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Basilica Cistern Ticket Price & Hours (Updated → 2023)

23 January 2023 by Serhat Engül

Basilica Cistern promises its visitors a mysterious journey back to ancient times. The 1500-year-old cistern is located underground and is dated to the Byzantine period.

Basilica Cistern is adjacent to Istanbul’s most visited historical sites, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. In this way, it is visited by an average of 3 million people a year.

You can read about the history of the Basilica Cistern in this article. The Basilica Cistern entrance fee and opening hours are also noted. The ticket price of the cistern was last revised in January 2023 and has not changed since then.

If you want to get fast access to the cistern with a guided group, you can buy Basilica Cistern skip-the-line tickets from this link. These online tickets can save you from waiting at the ticket booths during the spring and summer months.

Table of Contents

  • History of the Basilica Cistern
    • 1. Byzantine Cisterns in Istanbul
    • 2. Rediscovery of the Cistern
    • 3. Famous Movies Filmed in the Cistern
    • 4. Medusa Heads in the Cistern
  • Basilica Cistern Entrance Fee 2023
  • Basilica Cistern Skip-The-Line Tickets
  • Basilica Cistern Opening Hours 2023
  • Basilica Cistern Reopened on 23 July 2022
  • How to Get to The Cistern?
  • Conclusion

History of the Basilica Cistern

Underground Basilica Cistern in Istanbul

The history of Basilica Cistern dates back to the 6th century. Built by Justinian, the most famous ruler of the Byzantine Empire, the cistern was one of Constantinople’s most important water resources.

The Historical Peninsula on which Constantinople was founded was a place known for its scarcity of water resources. Lack of water became a major problem as the city’s population grew.

A Roman Aqueduct was built in late antiquity to bring water to Constantinople from the mountains of Thrace. A part of these aqueducts built by Emperor Valens can still be seen in Istanbul.

Many cisterns were built in the city to store the water coming from this aqueduct. The largest of these was the Basilica Cistern, and it carried water to monumental structures such as Hagia Sophia and the Great Palace.

The Basilica Cistern takes its name from the Stoa Basilica, the public square under which it was built. The ceiling of the cistern is supported by 336 reused columns from the ancient Greek period. Cistern measuring 138 meters long and 65 meters wide. It covers nearly 1000 square meters.

1. Byzantine Cisterns in Istanbul

Theodosius (Serefiye) Cistern
Theodosius Cistern (Serefiye Sarnici)

Most of the Byzantine cisterns in Istanbul are found in and around Sultanahmet. Theodosius Cistern, Cistern of Philoxenos and Basilica Cistern can be visited as museums. In addition, there is the Sarnic (Cistern) Restaurant and the Nakilbent Cistern located under a carpet store.

There are many articles on this website for those who want to trace the Byzantine sites in Istanbul. One of these is the article on Byzantine cisterns in Istanbul. In this article, you can find detailed information about some of the cisterns that are open to touristic visits in Istanbul.

2. Rediscovery of the Cistern

Crying Column

It is hard to believe that such a distinctive structure could be forgotten for a long time. However, after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453, the cistern was lost for a long time.

The Ottomans repaired the Valens Aqueduct and continued to bring water to the city through the Roman system. However, they did not use the cisterns. They connected the water pipes to the public fountains they built on the streets and provided water in this way.

For this reason, most of the Byzantine cisterns underground were forgotten. Byzantine historian Petrus Gyllius, who came to Ottoman Istanbul in the 16th century, made the rediscovery of the cistern.

3. Famous Movies Filmed in the Cistern

Mysterious Byzantine Structure

Unforgettable scenes of many famous movies were filmed in Basilica Cistern. The first production to film the Cistern was In 1963, From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery.

The final scene of the movie Inferno, based on Dan Brown’s novel, was also shot at Basilica Cistern. The famous actor Tom Hanks played the leading role of this movie, which was shot in 2016.

4. Medusa Heads in the Cistern

Medusa Heads in the Cistern

The Medusa Heads hidden in the farthest corner of the cistern will be the most interesting part of your visit. Since most of the columns in the cistern are taken from other structures, their lengths are different. For this reason, you will see stone blocks of various sizes under each.

The largest of these stone blocks are placed under the two short columns at the end of the cistern. The face of Medusa, a mythological creature, is engraved on these giant blocks, which cannot be noticed at first sight.

