Serefiye Sarnici
Serefiye Sarnici
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural Buildings
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
1600 years old Şerefiye Cistern is the world’s oldest landmark which is implemented with 360° projection mapping.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Sultanahmet
With so many unmissable attractions within a mere stroll of each other – and all set around the site of an ancient Byzantine hippodrome – Sultanahmet is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination, and a prime location for visitors to be wowed on a truly epic scale. Beyond the wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more, this relatively small area of Istanbul somehow manages to retain an air of peace and calm. It offers visitors a significantly less celebrated but nonetheless pleasant network of quaint lanes and side streets, majestic panoramas of the Bosphorus, and an impressive assortment of accommodation options for all budgets and tastes.
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Best nearby
Restaurants
4,256 within 5 kms
Attractions
1,126 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- plgarlepiedNew Orleans, Louisiana1,519 contributionsOk if already in the areaToday we went to basilica cistern first & it had info boards through out in English. Then we came here. We spent 30min max inside(did the 2 show option). It is smaller & DID have an elevator option. The “shows” were art/light projections inside accompanied by music. There is NO written or historical info. While the staff were nice getting our tx, overall my husb & I were disappointed with our visit. Before the exit, there is a coffee shop attached that has bathrooms BUT ONLY if you buy something from THEM! Your cistern tx does NOT count, even though they are part of the building/in order to exit. The advantage they have over basilica cistern is only that they stay open later(we caught their last shows)Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 8 March 2023
- HAYLEY cPaphos, Cyprus90 contributionsRidiculous expensiveAbsolutely stunning cistern.. Great light show.. But €17 per person for 25 minute visit is ridiculously expensive.. All children over 6 are charged full price. Really just not worth it.. Such a shameVisited April 2023Written 15 April 2023
- gpants1Sydney, Australia132 contributionsDelightful sight and sound experience.Also known as the Theodosia Cistern. A great experience of digital projections onto the columns and roof of this amazing space. There is an accompanying soundtrack to the projections and is a great way to experience this feat of architecture. A shame the staff were so disinterested. Not engaged or friendly.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 14 September 2023
- Christine LilySydney, Australia1,172 contributionsAncient history meets modern.A small Roman cistern located just outside very touristed areas. Only recently discovered and renovated. They have time slots ( 1/2 hourly) to enter as they have a light and sound show played over the ceiling and columns. Only downfall is that you can't just go in and have a look.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
360 reviews
Excellent
270
Very good
55
Average
22
Poor
6
Terrible
7
IlyaNJ
Marlboro, NJ1,009 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Aka "Cistern of Theodosius" is not too crowded, smaller and not as impressive as the Basilica Cistern, but absence of long lines may make it a nice substitute for some. Barely any water is visible, and a lot of projectors (not operating) positioned in open spaces take away from the enchantment. Still, a remarkable feat of human endeavor.
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
631BarbaraM
Inwood, WV179 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Locals can enter for 80 turkish lira (about $2.50 US) but foreign visitors must pay 350 turkish liras or about $12.50. Not fair. Same thing for all museums. What is free to visit are the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque.
Written 18 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine Lily
Sydney, Australia1,172 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
A small Roman cistern located just outside very touristed areas. Only recently discovered and renovated. They have time slots ( 1/2 hourly) to enter as they have a light and sound show played over the ceiling and columns. Only downfall is that you can't just go in and have a look.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gpants1
Sydney, Australia132 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Also known as the Theodosia Cistern. A great experience of digital projections onto the columns and roof of this amazing space. There is an accompanying soundtrack to the projections and is a great way to experience this feat of architecture. A shame the staff were so disinterested. Not engaged or friendly.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne Marie F
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
A complete waste of money. Rude staff. No information about the cistern. Pathetic!! The sound and light show is very old fashioned
Written 8 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mustafa Grump
East Garston, UK159 contributions
Jul 2023
Not very well lit and then it gets even harder to admire the architecture once the lights are turned off completely and visitors are then subjected to a compulsory and utterly meaningless sound and light show for 15 minutes. Bit of a waste of time.
Written 10 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan N
Lockerbie, UK25 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Immersive light show at this underground water cistern.
Queues at the Yerebatan cistern were huge, so we diverted to this smaller cistern which was à recommended visit by an Istanbul resident. Very few people were there.
