Blue MosquevsBasilica Cistern
Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern are both endorsed by experts. Overall, Blue Mosque scores significantly higher than Basilica Cistern. Blue Mosque comes in at #4 in Istanbul with approval from 6 sources like Fodor's, Let's Go and Lonely Planet.
Blue Mosque
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Fodor's
Let's Go
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
Time Out
Travel + Leisure
Sultanahmet, Istanbul 222, Turkey
From $0/night
Frommer's "This grand bubble of masonry, one of the great and defining features of Istanbul's skyline, was constructed between 1609 and 1617 by Sultan Ahmet I." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"With his eponymously named mosque, Sultan Ahmet I (r1603–17) set out to build a monument that would rival and even surpass the nearby Aya Sofya in grandeur and beauty." Full review
Fodor's "Only after you enter the Blue Mosque do you understand the name... this mosque feels gloriously airy and full of light." Full review
Let's Go "Intricately decorated with the blue Iznik porcelain tiles responsible for the mosque’s name, this mosque feels a bit like being inside a colossal blue china teapot." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"This jewel of the 17C has retained its vocation as a place of worship... the over-riding effect here is one of grace and solemnity." Full review
Afar Magazine "Adorned with over 20,000 blue hand-crafted Iznik tiles, stained-glass windows and the golden brushstrokes of a 17th-century calligrapher, the Blue Mosque is the legacy of Sultan Ahmet I (1590-1617)." Full review
Time Out "Situated opposite the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is still a functional mosque and visiting is forbidden during prayer times." Full review
Travel + Leisure "One of the most recognizable landmarks in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque is a beacon in the city skyline. It is known for its gorgeous domes and six soaring minaret towers."
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Basilica Cistern Fodor's Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Let's Go Time Out Afar Magazine Michelin Guide Travel + Leisure
Imran Oktem Cad. No:4 D:5 Sultanahmet, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
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Fodor's "A journey through this ancient underground waterway takes you along dimly lit walkways that weave around 336 marble columns rising 26 feet to support Byzantine arches and domes." Full review
i
Come early to avoid the long lines and have a more peaceful visit.
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"When those Byzantine emperors built something, they certainly did it properly!" Full review
Travel + Leisure "Eighty-two feet below Istanbul is a 450-foot-long, 213-foot-wide former royal reservoir." Full review
Let's Go "Built more than 1400 years ago under the direction of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian—the same guy responsible for the Hagia Sophia—this underground cistern once stored water for the whole city." Full review
Time Out "One of Istanbul's most intriguing attractions." Full review
Afar Magazine "A city as ancient as Istanbul has many layers of history, and you’ll have to go below the surface to see the Basilica Cistern, the largest of the underground cisterns." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"What the Ottomans called Yerebatan Sarayi (Sunken Palace) is in fact a 6C Byzantine underground cistern that supplied water to the palace of Emperor Justinian." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The primary water reservoir for Constantinople, the Basilica Cistern is cathedral-esque and a sight to see...it is supported by 336 columns and can hold up to 17.5 million gallons of water."
25 Best Things to Do in Istanbul
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