Edirne Day Trip from Istanbul: Private Selimiye Mosque Tour, 12 Hours
Overview
Edirne Day Trip from Istanbul: Private Selimiye Mosque Tour, 12 Hours
Leave the crowds of Istanbul behind for a day among the imperial buildings of Edirne. This private Edirne trip is meant for travellers who want something deeper than standard sightseeing. Your licensed guide collects you from the hotel lobby, and from then on every detail is handled for you.
Mimar Sinan's Selimiye Mosque
The centrepiece is the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the peak of the imperial architect Mimar Sinan's career. Your guide explains it through stories that no guidebook tells.
Private Pace, No Group
There is no group to keep up with and nothing to organise. You travel door to door in comfort, listen to an expert storyteller and linger wherever something catches your interest.
History lovers, fans of architecture and travellers on a return visit to Istanbul will all find it a rewarding day out of the city.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Edirne: Selimiye Mosque, Bazaars, Synagogue and Meric Bridge
Your guide meets you in the lobby of your hotel, and a scenic 3-hour drive brings you to Edirne, a former capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Your visits in Edirne:
- Bulgarian Church of St. George: an Orthodox church dating from 1880 that recalls the mix of faiths and cultures in the city's past.
- Selimiye Mosque: listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, this is Mimar Sinan's masterpiece, which the imperial architect himself named his greatest work.
- Rustem Pasha Caravanserai: built by Sinan in 1561 and a fine example of Ottoman design.
- Grand Bazaar of Edirne (Ali Pasha Bazaar): another work designed by Sinan.
- Old Mosque: from the early 15th century and famous for its huge calligraphic inscriptions, it shows how classical Ottoman architecture first took shape.
- Uc Serefeli Mosque: the "Mosque with Three Balconies", which dates back to 1447.
- Sultan Bayezid II Complex and Museum of Health: a notable 15th-century complex, once used as a hospital, a medical school and a charity centre.
- Edirne Grand Synagogue: dating from 1907 and restored with care, it is the biggest synagogue in the Balkans and a strong reminder of the city's once-flourishing Jewish community.
- Meric Bridge: a 19th-century bridge from the reign of Sultan Abdulmecid.
- The old railway station: a nostalgic building that used to connect Edirne with Europe and Anatolia.
- Lausanne Monument and Square: a memorial to the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.
When the tour is over, the drive takes you back to Istanbul and drops you at your hotel.
Our service ends here. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Private Tour
- ✓Local Tour Guides
- ✓Transportation by Private Van
- ✓Museum Tickets & Attraction Fees
- ✕Drinks
- ✕Lunch
- ✕Gratuity (Suggested)
- ✕Personal Expenses
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at no charge until 7 days before your tour and you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the final 7 days before the tour, no refund is given. All times shown are local.
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Private tour of Edirne and the Selimiye Mosque from Istanbul: the essentials
This private day trip goes from Istanbul to Edirne, once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, with prices from $370. The main sight is the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO-listed building and the greatest work of the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. You also see the Uc Serefeli and Old Mosques, the Grand Synagogue, the Bulgarian Church of St. George, the Sultan Bayezid II Complex and its Museum of Health, the Ali Pasha Bazaar, the Meric Bridge and the old train station. A licensed guide meets you in the lobby of your hotel, and museum tickets and a private van are included.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| How long | Around 12 hours |
| Cost | From $370 |
| Format | Private: just your group and a local guide |
| Starts and finishes | At your hotel in Istanbul |
| Main sights | Selimiye Mosque, Bayezid II Complex, Uc Serefeli Mosque, Grand Synagogue, Meric Bridge |
| What you get | Private van, private guide, museum tickets and attraction fees |
| What you pay extra | Tips, meals and drinks |
What makes Edirne worth a visit?
Before Istanbul, Edirne served as the Ottoman capital, and it is still among the best Ottoman cities in Turkey. It has great mosques and monuments but sees far fewer visitors than Istanbul. The city sits close to the Greek and Bulgarian borders, and its mosques, synagogue and churches show a long multicultural past.
Why is the Selimiye Mosque so special?
Sultan Selim II had the Selimiye Mosque built in the 16th century. It is seen as the masterpiece of Mimar Sinan, the greatest of the Ottoman architects, who created it late in his working life. The huge dome is carried in a way that makes the inside feel open and bright, and four slim minarets rise over the city skyline. The mosque and its complex form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which sites does the tour cover?
| Site | What you see |
|---|---|
| Selimiye Mosque | The masterpiece of Sinan |
| Uc Serefeli Mosque | A key early Ottoman mosque whose minaret has three balconies |
| Old Mosque | Among the earliest Ottoman mosques in Edirne |
| Edirne Grand Synagogue | Restored synagogue that reflects the Jewish heritage of the city |
| Bulgarian Church of St. George | Church of the local Bulgarian community |
| Sultan Bayezid II Complex | Historic complex that houses the Museum of Health in a former hospital |
| Ali Pasha Bazaar and Rustem Pasha Caravanserai | A historic bazaar and an old trading inn |
| Meric Bridge, Lausanne Monument, old train station | Landmarks at the city's edge |
How does it compare with other day trips from Istanbul?
| Private day trip from Istanbul | Focus | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| This tour | The Ottoman capital and the masterpiece of Sinan | $370 |
| Private tour of Iznik (Nicaea) | Ancient Nicaea, its councils and tiles | $375 |
| Private tour of Bursa | First capital of the Ottomans | $100 |
| Private tour of Troy | The legendary city of Troy | $165 |
How long does the drive take?
Roughly three hours in each direction, along a scenic road across Thrace. The private van keeps the long day comfortable, and you can stop whenever you need to.
When should you visit Edirne?
Spring and autumn are the nicest seasons. Visits to mosques stop during prayer times, above all at midday on Fridays, and your guide plans the day around them.
What should you pack?
Comfortable shoes, modest clothes for the mosques (covered shoulders and knees for everyone and a scarf for women) and cash for lunch and the bazaar, which is known for Edirne's fruit-shaped soaps.
How can you book?
Pick a date on this page and submit the form, or send us your Istanbul hotel on WhatsApp. We send written confirmation, and payment is only due after that. You can find more options among our day trips from Istanbul and Turkey tour packages.
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