Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern is one of the city’s most famous attractions—and it is amazing! But it’s not the only cistern that you can visit. So, if you love discovering unique historical places that are literally cool to visit (cisterns are a great respite from Istanbul’s summer heat), then this is your itinerary to visit five fabulous cisterns in Istanbul.
Here’s your itinerary for visiting cisterns in Istanbul.
Why are there so many Cisterns in Istanbul?
While it’s estimated that over a hundred cisterns still exist in Istanbul today, well over a thousand could have been needed to supply Constantinople with fresh water.
On the historic peninsula, Constantinople (now Istanbul) was surrounded by seawater but lacked a freshwater supply. And if history has taught us anything, strategically positioned places get attacked. Making Constantinople one of the world’s most besieged cities.
To survive, the Byzantines needed fresh water. And a lot of it! Today, the average North American uses 100 gallons of water daily; more than a thousand years ago, their Byzantine counterpart used more than double that amount, leading them to construct an impressive network of aqueducts and cisterns.
Şerefiye Cistern
The Şerefiye Cistern is 1600 years old and located near all of Istanbul’s major historic attractions. Beautifully restored, the cistern also has a 10-minute light show every hour. Even at the height of the summer crowds, this cistern rarely, if ever, has a line-up.
Don’t get me wrong—this place is pretty awesome. But in terms of value, the ticket price is too high, in my opinion. If you’re a history buff, not on a budget, or want to see an ancient cistern and don’t have the time to stand in the Basilica Cistern’s long lineup, go here!
- Location: Piyer Loti Cd. No:2/1 (3-minute walk from the tram stop)
- Closest Tram Stop: T1 Tram – Çemberlitaş
- Hours: 9 am – 7 pm
- Tickets: Buy tickets onsite
- Best Time to Visit: Anytime, rarely crowded
Cistern at Nakkaş Rugs
Only in Istanbul will you find a carpet shop with an ancient Byzantine cistern as its basement. To view the cistern at Nakkaş Rugs, you need to call and make an appointment 24 hours in advance. The cistern is set up like a mini museum with interesting artifacts and historical facts posted on the stone walls.
Nakkaş is an upscale carpet and jewellery store with friendly service. It uses its cistern to lure customers into its shop. The cistern is free to visit with an appointment. But expect the sales team to want to show you a carpet or two.
- Location: Nakilbent Sk. No:13 (back of Hippodrome, past the Arasta Bazaar)
- Closest Tram Stop: T1 Tram – Sultanahmet
- Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
- Tickets: Free with an appointment
- Best Time to Visit: Anytime as long as you have an appointment to see the cistern.
Gülhane Park Cistern
This Istanbul cistern is truly a hidden gem! Not only is it FREE to visit, but it’s also one of the oldest cisterns in the city. Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138), the Gülhane Park Cistern recently opened to the public. No one knows about it! There are no tickets. No line-ups, and when I visited, only one other person came inside to take a peek.
To be fair, it’s probably the least impressive of the cisterns listed here. There are only twelve columns and an array of sculptures with an alien octopus vibe. But if you’re on a budget or short on time, this is the perfect cistern to pop in for a quick visit.
If you wander into Gülhane Park, you’ll find a stone building in the middle of the park; the Istanbul Archeology Museum is just above.
- Location: ~Midpoint of Gülhane Park
- Closest Tram Stop: T1 Tram – Gülhane
- Hours: 10 am – 6 pm (closed on Mondays)
- Tickets: FREE!
- Best Time to Visit: Afternoon for more natural light
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Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is the largest and most impressive cistern in Istanbul. It should be on your MUST-SEE list. But if you’re going to visit, you need a game plan because it attracts over two million people each year.
If possible, don’t visit in the morning. People start lining up before the cistern opens, and the line soon curves around the corner. Book a skip-the-line ticket for the shortest wait. And if you want fewer people in your photos, visit in the evening.
- Entrance: Alemdar Cd.(on the street with the T1 tram, near Hagia Sophia)
- Closest Tram Stop: T1 Tram – Gülhane or Sultanahmet
- Hours: 9 am – 6:30 pm/7:30 pm – 11:50 pm
- Tickets: Book a Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Best Time to Visit: Evenings
Built by Emperor Constantine and enlarged by Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century, the Basilica Cistern supplied water to the Great Palace of Constantinople. Later, the Ottomans used this water source for the gardens of Topkapı Palace.
When you descend inside, you’ll feel immediately cooler. A shallow layer of water covers the floor, and you’ll walk along metal pathways through a forest of marble columns. Most of the 336 columns used to support the underground structure were recycled from even older buildings.
One of the most unique is the Column of Tears. This crying column is always wet, and legend has it that these are the tears of the enslaved people who died during the construction of the cistern.
It may be impossible to believe that the Basilica Cistern, one of Istanbul’s most popular attractions, lay forgotten underground for centuries. It only opened as a tourist attraction in 1987.
Two of its most enchanting columns are found in the northwest corner in the back. Their bases are huge marble medusa heads.
Rumour has it that these Medusa heads were removed from the Forum of Constantine, which was centred around what is today known as the Çemberlitaş column.
The Medusa heads were positioned either upside down or sideways to negate their powers. But if you dare, you can visit the third medusa head, placed upright in the gardens of Istanbul’s Archeology Museum.
The Sarnıç Restaurant
End your day with dinner at the Sarnıç Restaurant. This is the ultimate fine dining experience: dinner in a 1,500-year-old cistern built by Emperor Justinian.
The restaurant offers Turkish food, including some dishes originally created for the Ottoman Sultans. I had one of their delicious cocktails while sitting at the bar and enjoying the vibe. Because of its spectacular setting, make sure you book reservations in advance to avoid disappointment.
- Location: Soğukçeşme Sk. No:26 (on the narrow road leading from Hagia Sophia to Gülhane Park)
- Closest Tram Stop: T1 Tram – Gülhane
- Hours: 11:30 am – 11:30 pm
- Reservations: Online
- Best Time to Visit: Make a dinner reservation
If you love visiting historical sites, then you’ll definitely want to check out my Ultimate Guide for Visiting Hagia Sophia.
