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The fastest and most enjoyable way
to go from Istanbul to Bursa is
by fast
ferry across
the Sea
of Marmara (map). There
are no flights
or trains,
and taking a bus all
the way around the Sea
of Marmara takes
hours through heavy traffic.
Fast car ferries depart
Istanbul's Yenikapı
Feribot Terminalı daily
for two ports on the south shore of
the Sea
of Marmara from which you can
easily make your way to Bursa.
The daily ferries take
about 80 minutes to cross the Sea
of Marmara from Istanbul to Güzelyalı.
You continue by bus, minibus or taxi
24 km to the Bursaray (Bursa's
metro system), which whisks you to
the city center.
More...
More frequent ferries
on the 70-minute voyage, but then
you must take a bus to Bursa's main
bus terminal (50
minutes) and another bus to the city center (30 to
50 minutes). More...
Getting
Around Bursa
Bursa is
spread out east-west across the northern
slope of Uludağ (OO-loo
dah, Bithynian Mount Olympus).
Hotels are mostly
in the city center between Heykel ("Statue,"
the square with an equestrian statue
of Atatürk)
and the Ulu
Cami (OO-loo
jah-mee, Grand Mosque);
the Kültür
Parkı (kewl-TEWR par-kuh,
Culture Park);
or the
spa district of Çekirge (CHEH-keer-geh)
to the west.
The
ride from the Terminal to Heykel or Ulu
Cami can take 45 minutes or
more in heavy traffic, at least 30
minutes even in lighter traffic (if
Bursa can ever be said to have light
traffic).
To
get to the Ulu
Cami and
Heykel, walk out the front doors
of the Terminal, turn right and walk
to the taxi rank or,
beyond it, the city bus stops. Before
going to a bus, buy some bus
tickets (Bu
Kart, TL2)
at the first little white fiberglass
booth next
to the bus
stops.
Bus
ticket in hand, walk to the farthest Peron (row,
gate) and climb aboard Bus
38. Say Ulu
Cami or Heykel to
the driver so he can assist you to
get out at the proper stop. If you're
ever in doubt, just say either of
those words to any other passenger
for help.
To
return to the Terminal for your trip
back to Istanbul, ask at your hotel,
or anyone for that matter, for a Terminal
otobüs (TEHR-mee-NAHL oh
toh-bewss). Bus 38 departs from the
south side of Atatürk Caddesi
just west of Heykel (there's a route-number
sign on the sidewalk). Remember to
have a ticket before boarding the
bus.
Tickets
are sold at many newsstands and snack
shops. Look for Bu
Kart Satış Noktası (Bu
Kart Sales Point) signs in shop
windows.
Bursa's Metro system, the Bursaray, is
useful for getting most of the way
to the Bursa Fast Ferry Dock at Güzelyalı.
Get out at the Organize Sanayi stop,
then take a taxi or minibus to the
Güzelyalı docks.
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