You will see that one of these Medusa Heads is placed sideways and the other is placed upside down. Many historians consider this to be due to the superstitions of Byzantine society.

Medusa has been a powerful figure since ancient times because it is a monster that turns people into stone. They didn’t want to face her, even if she was going to be submerged in a cistern.

Basilica Cistern Entrance Fee 2023

Basilica Cistern Online Tickets in Advance

Basilica Cistern entrance fee is 300 Turkish Lira per person as of 2023. Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid in the museum. You can pay by credit card or Turkish lira at the box office. However, foreign currency is not accepted.

The Istanbul Museum Pass, a product of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is not valid in museums run by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The other museums in this category are the Miniaturk Museum the Panorama 1453 Museum and the Tekfur Palace Museum respectively.

Basilica Cistern Skip-The-Line Tickets

In the high season (spring, summer and autumn) there are long lines at the entrance to the Basilica Cistern. Therefore, it is recommended to buy a skip the line ticket.

Online tickets sold by GetYourGuide are slightly more expensive than standard Basilica Cistern tickets. However, it provides guided tour service without waiting you in the queue for a long time.

Those with skip-the-line tickets meet with their guide at the entrance and enter the museum as a group. Thus, you will listen to the history of the cistern from the professional tour guide. You can buy Basilica Cistern skip-the-line tickets from this link here.

Basilica Cistern Opening Hours 2023

Basilica Cistern opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 19:00 in the evening. The cistern is open to visitors every day of the week. This information was last revised on January 23, 2023.

Basilica Cistern Reopened on 23 July 2022

Basilica Cistern Reopened after Restoration

Basilica Cistern has long been closed for restoration. However, after the completion of this detailed renovation, Basilica Cistern has been reopened as of 23 July 2022.

Basilica Cistern was partially under restoration from 2015 to 2020 and was completely closed during the pandemic. However, the restoration, which took 7 years, ended in July 2022.

In the image above, you can see a photo of the cistern taken after the restoration. Illuminated by red and green lights, the cistern is now even more mysterious and picturesque than before.

How to Get to The Cistern?

Basilica Cistern is located in the heart of Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s most touristic district. For this reason, it is very easy to reach the museum. You can walk from distinctive structures such as Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque to the cistern.

In order to get to the Cistern from Taksim Square, you must first go to Kabatas with Funicular F1. If you take Tram T1 from Kabatas Tram Station, you can reach Sultanahmet Tram Station in 15 minutes.

It will take only a few minutes to walk from Sultanahmet Tram Station to the cistern. The Theodosius Cistern, another Byzantine cistern serving as a museum, is also located very close. You can get there on foot from the same tram stop.

Conclusion

Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line tickets

Basilica Cistern is among my favorite historical monuments as a local guide. A marvel of Roman architecture and engineering, the cistern supplied water to Constantinople for close to a millennium.

After visiting historical monuments such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, you will feel like you have traveled to another world when you go down to the Basilica Cistern. Because the atmosphere of the cistern is so fascinating.

The only bad thing about the cistern is the long queues in front of it. You can buy skip-the-line tickets for the Basilica Cistern from this link and discover this unique historical monument by joining a guided group.

Written by Serhat Engul

Filed Under: MUSEUMS Tagged With: Istanbul Sightseeing, Museums of Istanbul

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About Serhat Engül

Hello explorer of Istanbul! This is Serhat Engul. I am a licensed TOUR GUIDE IN ISTANBUL. I offer PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR which includes a visit to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and the Spice Bazaar. This is a fantastic option to see some of the ICONIC LANDMARKS in the whole of Istanbul and you’ll receive plenty of background information on each location to enlighten you. You may see the details of this tour on the HOMEPAGE of the blog. I wish you a wonderful trip!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. blankZana Alli says

    5 January 2016 at 19:45

    Hi! Thank you for your awesome post and amazing pictures. Although I’m not a fan of dark, damp, underground places I’ll try to visit the underground Basilica Cistern when i visit Istanbul soon – for the first time ever!

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      6 January 2016 at 13:57

      Hi Zana, thank you for the great review. Let me know if you need any help when you visit Istanbul. Have a good day!

      Reply
  2. blankSofia says

    14 February 2022 at 17:08

    Hi Serhat,

    Thanks for the wonderful summary. Want to know if it’s open for visit now.

