Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.
Both the Hagia Sophia and the sunken palace were beautiful! It is very worthwhile. And especially for the Hagia Sophia, it's worth buying tickets online in advance to avoid the queue at the ticket office. It's also worth it for the Basilica Cistern, as there are 2 different queues here and the one for the e-tickets was quicker in our case.
The architecture of the basilica cistern is amazingly beautiful, very well lit and with a well organized traffic. It has generously met my expectations. But the number of visitors per shift or hour should be reduced.
It's just a complete fascinating cisterna and we are glad that we visited it. I can recommend it to everyone.
Tickets were easy to book, great instructions and saved a lot if time by not queuing. In terms of the sites they were really good to see and understand the history behind it. Great addition to our Istanbul trip.
We only had to wait five minutes to enter. The basilica is beautiful, clearly different from the usual basilicas and therefore worth the visit
One of the best experiences in Istanbul. Although we had to wait for around 30-40 min ( tickets purchased online) it was worth it.
Easy to book. Very clear instructions from the guide in Topkapi, which helps not to miss the Harem and the incredible collections. Jump the queue ticket saved us waiting hours to enter. The experience in Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Balisica were totally different and absolutely awesome.
Very quick in processing the online tickets. I just paid online with my debit visa card and I got tickets via my email and phone message after 30 seconds. I just need to show the staff who are assisting the crowds at the queue and she opened the gate for us. Our mom needs a lift to go down and they arranged the lift as well. Very happy.
Wonderful experience! loved to admired the historic and the ancient greek and roman that still exist in the form of architecture in the Basilica Cistern. I'd love to visit there again!
We enjoyed both the Skip-the-Line-Tickets and touring the ancient Basilica Cistern. Basillica Cistern is a must-visit place for anyone who visits Istanbul.
We made a combined booking with Fastlane. For Hagia Sophia and Cisterna Basilica, the tickets we sent were immediately our valid tickets. Worked perfectly. Both sights were very beautiful and interesting. At Hagia Sophia, as a non-Muslim you "only" get to the first level and can look down into the whole mosque. Also very impressive, but not really explained beforehand. At the Topkapi Palace there was only one reservation in the mailing, which is easy to overlook, and we only noticed in front of gate 2 (where you need real tickets). We then had to go back to an agency outside Gate 1 so that we could finally get in with a tour lady. It worked but with a certain loss of time. The palace itself was huge and very beautiful. Be sure to book a ticket with harem access (as we had), this part is the highlight of the palace. All in all, a great day with lots of wonderful impressions.
Superb and well accepted booking.
Walked straight in , the queue was at lest hundred people !! Worth extra to skip queue
Made such a difference avoiding the long queues and getting there relatively early was the wa right call
Simplicity in the directions provided, all ok
It was very interesting and beautiful.
Very good experience of not having to wait in the long line
It was a good idea to book without queues, since there were a lot of tourists.
Skip the line tickets and then the whole cistern in its history and grandeur .
It was an amazing sight, great architecture! Easy booking and quick hassle free entrance.
Very good, fast and the Basílica is amazing
Good experience with the ticket purchase and quick entry to the cistern. We loved the experience of the visit. We recommend it
There was no line to enter the cistern as we arrived early which made our experience easy and seamless.
It's really a fascinating place
The queue-cutting ticket was very useful for avoiding the wait, and the visit to the site was magnificent!
Bypass the long ticket lines and explore Basilica Cistern with an expert guide or a self-guided audio tour.
Inclusions
Meeting point easy to find. Quick to receive tickets (once giving the reserve papers of the app) and go inside the palace.
Both the Hagia Sophia and the sunken palace were beautiful! It is very worthwhile. And especially for the Hagia Sophia, it's worth buying tickets online in advance to avoid the queue at the ticket office. It's also worth it for the Basilica Cistern, as there are 2 different queues here and the one for the e-tickets was quicker in our case.
