Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi) Tours and Tickets - page 3
300+ results
What are people saying about Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
Lisa_K, May 2026
Incredibly beautiful and...
Incredibly beautiful and amazing site. Buy tickets beforehand and be sure to download them while you have WiFi. Same for the audio guide.
Ryan_S, May 2026
Had a great tour with...
Had a great tour with Lutfullah! With limited time in Istanbul, it was a good way to see the highlights.
Christina_R, May 2026
Great Tour with a Great Guide
Our tour guide was lovely. Very charming and amusing and very knowledgeable. He was a pure joy and would highly recommend!
Kristen_H, Apr 2026
Out exploring!!
Definitely worth a visit. Lots of people but the history of the place made it such a treat. Especially since we had never been in one before and probably wont ever be again.
Wendy_H, Apr 2026
Amazing
Our guide Erol was so knowledgeable and friendly we learnt so much about the history of Istanbul’s major sites . Cistern Basilica was particularly amazing !
Barry_C, Apr 2026
Short informative tour....
Short informative tour. We were able to enter quickly and spend as much time as we wanted in the cistern.
Anu_G, Apr 2026
Lutfi is an extremely...
Lutfi is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced tour guide, and we appreciated the depth of information he shared. At times, though, it was difficult to hear him, as he spoke quite softly, which made parts of the tour harder to follow. Overall, if you’re someone who prefers a quieter, more low-key guide and values deep knowledge, you may enjoy this tour, but clearer projection would really improve the experience.
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.
Megan_A, Apr 2026
Breathtakingly Beautiful
Talk about feeling like you stepped through to an ancient time and an ancient world. Breathtakingly beautiful at every turn. Highly recommend!
Christine_H, Apr 2026
Lutfi was fantastic! It...
Lutfi was fantastic! It turned out to just be us all day so he got to answer all our random questions and even started anticipating what we would ask. With the crowds, Lutfi moved us swiftly and smoothly to see the highlights. He was patient with us and gave wonderful recommendations for the rest of our stay.
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.
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.
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
5.0
(16,818)
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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