Edirne
Sinan's masterpiece, a former Ottoman capital, and the oldest wrestling festival in the world.
Edirne was the Ottoman capital before the conquest of Constantinople, and it holds the Selimiye Mosque, the masterpiece of the great architect Sinan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is an easy, rewarding trip from Istanbul, with Ottoman bridges, a remarkable historic hospital and a local food tradition of its own.
What to see in Edirne
The places worth your time — and the ones we build a day around.
Planning Edirne
The practical answers, before you book anything.
April–June and September–October; late June or early July for Kırkpınar.
1–2 days.
About 2.5–3 hours by road from Istanbul.
Edirne: common questions
Is Edirne a good day trip from Istanbul?
Yes, but it is a long day. An overnight stay lets you see the mosques in the evening light.
When is the Kırkpınar oil-wrestling festival?
It is held every summer, usually in late June or early July. Exact dates are announced each year.
Which of these is your kind of day?
Tell us what pulls at you and we will build Edirne around it — the right hours, the right guide, and an honest word on what to skip. How we charge is set out in How we work.