The architecture of the basilica cistern is amazingly beautiful, very well lit and with a well organized traffic. It has generously met my expectations. But the number of visitors per shift or hour should be reduced.
Tickets were easy to book, great instructions and saved a lot if time by not queuing. In terms of the sites they were really good to see and understand the history behind it. Great addition to our Istanbul trip.
Easy to book. Very clear instructions from the guide in Topkapi, which helps not to miss the Harem and the incredible collections. Jump the queue ticket saved us waiting hours to enter. The experience in Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Balisica were totally different and absolutely awesome.
We made a combined booking with Fastlane. For Hagia Sophia and Cisterna Basilica, the tickets we sent were immediately our valid tickets. Worked perfectly. Both sights were very beautiful and interesting. At Hagia Sophia, as a non-Muslim you "only" get to the first level and can look down into the whole mosque. Also very impressive, but not really explained beforehand. At the Topkapi Palace there was only one reservation in the mailing, which is easy to overlook, and we only noticed in front of gate 2 (where you need real tickets). We then had to go back to an agency outside Gate 1 so that we could finally get in with a tour lady. It worked but with a certain loss of time. The palace itself was huge and very beautiful. Be sure to book a ticket with harem access (as we had), this part is the highlight of the palace. All in all, a great day with lots of wonderful impressions.
Made such a difference avoiding the long queues and getting there relatively early was the wa right call
Simplicity in the directions provided, all ok
It was a good idea to book without queues, since there were a lot of tourists.
There was no line to enter the cistern as we arrived early which made our experience easy and seamless.
Fantastic location, so different from everything else in Istanbul. Skip the line tickets are excellent, we got straight in. Make sure you have downloaded the tickets before arriving so you have a code for them to scan.
Skip the line worked. The lighting at Hagia Sophia was very distracting to take photos. Basilica Cistern was great. Audio guide did not work at Hagia Sophia (was it free for everyone?) so I did not even bother trying at the Cistern.
We were greeted in a separate queue with entry without delay. We were helped very clearly by the staff to download and use the audio in our language. We loved the experience
In none of the three places we had to wait in line, we were able to enter directly without any problems. In the Topkapi Palace, once inside, there were many people and there were queues for the treasure and the relics.
The queue was cut at the Citerne and the reception staff were very helpful, sharing the connection with us so that we could collect our tickets. But it was more complicated at Topkapi, where you had to collect your ticket from a hut outside the site, which wasn't properly explained. And there's no real queue cutter.
We went yesterday around 4pm to the Cistern. The entrance line was very long and we were able to enter in minutes through the online tickets entrance. We downloaded the audio guide prior entrance in our phones and were able to follow all detailed explanations throughout the visit.
Beautiful place worth seeing, we could not connect them to audioguide because once you enter there is no coverage, no one warns you about it.
We had misread the instructions and entered the palace. We were directed to the ticket office and the clerk told us where to find our guide. Once there, he accompanied us to join a group who were already going through the entrances, so we didn't have to wait 30 minutes for the next departure (very nice of him). The fast pass allowed us to do all 3 activities without a hitch, although you need to allow quite a bit of time for the palace and less for the cistern and Saint Sophia. It was really great
Well, the security queue was fast. We had a problem with downloading one of the ticket QR code PDFs but the Hagia Sofia staff resolved it quickly.
Everything was well organized, but the guidebook is very poorly done and the queue for the treasure is unacceptable for wire-cut tickets.
For me these venues are a musr see whrb you are in Istanbul, but as for mostly every over crowded tourist spot in the world I don't really enjoy them.
Everything went very well. We didn't have to wait in line and they gave us the correct information about the guided tour in the chosen language. The place is beautiful and safe. It is definitely worth visiting.
It was really nice good price experience. Will recommend your services to my friends and wil use your services further. Good luck!
