The Basilica Cistern (Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı, the "Subterranean Cistern") is an underground water reservoir built under Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, about 150 m southwest of Hagia Sophia. It is named after the Stoa Basilica, the great public square that once stood above it.
You walk through it on raised steel walkways a few steps above the water, between rows of columns lit from below. The Basilica Cistern has been a museum since 1987 and reopened in 2022 after a restoration that exposed its original Byzantine brick floor.
- Location
- Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey
- Built
- 6th century, under Justinian I
- Size
- 138 × 65 m, about 9,800 m²
- Columns
- 336, each 9 m tall
- Capacity
- About 80,000 m³ of water
Inside the Basilica Cistern
The column forest
Twelve rows of 28, about 5 m apart, most reused from older buildings. That is why the marble and the capitals don't match: mostly Ionic or Corinthian, a few Doric.
The Medusa heads
Two carved Medusa heads serve as column bases in the far corner, one upside down and one on its side. Which building they came from is unknown.
The Crying Column
Carved with eyes and teardrops, and probably taken from a 4th-century triumphal arch. Legend says it weeps for the slaves who built the cistern.
A film location
James Bond rowed through it in From Russia with Love (1963), and the finale of Inferno (2016) plays out around the upside-down Medusa.
Cool and damp
It stays cool down here even in August. Humidity reaches 96% and water can drip from the vaults: bring a layer and keep your camera covered.
Basilica Cistern tickets
Both online options cost the same and differ only in the guide: an audio guide you use at your own pace, or a tour with a guide.
Either one skips the ticket-office queue, which forms on the street with no shelter, but not the security check.
Ticket + audio guide
from €57.50
- Entry without the ticket-office queue
- Audio guide in 13 languages
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Ticket + guided tour
from €57.50
- Entry without the ticket-office queue
- Tour with a guide
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
At the ticket office
- Priced in Turkish lira, check on arrival
- Queue on the street first
Location and opening hours
The Basilica Cistern is in Sultanahmet, across the street from Hagia Sophia. The nearest tram stop is Sultanahmet on the T1 line.
- Address
- Alemdar Mahallesi, Yerebatan Caddesi No:1/3, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
- Operating hours
- Daily: 09:00 – 18:00
Before you go
Is the Basilica Cistern worth visiting?
Yes, for most people: the lit column forest and the Medusa heads are the draw, and a visit takes under an hour, so it fits easily between the other Sultanahmet sights.
How long does a visit take?
Most people spend 30–60 minutes on the walkways. Add time for the ticket-office queue if you buy at the door.
When is the best time to go?
Right after opening at 09:00, when the walkways are almost empty. Crowds build from late morning.
Can I still visit the Basilica Cistern at night?
Until the change of management in June 2026, evening visits (19:30–22:00) ran on a separate ticket. Whether they continue is not confirmed, so ask at the ticket office before planning one.
Is the Museum Pass Istanbul valid here?
It has not been valid at the Basilica Cistern, so plan on a separate ticket.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The way in is down 52 stone steps. A portable lift has been available for wheelchair users after the ticket check; ask the staff at the entrance.