What to see in the Basilica Cistern

The forest of columns

As soon as you reach the bottom of the steps, the space opens out in every direction: 336 marble columns, 9 metres tall and set in 12 rows of 28, hold up brick vaults that fade into the half-light. Walkways carry you over the water, which reflects every column and makes the space feel even deeper. Many of the columns were reused from older buildings, which is why you'll spot different capitals and styles.

The Medusa heads

In the north-west corner, two columns rest on blocks carved with the face of Medusa: one is set upside down and the other on its side. Nobody knows for sure where they came from. Most likely they were taken from a late Roman building and simply used as bases. They're the photo everyone wants to take home.

The Hen's Eye Column

One column stands out from the rest: it's carved with hen's eyes, slanting branches and teardrops, which is why many people call it the "weeping column". Its decoration recalls 4th-century columns, another reused piece that's now one of the most photographed spots in the cistern.

Contemporary art and light

Since the restoration that finished in 2022, the cistern pairs its Byzantine architecture with new lighting and contemporary art installations placed among the columns. The result is one of the most photogenic visits in Istanbul, unlike any other monument in the city.

A film star

The cistern appears in From Russia with Love (1963), the second James Bond film, and it has been part of Istanbul's most mysterious side ever since.

See it with a guide

A guide takes you straight to every detail and tells you its story, with skip-the-line entry included.