Beautiful place but I thought the price was not worth. Based on other Attractions I have seen, around €20 would have been ok. Setting up the Audio Guide on my personal device was a bit cumbersome as there is no guidance at the entrance on how to do it. A Staff Member was kind enough to set up the Wifi and Download the Audio Guide. I suggest a more visible instruction for that as well as a better numerical sequence for the route.
NO ticket lines , only security unfortunately. Audio guide did not work in the Basilica as no internet Over all satisfied
Explore 2 of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks with a single ticket & skip the crowds.
Everything you get at Basilica Cistern: Get a quick entry to the Basilica Cistern with the skip-the-line tickets to explore at your own pace, with insights from an audio guide available in 7 languages.
Everything you get at Hagia Sophia: Get a fast-track entry to Hagia Sophia. Access the Upper Gallery and explore key highlights with an included audio guide.
Why choose this combo: See Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with one discounted combo ticket—two iconic sites, one great deal, just 110 meters apart.
Inclusions Basilica Cistern
Skip-the-line entry
Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish & Turkish
Hagia Sophia
Skip-the-line entry
Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian & Spanish
Exclusive access to the Upper Gallery visiting area
Basilica Cistern
Tip: The Basilica Cistern gets busy quickly post mid-morning. For a calmer visit, aim for late afternoon or early evening.
The Cistern stays cool and damp year-round, with slippery floors. Wear warm clothes and shoes with a good grip to prevent yourself from slipping.
Don’t leave without seeing the Medusa heads. They’re tucked away at the far end, and worth viewing from every angle!
Hagia Sophia
Meeting point easy to find. Quick to receive tickets (once giving the reserve papers of the app) and go inside the palace.
Both the Hagia Sophia and the sunken palace were beautiful! It is very worthwhile. And especially for the Hagia Sophia, it's worth buying tickets online in advance to avoid the queue at the ticket office. It's also worth it for the Basilica Cistern, as there are 2 different queues here and the one for the e-tickets was quicker in our case.
The architecture of the basilica cistern is amazingly beautiful, very well lit and with a well organized traffic. It has generously met my expectations. But the number of visitors per shift or hour should be reduced.
Quick and easy purchase. Even faster entry with skip the line up organized . I really liked the gardens and the overview from the terraces the ballroom and the doctor's residence hall
Tickets were easy to book, great instructions and saved a lot if time by not queuing. In terms of the sites they were really good to see and understand the history behind it. Great addition to our Istanbul trip.
Easy to book. Very clear instructions from the guide in Topkapi, which helps not to miss the Harem and the incredible collections. Jump the queue ticket saved us waiting hours to enter. The experience in Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Balisica were totally different and absolutely awesome.
The Palace is amazing and very interesting to discover. Booking the tickets by the app is the best thing ever. The thing not so great is when you loose the conection to audioguide.
We made a combined booking with Fastlane. For Hagia Sophia and Cisterna Basilica, the tickets we sent were immediately our valid tickets. Worked perfectly. Both sights were very beautiful and interesting. At Hagia Sophia, as a non-Muslim you "only" get to the first level and can look down into the whole mosque. Also very impressive, but not really explained beforehand. At the Topkapi Palace there was only one reservation in the mailing, which is easy to overlook, and we only noticed in front of gate 2 (where you need real tickets). We then had to go back to an agency outside Gate 1 so that we could finally get in with a tour lady. It worked but with a certain loss of time. The palace itself was huge and very beautiful. Be sure to book a ticket with harem access (as we had), this part is the highlight of the palace. All in all, a great day with lots of wonderful impressions.
Made such a difference avoiding the long queues and getting there relatively early was the wa right call
Simplicity in the directions provided, all ok
It was a good idea to book without queues, since there were a lot of tourists.
There was no line to enter the cistern as we arrived early which made our experience easy and seamless.
Fantastic location, so different from everything else in Istanbul. Skip the line tickets are excellent, we got straight in. Make sure you have downloaded the tickets before arriving so you have a code for them to scan.
