The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) lies beneath the Sultanahmet district, right opposite [Hagia Sophia](/fr/attractions/sainte-sophie-istanbul). It is open daily from 9am to 6:30pm, then from 7:30pm to 10pm for the evening session; the last published price for foreign visitors, set by the previous operator, was 1,950 TL in the daytime. Allow 30 to 45 minutes on the walkways. Built in the 6th century under Justinian to supply the Great Palace and the surrounding districts, this reservoir could hold about 80,000 m³ of water. It takes its name from the Stoa Basilica, the large colonnaded square that stood above it.
Highlights
The forest of columns
336 columns, 9 m high and set in 12 rows of 28, carry the brick vaults. Many were reused from older buildings, with Ionic or Corinthian capitals. The reflection of the columns in the water, under soft lighting, is what makes the place.
The Medusa heads
At the far end of the cistern, two columns rest on blocks carved with the head of Medusa, one lying on its side, the other set upside down. Their origin is unknown; they were uncovered during the major clean-up of 1985-1987, which removed tonnes of mud from the bottom of the reservoir.
The Crying Column
Its surface is covered with eye- and tear-shaped motifs, and it is almost always damp. One tradition sees it as a tribute to the slaves who died during construction; the same decoration is found on Roman columns of the 4th century.
The 2022 restoration
After the most extensive strengthening works in its history, carried out in particular against earthquake risk, the cistern reopened on 22 July 2022, with new lighting and contemporary artworks placed among the columns.
Opening hours and tickets
Daytime visit, 9am to 6:30pm; evening session, 7:30pm to 10pm, with different lighting. Last published prices for foreign visitors, before the Directorate General of Foundations took over: 1,950 TL in the daytime, 3,000 TL in the evening; the new operator has not yet put an official price list online and other amounts are quoted (from 1,500 to 2,250 TL): check the price shown at the ticket office. The cistern closes between 6:30pm and 7:30pm for the change of session. Free entry for children under 7. Under the previous operator, payment was by bank card or Istanbulkart only, no cash.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Bring a bank card, as the ticket office did not accept cash until the change of operator (to be confirmed on the spot in October 2026). Since June 2026 the cistern has been run by the Directorate General of Foundations (Vakıflar), which took the site over from the Istanbul municipality: buy only at the official ticket office and be wary of street resellers. The walkways can be damp and the place is dark: wear shoes that do not slip.
How to get there
Alemdar Mahallesi, Yerebatan Caddesi 1/3, 34410 Fatih, Istanbul. Tram T1, Sultanahmet stop, a few minutes' walk away. The entrance is on Yerebatan Caddesi, opposite Hagia Sophia, across the street.
Opening hours
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