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Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

Highlight • Historical Site

Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

Recommended by 30 hikers out of 31

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Location: Istanbul, Turkey

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Best Hikes to Entrance to the Basilica Cistern

4.8

(84)

942

hikers

1. View of the Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Palace loop from Kabataş

14.8km

03:59

190m

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

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Moderate

4.7

(19)

239

hikers

2. View of the Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Palace loop from Vezneciler-İstanbul Üniversitesi

15.0km

04:03

200m

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

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Moderate

5.0

(18)

270

hikers

3. Hagia Sophia – Galata Bridge loop from Yenikapı

12.5km

03:23

170m

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

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Moderate

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

Weather

Wednesday 17 December

13°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 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. View of the Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Palace loop from Kabataş

2. View of the Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Palace loop from Vezneciler-İstanbul Üniversitesi

3. Hagia Sophia – Galata Bridge loop from Yenikapı

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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