Skip the line worked. The lighting at Hagia Sophia was very distracting to take photos. Basilica Cistern was great. Audio guide did not work at Hagia Sophia (was it free for everyone?) so I did not even bother trying at the Cistern.
It crashed several times. If I tried to check steps of the guide it went to the side of the screen and I could see the half of the the meniu only. It happened suddenly and sometimes got fixed without explanation either. However, it was really annoying and I stopped using it after 5-6 times restarting the tour guide. The good side of the tour was your staff and smooth entry. For that I can give 5 star. He was really clear and informative.
We were greeted in a separate queue with entry without delay. We were helped very clearly by the staff to download and use the audio in our language. We loved the experience
The opulence of the Ottoman sultans was on display when we visited the treasury. Overall its a good experience glimpsing through all the courtyards. It takes about 3 hours to finish this tour. Recommended for those who would like to see history and learn something about the past.
The palace is amazing and worth to visit, Regarding the audio guide provided by the ticket salers this is not very easy to use and it will be better to have the original one. Furthermore the ticket does not give access to the church in courtyard one. In general this tour is a little bit expensive
In none of the three places we had to wait in line, we were able to enter directly without any problems. In the Topkapi Palace, once inside, there were many people and there were queues for the treasure and the relics.
The queue was cut at the Citerne and the reception staff were very helpful, sharing the connection with us so that we could collect our tickets. But it was more complicated at Topkapi, where you had to collect your ticket from a hut outside the site, which wasn't properly explained. And there's no real queue cutter.
We went yesterday around 4pm to the Cistern. The entrance line was very long and we were able to enter in minutes through the online tickets entrance. We downloaded the audio guide prior entrance in our phones and were able to follow all detailed explanations throughout the visit.
Beautiful place worth seeing, we could not connect them to audioguide because once you enter there is no coverage, no one warns you about it.
We had misread the instructions and entered the palace. We were directed to the ticket office and the clerk told us where to find our guide. Once there, he accompanied us to join a group who were already going through the entrances, so we didn't have to wait 30 minutes for the next departure (very nice of him). The fast pass allowed us to do all 3 activities without a hitch, although you need to allow quite a bit of time for the palace and less for the cistern and Saint Sophia. It was really great
The group was huge and so it took a long time for everyone to get in because the guide has the QR code on their cell phone and has to let everyone in individually. The same with the entrance to the harem!
Well, the security queue was fast. We had a problem with downloading one of the ticket QR code PDFs but the Hagia Sofia staff resolved it quickly.
Explore Istanbul’s 'Big Three' — Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern — with one flexible, skip-the-line combo ticket.
Inclusions Basilica Cistern
Skip-the-line entry
Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, & Turkish
Hagia Sophia
Skip-the-line entry
Access to Hagia Sophia's Upper Gallery visiting area
Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, & Spanish
Topkapi Palace
Skip-the-line entry
Access to Topkapi Palace Harem (Royal Apartments & Imperial Hall)
Access to Topkapi Palace Museum (Treasury & Sacred Relics Room)
Audio guide downloadable in English, Arabic, French, German, & Spanish
Basilica Cistern
Tip: Follow the full loop before heading out—the Medusa heads are tucked away at the far end and worth a close look from every angle.
Skip-the-line tickets are very helpful, but all visitors must go through standard security screening.
For a more peaceful visit, go early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it’s less crowded. The space feels a lot more serene then!
The lighting is kept low to preserve the atmosphere. Switch to night mode or steady your phone to capture clearer photos.
Make sure you wear shoes with good grip to avoid slipping in some areas.
Hagia Sophia
Tip: Security checks are a must at the venue. During summer months, checks can take extra time with queues stretching into the courtyard.
Only the Upper Gallery area is open to visitors, while the main floor is reserved for worshippers.
You cannot enter the mosque during prayer times, so plan your visit around the daily schedule.
Modest dress is mandatory for all, so make sure you wear clothes that cover your head, shoulders and knees. Headscarves are available at the entrance for women.
Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommended visiting after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.
Topkapi Palace
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
All beautiful, especially Cistern and St. Sophia Mosque which, however, due to earthquake ilb23 April, we could see today 24 April. Courtesy and professionalism of the Guide. Thank you
Ali was an awesome tour guide! Great experience 👍👍
Everything, the guide's experience, cordiality, friendliness.
The tour ran like clockwork. Our guide, Michael, was in the expected place and knowledgeably took the group to each of the three historic locations, explained their context and interesting and historical details. We were allowed our own time in each location before meeting back at an agreed place for the next stop on the tour. No real queues in the 4th week of June on a 1pm booking, but great to skip lines on this tour where possible. Apparently the rules have changes in the Hagia Sophia allowing guides to take visitors around the 2nd level which meant that Michael could explain the Christian and Muslim iconography in this exceptional 6th century building. Ticketing through Headout was easy and predictable.
Our guided tour was great. Our tour guide was a local woman who was very knowledgeable. Made seeing the 3 sights easy. Would recommend!
The tour was well organized, the guide was concerned about the group and very professional. I recommend the combined ticket for those who only have a short time in Istanbul and want to maximize their time.
Thanks to Ali, very professional and kind. Made us feel comfortable with detailed information of each site. Ancora Imparo...he knows, Michela and Roberto
Our guide (Matar?) was super informative. His delivery was relaxed, belying the fact that he has undoubtedly given the same dozens of times prior to our group. He allowed adequate time at each location for us to walk around before moving on to the next site. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone interested in knowing about the history of istanbul.
The guide Ali, was incredibly knowledgeable - his guiding added real depth to each of the three sights and he was able to take care of us well, preparing us for any practical arrangements e.g. dress codes, queuing, meeting places, toilets etc.. these details are important! The Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia were fascinating and beautiful places to visit and worth doing with a guide lest you miss key details. I'd do the trip all over again if given the opportunity and the wonderful guide.
Wonderful places not to be missed! The guide was able to pick us things not described in normal guidebooks!I recommend doing it in the morning to find fewer people!
Our guide, Ali, was amazing. So full of cool information but was very proactive for our group in getting us through shortcuts and making sure we were always prepared for thr next thing. Highly recommend!
Murat was an awesome guide. He was easy to understand, led us through all 3 sites at the perfect pace and gave us a wonderful history lesson. Highly recommend this tour!
The guide was nice enough, and knew a lot, as much as I could tell. His microphone connection to our earpieces failed, so that was a major problem. He also needs to say "ladies and gentlemen " less often, it waslike a distracting nervous tic. He must have inserted it 50-70 times in the 3 site talks.
Tour guide very helpful and provided lots of information. Answered everybody's questions. Provided useful information about other places to visit.
Ticketing was easy. Loved the whole experience. Our guide Halek had incredible knowledge and was very friendly. I highly recommend doing this tour, there wee lots of people going 9n their own waiting in long l8nescand nit learning about what they were experiencing so to me to pay for that was well worth it
Nice, interesting tours. The guide takes time to tell the story and even takes photos for those who wish.
The guide was exceptional. His comments, humor and knowledge fascinated me. He even went half an hour over schedule. My expectations were exceeded.
The really nice guide But we still have to queue to get in The group is huge, not great For 100€ knowing that the Blue Mosque is free, I don't think it's worth it at all.
Great guide with plenty of information you can not find in a book or online. Skip the line tickets worked fantastic. Enough time for breaks and toilet.
Guide was knowledgeable and took the time to explain key features throughout the tour. Responded to group questions with great insights.
Great experience! A group not so large that you can't ask questions to the guide and no one got lost despite big crowds. Incredidbly knowledgeable guide who provided a very detailed and interesting tour. A great start to our trip to Istanbul to get a base understanding of Old Town and its history.
I had a great time thanks to the guid who was brilliant, very informative and was able to pass on the information in easy way so you understood , he also had a good sense of humour . The things we saw were fascinating and interesting even though I have travelled a lot over the years.
