Underground Istanbul: Byzantine Cisterns & Hidden Passages

Beneath the surface of Istanbul, vast cisterns and hidden passageways from the Byzantine Empire await you. Serkan Bey, an archaeologist and Byzantine specialist, has been exploring this underground world for 10 years. The tour begins at the famous Basilica Cistern, but it doesn’t end there. We’ll also visit three other cisterns that most tourists never hear about — some have been converted into restaurants, while others remain dark and mysterious. You’ll learn about Byzantium’s water engineering system, how aqueducts brought water into the city, and how cisterns disappeared after earthquakes. Serkan Bey will share recent discoveries and cisterns that have still not been found. The most exciting part of the tour: with special permission, you’ll enter a cistern that is normally closed to the public.