Photo: Alicembasli (CC BY 4.0) · Source 13 places to visit in the Vize district of Kırklareli: Ayasofya Church (Küçük Ayasofya), Çömlektepe Mound (Höyük) and Vize Castle. Plan your trip to Vize with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Vize, east of Kırklareli, is 140 kilometres from Istanbul and is one of the 10 districts in Türkiye that hold the Cittaslow title. With an area of 1,090 km², it is the largest district of Kırklareli after the central district.
Known by various names throughout history, the town has been called Byzia, Bizye, Bida, Biza, Vyza, Vizii and finally Vize. According to Strabo, Vize served as the capital of Asti, an ancient Thracian tribe.
The Vize region was home to Thracians in the 13th century BC and has been continuously settled from the Neolithic Age to the present day. An excellently preserved Byzantine Ayasofya church, dating from the 5th or 6th century AD, stands in the upper part of the acropolis.
The Bulgarian emperor Simeon I captured Bizye around 925, after a siege lasting five years.
Known in antiquity as Bizye, the city of Vize was the capital of the Asti tribe of ancient Thrace. Bizye had its most brilliant period in the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman eras.
In the Ottoman period Vize was one of the three most important sanjaks in Thrace and had 111 villages. Vize was attached to Kırklareli province in 1924. Vize became part of Turkish lands with the conquest of Sultan Murat I.
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Photo: Alicembasli (CC BY 4.0) · Source A castle built on the remains of the ancient city of Bizye. With its Roman and Byzantine walls, it is one of the best-preserved castles in Thrace. Inside the castle are Byzantine-period church remains and cisterns.
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Photo: User:Vmenkov (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source Built in the 14th century after the Ottomans crossed into Rumelia, this is one of the oldest Ottoman mosques in Thrace. Its original structure is largely preserved, and its stonework is notable.
View on mapThracian-period tumuli found around the district, dating to the 5th–3rd centuries BC. The gold masks and jewellery found in excavations show the wealth of Thracian civilisation.
View on mapA church thought to have been built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. With its central domed plan, it is one of the rare examples of Byzantine architecture in Thrace. It is currently used as a mosque.
View on mapResearch at the mound in Vize shows that the area has been continuously settled from the Neolithic Age to the present day.
View on mapAn excellently preserved Byzantine Ayasofya church dating from the 5th or 6th century AD, located in the acropolis area.
View on mapKüçük Ayasofya, built in the 6th century during the reign of Justinian, now known as the Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque.
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Photo: Thafer (CC BY 3.0) · Source A historic fishing village on the Black Sea coast, one of Thrace's most popular holiday spots, with Byzantine-era walls, natural beaches and rocky shores. Kıyıköy Castle and its caves are also important places to explore.
View on mapKıyıköy on the Black Sea coast, with rocky ground and two natural conservation areas.
View on mapA natural area with a hiking trail of about seven kilometres for nature walks.
View on mapWaterfalls counted among Vize's natural beauties.
View on mapA cove about one kilometre's walk north of the bridge over the Papuçderesi, a place preferred by camping and caravanning enthusiasts.
View on mapWhile you are in Vize, you can also see the highlights of Kırklareli province. These places are in other districts; Vize is about 45 km from the provincial centre.
Mussels freshly harvested from the Black Sea, prepared fried or stuffed. A main flavour on the seafood menus of Kıyıköy's seaside restaurants.
Lamb slow-cooked for a long time in an earth tandır oven. A traditional dish prepared on special occasions in Vize's rural villages.
A traditional Thracian dessert made from fresh lor cheese, flour and sugar, prepared in Vize especially in the winter months.
Listed among Vize's local dishes on the tourism page of Vize Municipality.
Listed among Vize's local dishes on the tourism page of Vize Municipality.
Vize's ancient name was Bizye, one of the capitals of the Thracian kings. The city retained its importance in the Roman and Byzantine periods and is one of Thrace's richest archaeological sites.
The fishing tradition in Kıyıköy, which has continued for centuries, forms the basis of the village's social and economic life. Traditional wooden boats and fishing shelters are concrete traces of this culture.
Vize's economy consists of agriculture, livestock farming and tourism. Sunflower and wheat production are the main farming activities. Kıyıköy's tourism potential brings significant income, especially in summer. Beekeeping and fishing are among the traditional sources of livelihood.
Vize is 45 km from Kırklareli provincial centre and 180 km from Istanbul, and is reached by road. Kıyıköy is reached by a 30 km road from Vize. Regular bus services run from Istanbul to Kıyıköy in the summer months.
13 prominent places in Vize: Ayasofya Church (Küçük Ayasofya), Çömlektepe Mound, Vize Castle, Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque, Vize Tumuli, Ayastefanos (Küçük Ayasofya) Church, Kıyıköy (Midye), Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque (Küçük Ayasofya), Ancient Theatre, Kıyıköy, Çiftekaynaklar, Cehennem Waterfalls and Selvez Cove.
Kıyıköy Midyesi, Trakya Usulü Kuzu Tandır, Peynir Helvası and Oğlak çevirme ve kiremitte mantarlı alabalık are the standout flavours on Vize's tables.
Vize is known for Vize Honey and the Ancient Bizye heritage. Honey obtained from flowers on the slopes of the Yıldız Mountains is the district's most valuable natural product. Chestnut honey is especially sought after.
Vize is 45 km from Kırklareli provincial centre and 180 km from Istanbul, and is reached by road. Kıyıköy is reached by a 30 km road from Vize. Regular bus services run from Istanbul to Kıyıköy in the summer months.
Suggested visit length: 2–3 days. Best time to visit: summer months (June–September).