Mimar Sinan thought the Selimiye was his best work. One huge dome rests on eight pillars, with four tall minarets outside, in the old Ottoman capital of Edirne.
Inscribed 2011EdirneCultural
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Plan your visit
- Getting there: Fly to Istanbul Airport (IST). Edirne is about 224 km away. Coaches from Istanbul take about two hours, and so does driving. The centre of Edirne is flat and walkable. Most people visit as a day trip.
- How long: Allow 1 to 2 hours, or a full day in Edirne.
- Best time: Weekday morning, to avoid weekend crowds and see the inside in daylight. Avoid prayer times.
- Tickets and hours: Mosque entry is reported as free. Museums there list 09:00 to 19:00 (May to September), 09:00 to 17:30 otherwise. Check the current price and hours on the official page.
- Tip: It is a working mosque. Dress modestly, take your shoes off and avoid prayer times.
- Tip: Restoration began in late 2021, so check which areas are open before you travel.
- Nearby: The Old Mosque and Üç Şerefeli Mosque are close by. Edirne Museum is 50 m from the east gate.
UNESCO listingOfficial visitor pageDirections in Google Maps
Header photo: Selimiye Mosque, Sinan's masterpiece in Edirne — Photo: BuhaM via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Inscription details checked on 8 November 2026 with UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Prices, hours and transport change, so check the official page before you go.
