Basilica Cistern with Audio Guide: Official Entry Ticket and App

If you want to explore the Basilica Cistern at your own pace but still hear its story, this Basilica Cistern with audio guide option is for you. With your pre-booked official ticket you skip the ticket office queue, then use the audio guide on your phone to discover this ancient reservoir and its two famous Medusa heads.

How the ticket works

Your official entry ticket and, if selected, your audio guide link are sent in a separate email 24 hours before your visit, so check your inbox and spam folder. Only this official ticket is accepted at the entrance; booking confirmation emails and vouchers are not. The ticket cannot be used after 18:30.

The audio guide

With the audio guide option, the commentary is available in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. Once you have downloaded the content, you can access the narration, texts and maps offline. Headphones are not included, so bring your own. A live guide is not part of this ticket.

About the security check

The ticket lets you skip the ticket office queue, but it is not possible to skip the security check or get priority access at the entrance. In high season the security queue can be long, so plan your visit accordingly.

Practical tips

You can stay inside as long as you like and explore at your own pace. The visit suits all fitness levels but is not wheelchair accessible. The cistern is a few minutes' walk from Hagia Sophia, so it is easy to spend the rest of the day in the old city.

To round off your trip, browse more experiences on our Istanbul tours page, and find somewhere to stay among our hotels in Istanbul.