Bursa’s claim to fame might be that it’s the most popular day trip from Istanbul, but it’s so much more than that! 

When you visit Bursa, you’ll be met with ornate tombs of sultans, bustling green parks, and historical Ottoman buildings (some are still standing for hundreds of years).  

In fact, it’s no surprise why this city is often called Yeşil Bursa (Green Bursa) — it’s teeming full of parks and gardens, big and small. The city is surrounded by the Uludağ mountain to the south, where you can take a cable car and check out the view — or ski if it’s winter!

If you’re looking to escape the busy atmosphere of Istanbul, add a trip to Bursa to your itinerary. Whether it’s for a few hours or a few days, you’ll get lost in Bursa’s charm as you walk through the Silk Bazaar, admire the colorful mosaics, or try the region’s famous Iskender kebab. 

Ready to travel to Bursa? Keep reading — I’ll show you how in my Bursa city guide!

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🕌 BURSA CITY GUIDE 🕌
Perfect for …
Colorful Ottoman tombs  – Easy day trip from Istanbul  – Green parks – Souvenir shopping 

 

It might seem strange at first to see “colorful Ottoman tombs” written as the first reason for visiting Bursa, but I promise that you’ll be amazed! When planning my trip to Bursa, it seemed like this city was full of mosques, tombs (or rather, mausoleums), and other historical artifacts.

And it’s true — Bursa’s history goes way back, as it was the first capital of the Ottoman empire, and many historical buildings are still standing today. During your trip to Bursa, I recommend visiting at least one tomb so that you can see the intricate mosaics and beautiful architecture inside. 

Bursa also makes the perfect day trip from Istanbul. Take a relaxing ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara and spend the day sightseeing in Bursa. A  one-way journey is only about three hours, giving you plenty of things to check off your ‘things to do in Bursa’ list before catching the last ferry back.  

If you still haven’t bought any souvenirs, no worries. Bursa is full of opportunities to go shopping, whether it’s for small handicrafts at the yellow bridge or at one of the many bazaars. Don’t miss Bursa’s export: silk. There’s even a market dedicated to this material, with rows and rows of shops selling silk scarves, clothing, and more.

Finally, foodies can’t leave Bursa without trying its most famous dish, the Iskender kebab. Wash it down with some Şıra (local grape juice) and your trip is complete.

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How many days do I need in Bursa?

We spent 2 days in Bursa, which was the perfect amount of time to see everything without being rushed or overwhelmed.

Most people visit Bursa as a day trip from Istanbul and go back on the last ferry. However, if you have enough time, I recommend staying here overnight as you’ll get to see the “real” city. 

For those who are on a limited schedule, you can see Bursa in one day and it’ll be enough. The city is compact and you can walk between all of the main sights. If you want to see a traditional village from the Ottoman empire (Cumalıkızık), then I recommend adding an extra day in Bursa to your itinerary. :) 

Bursa is a great place to break up your trip from Istanbul to other cities like Eskişehir (the “Venice of Turkey”) or Ankara (the capital). 

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HOW TO GET TO BURSA 

FERRY 

Taking a ferry is the most common method of getting to Bursa from Istanbul.
There are two companies that run a ferry to Bursa — IDO and BUDO. 

IDO’s ferries leave from Istanbul’s Yenikapı, Besiktas, and Kadıköy terminals and arrive to Güzelyalı.

BUDO’s ferries leave from Istanbul’s Eminönü-Sirkeci terminal and arrive at Mudanya.

From Güzelyalı and Mudanya, you’ll need to take a minibus to the Organize Sanayi metro station. Don’t worry about getting lost — the white minibusses all look the same and everybody from the ferry goes on them. The metro station will take you to the city center, where you can start to explore Bursa. 

There are virtually no differences between the ferry companies, so pick the one that has the most convenient departure location from your hotel or accomodation. Prices can range anywhere from $3 to $8 USD (20 to 50 TLR) depending on how far in advance you book the ticket.

This is the fastest way to get to Bursa, and will take you around 3 hours from start (Istanbul) to finish (Bursa city center). 

