Basilica Cistern guided tours

• 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.
• 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!
• 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.

• 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.

• Unlock the magic of Istanbul with this cost-saving combo that grants skip-the-line access to Basilica Cistern and a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait.
• Witness the majestic grandeur of Basilica Cistern, a 6th-century marvel, and discover its Byzantine history from your audio guide.
• Explore the historic site with an audio guide, including famous attractions like the Hen’s Eye Column and Medusa Pillar Bases.
• Set sail on a relaxing 2-hour Bosphorus cruise, capturing the beauty of Istanbul and its skyline viewed from a unique perspective.
• Benefit from the multilingual audio guide, acquainting you with the fascinating tales of the landmarks you cross like the Bosphorus Bridge and Hagia Sophia.

Inclusions

Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

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

Bosphorus Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise

• 2-hour Bosphorus cruise
• Audio guide available in 8 languages

Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

• Tip: Try the Medusa Heads Challenge - Find the two Medusa heads in the northwest corner of the cistern. One is upside down while the other is sideways.
• It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
• The attraction is wheelchair and stroller-accessible.

Bosphorus Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise

• Tip: Buy and sample some of the delicious local Turkish snacks available on the boat.
• Don’t forget to bring along your headphones to listen to the audio tour.
• The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese.
• There is limited internet at the pier so please download the app before the tour.
• The app does not require internet once it has been downloaded but ensure you have activated GPS.

Bosphorus Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise

• Galata Tower
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Ciragan Palace
• Ortaköy Mosque
• Bosphorus Bridge
• Beylerbeyi Palace
• Üsküdar
• Maiden Tower
• Topkapi Palace
• Hagia Sophia
• Seaside Villas

• These tickets can’t be cancelled. However, they are valid for an extended period of time.
• These tickets are valid for an extended duration. The exact details will be present on the ticket.