Bursa is an important city in terms of history, as it is the former capital of the Ottoman Empire, as well as a city that draws attention with its natural beauties. We have compiled for you the places to visit in Bursa , one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey and the 4th most populous city in Turkey.
Where is Bursa
Bursa is located in the south of the Marmara Region . Bursa, one of the most populated cities in Turkey, is surrounded by Bilecik in the east, Kütahya in the south, Balıkesir in the west and Yalova in the north.
If you are going to travel to Bursa, the distance of several nearby cities to the city and the times you can reach are as follows;
- The distance between Istanbul and Bursa is 149 kilometers and approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes.
- The distance between Yalova and Bursa is 68 kilometers and approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes.
- The distance between Kocaeli and Bursa is 132 kilometers and approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- Bilecik – Bursa 96 kilometers and approximately 1 hour 37 minutes
- The distance between Balıkesir and Bursa is 153 kilometers and it takes approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes.
How to go to Bursa
If you are going to go from Istanbul to Bursa, the best choice is to go to Mudanya first. You can easily reach Bursa city center from Mudanya. The distance between Mudanya and Bursa center is only 30 kilometers and an average of 40 minutes by car. Even if you do not have a private car, you can take the F3 bus from Mudanya to Bursa city center.
BUDO (Sea Bus): The easiest way to go from Istanbul to Bursa without a car is the BUDO expeditions. You can reach Bursa in approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes by using these sea buses. There are daily flights from Kabataş or Büyükçekmece only for passengers (not vehicles). Click for detailed information and timetable .
İDO (Sea Bus): İDO has a Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Yenikapı – Bursa sea bus line between İstanbul and Mudanya. The journey takes about 90 minutes, depending on the stop you get on, and there are two reciprocal flights on average per day. It is worth remembering that sea buses are only for passengers. Click for detailed information about IDO hours .
Transportation from Istanbul to Bursa by Car: If you want to use the Osmangazi Bridge, which goes to the Gulf of Izmit, it is possible to reach Bursa in just 2 hours. But of course you have to consider the bridge tolls. If you try to wander around the bay, you can reach Bursa in 3 hours at most.
Transportation to Bursa by Air: There are scheduled flights from some metropolitan cities to Bursa Yenişehir Airport. Some of these provinces are Ankara, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Muş and Trabzon.
When to go to Bursa
If you are considering a city trip in Bursa, the months from July to September are the best times. However, Bursa is a city that stands out especially with its winter tourism. If you have a winter holiday plan, the best time is January – February.
Places to Visit in Bursa
Bursa is a city that fascinates its visitors with its historical texture and natural beauties. Here is the list of places to visit in Bursa that we have prepared for you…
1. Uludag
Uludağ is the highest mountain of the Marmara Region . (Altitude: 2543 meters) The first hotel was established in 1933 in Uludağ, the most popular winter sports center of our country and the most touristic place of Bursa. Uludag, which has started to develop in the field of winter tourism since this date, is one of the most preferred places for skiing in Turkey today.
You can do many sports such as trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering and camping in Uludağ National Park, which is surrounded by natural beauties. Uludag has international standards ski resorts, 5-star hotels and bungalow hotels. Uludağ, which hosts thousands of tourists from all over the world, especially in winter, offers its visitors unique nature views with its lush green plateaus and glacial lakes on the mountain slopes.
2. Mudanya
Mudanya, the most developed district of Bursa in terms of tourism , welcomes thousands of tourists every year.
Mudanya, which is highly preferred for both weekend holidays and summer holidays as it can be reached by a 1.5-hour ferry ride from Istanbul, attracts a lot of attention with its advanced tourism opportunities, boutique hotels by the sea, cafes, entertainment venues and seaside tea gardens.
B.C. The district, which has a deep-rooted history dating back to the 700s, was conquered by Orhan Bey in 1321 and joined the Ottoman Empire.
There are many places you should see in Mudanya.
- You can visit the building where the Mudanya Armistice was signed in 1922 between the Allied Powers and the Turkish Grand National Assembly as a museum.