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BUS

You can also travel to Bursa by bus. Bursa has excellent bus connections with cities around Turkey, including Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Eskişehir, and so on. You can book your bus ticket to Bursa here.

On a side note — the intercity busses in Turkey are amazing! We took a bus from Bursa to Eskişehir and had comfortable reclining seats, plenty of legroom, and they even gave us a complimentary sandwich + drink. :’) 

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TRANSPORTATION & GETTING AROUND BURSA 

Before I get into this section, I want to note that Bursa is extremely walkable. If you book an accomodation in the center, you will most likely not need to use any form of public transportation while in Bursa (the only exception is if you take a taxi to the bus station when you leave). 

Metro – Bursa’s metro is (surprise) called Bursaray. The fare is less than $1USD and you can buy a metro ticket in the form of a Bursakart at any of the stations. You can use the metro to get to the Bursa ferry station (see above). 

Bus – There are plenty of busses in Bursa that can take you to almost any point in the city. If you’re planning to visit the small village of Cumalikizik, the best way is by bus. 

Taxi – Finally, there is no shortage of taxis in Bursa. Although the BiTaksi app doesn’t work here, you can easily find one lined up on the street, or ask your hotel to call one.

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WHERE TO STAY IN BURSA /
ACCOMMODATIONS IN BURSA 

HOTELS IN BURSA

B Loft Hotel – This is where we stayed during our trip to Bursa and highly recommend it! The rooms were beautifully decorated in a minimalism style with pops of color, and I think that they even recently underwent a remodel. B Loft Hotel Bursa is located on one of the main pedestrian streets (Cumhuriyet Cd.) and within walking distance to plenty of cafes, restaurants, and stores. The staff were friendly, especially the older gentleman who helped check us in early and told us how to get to the main tourist spots in Bursa. The breakfast was delicious and had plenty of variety, so that you could make your own Turkish breakfast. ;)
Starting from $35 USD/night. 

Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

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Bursa İpekyolu Hotel – *BOUTIQUE HOTEL*
Bursa İpekyolu is a charming boutique hotel that’s located right outside of the old town. I love the rooms, which are decorated in a simple yet homely manner, as well as the breakfast terrace with a panoramic window ceiling. The building is an Ottoman era-style house (full of history!) with friendly employees. Starting from $30 USD/night. 

Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

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Kayhan City Hotel – A sleek and modern hotel located in a central yet quiet area of Bursa.
Starting from $40 USD/night. 

Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

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Lal Hotel Bursa – A small and cozy place that feels more like a boutique hotel. Centrally located and easy to find (look for the bright blue Ottoman house!), Lal Hotel Bursa is near a bus station, metro station, and all of the amenities you could ever want. Starting from $25 USD/night.

Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

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Kitapevi Hotel – *LUXE OPTION*
Kitapevi Hotel is located in the city center and is the perfect Bursa accommodation if you’re looking for top-notch service. One of my favorite reviews was about the breakfast:
“The most luxurious breakfast during my 25-day trip in Turkey. And the most friendly staff. The manager even sent an employee to help us find a parking space.”
If that isn’t good service, what is? Other perks include a complimentary breakfast, a beautiful garden terrace, an in-hotel cafe and restaurant, and a traditional Turkish hammam. Starting from $60 USD/night.

Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

 

HOSTELS IN BURSA

There aren’t any “official” hostels in Bursa, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options. Here’s a good one:

Güner Hotel – Located outside of the historic old town, Güner Hotel is a solid option for those traveling on a budget. There are single and family rooms that start from $10 USD/night. 

Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

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WHERE TO EAT IN BURSA

Bursa is heaven for two people: foodies and those that love kebabs. You can find delicious and authentic cafes on every corner with cheerful workers inviting you in. 

While in Bursa, don’t leave the city without trying two most famous regional foods: a special type of grape juice and a delicious take on the standard kebab. Let’s take a look at both: 

Şıra – This  is a delicious Turkish drink made from slightly fermented grape juice. I know what you might be thinking — grapes + fermentation = wine — but this is a strictly non-alcoholic drink.  Şıra is a super delicious and mildly sweet drink that is usually served with İskender kebap, but you can enjoy it with anything.

