunning. the guiding service was short but helpful for the context. the queue was long but we used another line to enter. thus, it was convenient and quite recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Kerry_l
Oct 4, 2024
Definitely a must and so much easier with a guide - Nice guide ! Very enthusiastic about his history and his subject The basilica was amazing especially when lit up
Review provided by Viator
G7274dgchristym
Oct 4, 2024
Beautiful Place - Bumpy Start - The experience of visiting the Cistern was excellent. Our guide was knowledgeable and shared just enough information to keep it interesting. The Cistern itself is as beautiful as it interesting in terms of the technology available 1400 years ago. The only negative is in finding the meeting spot. While the address is correct, it's the exit for the Cistern which is confusing. There is no signage designation it as a meeting spot. Because I was early and I'm perfectly willing to speak with the young men on the street, I found out that the guide would be there soon. Other people who weren't willing to speak with the young men were all over back and forth looking for what to do. When the guide did arrive - a little late in my opinion - she simply stood in her spot with a stick with a white flag bearing travel logos. We had to engage with her. Once we did, all was well. It was just confusing at the start.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B4351bnstephenm
Jul 11, 2024
Well worth a visit - Meeting the guide was typically Turkish! stand around looking lost where the instructions say eventually someone comes up saying are you waiting a guide if so you have to wait across the road. Then after much looking at tickets and phone calls you get an entry ticket! The guided bit is pretty short and very quiet in a noisy cavern but the jump the Q is welcome on the hot days but you have as much time as you want to enjoy the sight! Which is truly impressive and there are placards to fill in all the missed guide bits
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rossh191
Jun 3, 2024
Well worth a visit - Really interesting experience, the cistern is very atmospheric (and quite dark on occasion). Well worth a visit. We didn't bother with the skip the line tickets at the time we went (May), just queued up and bought tickets - the ticket office is across the road from the exit. Took about 25 minutes to get tickets. I suspect it'd be wise to go early during the peak summer months.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F4512zisusannet
Sep 24, 2024
I would like a refund - What a waste of money. I would ask for a refund. Guide walked us in. Spoke briefly, told us where to go and we never saw him again. The other tour guides stayed with their group and spoke all the way around
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oliver
Aug 5, 2024
Organization on the ground disastrous - The visit to the Basilica Cistern was a disaster organizationally. At 1.30 p.m. there was no guide at the exit. Afterwards we learned that there is only one guide at the exit every hour. Nobody knew about the staff. Then a QR code should be shown, although the confirmation said you will get the tickets from the tour guide on site. Contrary to the performance described, there was also no German-speaking leadership. Without internet nothing came to be downloaded. Accessibility for my wife is only given there after many steps down. At the exit again many stairs. The stair lift could not be used. Afterwards the tickets were sent to you by e-mail, although it was initially called otherwise. On the go without internet impossible to check emails and download the audiiguide Without further knowledge of the process, this tour is not possible.  We expect a credit from tripadvisor here in the postgamg, because a lot of vacation time was wasted and the booked scope of services has nothing to do with the actual state on site. Greetings Family Thur
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Walidbf3558gq
Jul 2, 2024
Don’t book thru Tripadvisor - The guide was not there. TripAdvisor coordination is zilch. I was not the only one, rather another two tourists had the same issue and none of us speak the language.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $34
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).