A day in Edirne: Selimiye, old mosques, bazaars and bridges

Edirne is in Thrace, in the far north-west of Türkiye, near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. The Tunca and Meriç rivers flow around the west and south of the city. This route covers the main mosques and bazaars of the centre on foot. The health museum and the river bridges are reached by taxi or town bus.

Getting there from Istanbul

Edirne is about 230 km from Istanbul by road. Buses leave Esenler bus station throughout the day and take 2 to 4 hours, depending on traffic. Edirne bus station is about 5 km south-east of the centre, and town buses run into town.

Morning: the Selimiye complex

Start at the Selimiye Mosque. Mimar Sinan built it for Sultan Selim II, and it was completed in 1575. UNESCO listed the mosque and its social complex as a World Heritage Site in 2011. A restoration began in 2021, and the mosque reopened for worship in February 2026. The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is in one of the complex's medreses. The arasta, a covered market street also known as Kavaflar Arastası, runs along the south-west side.

Late morning: the Old Mosque and Üç Şerefeli

Two older imperial mosques stand a short walk from the Selimiye. The Old Mosque (Eski Cami) is a multi-domed building completed in 1414. It is the oldest of the city's three imperial mosques. The Üç Şerefeli Mosque was built for Sultan Murad II between 1438 and 1447. Its name means three balconies and refers to its tallest minaret.

Midday: the Ali Paşa Bazaar

The Ali Paşa Bazaar runs parallel to Saraçlar Caddesi, the main shopping street. Mimar Sinan built it in the 16th century for the grand vizier Semiz Ali Paşa. The vaulted market street is about 300 m long and has six gates.

Afternoon: the Bayezid II complex and Health Museum

The Complex of Sultan Bayezid II is in the Yeniimaret area, about 1 km west of Sarayiçi. It was built between 1484 and 1488 and includes a mosque, a medical school and a hospital (darüşşifa). The hospital is now the Health Museum of Trakya University. Its displays show Ottoman medical care, including music played for patients. In 2004 the museum received the Council of Europe Museum Prize.

Evening: the Tunca and Meriç bridges

End the day south of the centre, on the road to Karaağaç. Two historic stone bridges carry it across the rivers: first the Tunca Bridge, then the longer Meriç Bridge, also called the Mecidiye Bridge. Both can be crossed on foot.

Walking and getting around

The centre is compact and fairly flat, so the mosques and bazaars are easy to walk between. The Bayezid II complex and the bridges are a long walk from the centre. Take a taxi, dolmuş or town bus for at least one of these legs.

Museum opening hours and mosque visiting times change, so check them on the day. Buses back to Istanbul leave from Edirne bus station, about 5 km south-east of the centre.