Holiday in Bursa

About Bursa

Bursa is the fourth largest city in Turkey with over 3 million inhabitants and is located at the foot of the 2,543-meter-high Uludag Mountains, just 150 km south of Istanbul. As the first capital of the Ottoman Empire (1326-1365), Bursa has a rich historical heritage and is also the birthplace of the Turkish Döner Kebab and Iskender Kebab. The Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), built in 1399, is one of the most significant works of early Ottoman architecture: 20 domes, an interior fountain, and masterful calligraphy on the walls make it unique. The Green Mosque (Yesil Cami) and the Green Mausoleum (Yesil Türbe) are adorned with turquoise Iznik tiles, which gave them their name — masterpieces of Ottoman tile art. The silk bazaars Koza Han and Pirinc Han from the 15th century are historic caravanserais where silk is still traded today. Bursa was a hub of the Silk Road, and silk worm breeding has a centuries-old tradition here. Uludag is the most famous ski resort in Turkey and can be reached by cable car (Teleferik) just 22 km from the city center. In winter, Turkish and international skiers flock to the slopes, while in summer the national park offers hiking trails and alpine scenery. Bursa's thermal baths in the Cekirge district utilize hot springs that were already appreciated by the Romans and later by the Ottomans. The Old Bath (Eski Kaplica) dates back to the 14th century. Cumalikizik, a 700-year-old Ottoman village on the outskirts, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and features cobbled streets and wooden houses like something out of a storybook.