Edirne sits at the meeting point of the Meriç, Tunca and Arda rivers in Turkey’s far northwest, just kilometres from both the Bulgarian and Greek borders. It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for nearly a century before Constantinople fell, and Süleyman the Magnificent commissioned the greatest architect of the age, Mimar Sinan, to crown it with the masterpiece of his career.
The result — the Selimiye Mosque, completed in 1575 — is, by many accounts, the finest Ottoman building ever constructed. Edirne is worth making a special trip just to see it.
- Region
- Thrace
- Distance from Istanbul
- 235 km west
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Famous for
- Selimiye Mosque, oil wrestling
Selimiye Mosque — Sinan's masterpiece
Sinan considered the Selimiye to be his greatest work, surpassing even the Süleymaniye in Istanbul. The dome is wider than that of the Hagia Sophia; the four needle-thin minarets are the tallest in Turkey. Inside, the light is extraordinary — hundreds of windows flood the interior with a clarity that makes the building feel impossibly light.
The attached külliye includes a covered market whose rent still funds the mosque’s maintenance — a five-century-old endowment still paying its way.
The Ottoman bazaars
The Bedesten (covered market) and Arasta Bazaar adjacent to the Selimiye are among the best-preserved Ottoman commercial complexes in Turkey. Here you’ll find the silk embroidery and gold thread work for which Edirne was once famous, alongside the local speciality: marzipan-like badem ezmesi (almond paste) and ciğer(sliced liver) — the true local dish.
Kırkpınar — the world's oldest wrestling tournament
Every June or July since 1346, the Kırkpınar tournament has been held on the Sarayiçi meadows beside the Tunca river — making it the world’s oldest continuously running sporting event. Wrestlers dress only in kispet (tight leather trousers) and coat themselves in olive oil; bouts can last for hours.
The three-day festival draws tens of thousands of spectators and is listed by UNESCO.
Edirne in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Edirne
2Absolutely — the Selimiye Mosque alone justifies the 2.5 hour journey. Combine with the bazaar, a riverside walk and ciğer for a full day trip.
Kırkpınar takes place in late June or early July each year on the Sarayiçi meadows beside the Tunca river.