Priority Entry to Basilica Cistern & Digital Guide
Highlights
- Explore the eerie beauty of ancient, submerged columns
- Marvel at the mysterious upside-down Medusa heads
- Experience serene concerts in a historic water reservoir
- Explore the Basilica Cistern's wonders with an informative digital audio guide
Discover Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern beneath the city streets, with striking columns, atmospheric reflections, and the famous Medusa heads. A digital guide is included.
Descend beneath the streets of Istanbul and explore the remarkable Basilica Cistern with skip-the-ticket-line access and a digital guide. This atmospheric underground site offers a completely different perspective on the city’s Byzantine past.
Built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, the cistern was created to store water for the Great Palace and surrounding buildings. Today, its vast interior, dim lighting, reflections on the water, and endless rows of marble columns create one of Istanbul’s most distinctive historic settings.
As you make your way through the walkways, observe the 336 columns supporting the structure and notice how many were reused from earlier Roman buildings. Their different styles and decorative details reveal the layered history behind the monument.
A key highlight is the pair of Medusa heads used as column bases. Their unusual placement and mysterious origins have made them some of the most recognizable features of the Basilica Cistern.
Use the included digital guide during your visit to learn about the cistern’s construction, purpose, architectural details, and legends while exploring independently at your own pace.