Don't know what I was expecting, but walked in and said 'wow' very atmospheric and well worth a visit more

Go there to explore a magical underworld. Cool when its hot outside, quiet, when you have enough of Istanbul traffic. The best is to go during the weekdays or out of season. The Cistern is most beautyful, when only less people are around. more

I had no intention of going to the cistern when I went to Istanbul, but was talked into it by my husband. My argument was that 10 lira was too much merely to see underground columns. But, he wanted a small break from museums and mosques, and so we went. Having gone, I have now reformed my view and would... more

The Basilica Cistern was an interesting change from the mosques and other sites in Istanbul. I think it is intersting that this site went undiscovered for many years, until the Turkish governement investigated how people living in houses above the cistern were fishing through holes in the floor! The entrance is diagonally across the intersection from Hagia Sophia. The small... more

...I'm surprised to see it rated the #2 attraction in Istanbul. I think that Aya Sofya and Camii Sultanahmet (the "Blue Mosque") are both of greater architectural and historical significance. The Yerebatan Cistern (“Basilica Cistern”) is a giant cistern constructed with majestic columns and other stonework scavenged from ancient sites. A chase scene in the cistern was featured in the... more

The cistern is an easy place to visit yourself while in Istanbul. We were there in March and it was not crowded at all. A must see. more

This is the best known, and in some ways the most impressive of the cisterns you can visit. It is also the biggest. The entrance is across the tram tracks from haghia sofia, and it costs 10YTL to get in. you find yourself in a dimly lit, quite atmospheric area, filled with columns and the drip of water. As you... more

A chilly trip away from the scorching sun in Istanbul. It's very interesting to see these age-old structures and it's a really tough but beautiful shot. This cistern is thought to have been built during the Roman period, and called "Basilica Cisterns" because of a Stoa Basilica built above it. It was forgotten for a while but when re-discovered was... more

Also called the Basilica Cistern. This was a place I had a bit of trouble finding as if you don’t know it’s there you would miss it. It is located just across the street from Aya Sofia. Once you find the entrance you will definitely be rewarded with a unique site. The Basilica was built in AD 532 by Justinian... more