Basilica Cistern: Skip the Line

Experience the Basilica Cistern like never before with skip-the-line entry, a guided tour, and the opportunity to explore this ancient water cistern at your own pace. Don’t miss the famous Medusa heads and avoid the long queues with our VIP ticket!

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Basilica Cistern - Use your ticket to enter directly and discover the city’s largest cistern with the help of an audioguide.
What's Included
  • Skip the ticket lines
  • Entry ticket
Additional Information

Visit the biggest ancient water cistern built in 336 with the two very famous Medusa heads. The Basilica Cistern is one of the most visited museums in Istanbul. Especially in spring, summer and fall there are very long queues in front of the ticket office. Thanks to our service you get inside the Basilica Cistern the fastest way.
Advantages with the…

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
3.5
(148 Ratings)
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Williamb474
Jul 11, 2025
My favorite site in Istanbul - I knew nothing about this site until Dan Brown wrote the book, Origin. The space is magical with its Romanesque columns. I also enjoyed the several contemporary art pieces that were placed in the waterways.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Masroor_s
Jul 9, 2025
Surprising and Mystic - Better than expected In fact surprised to see inside A must visit No ways it should be missed Some places it’s scary also but that’s the beauty
Review provided by Viator
Victoria_o
Jul 5, 2025
A must see - This is a must see if you do nothing else in Istanbul . The audio was easy and we could stay in one spot and repeat if needed. Great for self paced
Review provided by Viator
Patricia_g
Jul 4, 2025
The Best of the Best - It was incredible and super easy. They always made sure we had the day and time of our tickets in mind. They sent them by email or WhatsApp. I downloaded the tickets, went to the line that wasn't full, and 10 of us entered the Basilica Cistern. They downloaded the audio guides in Spanish to our phones, and we began our beautiful visit to an incredible and unforgettable place. Thank you, Viator, for making our trip and visit easier. It was my first time buying through Viator, and I will continue to do so!
Review provided by Viator
Kaitlin_e
Jun 30, 2025
Super easy to join the... - Super easy to join the online Ticket queue just make sure you have the QR code ready to scan. This was an awesome place to visit during the hot afternoon.
Review provided by Viator
U5783bwjulienr
Jun 29, 2025
👌 - We took the freshness underground in a timeless place. The play of light gives character to the columns and allows you to discover them in a different way by strolling under some refreshing drops. Bluffing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nigel_s
Jul 18, 2025
An amazing site - Get the skip the queue ticket as I did. The queue was so long. It was 35 centigrade but my wife and I walked straight to the front, the best money I've spent. Once again the link to the ticket didn't work and without roaming I wasn't able to listen to the audio.
Review provided by Viator
Phil_r
Jul 20, 2025
Bad experience - Don't use! - Application for downloading voucher/tickets didn't work. At venue, workers also tried. Finally purchased new tickets. Customer Service refused to refund cost of tickets never receiver or used. Not a customer oriented company.
Review provided by Viator
William_d
Jul 9, 2025
Skip the app! The lines are less effort. - All of these skip the line ticket apps are horrible. Much more complex than it should take to get a ticket. The info flows thru 3 different carriers and you cant get anything but a stock answer to any question. If you don't have cell or wifi at the entry you are in for a long effort. After purchase, first you get a confirmation, later a number code, then if lucky a QR code, then you have to pick up a voucher near the site, then you trade that for a ticket. Much more work than the short lines at the location. Skip the app!
Review provided by Viator
Coraline_d
Jun 30, 2025
Audio tour does not work, dismissive operator - The audio did not work if, being a traveler, you do not have data or strong data connection on your phone. The operator states that you can “download” the audio, but they simply send you to a website that cannot reload once you are at the basilica ; even if you already had it open and ready to go on your phone. My travel partner had data and was able to begin the audio tour, however, it continuously got disconnected while in the underground cistern and she was eventually not able to continue the audio tour. Just get tickets to the cistern or find an operator that has a true download (I.e. saved file) for you. Their customer service WhatsApp line was incredibly dismissive and not helpful, often seeming to “man-splain” the instructions to us that we had already clearly followed with no success.
Review provided by Viator
From $39
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).