Basilica Cistern skip the line 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.

• 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.

• 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 with a guided tour.
• 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 guided tour with skip-the-line entry
• 90-min Blue Mosque guided 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.

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

• Walk through the historic Basilica Cistern, also known as Sunken Palace and explore the best of Istanbul with 1-day hop-on hop-off bus pass.
• Delve underground to admire the distinct architecture of the Basilica Cistern, guided by an informative audio guide.
• Find the Hen's Eye Column, also known as the crying column. Legend says turning your hand in its hole while placing your thumb grants a wish.
• With the pass, visit sites like Beylerbeyi Palace, the former summer retreat for Ottoman sultans, and Dolmabahce Palace, the house of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
• Benefit from an audio guide in 8 languages, WiFi, and charging stations on the bus as you explore one route with over 11 stops.

Inclusions

Basilica Cistern

• Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern
• Multilingual audio guide in English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Iranian, Arabic, and Turkish

Hop-On Hop-Off

• 1-day unlimited hop-on hop-off pass
• Audio guide in English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Iranian, Arabic, and Turkish
• Onboard Wi-Fi & charging points

Exclusions

Hop-On Hop-Off

• Entry tickets to attractions
• Guided visits inside attractions
• Headset for smartphone

Bus Tour

• First Bus: 10am from stop #1 (Sultanahmet Square)
• Last Bus: 5pm from stop #1 (Sultanahmet Square)
• Frequency: Every 60 mins
• Popular stops: Taksim Square, Beylerbeyi Palace, Spice Bazaar & Dolmabahce Palace

Click here for the detailed route map and boarding points.

Basilica Cistern

• Tip: Observe the carp swimming in the water. The fish add a dynamic element to the cistern, often visible from the raised platforms.
• It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

Hop-On Hop-Off

• Tip: Have a blast exploring Taksim Square! Marvel at the iconic Republic Monument in the heart of the square.
• Facilities: Free Wi-Fi, Charging station, Recorded commentary.
• The departure times and timetables might change due to traffic, road work, or weather conditions.

• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.