Bursa Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Top things to do in Bursa

Bursa’s historic sites are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire”.

• Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) — A vast early Ottoman mosque with twenty domes and remarkable calligraphy.
• Green Mosque and Green Tomb — Exquisite 15th-century buildings famous for their turquoise and green tilework.
• Koza Han — A historic silk market built around a courtyard, still selling silk scarves and textiles.
• Covered Bazaar — A maze of historic markets and inns selling towels, knives, sweets and crafts.
• Tombs of Osman and Orhan — The resting places of the empire’s founders, on a hill with views over the city.
• Cumalıkızık — A well-preserved Ottoman village of cobbled lanes and timber houses at the foot of Uludağ.
• Uludağ — Take the cable car up the mountain for walks in summer and skiing in winter.

Best time to visit Bursa

Bursa has a mild climate with warm summers and cool, wet winters. Spring, from April to June, and autumn, in September and October, are the best times for sightseeing, with pleasant temperatures for exploring mosques, markets and Cumalıkızık. Summer can be hot in the city, but Uludağ offers a cool escape.

From around December to March, snow usually covers Uludağ, making it one of Türkiye’s best-known ski resorts. Winter in the city is cool and rainy, ideal for enjoying Bursa’s historic thermal baths in the Çekirge district.

Getting from the airport

Bursa Yenişehir Airport lies about 50 km east of the city centre, and the drive usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.

Shuttle buses usually connect with flights and run to the city, and taxis are available outside the terminal. Car hire is also available. Many international travellers reach Bursa via Istanbul, combining a flight with a ferry across the Sea of Marmara or a coach journey. Within Bursa, the metro, trams and buses link the centre with the main districts.

Where to stay

Choose a base depending on whether you prefer history, thermal baths or the mountains.

• Historic centre — Hotels near the Grand Mosque, Koza Han and bazaars; ideal for first-time visitors.
• Çekirge — The thermal spa district, with hotels offering hot spring baths; suits relaxing stays.
• Uludağ — Mountain hotels for skiing in winter and cool retreats in summer.
• Nilüfer — A modern district with shopping centres and business hotels.

Travel tips

• Money: Cards are widely accepted; carry some lira in cash for bazaars and small eateries.
• Getting around: A rechargeable transport card works on the metro, trams and buses; the centre is walkable.
• Food: Try İskender kebab, which originated in Bursa, and candied chestnuts, a local speciality.
• Etiquette: Dress modestly in mosques, remove your shoes and avoid visiting during prayers.
• Language: Turkish is the main language; English is spoken in hotels and tourist areas, and a translation app helps elsewhere.