Book Cistern Basilica tickets

• Avoid waiting in line outside the ancient Basilica Cistern with these skip-the-line tickets.
• Meet your expert English-speaking guide at the designated meeting point and enter the monument.
• The Basilica Cistern was built back in 532 AD and is one of Istanbul’s many hidden underground water reservoirs.
• According to Greek mythology, Medusa used to guard this building herself - you can even see two Medusa heads at the base of columns here.
• See the illuminated marble and granite columns and learn about how different eras used different materials to build them.
• Explore two more of Istanbul's iconic landmarks, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with an upgrade.

Inclusions

• Expert English-speaking guide
• Skip the line ticket to Basilica Cistern
• Hagia Sophia guided tour (optional)
• Blue Mosque guided tour (optional)
• Audio guide app in 8 languages

• Tip: Ensure your shoes have a good grip as the floors can become very slippery and safeguard your camera from water droplets falling from the ceiling.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

• Avail of a great cost benefit with this combo, giving you skip-the-line access to two of Istanbul’s iconic sites: the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia.
• Marvel at the impressive Byzantine architecture of the Basilica Cistern, a 6th-century subterranean marvel with 336 massive columns.
• Soak in the Basilica Cistern experience with an optional multilingual audio guide providing intriguing insights into the history of this unique site.
• Step into the world-famous Hagia Sophia, once the largest place of worship for over a millennium with skip-the-line tickets and an audio guide.
• Enjoy the liberty to explore the magnificent mosaics and paintings at your own pace at the Hagia Sophia’s 2nd-floor Visitors' Center.

Inclusions

Basilica Cistern

• Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern
• Multilingual audio guide

Hagia Sophia

• Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia
• Entry to Hagia Sophia visiting area
• Audio guide in 23 languages

Basilica Cistern

• Tip: Keep an eye out for the ghostly outlines of carp swimming in the water, they make for a great photo backdrop.
• This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Hagia Sophia

• Tip: Look for the 'weeping column,' it's believed to have healing powers.
• This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
• You skip the ticket lines but you cannot skip the security check.
• The security check can take up to 60 minutes during peak seasons.
• Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing with exposed shoulders or chests. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf.
• Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing with exposed shoulders.
• Clothes and scarves are available for purchase at the entrance of the attraction.
• Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommend visiting after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.

• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

• Enjoy a guided tour of 3 of Istanbul’s iconic attractions with this one combo ticket that you can use in 1 day or over a span of 2 days.
• Skip the lines and enter the 4th-century Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir from the Byzantine times, with an expert English-speaking guide.
• Admire the artwork here with raised wooden platforms and aesthetic vaulted ceilings as you to the mystery of Medusa heads from Greek mythology.
• Soak up the architectural charm and beauty of the Blue Mosque as you admire the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the mosque’s interior walls.
• See the 5 main domes, 6 minarets, and 8 secondary domes and learn about Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, Islam and Istanbul’s rich heritage from your guide.
• Enter Hagia Sophia with skip-the-line access, an important monument both for the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires and admire its architectural beauty.

Inclusions

Basilica Cistern

• 30-min guided tour of the Basilica Cistern
• Skip-the-line ticket to Basilica Cistern
• Expert English-speaking guide

Blue Mosque

• 60-min guided tour of the Blue Mosque
• Entry to the Blue Mosque
• English-speaking guide

Hagia Sophia

• 60-min guided tour of Hagia Sophia
• Skip-the-line tickets to Hagia Sophia
• English-speaking tour guide
• Audio guide inside Hagia Sophia

Basilica Cistern

• Tip: The underground cistern is dark and damp, which can lead to a drop in temperature. It’s best to carry a light cardigan to keep yourself warm.

Blue Mosque

• Tip: Look out for decorations and items inside the mosque inscribed with the names of the caliphs and verses from the Quran.
• This tour is not available on Tuesdays.
• Please note that the security line can take up to 60 minutes in the high season.
• If you do not have a scarf or body cover, you can buy them at the entrance (a scarf is 1€ and a body cover is 3€).

Hagia Sophia

• Tip: Don’t forget to make a wish at one of Hagia Sophia’s columns, known as the ‘wishing column.’ Legend has it that if you poke your finger through a hole in the column and your finger emerges wet, your wishes will come true and you’ll be cured of any illness. No harm in trying!
• This tour is not available on Tuesdays.
• Please expect a considerable wait time as you enter the attraction, especially during holidays and weekends.
• Security checks at Hagia Sophia take approximately 30 minutes.
• Since it is a religious place, guests are requested to wear clothes that cover their arms and head.
• While photography is allowed, all visitors are requested to refrain from turning on flash and using bulky accessories like tripods.
• Hagia Sophia may be closed during prayer times as it is a place of religious worship.
• These tickets are valid for 2 days from the date of experience.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• These tickets are valid for 2 days from the date of purchase.