A very entertaining guide, who ensured that the tour was very exciting, entertaining and entertaining with his great specialist knowledge and many anecdotes! Not having to queue is a great luxury, as the other queues would have taken hours.
We had a lovely guide, Ms Basu. She did a great job of allowing us to learn and then wander on our own.
It was great. The guide was very professional and enjoyable. Haluk Barlas
Enjoy expert storytelling, skip-the-line access, and a 5+ language audio guide for 3 of Istanbul’s most iconic sites.
Everything you get at Blue Mosque: Skip the long lines and head straight to the Blue Mosque’s grand prayer hall. Get insights into this stained-glass-lit monument, with an English-speaking guide and an audio guide.
Everything you get at Hagia Sophia: Access the Upper Gallery of Hagia Sophia—an area once reserved for royalty. Avoid the wait and admire its breath-taking mosaics at your own pace, while enjoying a detailed audio guide.
Everything you get at Basilica Cistern: Take an underground walk into the Basilica Cistern’s cool and quiet spaces. Skip long wait lines, and walk in to admire the marble columns and the famous Medusa heads with an expert guide.
Why choose this combo: In just 4 hours, visit three of Istanbul’s top landmarks in one day, with one easy ticket. Skip the long lines with this flexible ticket and explore each site with expert English-speaking guides and immersive audio guides.
Inclusions Basilica Cistern
1-hour guided tour of Basilica Cistern
Skip-the-line entry
Expert English-speaking guide
Audio app downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, & Turkish
Hagia Sophia
1-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia
Skip-the-line entry
Expert English-speaking guide
Entry to Hagia Sophia Upper Gallery visiting area
Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, & Spanish
Blue Mosque
Entry and 1-hour guided tour to the Blue Mosque
Expert English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line entry
Basilica Cistern
Tip: Be sure to walk to the far end of the cistern to see the famous Medusa heads—many visitors miss them by turning back too soon.
Floors can be slick in places due to moisture, so wear stable footwear with good grip.
For a quieter, more serene experience, visit first thing in the morning or just before closing when crowds are less.
Skip-the-line tickets help cut down wait time. However, security screenings are compulsory for all visitors and will take time.
Hagia Sophia
Tip: Security checks can take up to an hour in summer (June–August), so plan your visits accordingly.
Only the Upper Gallery is open to visitors; the main prayer hall is reserved for worshippers and not accessible to visit.
Access is paused during daily prayers, so plan your visit between those times.
Tourist entry is paused every Friday from noon to around 2:30pm for weekly prayers.
Visitors are required to dress modestly – so please cover your head, shoulders and knees. Women are also required to wear scarves. If you forget to bring your own, there are scarves available at the entrance.
Blue Mosque
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
All beautiful, especially Cistern and St. Sophia Mosque which, however, due to earthquake ilb23 April, we could see today 24 April. Courtesy and professionalism of the Guide. Thank you
Ali was an awesome tour guide! Great experience 👍👍
Everything, the guide's experience, cordiality, friendliness.
The tour ran like clockwork. Our guide, Michael, was in the expected place and knowledgeably took the group to each of the three historic locations, explained their context and interesting and historical details. We were allowed our own time in each location before meeting back at an agreed place for the next stop on the tour. No real queues in the 4th week of June on a 1pm booking, but great to skip lines on this tour where possible. Apparently the rules have changes in the Hagia Sophia allowing guides to take visitors around the 2nd level which meant that Michael could explain the Christian and Muslim iconography in this exceptional 6th century building. Ticketing through Headout was easy and predictable.
Our guided tour was great. Our tour guide was a local woman who was very knowledgeable. Made seeing the 3 sights easy. Would recommend!
The tour was well organized, the guide was concerned about the group and very professional. I recommend the combined ticket for those who only have a short time in Istanbul and want to maximize their time.
