Istanbul Combo Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern
- 4 hours
- Skip the line
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
Highlights
Discover two of Istanbul’s most historic sites in one visit. Begin with a hosted entry at Topkapi Palace, once the residence of Ottoman sultans, and explore its courtyards without harem section. Then visit the Basilica Cistern, a mysterious underground structure supported by ancient columns and guarded by the famous Medusa heads. An audio guide is included and available in 25 languages: English, German, Russian, Persian, Arabic, French, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Spanish, Hindi, Romanian, Ukrainian, Korean, Turkish, Bulgarian, Polish, Swedish, Japanese, Indonesian, Greek, Hungarian, Portuguese, Urdu, and Croatian. Operating Hours: Topkapi Palace: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:00, and 15:00 (closed Tuesdays) Basilica Cistern: 09:00 - 18:30 Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. Join tours at the specified times. Meet your guide 15 minutes early at the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III. Look for the white flag. Book your Tickets for an unforgettable experience!
Inclusions
What's included
- Entry to Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern
- Flexible exploration time at both attractions
- Audio guide available in 25 languages
- Hosted entry tour with professional English-speaking guide at Topkapi Palace
What's not
- Gratuities
- Access to the Harem Section at Topkapi Palace
Itinerary
The Basilica Cistern visit does not include hosted entry or a guided highlights tour. You can explore independently with a professionally prepared audio guide available in 25 languages. The cistern is open daily from 09:00 to 18:30.
Join a 30-minute guided tour of Topkapi Palace with an included audio guide available in 25 languages. Entry is only possible with your guide. Please meet your guide 15 minutes early in front of the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III and look for the white flag with the Istanbul Tourist Pass® logo. Please note that the Outer Treasury (Weapon Collection), parts of the Matbah-i Amir Kitchen Complex, and the Petition Chamber / Audience Hall are currently closed at Topkapi Palace. Other sections are open as usual.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.0
- 51
- 40
- 31
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Istanbul Tourist Pass®
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Istanbul
- Its from-price is 114% above the median of the 118 attraction tickets we list in Istanbul.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 44 of 118.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Istanbul
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, with Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, busy bazaars and ferries crossing between continents.
The historic peninsula holds the greatest landmarks. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome face each other in Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern lies beneath the streets, and Topkapı Palace spreads across the hill above the Golden Horn. A short walk away, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar have traded for centuries, and Süleymaniye Mosque, built by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, crowns one of the city's seven hills.
Top-ranked sights in Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi), Bosphorus, Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu).
Special offers in Istanbul
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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