Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı, literally "the sunken palace") is a Byzantine water reservoir under the streets of Sultanahmet, entered by a staircase from a small building across the road from Hagia Sophia. Once inside, you walk on raised platforms above shallow water, among 336 columns lit from below.

The route runs one way. Take it slowly: stop between the rows to look up at the vaulting and at the reflections in the water. Find the so-called weeping column, carved with a teardrop pattern, and continue to the far corner, where two Medusa heads serve as column bases, one upside down and one on its side. Contemporary art installations are sometimes placed along the route, so the layout can differ from what you have seen in photos. Plan on thirty to forty-five minutes.

Queues build quickly through the day, so arrive close to opening. The walkways can be damp and slippery; wear shoes with grip. It stays cool underground even in summer, so a light layer helps. Flash photography works poorly in the dim light anyway. Rules on the Museum Pass (Müzekart) and on evening visits have changed recently; check the cistern's official website before you go. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Istanbul Archaeology Museums are all a few minutes' walk away. Check the hours on the museum page.