Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi) Tours and Tickets - page 11
What are people saying about Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
Jarid_Z, Apr 2026
Best way to see the most of Istanbul in a day!
This tour is definitely the best was to fit the max amount of things to see in Istanbul in one day! We saw so much, had amazing food, and the guide Lutfullah Findikogku was very knowledgeable about everything in the city. The tour is a full day of walking so bring good walking shoes! We would definitely go back!
Jacquelyn_M, Apr 2026
Fabulous experience
Going to see the Cistern was a truly wonderful experience.
The tour guide was knowledgeable enough but to be honest he was only with us for about 20 minutes - even so we skipped the lines which was great.
The Cistern is not to be missed.
trvlr1313, Apr 2026
Fabulous and Full of Sights
What a fabulous day! Ludviq was absolutely amazing and we wish we could take him with us everywhere we go. We saw SO much, all the top sights in one day and it went at a good pace. We loved every minute.
Bob_F, Mar 2026
Fantastic experience
The skip the line was definitely worth it. The regular line was large, even on a rainy day. The cistern itself was beautiful and the audio guide companion gave good historical and contemporary information.
Chricinda_M, Mar 2026
Be sure to download the...
Be sure to download the audio tour before entering and go early in the day. Beautiful and unique experience.
Nick_M, Mar 2026
The guide was very...
The guide was very knowledgeable and funny. His description of the Cistern was spot on and he did a great job of pointing out the most important things to see.
Annelies_C, Mar 2026
Highly recommend wonderful day
We had such a wonderful day with Ludwig. He was so knowledgeable and fun to talk to. We got to see some amazing places and he was able to skip all the lines. We would highly recommend this day tour.
ELAINE_L, Feb 2026
Our tour guide Elif was...
Our tour guide Elif was professional, knowledgeable, and full of patience for our many questions. We had a delightful time, exploring Istanbul history.
Oscar_E, Mar 2026
For anyone looking to learn and discover the history and sights of Istanbul, Lutfullah is highly recommended.
Highly recommended. Lutfullah makes the tour fun but with exceptional knowledge on the history of Istanbul.
n_h, Mar 2026
Don’t miss this tour!
Unfortunately I did not take a pic of our guide to share his name, but he was great! His English was perfect & knowledge was superb! We asked many questions of which he always answered. This was #2 of my favorite places & #1 was Hagia Sophia! Wonderful city, very safe & very cosmopolitan!!!!
Sugianto_O, Dec 2025
Highly recommended Tour
We had a wonderful walking tour, made truly exceptional by our guide, Ismail Mert. He is extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the history and culture of the city. His explanations were clear and insightful, and he made the tour enjoyable for both adults and children. Highly recommended—Ismail is a very, very good guide and made our experience memorable.
heidi_l, Dec 2025
A great small group...
A great small group experience (that ended up being private). It included key sights in the old city plus the guide spent a few hours with us navigating the Bazaar - super helpful!
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
5.0
(16,320)
Know before you go
Ways to explore
How to get there
When to visit

Wear comfortable, nonslip shoes to traverse the steps and the often-wet ground.
The entrance for wheelchair users and other visitors with mobility challenges is at the cistern’s exit.
As the cistern is underground, the setting is damp and cool. Take a layer if you don’t want to feel the chill.
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