    Thanks
    Sofia

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      14 February 2022 at 19:24

      Hi Sofia, thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately it hasn’t been opened yet. It looks like the restoration will continue throughout this year. If there is a change, I will note it in the article.

      Reply
      • blankSofia says

        14 February 2022 at 19:38

        Thanks Serhat,

        I read somewhere that they opened it for visitor while restoration but wasn’t sure. Thanks for the info : )

        Reply
        • blankSerhat Engül says

          14 February 2022 at 20:39

          You are welcome. In fact, the Basilica Cistern has been under restoration since 2015. For a long time we were able to visit even though the renovation was going on. However, it was completely closed in 2020 due to Covid and never opened again. I was in Sultanahmet a few days ago and it was still closed. Have a nice trip!

          Reply
  3. blankDanae Gallardo says

    21 April 2022 at 16:55

    Hi. Is it still closed? I’m planning to go to Istanbul in May and I wish I could visit the cistern.

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      21 April 2022 at 19:34

      Unfortunately the Basilica Cistern is still closed. However, there are other Byzantine cisterns that can be visited as an alternative.

      For example, Binbirdirek Cistern (Cistern of Philoxenos) is open to visitors every day except Sundays and the ticket price is 50 Turkish Liras.

      Also, Serefiye Cistern (Theodosius Cistern) is open every day of the week and the ticket price is 100 Turkish Liras. This cistern can be visited every hour and there is a 10-minute light show.

      Reply
  4. blankLacy Williams says

    19 June 2022 at 14:09

    Does anyone know when the Bascilica Cistern will reopen?

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      19 June 2022 at 14:13

      Hi Lacy, no official information has been given about when the Basilica Cistern will reopen. However, as it seems from the outside, the restoration has come to its final stage.

      Reply
  5. blankIngrid says

    24 June 2022 at 04:25

    We’ll be there mid July .. still crossing my fingers it will be open by then:-)

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      24 June 2022 at 11:41

      Hello Ingrid. Yes, I hope it opens by then. But even if it doesn’t open, the Cistern of Philoxenos is a good alternative as one of the biggest cisterns from the Byzantine period.

      Reply
  6. blankJingJing says

    6 January 2023 at 23:11

    Hi Serhat,

    Your blog has so much valuable and detail information. It’s our go-to blog for planning our upcoming trip to Istanbul.
    The Madusa head in the Cistern remain mysterious. Besides what you have described in your blog, is there any other “stories” about it that you could share ? I guess we are just very curious about it.

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      7 January 2023 at 12:33

      Hi Jing, thank you very much for your feedback on the blog. Yes, there are many stories to be told about the Basilica Cistern. But of course, I haven’t told all of what I know here.

      If I write everything on the website, there will be nothing left to tell my guests who join my private guided tours. : )

      Reply
  7. blankKaty says

    18 March 2023 at 10:50

    Holy guacamole, 300? We visited during the renovation works and paid 60? 70?
    Must be Turkey regretting turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque. All the money that used to come in from there now need to be made elsewhere.
    Theodosius Cistern used to be free, now they want 350. It’s ridiculous. Not going this time then.

    Reply
    • blankSerhat Engül says

      19 March 2023 at 13:12

      Hi Katy, yes, the entrance fees of museums in Istanbul have become a bit expensive right now. However, the period you visited was probably before the pandemic and it should not be forgotten that the USD-TL rate was very different compared to this time.

      Basilica Cistern was closed to visitors during the pandemic (2020-2022). If you came during the renovation period (2015-2020), 1 Dollar was approximately 6 Turkish Liras at that time. Now, 1 dollar is about 19 TL.

      For this reason, it wouldn’t be surprising if the price tripled. However, the recent price increase in cistern tickets was a bit exaggerated in my personal opinion. I think around 200 Turkish Lira, which equates to about 10 Dollars, would have been a fair price.

      Maybe they wanted to foresee inflation and get ahead of it and to find an optimum price for the 2023 tourist season. From that perspective, it seems logical.

      Reply

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blankHello, I'm Serhat Engul. I am a licensed tour guide operating in Istanbul. I do walking tours in Istanbul focusing on Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. If you want to join a private guided tour in Istanbul, you can check out my references and tours from ABOUT page. Read More…

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