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Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

Highlight • Historical Site

Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

Recommended by 28 hikers out of 29

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Location: Istanbul, Turkey

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Best Hikes to Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

4.8

(67)

569

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1. Topkapi Palace – Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) loop from Kabataş

14.7km

03:57

190m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.9

(36)

328

hikers

2. Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) – Galata Tower loop from Vezneciler-İstanbul Üniversitesi

17.7km

04:47

240m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.8

(20)

188

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3. View of Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Palace loop from Kumkapı

10.8km

02:56

150m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Gaddo

May 11, 2025

The best time to visit the Basilica Cistern is from opening until 10:00 AM. After this time, the queue becomes very long, so it's advisable to purchase tickets online (although the queue for online ticket holders is not always shorter than the queue for those who need to buy tickets).
The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul is an ancient underground water storage system built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I. Located near Hagia Sophia, this impressive structure features 336 marble columns, each standing 9 meters tall, arranged in a grid pattern. The cistern's atmospheric lighting and the sound of dripping water create a mysterious and enchanting ambiance. Visitors can walk along raised platforms to explore the cistern and admire the famous Medusa heads, which serve as column bases. This historical site offers a fascinating glimpse into Byzantine engineering and architecture.

🚴🏿‍♂️Gerhard 🚴🏿‍♂️

May 14, 2025

I can only recommend it, it's simply great

Translated by Google •

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Details

Informations

Elevation 40 m

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Thursday 30 October

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Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Istanbul, Turkey

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Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

1. Topkapi Palace – Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) loop from Kabataş

2. Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) – Galata Tower loop from Vezneciler-İstanbul Üniversitesi

3. View of Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Palace loop from Kumkapı

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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