İskender Kebap– Bursa is the birthplace of one of northwestern Turkey’s most famous dishes: the İskender kebap. There’s even a street in Bursa that has a bunch of kebab restaurants that all claim they created it! While the history of the İskender kebap is a bit murky, historians know that the dish takes its name from its inventor, İskender Efendi (Master Alexander), who lived in Bursa in the Ottoman Empire during the 1800s. 

The dish is made of thin pieces of döner kebab (grilled lamb) over pieces of pita bread and generously topped with melted butter, yogurt, and tomato sauce. For added effect, the sauces are poured over the dish when it arrives at the table.

Now that we have an overview of Bursa’s famous dishes, let’s take a look at some of my favorite restaurants in the city!

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Yesil Izgara Pideli Kofte – After doing some very in-depth research about where to try our first İskender kebap, we settled on Yesil Izgara. It’s located on the “kebab street” not far from the center and has a homely atmosphere from the moment you walk inside. Our waiter was a sweet older man who really took care of us, despite us knowing four words of Turkish (İskender kebap and teşekkür ederim) and him saying okay okay. He was even sweet enough to give us a complimentary dessert and laughed at our (terrible) jokes.

This place has the best İskender kebabs that we’ve tried in Bursa (out of 4 restaurants) and the tastiest Şıra drink. It was so good that I ordered two more bottles.  

Don’t think about it, just add this place to your list. 

ADDRESS: Kayhan, Kayhan Çarşısı No 43, 16230 Osmangazi/Bursa

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Kebapçı Hüseyin – Another popular spot that serves the famous İskender kebaps. It can get a bit crowded, but it’s no wonder why – the kebabs are delicious and fairly-priced.
ADDRESS: Alacamescit, Tuz Pazarı Sk. 16/B, 16020 Osmangazi/Bursa

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Geye Cafe – A family-run cafe that feels like eating in your friend’s living room. Large menu, including Turkish cuisine as well as western dishes.
ADDRESS: Nalbantoğlu Mh, Albay Bekir Sami Cd. D:No. 51, 16010 Osmangazi/Bursa

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Han Çay Ocağı – A cozy tea garden that looks like it came straight out of the Ottoman empire.  Nice decorations and a lovely spot to take a break after walking around the silk bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı).
ADDRESS: Reyhan, Reyhan Cd. No:4 D:6, 16040 Osmangazi/Bursa

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THINGS TO DO IN BURSA 

No matter if you’re visiting for a few hours from Istanbul or for a few days, there are plenty of things to fill your itinerary in Bursa. Here are some of the most popular Bursa tourist attractions:

Visit the Tombs of the Ottoman Rulers

Green Tomb (Yeşil Turbe) – The Green tomb gets its name from the color of the tile that adorns the exterior of the building. Inside, you’ll see the tomb of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet Çelebi, along with his family and his children. Don’t forget to stop and take a closer look at the beautiful mosaic details – the craftsmanship is amazing! Likewise, there’s also Osman Gazi Tomb that is perched on top of a hill overlooking Bursa.

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See Bursa From Above 

Speaking of the Osman Gazi Tomb, you can see a beautiful panoramic view of Bursa from Tophane Park. This small area is packed with a park, Osman Gazi’s Tomb, and the Clock Tower. In fact, you can see three tourist attractions in one visit: the mighty Imperial Gate (Saltanat Kapısı), which held off invaders during the Ottoman Era, as well as the Tomb and the Clock Tower. Fun fact: Tophane Park has a tradition of firing a cannon shot during Ramadan to let locals know when it’s time to break their fast.

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See the Colorful Mosques 

Bursa is home to more than half a dozen mosques, including the famous Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii), which was built in the 1400s and part of a larger religious complex. There’s also the Grand Mosque of Bursa (Ulu Camiii), the oldest mosque, Orhan Bey Mosque, and the beautifully-designed Muradiye Camii.  

