Ten Things to Know When Visiting Istanbul’s Dazzling, Newly Renovated Basilica Cistern

Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern has reopened following a major renovation and engineering upgrade that began in 2017 and concluded in 2022.

The result is a must-see historical wonder and photogenic Instagram darling located in the heart of Istanbul’s Old Town, adjacent to the city’s crown jewels of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Istanbul’s newly renovated Basilica Cistern is a 1,500-year-old marvel of Roman-Byzantium engineering and features a forest of 336 marble columns. (Photo by Craig K. Collins ©2023)