Basilica Cistern: Tickets

Basilica Cistern Tickets and Information

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• Basilica Cistern Address: Alemdar Mh., Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34410, Istanbul
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:00 - 22:00

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Is Basilica Cistern Worth Visiting

• The incredible water reservoir is one of the most popular attractions in Istanbul.

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What You See At Basilica Cistern

• Inside the reservoir - it’s unlikely like any reservoir you’ve seen before!
• The Medusa-heads on the columns!

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About Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı), is one of Istanbul's most remarkable historic landmarks and one of the city’s most popular attractions. A basilica, but not in the religious sense, but in the public building sense. A subterranean wonder that combines Byzantine engineering brilliance with mysterious charm.

The Basilica Cistern is near the Hagia Sophia mosque in the Sultanahmet district, and the ancient water reservoir is an unmissable destination, as it will be unlike anything you’ve seen before!

It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in 532 AD (6th century), and was designed to store water for the Great Palace of Constantinople and the surrounding areas. Its name ‘Basilica Cistern’ comes from a basilica that once stood above the cistern, so it’s not actually a religious building at all, merely named after what used to stand in its place.

The building covers 9,800 square metres and has a capacity to hold 100,000 tons of water! It has 336 marble columns, each of which is 9 metres high and they are arranged in 12 rows in order to support the vaulted ceilings. Two of these columns feature carvings of Medusa heads as bases, which is an intriguing feature shrouded in myth and speculation as it appears that nobody actually knows why it was done!

The best time to visit the Basilica Cistern is either early in the morning close to opening time or later in the afternoon to try and avoid the crowds. It does get busy as it’s on a lot of people’s ‘Things to do in Istanbul’ lists!

You can learn about how the cistern provided water for the area as you wander round and enjoy the relaxing ambiance of the incredible building. The dimly lit pathways and the lights in the water add to the atmosphere, as does the gentle noise of the water in the background. The vast columns just add to it's grandeur. You can also see the crying pillar with its carvings. Its said it was built to represent the slaves that lost their lives during the construction of the Basilica Cistern.

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