Basilica Cistern Tours

A series of columns in a dimly lit interior space with reflective flooring.
A long corridor with arches and columns.
A stone sculpture with intricate carvings in a museum setting.
A historical building with high vaulted ceilings and numerous columns.
A green stone sculpture with intricate carvings on a textured surface.


The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

This archaeological dig site is on the to-do lists of many travelers to Sultanahmet. But Basilica Cistern isn't the area's only highlight. Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace are some other worthwhile sights nearby.

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Sirkeci Emek Hotel
Klas Hotel Istanbul Old City
Gleam Collection Hotel

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