Bursa

Last update September 28, 2026

Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and in it lie the tombs of the two founding sultans, Osman and Orhan. Located to the south of Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara, it can be reached by a ferry and then taking a bus or by car, which means that it is a feasible day trip if you leave early. The city has almost three million inhabitants and a great deal of concrete, so do not expect to find a peaceful town. Instead, you will see early Ottoman architecture in a real working city, with much fewer tour groups than in Istanbul.

Begin at the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb, which are adjacent to one another in the Yeşil district; the mosque features turquoise tiles and a finely detailed prayer niche, while the octagonal tomb next door was constructed in 1421 for Sultan Mehmed I and is decorated with blue tiles which are the reason for the complex being called the Green Mosque. After that visit the Ulu Cami, the Great Mosque, which was finished in 1399 and has 20 domes on top. Then go through the Silk Market, where you can purchase scarves and textiles, and have a cup of tea in one of the traditional courtyards.

There is no doubt about what to have for lunch. Bursa is where İskender kebab comes from: it consists of thin slices of lamb placed over pieces of pide and is served with tomato sauce, melted butter, and yogurt on the side. You should order it at a restaurant that specializes in İskender kebab and not at a regular kebab shop, and be prepared for a substantial meal. If you wish to get rid of the food, take the cable car up to Uludağ. The cable car journey is nine kilometres long, the longest in Turkey as tour operators state, and it ends at the ski resorts and hiking trails. Take a jacket with you because the temperature at the top is considerably lower than in the city.

If you can, book a night there since Bursa offers thermal baths and the Eski Kaplıca hammam is still open to visitors, providing scrubs, massage, and soaking pools. It’s a good idea to finish a day spent walking on the cobbles this way. Visit in spring or autumn to enjoy comfortable weather in the city, or go in winter if you would like to ski on Uludağ within an hour of your hotel.