Walk up the tram route towards the Grand Bazaar and take a left near Burger King.
There are two shows, each lasting around 10 minutes. We paid 350TL for both and it was well worth it. Even better, the lokanta next door, Ortaklar, has excellent Turkish food at reasonable prices - hard to find in Sultanahmet district.
Queues at the Yerebatan cistern were huge, so we diverted to this smaller cistern which was à recommended visit by an Istanbul resident. Very few people were there.
Walk up the tram route towards the Grand Bazaar and take a left near Burger King.
There are two shows, each lasting around 10 minutes. We paid 350TL for both and it was well worth it. Even better, the lokanta next door, Ortaklar, has excellent Turkish food at reasonable prices - hard to find in Sultanahmet district.
Written 21 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JCW703
Moscow, Russia2,825 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
This cistern is overshadowed by its larger sibling, but is interesting in its own way. While smaller and, more uniform, and less ornate than the Basilica Cistern, it has a trippy light show that makes a visit worthwhile.
Written 19 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HAYLEY c
Paphos, Cyprus90 contributions
Apr 2023
Absolutely stunning cistern.. Great light show.. But €17 per person for 25 minute visit is ridiculously expensive.. All children over 6 are charged full price. Really just not worth it.. Such a shame
Written 15 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
U1112POcaroliner
London, United Kingdom24 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Sound and light show felt cliched and a little underwhelming. Seemed a bit of a tourist trap although good to see the cisterns (we had meant to go to the Basilica cistern).
Written 11 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alberto v
Naples, Italy1 contribution
ho di recente visitato la cisterna ma alcuni amici mi hanno chiesto se ho visto in essa i pesce, IO NON HO VISTO ALCUN PESCE1 vi sono?
Alessiofranchi11
Rome, Italy1,060 contributions
Mi rispondi? Ho detto che non lo so
cathy w
Colorado21 contributions
I plan to buy a tx ahead of time but not sure what time I will be at cistern. Does light show start every hour on the hour?
Sizce kaç dakikada ya da saatte gezerim?
Hangi saatler arasında açık ve ücreti ne kadar?
maris travel
Sao Paulo, SP155 contributions
Hi. How much cost the ticket and where I Could acquire it?
yerma4ok
Stuttgart, Germany225 contributions
Free admission
Sharwaaz Hassan
21 contributions
Is this attraction really FREE entry??? Also, which is better to do....Serefiye or Basillica Cistern???
Ttaylo3
Toronto, Canada516 contributions
Serefiye is free. Apparently it’s similar in size, but totally renovated, when compared to the Bascillica! And no line ups
Litovchonok
Krasnodar, Russia6 contributions
Добрый вечер,подскажите стоимость посещения Цистерны Феодосия?
RemezovMax
Batumi, Georgia216 contributions
Бесплатно, это музей
Orhan K
2 contributions
Bugun acikmi muze giris ucretlimi? Engelli kart gecerlimi?
sezaibalkar
Izmir Province, Türkiye24 contributions
Merhaba
Bildigim kadarı ile ücretsiz
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Frequently Asked Questions about Serefiye Sarnici
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Serefiye Sarnici:
- Historic Off the Beaten Path Tour of the Real Istanbul (From ₹ 8,320.28)
- A Unique Walking Tour with Serif Yenen and Team: Underground Istanbul (From ₹ 28,328.61)
- Private Tour Guiding in Istanbul (From ₹ 28,597.73)
- Discover Istanbul in Two Days (From ₹ 35,037.49)
- Istanbul Street Walking Tour in Sultanahmet (From ₹ 3,332.78)
- Hotels near Serefiye Sarnici:
- (0.02 km) Peyk Hotel
- (0.02 km) Gulec Hotel
- (0.03 km) Mina Hotel
- (0.03 km) Antea Hotel
- (0.03 km) Güleç Hotel
- Restaurants near Serefiye Sarnici:
- (0.01 km) Ortaklar Kebap Lahmacun
- (0.03 km) Mevlana Kebap Salonu
- (0.04 km) Mevlana Kebap Lahmacun Salonu
- (0.04 km) Peyk Away Coffee
- (0.05 km) Hidden Garden Restaurant