- You can visit the Old Crete Quarter, which is famous for its historical mansions and cute roadside cafes, which are among the most beautiful examples of 18th century architecture.
- You can watch the panoramic view of Mudanya from Yıldıztepe.
- You can take evening walks at Güzelyalı Beach and Mudanya Beach.
- Mudanya Orthodox Church and Uğur Mumcu Cultural Center are among the places worth seeing in Mudanya.
The most beautiful beaches where you can swim in Bursa are also in Mudanya. The most popular Mudanya Beaches where you can enjoy the sea and the sun are as follows;
- Eshkel Beach
- sandy beach
- Ifce Beach
- Burgas Altinkum Beach
- Coşkunöz Public Beach
- Kumyaka Public Beach
There are also rows of beautiful fish restaurants along the coast in Mudanya. If you want to taste seasonal fish and local appetizers accompanied by the view of the Marmara Sea, you can choose these places.
3. Inegol
The district of İnegöl, 47 kilometers from Bursa city center, is known for its magnificent forests spread over a large area, healing spas and dishes (especially İnegöl Meatballs ).
One of Turkey’s largest districts (~250.000 population) and one of Turkey’s most developed industrial centers, İnegöl also has a highly developed culinary culture. (Caucasian, Balkan and Anatolian migrations throughout history have been influential in the formation of this culinary culture) In the district, which is one of the stops for those looking for new tastes, you can see many quality restaurants serving Caucasian and Balkan dishes as well as delicious İnegöl meatballs.
Drawing attention in health tourism with its healing waters, İnegöl is among the places preferred by both nature trips and history enthusiasts with its natural beauties and historical buildings. Some of the things you should see in İnegöl are as follows;
- Oylat Hot Springs
- Oylat Cave
- Oylat Waterfall
- İshakpaşa Complex
- Inegol City Museum
- Alacam Waterfall and Canyon
4. Grand Mosque
Bursa Ulu Mosque is one of the landmarks of Bursa . The Grand Mosque, which has 20 magnificent domes, is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman multi-legged mosque architecture.
Ulu Mosque, located in the Hanlar District, one of the most visited places in the city, on Ulucami Street in Osmangazi district, was built in 1400 and was renovated after the 1855 earthquake. In Bursa Ulu Mosque, which fascinates local and foreign tourists with its magnificence, the silk cloth decorated with pure gold covering the Kaaba door is also on display.
Bursa Ulu Mosque, built between 1396-1400 during the reign of Yıldırım Beyazıt, is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Turkey. Some of the features of the mosque, which is one of the must-see places in Bursa, are as follows;
- It has 20 domes.
- The fountain under the dome has a hexagonal pool and a three-bowl fountain.
- Its interior area covers an area of 3,165 m2.
- The tiles, miniatures and woodwork made with the kündekari technique and Ottoman calligraphy decorating the interior are worth seeing.
- Its walls were completely built with smooth cut stone.
- On the eastern door side (next to the imam’s room), there is a pure gold thread and a black cloth with verses embroidered on it. This cover is the cover of the Kaaba door that we mentioned before. (It was brought by Yavuz Sultan Selim after the Egypt expedition)
5. Koza Han
When people think of places to visit in Bursa, inns come to mind first. They are not wrong, and especially Koza Han’s reputation has become quite widespread among those who make touristic trips. Koza Han, located between the Ulu Mosque and the Orhan Mosque in the Khans Region, was built at the end of the 15th century by the II. It was built by Bayezid I . Koza Han is known as the historical shopping center of Bursa.
Today, there are silk fabrics, scarves, shawls, accessories, handicrafts, home textiles and souvenirs in the shops in Koza Han.
The visiting hours of Koza Han are as follows;
- Weekdays 08:00 – 19:30
- Saturday 08:00 – 20:00
- Sunday 10:30 – 18:30
6. Cumalıkızık Village
Cumalıkızık Village is almost an open-air museum. Cumalıkızık Village, which was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2014, is a place where you can see the most beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture with its history of more than 700 years . Cumalıkızık Village, which has been one of the favorite destinations of historical and cultural trips to Bursa in recent years and even attracts the attention of photographers from all over the world, will take you on a journey back in time from the chaos of the modern world to the Ottoman period.