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Irgandı Köprüsü

This cheerful yellow bridge connects the northwest and southwest neighborhoods and is a nice place to stop when walking between tourist attractions in Bursa. The Irgandi Bridge was built way back in the 1400s by an Ottoman sultan and is now used as a covered bazaar. In fact, there are only three other bridges in the world that have shops on top — the Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Rialto in Italy and Osam Bridge in Bulgaria!

The Irgandı Köprüsü is home to more than 30+ boutique stores and souvenir shops where local artists from Bursa sell their handmade goods. You can find anything from wood carvings to handmade jewelry, scarves, tiles, clothes, and traditional Turkish art here.

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See a Whirling Dervish Show 

Seeing a whirling dervish show is a must-do in Bursa, and I highly recommend adding it to your list! In a nutshell, the whirling dervishes are a group of men that twirl around as a form of meditation. Wikipedia says it best: “[Enlightenment] is sought through abandoning one’s ego, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one’s body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun.”

For more than a thousand years, Bursa has been one of the most popular cities for the Sufi whirling dervishes — and you can see an authentic show even to this day! 

The dances are conducted every night at their headquarters, the Karabaş-i Veli Kültür Merkezi. It’s a bit hard to find on Google Maps, but once you see a tall yellow building and people mingling at the tea garden, you’ve found the right place. Locals say that Saturday is the best day to visit as that’s when the most energetic dances happen, but we came there on a Tuesday and were dazzled by the dances. This was one of my top highlights in Turkey and one that I’ll remember for many years to come!

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Learn More About Turkish History & Culture at a Museum

At first glance, it seems like Bursa has dozens of museums on virtually every topic. Here are some of the best:

The Bursa City Museum was one of my favorite museums during my trip to Turkey — it’s so well-done and includes a ton of interesting artifacts that span thousands of years. 

The Tofaş Anatolian Car Museum and Clock Museum is another must-visit for car fans, as it tells the entire history of Anatolian cars. There are also replicas of carriages and a nice garden to relax in.

Another favorite was the Turkish Islamic Arts Museum, where hundreds of gorgeous Turkish pieces of art — from sculptures to carpets, dioramas, tiles, and more — are on display. 

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PC: Mesut Piskin

Mount Uludağ

If you’re visiting Bursa in winter, Mount Uludağ is the place to be. This “Great Mountain” (the literal translation of the Turkish name!) is located more than 2,500 meters in the air and is a popular tourist spot. In the summer, locals and tourists love to climb the mountain and go hiking or have a picnic. In the winter, the mountain turns into one giant ski resort for more than 1 million visitors. 

The easiest way of getting from Bursa to Uludag is on the Bursa Teleferik (Bursa cable car). The ride up to the top of Mount Uludağ takes about 20 minutes and is full of beautiful panoramic views. In fact, according to the Greek Mythology, Apollo watched the Great Trojan Wars from atop of this mountain!

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Take a Day Trip to Cumalıkızık

Located a quick 30-minute drive from Bursa, Cumalıkızık is a colorful Ottoman village that feels like it was frozen in time. The steep cobblestone streets leading up to colorful timber houses will make you stop and smile (and catch your breath ). 

 

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SHOPPING IN BURSA

Kapalı Çarşı – Kapalı Çarşı is Bursa’s main bazaar and has more than a hundred shops selling everything you could ever want, from souvenirs to tea, clothing, jewelry, kid’s products, and more.
BEST FOR: Everything!

Koza Han – Thanks to its location on the intersection of the silk road, Bursa is known for its beautiful silk scarves. You can take home a piece of that culture at Koza Han, a historical multilevel silk bazaar known for its beautiful interior (just look at that ceiling!) and Ottoman-era architecture.
BEST FOR: Silk

Irgandı Köprüsü – Mentioned above, the Irgandi Bridge is your best bet if you want to buy an authentic handmade souvenir.
BEST FOR: small trinkets and artisanal gifts

 

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