Go Down the Basilica Cistern

Not too far from the Blue Mosque, you will also find another stunning tourist attraction you shouldn't miss. The Basilica Cistern is the largest ancient cistern, one of the many that lie beneath Istanbul and it was constructed in the 6th Century to store rainwater for later use.

Nowadays, the cistern is kept with little water so that tourists can come down and explore the space freely. Inside the cistern, you will find a forest of over 360 massive marble columns supporting the city above some of which are more notable than the others like the one pillar with an upside-down Medusa head as its base and another with a sideway Medusa head as its base. It should take you around 30 minutes to go down, walk around the cistern, and get back up. The entrance fee to the Basilica Cistern is 30 TRY per person and it is open from 9 AM to 6:30 PM every day.