Edirne, the former Ottoman capital and one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations, attracts attention from tourists with its potential in culture, gastronomy, faith, and nature tourism. Carrying the remnants of being the capital of the Ottoman Empire into the present, Edirne stands out as a rare city that combines many features.
Edirne offers cultural richness, including mosques such as Selimiye and worship places from various religions, with faith, a coastline along the Aegean Sea, rivers flowing through it, and forests, making it a versatile destination for nature tourism. Edirne is among the preferred locations for those who are selective in their tourism choices.
Increasing its visitor numbers every year, Edirne is considered one of the “habit-forming cities” where visitors wish to return. Referred to as the “City of Sultans, Sultan of Cities,” Edirne attracted over 3.5 million visitors in 2018, making it the city with the third-highest tourist influx after Istanbul and Antalya.
Highlighting the distinctive features of Edirne that contribute to its dynamism in tourism, Hacıoğlu, who noted that Edirne hosted 394,115 foreign visitors in January and February this year, representing an increase of almost 12%, stated:
“Edirne is both the city of sultans and the sultan of cities. It served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, making it a city where civilizations converge. When you come to Edirne, you witness the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire in the Selimiye Mosque. In the minarets of Selimiye, you see the graceful craftsmanship of Mimar Sinan.”
Türkçe