Basilica Cistern is regarded as one of the most remarkable structures in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s a beautifully preserved building that houses an underground cistern that dates as far back as ancient times. It was built for the Byzantine Emperor, Justinianus I back when the area was still known as Constantinople. At about 140 m (459 ft) long and 70m (230 ft) wide, the cistern sits under what used to be the Stoa Basilica, one of the great squares in Istanbul, hence its name. Though it is said that there are many cisterns in Istanbul, this one is perhaps the largest. The structure is composed of 336 columns and two of these are strangely carved with the persona of Greek mythological creature Medusa. Today, the cistern no longer acts as a reservoir but is open to the public for viewing and is sometimes even used for concerts. To know more about this astonishing historical landmark, read our guide to Basilica Cistern below.
Things to do / Highlights
Medusa's heads
The most famous attraction of the Basilica Cistern is the presence of two structures of Medusa’s heads. Located in the northwestern side of the cistern, the statues are sitting as bases of two columns with one tilted sideways and one lying upside down. There’s no particular reason behind this unusual placement but legend says that it’s so that visitors may avoid the “deadly gaze” that Medusa is infamously known for.
Until today, no one knows why it’s there or where it came from, but some have theorized that, based on ancient Greek and Roman culture, Medusa’s heads were placed to protect the building. Some believe that the structures came from Rome but no one has confirmed this to be true. After admiring the statues, you can drop a coin into the little pool of water below it and make a wish!
Admire the architecture and learn the history
There’s no denying that Basilica Cistern is a remarkable way of rolling architecture and history into one. The cistern is a perfect example of architecture during ancient times depicting Roman and Greek buildings, with the iconic 336 columns made of marble. It has withstood several centuries of damage but has also been consistently renovated and preserved.
Many years after the Byzantine Empire, when the Ottomans took over, they didn’t make much use of the cistern and regarded it as an unused building with reserved water. The Ottomans christened it with another name for the cistern, Yerebatan Palace, which means sunken palace because of its location underground. Visiting the Basilica Cistern and walking through its dimly-lit and column-lined corridors will definitely take you to another time.
What to eat
Luckily for travelers, there are a lot of options for eating around Basilica Cistern. The area where the cistern stands used to be one of the city’s biggest squares after all, so it’s no surprise that it’s such a busy area today.
Basilica Restaurant
The first one you definitely won’t miss is Basilica Restaurant which is located right outside Basilica Cistern. There’s plenty of room for casual and relaxed dining in its three floors with outdoor seating on the first level. Basilica Restaurant is best known for its authentic Turkish food and barbecues.
Omar Cafe
Just on the other side of the road is Omar Cafe. They serve traditional Turkish and Mediterranean food in a warm ambiance. Don’t miss their colorful decors and lanterns which give off vibes of authentic Mediterranean culture.
Nars Brasserie
Right next to Omar Cafe is Nars Brasserie, a restaurant with a fancier setting. They specialize in Turkish and Spanish fusion and their bestsellers are their steaks.
Ottoman Life Park
If you’re willing to walk a little around the block, be sure to check out Ottoman Life Park, a unique outdoor restaurant that serves traditional Turkish food. Enjoy your meal on their comfy and colorful couches ala-Mediterranean style.
Things to buy
After touring Basilica Cistern, stop by the attraction’s souvenir shop to get your dose of tourist items and memorabilia related to the cistern. However, if you’re still not content with these souvenirs, you can opt to go around the city of Istanbul to find some wonderful items to bring back home with you.
Istanbul is such a vibrant city with a vivid culture so you can expect many of the souvenirs to be colorful. The most common ones are textile, garments, ceramics, decorative lamps and carpets. Don’t forget to buy some spices and desserts too.
Travelers tips
Wear comfortable clothing
The weather in Istanbul can tend to be quite humid oftentimes but it can also be cold too, depending on the season. Since weather here is unpredictable, it’s best to wear comfortable and light clothing based on the weather on your visit. In Basilica Cistern in particular, you should take note of the cooler temperatures down there. The site is located underground so expect the temperature to be less humid than above so prepare to have clothes that are suitable for such environment.
Photographs
Basilica Cistern is an underground attraction which means much of it will be a little dark. Though the place is dimly lit to add to the whole ancient vibe, it may still be difficult for you to take photos - good ones at least. Many of your photos may turn out to be blurred or not so detailed due to the low light, especially if you’re using an ordinary camera like on your phone.
If you’re an experienced photographer, however, it wouldn’t be much of a problem since you can adjust your settings accordingly. Just remember to take note that tripods aren’t allowed at the cistern. Nevertheless, it’s great to take photos but take too many and you might just miss out on the experience itself.
How to get there
Public transport in Istanbul is easy enough for you to bear through the city’s traffic. The city is separated into two by the Bosphorus River and that makes the two sides - the European and the Asian side. Thus, there are several ways to get around both by land and by sea.
By sea, the vapur or ferry is the best way to cross both sides, while on land, the metro system is convenient especially if you plan to tour many places. You can also opt for a taxi but be wary of the official logos so you won’t get deceived of your money.
Basilica Cistern is located on the European side of Istanbul in the Alemdar area. It’s right across the Hagia Sophia museum. If you’re taking the metro, the station you should get off at is Sultanahmet Station.
How to book tickets
Tickets to Basilica Cistern are available both online and onsite. If you choose to get yours onsite, that’s okay, but be prepared to queue for at least 30 minutes. Ticket prices onsite are about 20 TL or 3 USD plus you’ll have a long waiting time. This is why we would recommend getting your tickets online instead. It’s less of a hassle on your part plus it’s also a lot cheaper.
There are several guided tours that you can search for online and this is perfect for first-timers. Some are purely Basilica Cistern tours while others are combo tours that include other nearby sites as well. Feel free to choose which one suits your itinerary. You should also check out the Istanbul Welcome Card which gives VIP guided tours of the cistern.
Basilica Cistern information
Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Official website: Basilica Cistern
Department of tourism: How to Istanbul
Opening hours: 9am - 5:30pm (daily)
Price: From 3 USD
Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Duration: 30.0 minute
In light of the February 2023 earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria, Trip101 urges you to be apprised of the latest news if you have any plans to travel to Eastern Turkey. Other parts of the country remain open to travelers.
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