The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

Plan a trip to see Basilica Cistern

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.

Melas Hotel Istanbul

Beşiktaş

₩1,525,892

per person

Dec 8 - Dec 14

found 7 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Seoul (ICN) to Istanbul (IST)

9.4/10 Exceptional! (339 reviews)

We liked the hotel, best part was BREAKFAST. Super good food, great selections and always hot. The room we got was clean with city view. The only downside was that on the 5th floor their main hallway carpet was super dirty and smelled ( which is easy to fix) . Other than that, we liked Melas and most likely come back and stay with them again.. thank you .

Reviewed on Oct 30, 2025

Address Istanbul

Üsküdar

₩1,659,329

per person

Dec 8 - Dec 14

found 7 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Seoul (ICN) to Istanbul (IST)

9.6/10 Exceptional! (347 reviews)

Staff are well educated and trained for their roles, they’re highly professional and polite, with amazing positive attitude! The people that I listed below were really special, and make my trip so memorable! Caglar sarioglu Ibrahim şahin Miray Sanaz

Reviewed on Oct 19, 2025

CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul

Taksim

₩1,839,946

per person

Dec 8 - Dec 14

found 7 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Seoul (ICN) to Istanbul (IST)

9/10 Wonderful! (1,009 reviews)

The best hotel for me ❤️

Reviewed on Oct 22, 2025

Reviews of Basilica Cistern

4.4

Top Destination

5 - Excellent

428

4 - Good

212

3 - Okay

74

2 - Disappointing

8

1 - Terrible

7

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

it cost 20 lira and i spent 15 minutes here. it is cool to see the history and a few photo but not worth a second trip.

4/5 - Good

Rusty

Saw aa special on Discovery or Nat Geo and thought this was great. I was a little disappointed after view the show, but still amazed at the work and the craftsmanship that went into building this place. The old saying, they don't build them like this anymore holds true for this place. Probably not a good place for young kids, it is dark and damp and when the tour groups come, it gets crowded quick

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Under reconstruction- wait a few years to come.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

This is a quick 15-20 minute visit. It is across the street from the Hagia Sofia. We paid 10 or 15 lira per person to enter. It is dark and wet. Unfortunately, it is very poorly lit. We had been excited to see it since we knew a scene from a Bond flick was shot there, however, you can't really see much of anything. If you use flash, you can get a few shots of columns. There are two columns with Madusa heads for bases. The sign it nowhere near them. Everyone took pictures of blackness looking for them. It was funny because I asked a worker to find out that they were at the very end before turning around and coming back out. If you want to appear really smart and knowledgeable, tell everyone who is bewildered looking for them that they are at then end.

5/5 - Excellent

lee

Went on my last trip here, very interesting and a cool respite for a hot day. Worth a stop.

4/5 - Good

HijabNomani

A lot of it is under construction. Walk to the end to see the Medusa heads.

Popular places to visit

German Fountain

4.5/5(2 reviews)

You can find out about the history of Istanbul when you stop by German Fountain. Stroll along the seaside or visit the shops in the area.

Hagia Sophia

4.5/5(2,130 reviews)

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Blue Mosque featuring a mosque, a pond and a fountain

Tomb of Sultan Ahmet I

5/5(1 review)

Learn about the local history of Istanbul when you spend time at Tomb of Sultan Ahmet I. Add the area's notable monuments or shops to your travel plans.

Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III

Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III is just one of the places to see in Istanbul, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Stroll along the area's seaside or experience its fascinating museums.

Le Arts Turcs

You can study the exhibits at Le Arts Turcs, a museum with a story of its own, during your trip to Istanbul. Stroll along the area's seaside or experience its fascinating museums.

The Million Stone

You can find out about the history of Istanbul when you stop by The Million Stone. Stroll along the area's seaside or experience its fascinating museums.