Thanks to Ali, very professional and kind. Made us feel comfortable with detailed information of each site. Ancora Imparo...he knows, Michela and Roberto
Our guide (Matar?) was super informative. His delivery was relaxed, belying the fact that he has undoubtedly given the same dozens of times prior to our group. He allowed adequate time at each location for us to walk around before moving on to the next site. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone interested in knowing about the history of istanbul.
The guide Ali, was incredibly knowledgeable - his guiding added real depth to each of the three sights and he was able to take care of us well, preparing us for any practical arrangements e.g. dress codes, queuing, meeting places, toilets etc.. these details are important! The Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia were fascinating and beautiful places to visit and worth doing with a guide lest you miss key details. I'd do the trip all over again if given the opportunity and the wonderful guide.
Wonderful places not to be missed! The guide was able to pick us things not described in normal guidebooks!I recommend doing it in the morning to find fewer people!
The Bascilica Cistern is a must see in Istanbul. It is such a surprise. It is huge and beautiful, like walking into a theatre. We found it easy to book and our guide was very good. He was also encouraged us to ask him anything about Istanbul, which was really helpful.
Our guide, Ali, was amazing. So full of cool information but was very proactive for our group in getting us through shortcuts and making sure we were always prepared for thr next thing. Highly recommend!
Murat was an awesome guide. He was easy to understand, led us through all 3 sites at the perfect pace and gave us a wonderful history lesson. Highly recommend this tour!
The guide was nice enough, and knew a lot, as much as I could tell. His microphone connection to our earpieces failed, so that was a major problem. He also needs to say "ladies and gentlemen " less often, it waslike a distracting nervous tic. He must have inserted it 50-70 times in the 3 site talks.
Tour guide very helpful and provided lots of information. Answered everybody's questions. Provided useful information about other places to visit.
Ticketing was easy. Loved the whole experience. Our guide Halek had incredible knowledge and was very friendly. I highly recommend doing this tour, there wee lots of people going 9n their own waiting in long l8nescand nit learning about what they were experiencing so to me to pay for that was well worth it
Nice, interesting tours. The guide takes time to tell the story and even takes photos for those who wish.
The guide was exceptional. His comments, humor and knowledge fascinated me. He even went half an hour over schedule. My expectations were exceeded.
The really nice guide But we still have to queue to get in The group is huge, not great For 100€ knowing that the Blue Mosque is free, I don't think it's worth it at all.
Great guide with plenty of information you can not find in a book or online. Skip the line tickets worked fantastic. Enough time for breaks and toilet.
Guide was knowledgeable and took the time to explain key features throughout the tour. Responded to group questions with great insights.
The basilica cistern is a majestic work not to be missed! the directions sent by email about the meeting point are accurate, too bad there is no Italian guide, but with the app and audios eventually the problem is solved. Well done
The guide was good, but so difficult to hear. So I didn't hear him. Not necessarily his fault as it was busy, perhaps a mic and audio set would have helped.
Great experience! A group not so large that you can't ask questions to the guide and no one got lost despite big crowds. Incredidbly knowledgeable guide who provided a very detailed and interesting tour. A great start to our trip to Istanbul to get a base understanding of Old Town and its history.
I had a great time thanks to the guid who was brilliant, very informative and was able to pass on the information in easy way so you understood , he also had a good sense of humour . The things we saw were fascinating and interesting even though I have travelled a lot over the years.
Skip the lines and explore the Basilica Cistern with flexibility to add more landmarks and guides.
Inclusions
Skip-the-line entry to Basilica Cistern
Guided tour of Basilica Cistern
Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia (based on option selected)
Guided tour of Hagia Sophia (based on option selected)
Entry to Blue Mosque (based on option selected)
Guided tour of Blue Mosque (based on option selected)
Expert English-speaking guide
Audio app for iOS & Android in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish & Turkish
Headset
Basilica Cistern
Tip: The famous Medusa columns are easy to miss if you head out too early; walk all the way to the back.
