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    Bursa

    Turkey

    Bursa

    CityCultureUNESCOMountains

    Bursa is located on the northern slope of Uludağ, south of the Marmara Sea, and about two hours from Istanbul.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Turkey
    7. Istanbul & Marmara
    9. Bursa
    Bursa is located on the northern slope of Uludağ, south of the Marmara Sea, and about two hours from Istanbul. As the first capital of the Ottomans, the city preserves early mosques, tomb complexes, and khans, which, along with the village of Cumalıkızık, are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The attractions are concentrated in the bazaar district around Ulu Cami and Koza Han, as well as on the Green Mosque hill further east. With approximately 3.3 million inhabitants in the province, Bursa is one of Turkey's major cities.

    Sights in Bursa

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Ulu Cami
    Mosque

    1Ulu Cami

    Sultan Bayezid I. had the Great Mosque built between 1396 and 1399 after his victory at Nikopolis; the architect was Ali Neccar. Twenty domes in four rows rest on twelve pillars. The 192 wall inscriptions by 41 calligraphers make it a museum of calligraphy. In the center stands an ablution fountain under a glazed skylight.
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    Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe)
    Place of Worship

    2Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe)

    The octagonal Mausoleum of Mehmed I stands opposite the Green Mosque and was completed in 1421 by his son Murad II. The dome measures around 15 meters, and the building's interior is richly tiled. Alongside the Sultan, sons and women of his family are interred.
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    Koza Han
    Attraction

    3Koza Han

    The Caravanserai from 1491 was the heart of the silk trade in Bursa. Today, shops around the courtyard sell silk goods. In the inner courtyard lies a tea garden, a good stop when walking through the bazaar district.
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    Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami)

    4Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami)

    Sultan Mehmed I. commissioned the mosque in 1412, completed c. 1420, with decoration in 1424. Its name comes from tiles crafted by Tabriz masters. The Mihrab niche is especially richly decorated.
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    Cumalıkızık

    5Cumalıkızık

    The village east of Bursa is the only rural part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. It shows how the Ottomans organized the land around their first capital. In the Ottoman houses, several establishments offer village breakfast. The drive from Bursa takes about 30 minutes.
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    Uludağ Cable Car (Teferrüç Station)
    Point of Interest

    6Uludağ Cable Car (Teferrüç Station)

    The cable car links Bursa over 8.8 kilometres with the Uludağ hotel and ski area at 1,870 metres. The ride, with an intermediate stop at Sarıalan, takes about half an hour. It stops in strong winds, and long queues form in winter.
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    Restaurants in Bursa

    1

    Uludağ Kebab House Cemal Cemil Master

    1964 kebap house in Ulu's Old Town. Serving İskender Kebap with yogurt and pickled vegetables.
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    2

    Kardeşler Pide & Cantık Salon

    Pide bakery in Tuzpazarı, a part of the bazaar district. Here you'll find Cantık, the small round pide with minced meat, as well as Konya-Pide and Ayran.
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    3

    Arap Şükrü Çetin

    Restaurant on Sakarya Caddesi in the Kuruçeşme district. Meze and seafood like calamari and shrimp are served.
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    Food & Drink

    Bursa is home to the İskender Kebap. Also, dishes from the bazaar district and sweets made from Uludağ chestnuts.

    İskender Kebap

    Thinly sliced meat from a vertical spit, traditionally invented by İskender Efendi in Bursa in 1867. Typically with yogurt and pide.

    Pideli Köfte

    Köfte on pide pieces, a specialty of the eateries in the Kayhan Bazaar.

    Cantık

    Small, round Pide with a minced meat filling, which originates from Tatar cuisine.

    Candied Chestnut

    Candied chestnuts from the foothills of Uludağ, a speciality of the patisseries in the city centre and protected as a geographical indication since 2021.

    Culture & History

    First Ottoman CapitalIn 1326, the Ottomans conquered Bursa from the Byzantines. The city was capital until the 1360s, then Edirne. Mosques, tomb complexes, and caravanserais from this period still shape its urban landscape today.World Heritage since 2014In 2014, UNESCO inscribed "Bursa and Cumalıkızık: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire". Eight component sites demonstrate how the Ottomans organized urban and rural areas in the early 14th century. These include the bazaar quarter and Cumalıkızık village.Silk and BazaarThe Koza Han was the hub of the silk trade. Today, shops there sell silk goods, with a tea garden in the inner courtyard.

    Getting Here & Around

    Getting ThereFerry: Fast ferries connect Istanbul with Mudanya and Güzelyalı on the coast north of Bursa. The crossing takes approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the line and departure port, followed by about 30 minutes by bus, dolmuş, or taxi into the city. Ferries are canceled in case of storms.Car: Via the Osmangazi Bridge, the drive from Istanbul takes approximately two to two and a half hours, depending on traffic. The bridge is subject to a toll.Around TownUlu Cami, Koza Han, and the bazaars are located close to each other and are reachable on foot. Cumalıkızık is about a 30-minute drive away.UludağThe cable car covers 8.8 kilometers from the Teferrüç valley station, via Sarıalan, to the hotel area at 1,870 meters. Operations are suspended in strong winds; check the status before your trip.

    Accommodations in Bursa

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    Campgrounds in Bursa

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      • 1Ulu Cami3 days
      • 2Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe)4 days
      • 3Koza Han5 days
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    Nearby

    Istanbul & Marmara

    Istanbul & Marmara

    The region around the Sea of Marmara connects Europe and Asia: to the north Thrace with Istanbul and Edirne, to the south Bursa and the Dardanelles near Çanakkale. Here you'll find Byzantium and the three early Ottoman capitals, plus Gallipoli and the excavations of Troy. Istanbul is the hub; you can reach the other destinations from there by bus, ferry, or car.
    Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Spanning Europe and Asia, Istanbul sits on the Bosphorus, linking Black and Marmara Seas. Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques, and lively nightlife make Turkey's largest city the start of many Turkey trips. Most sights lie on historic Sultanahmet peninsula, south of the Golden Horn. North of it, Karaköy and Beyoğlu offer Galata Tower and bars. The Asian side's Kadıköy is a hub for market, food, nightlife.
    Pergamon (Bergama)

    Pergamon (Bergama)

    Bergama is a small town about 100 kilometers north of İzmir, overlooked by the ruins of ancient Pergamon. You visit for its Acropolis with the steepest theatre of antiquity, the healing sanctuary Asklepieion, and the Red Hall in the town centre. Pergamon became UNESCO World Heritage in 2014.
    Çanakkale

    Çanakkale

    Çanakkale lies at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles, on the Asian side of the strait connecting the Marmara and Aegean Seas. This lively student city is the starting point for the battlefields of Gallipoli and the excavations of Troy. Life unfolds on the Kordon, the waterfront promenade with the Trojan Horse, and in the alleys around the Clock Tower. Opposite, on the European side, are Kilitbahir and Eceabat, connected by short ferry rides.
    Troy

    Troy

    Troy is located on Hisarlık Hill, about 30 kilometers southwest of Çanakkale, near the southern entrance of the Dardanelles. The excavation site reveals settlement layers spanning approximately 4,000 years and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998. The modern Troy Museum in the village of Tevfikiye complements the visit with its archaeological finds.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI