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Prices and service options
Premium: $95 per person. The inclusions listed below apply to this service.
Guests aged 12–17 use the adult rate. For children under 12, request an age-specific quote before booking; no automatic free-child rate is offered.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Duration
- 1 Hour
- Tour Type
- Activities Tours
- Destination
- Istanbul
- Group Size
- Up to 50 guests
- Languages
- English
Overview
On this 30-minute tour, visit the 4th-century Basilica Cistern and discover the mystery of Medusa heads from Greek mythology.
Visit the Basilica Cistern, built in the 4th century and enlarged in 532 AD, used as water storage during Byzantine times. Listen to your guide as they explain the mystery of Medusa heads from Greek mythology. Explore this cathedral-size cistern, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in 532 A.D. to supply water to the Great Palace. It stores up to 80,000 cubic meters of water, delivered via 20 kilometers of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea.
Descend the fifty-two stone steps into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 meters, coated with a waterproofing mortar. Hear how the Basilica Cistern’s water comes from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest and travels through the 971-meter-long Valens Aqueduct and the 115-meter-long Mağlova Aqueduct, built by the Emperor Justinian.
What you will do:
- Visit the Basilica Cistern with your experienced guide
- Listen to the story of Medusa Heads
- Recognize a scene in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love
Included
- Entry ticket to Basilica Cistern
- Professional English-speaking guide
Excluded
- Hotel pick-up
Travel Styles
- Activities
Languages
- English
Tour Location
Alemdar, Basilica Cistern, Yerebatan Caddesi, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Open map →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the meeting Point?
BigBus Sultanahmet stop in front of Hagia Sophia
Know before you go!
Please note: this attraction cannot be visited without the guide
Reviews
4.5/5
Excellent
Based on
1 review
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S
S. King
Review date not provided
The illuminated columns, reflections and Medusa heads made the Basilica Cistern exceptionally atmospheric. A knowledgeable guide explained its engineering and history clearly, with headsets that worked well in the echoing chamber, while arranged entry avoided the ticket queue. Crowds near the Medusa heads and the relatively brief guided section were drawbacks, and the one-way route limited opportunities to return for another look.
Customer review summary
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 total
