One city, three days: Edirne

Let’s go: History of Edirne 

In the northern part of Eastern Thrace, Edirne was part of the Odrysian Kingdom – a union of around forty Thracian states – until about 46 A.D, when it fell to the Romans. The city was rebuilt and named Hadrianopolis, for the Roman emperor Hadrian. It came under Crusader rule, then Byzantine rule in the thirteenth century, and was conquered by the Ottomans in the fourteenth century, when it also became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Ceded to Greece after the First World War, Edirne became part of Türkiye during the Turkish War of Independence. John Keegan, in his book A History of Warfare, described the city as “the most contested spot on the globe”, due to its strategic location as the “Gate to the Ottoman Empire” from the Balkans.

Places to visit in Edirne

Edirne is not a large city but there is much to see and do. We recommend visiting during the spring and summer; many of the city’s prominent sites are easy to visit on foot. Keep reading to discover more about Edirne’s main attractions!

Historical sites in Edirne

Selimiye Mosque

The spectacular Selimiye Mosque, considered the masterwork of Mimar Sinan: The brilliant architect who built an era, was erected at the city’s highest point by order of the Ottoman sultan, Selim II. Built by Mimar Sinan when he was 80 years old, the 16th-century mosque is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features four minarets with three balconies and, in clear weather, is visible from Süleymaniye village in Uzunköprü and from the Rhodope Mountains.  in open weather.

Rüstempaşa Caravanserai

The Rüstempaşa Caravanserai, a stellar example of classical Ottoman architecture, was also built by Mimar Sinan in the sixteenth century. The structure was commissioned by Rüstem Pasha, the grand vizier and son-in-law of Suleyman the Magnificent. Featuring beautiful stone- and brickwork, the Caravanserai was an inn and a warehouse for camel caravans. It is located in the Edirne city center and now serves as a hotel.

Great Synagogue

During the Ottoman era, Edirne had a sizeable Jewish population. After the fire of 1905, many synagogues and other buildings were destroyed. Construction on the Moorish-style Great Synagogue began in 1906; when it opened in 1909, it was the largest synagogue in Türkiye and Europe’s third largest. The structure was renovated in 2015 and is now open to visitors and worshippers.

Üç Şerefeli Mosque

Considered one of the first examples of the transition from Seljuk to Ottoman-style architecture, the tranquil 15th-century Üç Şerefeli Mosque features four minarets of varying heights; the tallest is 67 meters and has three balconies – thus, the mosque’s name, “Üç Şerefeli (Three Balconies).” The complex also contains a cemetery, with graves dating to the seventeenth century.

Tunca Bridge and Meriç Bridge 

The Tunca and Meriç bridges, located on the road from Edirne to Karaağaç, span the Tunca and Meriç rivers, respectively. Built in the seventeenth century, the Tunca Bridge features granite stonework, and graceful arches; the 18th-century Meriç Bridge, which is longer, has twelve arches. Tea gardens and parks on the bank of the Meriç River offer lovely views of the bridge.

Ali Pasha Bazaar

Edirne has three bazaars, one of which, the 16th-century Ali Pasha Bazaar, is known as the Grand Bazaar. Built by Mimar Sinan, the bazaar was commissioned by Ali Paşa, the Grand Vizier. Located on Saraçlar Street in the city center, the long structure has a traditional arched ceiling and six gates. It was renovated in the 1990s and today features various shops selling traditional handicrafts and souvenirs.

Museums in Edirne 

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts 

Edirne’s Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is in the Dar-ül Hadis Madrasa, which is on the grounds of the Selimiye Mosque Complex. Established in 1925, the Museum has fourteen halls, mainly featuring exhibits of glass and ceramic items, tiles, furniture, and Ottoman weapons. In addition, there are handwritten copies of the Koran and remnants of stone Ottoman-era structures. There’s also a room dedicated to the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival!

The Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum

Known as the Health Museum, this fascinating institution in the Sultan Bayezid II Mosque complex was once a functioning Ottoman-era hospital and medical school. It now presents Türkiye’s medical history in a series of lively dioramas. Opened in 1997, the Museum’s exhibits include recreated rooms from the hospital and school, including the kitchen, patients’ quarters, and rooms where Ottoman doctors utilized music and art therapy for patients with mental and psychiatric disorders. The Museum is the first and only one of its kind in Türkiye.

The home of leaf liver: Dining in Edirne

If you’ve worked up an appetite walking around Edirne, then you’re in luck. The city’s cuisine, shaped by Ottoman and Balkan influences, is distinctive and delicious. The most famous dish in Edirne is “leaf liver” – paper-thin slices of crispy fried calf’s liver. Even if liver is not your favorite dish, the Edirne version is worth a try!

Meanwhile, leaf liver is not the only local delicacy; other specialties include

• Walnut ragu
• Mutancana (a casserole made with lamb, dried fruit and butter)
• Kavala almond cookies
• Marzipan (almond paste candy)
• Edirne-style meatballs
• Kallavi cookies (pistachio and saffron)
• Stuffed onions
• Cheese halva
• Satır et (square patties made with beef and lamb)
• Mamzana (roasted eggplant appetizer)

Some notes on Edirne 

We’ve presented a few of Edirne’s historical, cultural and culinary highlights, so keep reading for some practical tips on visiting this fascinating city.

To easily and quickly plan an excursion to Edirne, check out the Turkish Holidays vacation packages. You can book accommodation, flights and transfers suitable for your budget on one platform!

Flights to Edirne

Since there are no airports in Edirne, most visitors arrive via road or rail. If you do fly to Edirne, the nearest airport is Tekirdağ Çorlu Airport, about 95 minutes from the Edirne city center. Municipal buses operate between the airport and the main bus station in Edirne.

We hope you have a wonderful trip!