Ghost City istanbul Walking Tour
Walk the City’s Underground Myths on a Guided Tour
This tour takes you underground, into the cisterns that once supplied water to Constantinople, and past monuments tied to some of the city’s oldest legends. In 2 to 3 hours, you’ll cover ancient columns, buried water halls, and a park that once belonged to the sultans, all within walking distance of each other in Sultanahmet.
Your guide connects each stop to the myths built around it, from the Serpent Column’s link to the evil eye to the stories locals tell about a queen of snakes. You’ll come away with more than a list of sites. You’ll have the stories that explain why they matter.
Tour Details
- Product Code: P00230580
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Group size: Max 15 participants
- Language: English
- Tour Guide: Licensed & Professional Tour Guide
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
- Discounts: Group discounts and reduced rates for kids
Why Join This Tour?
- Walk through Istanbul’s underground cisterns and ancient monuments
- Hear the myths tied to the Serpent Column, including its connection to the evil eye symbol you’ll see all over the city
- Step inside the Basilica Cistern, one of the most atmospheric underground spaces in Istanbul
- Finish near Gulhane Park, a short walk from the Bosphorus
- Join a small group tour capped at 15 people
Tour Route
Serpent Column
Cast over 2,500 years ago to celebrate a Greek victory over Persia, this bronze column originally stood at Delphi before Constantine had it moved to his new capital. Your guide explains how it became tangled up with local legends about serpents and protection against evil.
Duration: 10 minutes Admission: Free
Cistern of Theodosius
This underground cistern once held drinking water for the palace above it. On the way, you’ll pass the Column of Constantine (Cemberlitas), one of the oldest Roman monuments still standing in the city.
Duration: 20 minutes Admission: Not Included
Basilica Cistern
The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul holds hundreds of columns rising out of shallow water, including two carved with Medusa heads at their base. Your guide covers the theories on why they were placed there, sideways and upside down.
Duration: 30 minutes Admission: Not included
Gulhane Park
Once the outer garden of Topkapi Palace, Gulhane Park now gives you a green, open space to end the tour, with views toward the Bosphorus.
Duration: 10 minutes Admission: Free
What’s Included
- Licensed & Professional Tour Guide
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Tips
- Entrance tickets Admissions
⟟ Meeting Point
German Fountain, Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd, 34122 Fatih, Istanbul.
⟟ Ending Point
Basilica Cistern, Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih, Istanbul.
Additional Info:
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
Is This Tour Worth It?
If you want Istanbul’s history told through its myths rather than just its monuments, this tour delivers that. It holds a 5.0 rating across 30 reviews, with 100% of travelers recommending it. Reviewers point to the guide’s storytelling and her ability to connect different historical eras, rather than just listing facts at each stop. It suits travellers who’ve already seen the major mosques and palaces and want a different angle on the city.
My Other Guided Walking Tours
Check out my other guided walking Istanbul tours and continue planning your trip:
