Things to See in Edirne in One Day: A Route from Mosques to Bridges

Edirne can be seen in one day, provided you divide the city into three areas and visit them in turn. In the morning, the Complex of Bayezid II on the banks of the Tunca, Sarayiçi and the Kırkpınar wrestling arena; at midday, the Selimiye, the Old Mosque and the Üç Şerefeli Mosque in the city centre; and in the late afternoon, the Meriç Bridge and Karaağaç. In this order you don't waste time on the road and you end the day by the river in the evening light.

A short note to help you understand Edirne

Edirne was the capital of the Ottoman state before the conquest of Istanbul, and even after the capital moved to Istanbul it remained a city where the sultans often spent time. That is why, for a small city, it has a surprising number of great mosques, complexes, bridges and palace ruins. Its role as the gateway to the Balkans adds another layer of history, with the Balkan Wars and its identity as a border city.

Morning: the Tunca riverside and Sarayiçi

Bayezid II Complex

This complex on the banks of the Tunca River consists of a mosque, a madrasa, a soup kitchen and a darüşşifa. The darüşşifa, or hospital section, is known for the place where patients are said to have been treated with the sound of water and music, and today it can be visited as a health museum. Its domed rooms and courtyards open an interesting window onto how medicine was thought of in Ottoman times.

The ruins of Edirne Palace and the Justice Pavilion

In Sarayiçi, on the site where a vast palace complex once stood, you can see ruins and some restored buildings today. The Justice Pavilion (Adalet Kasrı) is one of the surviving landmark buildings of this area.

Kırkpınar wrestling arena

Sarayiçi is also where the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, held for centuries, takes place. Even outside the wrestling season, seeing the arena, the wrestler statues and the surroundings gives you a feel for what this tradition means to the city.

The Şükrü Pasha Monument and the Balkan War Museum

The monument built in honour of Şükrü Pasha, who defended Edirne during its long siege in the Balkan War, and the museum right next to it focus on the city's more recent history. The Balkan Martyrs' Cemetery is also an important stop in this history.

Midday: the city centre and the great mosques

Selimiye Mosque

The Selimiye, which Mimar Sinan called his "masterpiece", dominates Edirne's skyline. When you step inside, you find an open, bright space rising beneath a single great dome on eight piers. Its four slender, tall minarets can be seen from everywhere in the city. To get to know the Selimiye in more detail, take a look at our article Selimiye Mosque and Mimar Sinan.

Old Mosque (Eski Cami)

The Old Mosque, a few steps from the Selimiye, is, as its name suggests, one of the city's early Ottoman mosques. It is known for its multi-domed structure and the large calligraphic inscriptions inside.

Üç Şerefeli Mosque

It takes its name from the three balconies (şerefe) on one of its minarets. This mosque, each of whose minarets is decorated differently, is considered an important step on the path of Ottoman architecture leading to the Selimiye. Seeing the three mosques one after another on the same day is a good chance to compare how architecture changed over more than a century.

Having lunch in this area with Edirne's famous fried liver (tava ciğer) is almost a tradition. We cover food separately in our article What to eat in Edirne.

Late afternoon: the bridges and Karaağaç

The Tunca and Meriç bridges

Edirne is a city of rivers, and its bridges offer its finest views. Crossing the Ottoman-era stone bridges, you see the trees and footpaths along the riverbanks. The Meriç Bridge is one of the city's favourite spots for photos, especially at sunset.

Karaağaç and Pazarkule

Karaağaç, on the other side of the Meriç, shows a different face of the city with its old railway station building and quiet streets. The Pazarkule Border Gate is a stop that reminds you Edirne is a border city. Karaağaç and the Söğütlük Recreation Area are pleasant green spaces to unwind after the day.

How to do this route on a tour

The Edirne Tour follows a programme very close to the order above. We leave Istanbul in the morning and have a village-style spread breakfast in Silivri. In Edirne we first visit the Şükrü Pasha Monument and the Balkan War Museum, the Complex of Bayezid II, the ruins of Edirne Palace, the Justice Pavilion, the Balkan Martyrs' Cemetery and the Kırkpınar wrestling arena. Lunch is Edirne liver, followed by visits to the Selimiye, the Old Mosque and the Üç Şerefeli Mosque. At the end of the day there is free time at the Meriç and Tunca bridges, Pazarkule, Karaağaç and Söğütlük, and we return to Istanbul in the evening.

The programme takes about 13.5 hours and suits school, family and cultural groups.

Practical tips

• Pay attention to clothing when visiting the mosques: a headscarf for women, and clothes covering the knees and shoulders for everyone. Visits may be restricted during prayer times.
• There is quite a lot of walking during the day; wear comfortable shoes.
• Edirne's summers are hot and its winters cool and windy. Spring and autumn are lovely times for walking along the river.

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-see places in Edirne?

The main stops are Selimiye Mosque, the Old Mosque, the Üç Şerefeli Mosque, the Complex of Bayezid II, the Kırkpınar wrestling arena, the ruins of Edirne Palace, the Meriç and Tunca bridges, and Karaağaç.

Can you see Edirne in one day?

Yes. If you divide the city into Sarayiçi and the Tunca riverside in the morning, the mosques in the centre at midday, and the bridges and Karaağaç in the late afternoon, you can see the main sights in one day.

Can you do a day trip from Istanbul to Edirne?

Yes. Our tour is a day trip of about 13.5 hours that leaves in the morning and returns in the evening, with a breakfast stop in Silivri on the way.

Can you go on an Edirne trip with children?

Yes. The Kırkpınar wrestling arena, the bridges along the river and the green spaces at Söğütlük appeal to children too. In our catalogue, the Edirne Tour is among the programmes suitable for families.