Cumalıkızık Village, located at the foot of Uludağ and ideal for visiting with its cool air in summer, welcomes its guests with its hundreds of years old historical houses, small restaurants where you can taste local Bursa dishes and small pensions. If you wish, you can visit these hostels for a day, or you can stay for a few days in these hostels.
During your trip, you should definitely visit the Cumalıkızık Ethnography Museum. In this museum, sections from hundreds of years of daily life of the local people and the personal belongings of the villagers are exhibited. Also, the historical Cumalıkızık Mosque is another place you can visit. Many people visit Cumalıkızık Village for the village breakfasts they prepare with organic products grown by the villagers. (there have been some complaints about village breakfasts recently, the decision is entirely yours)
7. Irgandı Bridge
Another touristic structure that we can recommend in the guide of places to visit in Bursa is the Çarşılı Irgandı Bridge, one of the four examples in the world. Structures similar to the Irgandı Bridge are found in Venice, Florence and Bulgaria/Lofça.
Irgandı Bridge, which is estimated to be the oldest bazaar bridge in the world , has a history of approximately 600 years. It is also possible to say that it is more ostentatious in general than its counterparts in other cities. The bridge built on Gökdere in 1442 connects Osmangazi and Yıldırım districts.
Since it was built centuries ago, the bridge was damaged from time to time and even largely demolished and rebuilt. Flood and earthquake disasters in the 19th century caused great damage to the bridge. Also, during the War of Independence, while the Greeks were withdrawing, they bombed the bridge and damaged it.
Finally, Irgandı Bridge, which was restored in 2004, sells various handicraft products, especially tiles. Irgandı Bridge, one of the most visited points by domestic and foreign tourists, is one of the must-see places in Bursa.
8. Muradiye Complex
Another of Bursa’s most important historical sites is the Muradiye Complex. Included in the World Cultural Heritage List in 2014, the Muradiye Complex is the last complex built in Bursa during the Ottoman period .
In 1425, Sultan II. There are baths, mosques, madrasahs and tombs in the complex, which was built during the Murat period. There are 12 tombs in its garden covered with lush trees. Ottoman period tombstones are among the remarkable items in the complex.
Muradiye Complex, located in Osmangazi, can be defined as the most important place to visit in the center of Bursa. You can reach Muradiye Neighborhood, where the complex is located, on foot or by direct buses.
9. Bursa Castle
Another historical building in the city is Bursa Castle, which has survived to the present day. The castle, which has approximately 2 km long walls, has 14 bastions and 5 gates. The Sultanate Gate, located on Ortapazar Street, is the main entrance gate of the castle.
Bursa Castle, which is made of rubble stones and blocks, is located very close to the Ulu Mosque . It is possible to see the traces of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman in the castle, which was built by the Bithynians in the 1st century BC.
You can enjoy and photograph the Ulu Mosque and Bursa city view from the castle. If you have been to Bursa city center, do not neglect to stop by Bursa Castle, where your transportation will be quite comfortable.
10. Green Mosque and Green Tomb
Yeşil Türbe is another landmark of Bursa. Green Tomb, a religious structure that can be seen from all over the city and fascinates its visitors with its motifs, is among the most important religious and artistic works in the list of places to visit in Bursa. The tomb, which was built by Çelebi Mehmet (1. Mehmet) in 1421, became his final resting place shortly after its construction was completed. There are also the graves of Çelebi Mehmet’s family members in the tomb.
The Green Tomb is a two-storey building that gives clear clues about the 15th century architecture. The mihrab inside is one of the few works of the period. The Green Tomb, which is considered the most important complex of the Ottoman Empire, has eight facades (octagonal prism form). All its walls are covered with turquoise tiles and with this feature it is among the unique structures of the Ottoman period. In addition, the interior of the tomb, sarcophagi, altar, walls and facades are decorated with tiles.
