Basilica Cistern

Yerebatan Sarnici

Vast underground cistern built by Justinian in 532 to store the city's water, the largest and best-known of the hundreds constructed. It's a cathedral-like space with 336 richly decorated columns. Time was you explored in a little rowing boat, but tourist numbers have soared and water levels have dropped, so now you follow a boardwalk, with lights, piped music and art installations. It's sometimes a film location, and stages concerts. But the crowds rob it of atmosphere and you might prefer to seek out one of the less-visited cisterns.

• history

Address

Yerebatan Cd 1/3

Getting there

Sultanahmet 260 m

Hours

Daily 09:00-18:30, 19:30-22:00

Price

Adult 09:00-18:30 1500 TL (23€); 19:30-22:00 2400 TL (47€)

Website

yerebatan.com (opens in a new tab)