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Basilica Cistern
(Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
Historic and Protected Site and History Museum
Alemdar, Fatih
"amazing shots of the columns"(17 Tips)
"much hyped about Medusa heads"(16 Tips)
"6th century Byzantine architecture of emperor Justinian I. Watch"(9 Tips)
"6th century Byzantine cistern."(5 Tips)
212 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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- historic sites
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- byzantine
- architecture
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Shaileshwori SharmaJuly 22, 2016Great (spooky) atmosphere that makes for magnificent photos & a coolness (literally) to match. The preservation of history is done remarkably. Tip: watch your step as some parts can be extra slippery.
Upvoted 3 weeks ago
Turkish AirlinesOctober 9, 2013Make sure you check out the upside-down Medusa head which forms the bottom of one of the cistern’s columns. The Byzantine builders used the Roman relic as building material!
Upvoted 4 weeks ago
Rafael MarinAugust 16, 2015It's one of the best places I visited in Istanbul. I reminded me of the last part of the Inferno novel. And don't leave without a Muslim costume picture!- Murat PurçApril 8, 2018A worthwhile tourist attraction to visit in Istanbul is the ancient Basilica Cistern, the Sunken Palace with the snake-haired mysterious Medusa heads within.
Upvoted Mar 18 
JamesMay 31, 2014A tremendous attraction not on every guide book. An amazing feet of engineering, atmospheric and right next to Ayasofya and the Blue Mosque. Easy to fit it in along with the other two.
- Avi .March 17, 2014Other than the much hyped about Medusa heads, don't forget to check out this spot near the cafe - it looks amazing + the columns are different here !! .. ohhh and don't forget to feed the fishes !!
M ALDossary ♏January 11, 2015Underground water tanks, it is kinda dark and witty. Amazing historical place to visit, it was not included in the museums pass. don't miss Medusa Big Stone at the backe.
GysteriosaMay 6, 2019Crowd makes it better cuz you can use others' flashes for your own photos.Medusa heads & crying column are must see in this eerie, dark place.Thrilling lament sounding music and cold air is here!
Varvara SolomatinaMarch 1, 2018there’s not too much to see, but the atmosphere is trully unique. the dripping water and the pensive fishes, like forgotten souls. and second-hand columns. plus it’s not cheap
Martin CopelandAugust 27, 2022Post restoration looking fab but the light show is a bit strange, plunging everything into total darkness every few minutes. Get the skip the line tickets in peak times
Mark J.February 20, 2015Very interesting cistern that used to supply water to the area. Hard to believe that it was forgotten and rediscovered. Check out the fish and the Medusas, and try not to think about Dan Brown!
Jimmy JimmieJanuary 13, 2015It is the oldest known water reservoir in Istanbul, a little earlier than the Basilica Cistern which was built during the reign of Justinian I in the 6th century. Read more
LolaLuluOctober 23, 2013Beautiful and mysterious is Yerebatan Sarayi "Sunken Palace" It's the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, located 500 feet southwest of the Hagia Sophia
The TelegraphNovember 20, 2012Begin your day in the subterranean depths of the Basilica Cistern, a 1,500-year-old building supported by 336 columns. Don’t miss the twin blocks carved into snake-haired Medusas.
Kenneth TiongAugust 24, 2012You can safely skip getting the audio guide. There are 4 bits of audio. And two of them are start and end. It can hold 100k tons of water and the pillars are sourced from all over the roman empire.
Levent ErtogluMay 18, 2019Definetely must see in Istanbul old town. Used to be a water collection underground place. Dont miss crying column and medusa
Otel.comDecember 23, 2013There is an upside down Medusa here. It is believed that the people who placed the stone believed if the head was upside down, it would ward off evil spirits.
Ferhat DurannnDecember 24, 2014During the Byzantine period , the city on the world marking the zero point used for calculating the distance and the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul is located at the side of " Milio 's Move '
Serhii LutskoMay 6, 2018Well, those cisterns were fine. I was expecting more but still feel like everyone need to see them especially due to the history how and why it was built. 20 liras price is a bit high, but acceptable
Doc EmerJanuary 6, 2017Look for the Medusa statues. Bring a camera with a night mode. A great place for romance if you have a prospective date. Not for people with nightblindness.
Alex Lazo VasquezMay 19, 2015Walk all the way to the medusa head, very interesting spot. Oh, and read Inferno by Dan Brown ;)
Carl GriffinJanuary 1, 2016The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul. Made up of 336 columns and can hold up to 80000 cubic metres of water.
Ali DaylanJanuary 25, 2015An original museum. Of course it cannot offer more than history :) Entrance fee is low. No need for an audio guide, there is enough explanation around.
Hao TranMay 18, 2013Skip the hour long queue at the Hagia Sophia, and visit here for a cheaper and cooler experience. By cooler I mean both temperature and history.
Christoph LöhrDecember 8, 2014It's cold, it's dark and sometimes there's even some water dripping onto your head. Yet the Cistern is one of the most beautiful places in Istanbul.
Jetset ExtraAugust 8, 2015Built by thousands of slaves in the 6th century, the Basilica Cistern is a vast cathedral-like chamber with a forest of 336 carved marble columns symmetrically positioned. Read more
Yasaman RahmaniNovember 20, 2015Its a marvelous place to keep quiet for some time, listen to the sound of water and the big fish exhaling softly through years. Its such an experience.
Grace NgJuly 27, 2015The cistern and there is a cute dress up photo opportunity which you can buy the picture afterwards
Tony XerriFebruary 25, 2023Gorgeous and historical. Lots to see and if you collect all the coins from the water you may end up retiring.
Burcu YatmazogluSeptember 2, 2018The largest of the several hundred cisterns that lie beneath Istanbul. The chamber able to hold nearly 80.000 cubic meters of water. The roof supported by 336 marble columns.Perfect instagram spot!
Nidal .December 10, 2015Audio guide isn't necessary... A very good place to be, well located near aya sophia. Don't miss the ottoman photo cession dowstairs.- Michel PercanAugust 6, 2015Astonishing remains of the 6th century Byzantine architecture of emperor Justinian I. Watch out for slippery floor near Medusa heads.
- Aleksandr MalkinSeptember 3, 2016It's one of the most unusual attractions in the world. May be crowded. Must see.
Helen TanOctober 1, 2015The Museum Kart is not valid here. But for 20TL it was a magical experience when u enter the place. Not much about the Medusa head, but surely a nice place to visit.
Gleb SvechnikovMay 5, 2015Lifehack: if you don't want to loose your couple, because it is dark over there, take 1 audioguide for both. This way you will be connected by earplugs
FilmsquareOctober 31, 2013James Bond and Kerim Bey punt under the Basilica Cistern in From Russia with Love (1963) to spy on a Russian Consulate meeting above with a periscope.- Ant PhongpandechaApril 22, 2014Dear photographers, if you guys want your photographs to be perfect, bring a tripod. With tripod, you don't need a high number ISO. It's not necessary to bring a flash, but you can if you want to.
DHR.comFebruary 9, 2012There are many ancient cisterns beneath Istanbul, and this is the largest one. Bulit in the 6th century, the Basilica Cistern is where you'll find the two columns carved with Medusa's image.
The Ritz-CarltonJune 14, 2011The 336-column, 1,000-square-metre Basilica Cistern is flooded with history… and 80,000 cubic metres of water. No wonder it took a starring role in the Bond film From Russia With Love.
✨#IamRomdelacrème✨September 27, 2013After hundreds of yrs this cistern w 25 ft of water was drained to 1 ft. It was discovered that Medusa's head was used to support 2 columns! Though sideways & upside down, she survived! Come find her!
Alyona DrobyshevaAugust 11, 2015Nice place for sunny hot day) but there are some strange things - for example, photo zone with national clothes or guys who do selfies)- Melissa ErdagiJanuary 9, 2013Enchantingly beautiful place. If you are lucky enough to witness a concert erected on a platform over the water, it might just be the most unforgettable thing.
- Khaled HamdyAugust 11, 2015very nice historic place, read about it before u go.. take a tripod for amazing shots of the columns
İbrahim BükerApril 11, 2015If u visit Istanbul u really should come here at least one time cause i don't think u saw any place similar to this one. İstanbuldaysanız mutlaka gitmeniz gereken yerlerden birisi. Atmosferi mükemmel.- HeyTripsterJuly 24, 2019The Basilica Cistern which is also called Sunken Palace is on the list of “Istanbul must see attractions stop”. Read more
- HeyTripsterJuly 22, 2019The Basilica Cistern which is also called Sunken Palace is on the list of “Istanbul must see attractions stop”.
Hans HauptMarch 31, 2014Not a lot of time is needed to enjoy the underground Basilica Cistern. 30 minutes offers plenty of time to take it all in and visit Medusa's heads.
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The Basilica Cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. It has built by the Romans in 3rd century for providing water to the city. Turkish name of the place "yerebatan" means "sunken" in English.
Closed until 9:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 9:00 AM–5:30 PM
+90 212 512 15 70
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