Daily Edirne Tour from Istanbul – Selimiye Mosque & Uzunkopru Bridge

Edirne Day Trip – Selimiye Mosque, Ali Pasha Bazaar and the Uzunkopru Stone Bridge

This daily Edirne tour from Istanbul takes you west into Thrace to the city that served as the Ottoman capital before the conquest of Constantinople. Over one full day tour you see the masterpiece of the architect Sinan, walk through a classical Ottoman bazaar, trace Roman and Byzantine walls and cross into the countryside to a remarkable 15th-century bridge.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

This Edirne Tour also works as a shore excursion from the Istanbul cruise port — a popular choice for passengers who have one day ashore. As a private excursion it is fully flexible — pickup is right at the pier, the pace follows your group, and we make sure you are back on board well before departure. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Simply share your cruise itinerary and the date you are in Istanbul, and we will reserve your places.

• Selimiye Mosque, regarded as Mimar Sinan's crowning work
• Ali Pasha Bazaar and its long vaulted shopping street
• The Clock Tower of Edirne Castle and the Macedonia Tower
• Uzunkopru, a long Ottoman stone bridge in the Thracian countryside
• Lunch in Edirne, included in the programme
• Stories of Kirkpinar, home of traditional oil wrestling

Commissioned by Sultan Selim II and completed between 1568 and 1575, the Selimiye Mosque crowns the city with its immense dome; Sinan himself considered it his finest achievement. The Ali Pasha Bazaar honours Hersekzade Semiz Ali Pasha, grand vizier under Suleiman the Magnificent, who died before the market was finished. The Clock Tower once stood at a corner of the walls of Hadrianopolis, founded by the Roman emperor Hadrian; in 1866-1867 governor Haci Izzet Pasha gave it wooden floors and a clock. Around the surviving Macedonia Tower an urban archaeology park now displays the excavated layers of the old city.

Uzunkopru, literally the Long Bridge, was begun in 1427 under Sultan Murad II and opened in 1443, carrying the road from Anatolia towards the Balkans. Edirne is also famous for Kirkpinar, an oil wrestling festival held for more than 650 years. This daily excursion involves a long drive in each direction, so expect an early start; hotel pickup and return in Istanbul are included. The Edirne day trip is recommended for travellers aged 12 and over.