Basilica Cistern Guided Tour
What you will experience?
Venture below Istanbul’s streets to discover:
- Skip the long ticket lines and enter Basilica Cistern with priority access
- The haunting beauty of 336 ancient columns reflected in still waters
- The enigmatic Medusa heads – one sideways, one upside down!
- Perfect acoustics that amplify every whisper (try it!)
Your expert guide will reveal:
- How this 6th-century marvel quenched Byzantine Istanbul’s thirst
- Why the Medusa heads were placed this way (3 competing theories!)
- Its secret role in modern pop culture (James Bond filmed here!)
Duration: 60 minutes
Start time: 9:00 am
Language: English
Need to Know:
🕒 Full Timetable:
| Day | Available Times |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 • 12:00 • 14:00 • 16:45 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 • 10:30 • 12:00 • 14:00 • 15:00 • 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 • 10:00 • 11:00 • 12:00 • 14:00 • 15:00 • 16:00 • 16:45 |
| Thursday | 09:00 • 10:00 • 11:00 • 12:00 • 12:30 • 14:00 • 15:15 • 16:30 |
| Friday | 09:00 • 10:00 • 11:00 • 11:30 • 12:00 • 12:30 • 13:30 • 14:30 • 15:45 • 16:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 • 10:00 • 11:00 • 12:00 • 13:30 • 14:00 • 15:00 • 15:30 • 16:30 |
| Sunday | 09:00 • 10:00 • 11:00 • 12:00 • 13:30 • 14:15 • 15:00 • 15:30 • 16:00 • 16:30 |
⏱ Important Times:
- Arrive: 5 minutes before your tour
- Duration: 45-60 minutes
- Last Entry: 16:30 daily
👟 What to Wear:
- Comfortable shoes (humid stone floors)
- Light jacket (constant 18°C/64°F underground)
Minimum Guests per Booking: 1
Maximum Guests per Booking: 30