Bursa, Turkey

Come to Bursa, due south of Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara, for its beautiful mosques and other early Ottoman architecture, for its silk-filled bazaars, its thermal spa baths and hotels.

Some people come for Iskender kebap, slices of grilled lamb dressed with savory tomato sauce and browned butter. (On that subject, here's a funny sign.)

You can visit Bursa on a day-trip from Istanbul if you plan carefully, but it's more relaxed if you stay overnight. That way you can also see the medieval town of Iznik (Nicaea) on the way to Bursa (map), and you'll even have time for a quick cable car ride to the top of Uludag (OO-loo-dah, 2543 meters, 8343 feet), the mountain behind the city.

Bursa was the first capital (late 1200s-early 1300s) of the Ottoman Empire. The two founding sultans, Orhan and Osman, are buried here, and this is where the empire's great architectural style was first developed.

The city clings to the slopes of Uludag, the Bithynian Mount Olympus, and thus got its nickname Green Bursa from the surrounding forests. Now a large, bustling city, much of the greenery has disappeared beneath the urban sprawl. Bursa's traditional industries of silk weaving and fruit processing have long since been supplemented by motor vehicle manufacturing (it's "Turkey's Detroit") and other industry.

On Bursa's western outskirts is Çekirge, a thermal spa resort since Roman times, with many spa hotels and bathing establishments.

Two fast catamaran ferry (hizli feribot, 1 hr) routes take you from Istanbul (Yenikapi) to Güzelyali or Yalova on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara (map).

From Güzelyali, you can get to Bursa by bus, minibus and BursaRay (Metro). More...

From Yalova, take a bus to Bursa, or a minibus to Iznik. After touring Iznik, you can catch a minibus onward to Bursa.

What to See & Do in Bursa

Seeing Bursa in One Day

Sea of Marmara Ferries

How to Get to/From Bursa

Maps of Bursa & Marmara

Sea of Marmara Region

Where to Go

TTP Homepage

Bursa is known for its beautiful early Ottoman architecture, like the Green Mosque and Tomb (above), done in a transitional style, and this graceful ogee window (below left) in the Muradiye mosque.