Bursa

Ottoman Heritage Meets Mountain Adventure

Bursar is a city where Europe, Asia and the Middle East connect through trade routes that have existed for centuries. Its location on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait makes it an important hub for shipping and travel between continents. The city has markets filled with spices, textiles and crafts from many cultures. Historic mosques stand near modern buildings, showing how old traditions mix with new ideas. People here speak Turkish but also use English in business and tourism. Bursar’s food includes dishes influenced by Mediterranean, Central Asian and Middle Eastern flavors.

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City in Turkey

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.8

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	6

Read details

2/5

English is spoken at major hotels, some restaurants, and tourist sites, but less so elsewhere. Learning a few Turkish phrases or using a translation app will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Bursa Summary

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Great for Ottoman history and mountain escapes. Visit grand mosques, explore historic bazaars, relax in thermal baths and ski or hike nearby mountains.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Local cuisine

Mountains

Snow

Walkable

Architecture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Turkey – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Turkish Lira (TRY) £1 ≈ TRY 66.29
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payment is common in urban areas, but smaller vendors in rural regions may only accept cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary but not mandatory in Turkey. In restaurants, leaving 5-10% is typical. Tips for taxi drivers, hotel staff, and guides are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not widely accepted, though it is allowed in some urban areas and tourist zones.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public areas and transport, with designated outdoor smoking zones available.

Republic Day (October)	Expect parades and national celebrations.
Eid al-Fitr (Varies)	Closures and family gatherings are common.
Eid al-Adha (Varies)	Similar closures and festive activities across the country.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	BiTaksi, Uber
Other:	Turkey offers a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Bargaining is common in markets, and modest dress is appreciated in religious sites.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Bursa, Turkey

🌥️

Jan

☁️

Feb

🌥️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🔥

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., May, Oct.
Shoulder season:	March - April, June, Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Uludağ ski season runs about mid December to March, depending on snow, with weekends and Turkish school holidays the busiest

Ramadan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı holidays: many shops and restaurants close, roads and hotels are packed with Turkish visitors

Don't miss

🚡 Ride Bursa Teleferik cable car to Uludağ Mountain
🕌 Visit the impressive 14th-century Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)
🛍️ Explore the historic Koza Han silk market
🟩 Admire the intricate tilework at the Green Mosque
🏛️ See tombs of Ottoman Empire founders in Tophane Park
🌳 Relax in Kültürpark, the city's large green urban park

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Why travel to Bursa?

This was once the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, so history lovers will be in their element exploring grand mosques, ancient tombs and UNESCO-listed sites. Bursa’s markets and Turkish baths are legendary and the city is also the gateway to Uludağ-a hotspot for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The food scene is mouthwatering, especially if you try the famous Iskender Kebab right where it was invented. While Bursa is generally safe and friendly, it’s a big city – so keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas. The air quality can be poor, especially in winter and traffic can be heavy at peak times. Modest dress is expected at religious sites and English isn’t widely spoken outside tourist spots, but locals are helpful if you try a few Turkish phrases.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Green Mosque
2 Ulu Cami
3 Cumalıkızık
4 Emir Sultan Camii
5 Koza Han
6 Green Tomb
7 Bursa City Museum

🎡Places for activities

1 Kültürpark
2 Uludağ Ski Center
3 Teleferik
4 Gölyazı

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 1. Oylat Sokak
2 Saitabat Waterfall
3 Uludağ National Park
4 Suuçtu (Waterfly) Waterfall
5 Uluabat Lake

🛍️Shopping

1 Grand Bazaar
2 İpek Han
3 Tuz Pazarı Çarşısı
4 Korupark
5 Kent Meydanı AVM
6 Zafer Plaza
7 Kapalı Çarşı
8 Yasin Market

🎈Events

Bursa International Festival
Uludağ Winter Festival
Bursa Book Fair
International Karagöz Puppet Festival
Silk Road Festival
Bursa Photography Days
Bursa Theatre Festival
Chestnut Festival
Cumalıkızık Raspberry Festival
Bursa Gastronomy Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Dress modestly for mosques; bring a scarf and socks.
Base yourself near the historic center to walk Grand Mosque, bazaars and Koza Han easily.
Take the cable car to Uludağ for views; weather changes fast, pack layers.
Try an early hammam visit near Muradiye, then end at Tophane for sunset city panoramas.

How to travel to Bursa

From Istanbul, Bursa is accessible by bus, car or ferry (to Mudanya, then bus/taxi into the city). The nearest airport is Yenişehir Airport, about 50 km away, with limited flights. Most international visitors arrive via Istanbul and connect overland.

Access summary

From Bursa Yenişehir Airport (YEI): About 45–60 minutes by car or shuttle.
From Istanbul: Roughly 2–3 hours by bus or car, via bridges.
From Istanbul (city/airports): 2–3.5 hours combining ferry across Marmara and bus.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Bursa

Bursa offers everything from luxury hotels and boutique stays to budget guesthouses. Many accommodations are in the city center near historic sites, while mountain lodges cater to winter sports fans. Book ahead during ski season or major festivals.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Almira Hotel Thermal Spa & Convention Center

8.8

Marigold Thermal & SPA Hotel Bursa

9.3

Crowne Plaza Bursa Convention Center & Thermal Spa By IHG

9.0

ROYAL TERMAL HOTEL

8.6

Holiday Inn Bursa - City Centre By IHG

9.1

Wellborn Luxury Hotel

8.9

TUGCU Hotel Select

8.5

Hilton Bursa Convention Center & Spa

8.8

B LOFT HOTEL

8.8

Hotel Celik Palace Convention Center Thermal Spa

8.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Bursa

Bursa’s public transportation is reliable, with buses, trams and a metro connecting most sights. Taxis and ride-shares are available, but traffic can be heavy. For Uludağ, the cable car is scenic and efficient. Walking is pleasant in the old town and parks.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-55 %

Daily expenses in Bursa are around 55% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-62 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to TRY) is 62% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£32	£68	£178
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£30	£75
🍝 Food per day	£16	£33	£91
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£5	£12

Notable additional fees: Uludag day pass runs roughly €25 – 35 (£20.93 – 29.30) equivalent, with lift companies pricing separately. Hire is cheap at about €15 – 20 (£12.56 – 16.74) a day. Confirm rates locally, as they move with the lira.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£13
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£7
🍟 Fast food combo	£5.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.15
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£6.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.95

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£21
🤧 Cold medication	£1.20
💇 Basic haircut	£4.90

Safety information overview

General safety

Bursa is considered safe, with low crime rates. Usual urban precautions apply: watch valuables in crowded places and be cautious in markets. The city is welcoming, but always stay alert, especially at night.

Health & Medical

Bursa has good medical facilities and pharmacies are easy to find. Air pollution can be an issue, especially in winter, so those with respiratory conditions should take precautions. Tap water is generally safe but may taste different.

Accessibility

Most central areas and attractions are accessible, but the old town’s cobblestone streets and hilly terrain can be challenging. Public transport is modern, but not all stops are fully accessible. Plan ahead if you have mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is officially potable, but many locals and visitors prefer bottled water due to taste. Public fountains are rare, so carry a reusable bottle, especially in summer or when heading to the mountains.