• This combo lets you skip the lines for Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern all in one go! Perfect for time-conscious travelers and history buffs.
• Explore the Sultan's lavish chambers at the Topkapi Palace, including the Harem, and marvel at the Imperial Treasury's jewels like the Topkapi Dagger.
• Witness the architectural marvel of Hagia Sophia and decipher the cryptic Viking runes etched by ancient visitors, alongside Islamic and Christian art.
• At Basilica Cistern, spot the column shaped like the feathers of a peacock, constructed in memory of the slaves who died building it.
• With multilingual audio guides, unlock the secrets of Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia's hidden murals, and the Basilica Cistern's haunting Medusa.

Inclusions

Topkapi Palace

• Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace
• Access to Harem Museum and Hagia Irene Museum
• Audio guide in Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish

Hagia Sophia

• Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia
• Audio guide in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish

Basilica Cistern

• Skip-the-line entry to Basilica Cistern
• Audio guide in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish

Topkapi Palace

• Tip: In the first courtyard, don't miss Hagia Irene, the oldest church in Istanbul and one of the oldest unreconstructed buildings in the world.
• This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Hagia Sophia

• Tip: Don't miss the Deesis mosaic, a recently uncovered Byzantine treasure depicting Virgin Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist in a scene of intercession.
• This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
• The prayer area on the first floor can only be entered by Turkish citizens.
• Hagia Sophia is under renovation, therefore, not all parts of the building are open to the public.
• Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommend visiting after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.

Basilica Cistern

• Tip: Look out for exhibitions which combine modern art installations with the cistern's ancient architecture, showcasing Istanbul's evolving character.
• This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

• Save time and money with this combo ticket valid for 3 days, and enjoy hassle-free access to the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern.
• Skip the lines at Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern and enter all the 3 museums to start your guided tour.
• Get the most important information and orientation tips from an official tour guide and benefit from an audio guide app available for Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace in 9 languages.
• Following this, feel free to explore the museums at your own pace and listen to the interesting commentary on your audio guides.

Inclusions

• Skip the line entry to Hagia Sophia
• Guided tour of Hagia Sophia
• Skip the line entry to Topkapi Palace (including Harem section) & guided tour (optional)
• Skip the line entry to Basilica Cistern & guided tour (optional)
• Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace audio guide (English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, Turkish)

Exclusions

• Headsets
• Hotel transfers
• Meal inclusions

• Please download the audioguide app in your smartphone prior to your tour.
• The audio guide is available for Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace in the following languages: English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish.
• This ticket is valid for 3 days. You may come at the available times, to the meeting points and visit these with your Istanbul Welcome Card guide. You can visit all 3 museums in 1 day or on different days.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

• Enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul’s best iconic attractions with this one combo ticket that you can use in 1 day or over 2 or 3 days.
• Learn about the illustrious history of each of these landmarks from your expert English-speaking guide.
• Gain valuable insights about the iconic Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque from your guide before you enter.
• Explore Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern while listening to interesting stories through an audio guide app available in 8 languages.
• Sail away on a relaxing 90-minute cruise of the Bosphorus Waterway as you admire the architectural beauty of Istanbul from a different perspective.

Inclusions

• 60-min Topkapi Palace tour with skip-the-line entry
• 30-min Basilica Cistern tour with skip-the-line entry
• 60-min Hagia Sophia tour with entry
• 90-min Blue Mosque tour with entry
• 90-min Bosphorus Cruise ticket
• English-speaking guide for all attractions
• Audio app in 10 languages

Day 1

• Hagia Sophia Mosque
• Blue Mosque
• Bosphorus Cruise Tickets

Day 2

• Topkapi Palace
• Basilica Cistern

• Tip: Topkapi Palace's ground floor has the best Instagram potential. You get to photograph the stunning interiors and beautiful ceilings.
• The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish.
• Facilities: Pram/Stroller Accessibility.
• For Hagia Sophia, Women are required to cover their knees, shoulders, and chest. Their hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men are required to cover their knees and shoulders. If you don't have a scarf or covering, it can be purchased at the entrance, at your own expense.
• With this admission ticket (except for Hagia Sophia), you will skip the ticket line, but not the security line. During high season, the security check could take up to 30 minutes.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for pets.
• Your guide will show you the way to each attraction, then you can set your own pace for exploring.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.