Yes. Bursa is a worthwhile place to visit at any time of the year. It has gained a lot of popularity and attention in recent years as a rising star in both the tourism and foreign house sales scenes in Turkey.
Bursa is smaller and less crowded than Istanbul. This makes it a lot more manageable and easier to explore. Many of the key sights are in the highly walkable city center, and public transportation can easily bring you from one end of the city to the other in under a half-hour. Nonetheless, Bursa is large enough to enjoy all the amenities of a modern city with a population of over 2 million people.
There are two main universities in Bursa: Bursa Uludağ university and Bursa Technical university. You can read our blog on Bursa International Schools for more information.
Bursa proudly took its place as inscription number 1452 on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 2014. It was officially recognized for its cultural and historical worth as the Ottoman Empire's Birthplace.
It's no surprise that this city is known as Yeşil Bursa (Green Bursa) because it's brimming with parks and gardens. Bursa’s nature and greenery are what make it stand out. The city is flanked to the south by the Uludağ mountain, where you may ride a cable car and enjoy the view. There are also a lot of mosques, tombs, and other historical artifacts.
In this article, we list down why Bursa is worth visiting and the top Bursa Turkey attractions.
Easily Accessible
Yenişehir Airport is a Bursa airport in Turkey in the city of Yenişehir. It is the nearest airport to Bursa. There are, however, better ways to go to Bursa. Every hour, MetroTurizm runs a bus from Istanbul Bus Station to Bursa.
The most popular way to get to Bursa from Istanbul is by ferry. Bursa ferry from Istanbul is easily accessible. The distance from Istanbul to Bursa by ferry is 91 km. This is the quickest route to get to Bursa city center, and it takes about 3 hours. The ferry takes 80 minutes and costs 20TL per person.
There are many companies that operate contemporary coaches with two drivers and an attendant who serves drinks and snacks at no extra charge. Metro is the most well-known operator. IDO and BUDO are the two companies that operate ferries to Bursa.
Ferries operated by IDO depart from Istanbul's Yenikapı, Besiktas, and Kadıköy docks and arrive in Güzelyalı. Ferries operated by BUDO depart from Istanbul's Eminönü-Sirkeci terminal and arrive in Mudanya.
The Food
Bursa is heaven for two types of people: foodies and kebab lovers. Every corner has excellent and authentic restaurants with pleasant personnel inviting you in.
The best food in Bursa that you must try is the Iskender kebab. It is essentially made of sliced döner kebab meat topped with hot tomato sauce over slices of pita bread slathered with melted butter and yogurt. It can be made with thinly sliced grilled lamb or chicken.
Places to Visit in Bursa Turkey
There are many Bursa places to visit. Bursa has some amazing historical and cultural places to discover and explore because of its long history.
Green Mosque and Tomb
Bursa has more than a half-dozen mosques, including the well-known Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii). The Green Mosque was built in the 1400s as part of a larger religious complex. The Green tomb gets its name from the color of the tile that adorns the exterior of the building.
There's also the Grand Mosque of Bursa (Ulu Camii), the city's oldest mosque. The mosque was built in 1399, during the early days of the Ottoman Empire. Its architecture still bears a strong resemblance to the previous Seljuk style, which was heavily influenced by Persian mosques.
Mount Uludağ
This mountain rises more than 2,500 meters above sea level. It is a famous tourist destination. Locals and tourists alike like climbing the mountain in the summer to go hiking or have a picnic. In the winter, the mountain transforms into a massive ski resort for over a million guests.
The Bursa Teleferik is the most convenient route to get from Bursa to Uludağ. The ride up to the top of Mount Uludağ takes around 20 minutes. It is filled with breathtaking views. The scenery swoops across densely forested lower slopes with one side offering superb views of the rocky mountain top and the sprawl of Bursa city below.
Uludağ is also a place of the famous Bursa Turkey skiing resort. It is Turkey's busiest winter ski resort and is easily accessible from both Istanbul and Bursa. It's ideal for intermediate skiers and snowboarders with a wide range of slopes to pick from.
The Central Bazaar
Bursa was a significant stop on the Silk Route paths connecting east and west. Its center city area is brimming with beautifully restored buildings from its grandest era.
The Central Bazaar is a maze of covered market alleys, lodges where traders used to sleep, and warehouses where commodities were originally stored. Many of them have been converted into businesses, and their green center courtyards are now used as outdoor cafés.
The silk bazaar, known in Turkish as Koza Han, was built in 1491 as a trading place and inn for passing silk caravans and their animals. It is one of the most notable buildings in this neighborhood. The arched cells on the two-story level building host stores specializing in silk products.
Cumalıkızık
Cumalıkızık is the most popular village located 14 kilometers east of the city center. The cobblestone alleys are ringed with historic houses. They are constructed in the traditional Ottoman style with stonework and adobe walls with wood beam details. Some of the houses date back to the Ottoman Empire's early days.
The villages in this area were added to Bursa's UNESCO World Heritage list due to their historical significance.
Most people who visit Bursa end up wanting to settle here. Year-round tourism is also dominating the real estate market with more Turks and foreigners buying Bursa property for sale to capitalize on its potential.