Your ticket lets you skip the long lines, but you’ll still need to go through the security check.
Mornings and evenings are quieter; avoid midday hours when large tour groups and cruise visitors typically arrive.
The lighting is intentionally dim; use your phone’s night mode for better photos.
The damp floor can be slippery in some areas—wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.
Hagia Sophia
Tip: Be prepared for security checks; expect up to 60 minutes of wait time during the peak season (June to August).
The ground floor is designated for prayers, while the second floor is open to visitors.
During the five daily prayers, certain areas are restricted to tourists.
Hagia Sophia is closed on Fridays from 12pm to 2:30pm for the Friday prayer.
Dress modestly—cover shoulders, arms, and knees. Women need to cover their heads. Scarves are available at the entrance.
Blue Mosque
Ship-Bosfor Tur and dinner
I liked the mosque very much but we could only visit the upper part because the lower part is reserved only for Muslim worshippers. This was not clear: I knew it was a mosque but I was not clear that it could not be visited.
I thought the value was phenomenal. We were able to do all that the tickets included except the whirling dervish show. The etickets and skip the line worked very well. The only disappointment was the dinner show and cruise which was awful all around. The meal was mediocre, as expected. The show, what little we saw of it, was nothing special. The guests all crowded around the performers, so no one else could see. They did have a video of it but it was very grainy. If I had wanted to see a video of it I could have done so at home. And everyone was smoking despite the signs forbidding it. I got home and had to shower and was the clothes. If you want to see all the hihglights of Istanbul and are willing to cram lots of activites into a few day, this is definitely a great deal.
I haven't seen much difference between carrying a purchased ticket or not. The line to buy tickets at most Lis sites is minimal. What there is is a lot of people to snitch at the security checkpoint.
It was very straightforward and everything worked.
We were refused entry to HAREM in TOPKAPI
Build your perfect Istanbul adventure by picking 2 to 10 attractions, from iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to cultural gems like a hammam or dervish show.
Inclusions
Peter
Gianni
Radu
Pedro
Ionasc
Antoine
Markus
Mariagrazia
+1 more
The Basilica Cistern, constructed in the 6th century under the directive of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, originally served as a water source for the Great Palace of Constantinople and its surrounding areas. Today, this renowned historical site, known for its notable features like the Weeping Column and Medusa's Heads, attracts approximately two million visitors each year. Read on to find out more about the attraction, how to book Basilica Cistern tickets, its timings, and other information to plan your visit.
You can avail of Basilica Cistern skip-the-line tickets from $40.02. The Basilica Cistern guided tour tickets start from €41.80. These tickets also allow you to skip ahead of long lines at the cistern.
Choose from three types of Basilica Cistern tickets: skip-the-line, guided tours, and combo tickets. Guided tours offer an in-depth experience, while combo tickets are ideal for visitors looking to explore nearby attractions like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace in one day.
Yes, with your Basilica Cistern priority entry tickets, you can skip the long lines and avoid the crowds. Plus, enjoy an audio guide available in over 8 languages for a more informative experience.
The long colonnades, dimly-lit interiors, the Medusa Heads, and the Weeping Column are some of the most interesting highlights of the Basilica Cistern. Each of these features has legends and anecdotes surrounding them.
The Basilica Cistern is partially accessible. While there is a lift near the exit on Alemdar Street, the walking path inside can be uneven and slippery. Wheelchair users may need assistance, especially around corners or in low-light areas. Please note, there are no elevators inside, and seating is very limited.
Yes, you can click pictures inside the Basilica Cistern. Try to avoid using tripods and other commercial equipment that may disturb other visitors.
The Basilica Cistern attracts over 2.2 million visitors every year, and during the busy months of June to August, the site can get very crowded. Purchasing tickets ahead of time, especially skip-the-line tickets, will save you time and help you avoid long ticket lines. Online tickets also guarantee entry during your preferred time slot, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable visit.
