Places to Visit in Bursa
Places to Visit in Bursa
Bursa, one of Turkey's most important historical and cultural cities, served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for many years. With a great legacy from the Ottoman centuries, Bursa has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015. In addition to tourism, Bursa is also known for its dynamic industries, trade, education, transportation, and agriculture, making it the fourth-largest city in Turkey with a population of 3 million. Here are some of the most beautiful destinations in Bursa. Have a great journey!
Cumalıkızık Village
Located 10 km away from Bursa, Cumalıkızık resembles a historical movie set. This 700-year-old village and its surroundings are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cumalıkızık is one of the villages founded by Orhan Gazi before he conquered Bursa. The houses, streets, fountains, and people hosting the finest examples of Ottoman architecture are worth seeing and visiting.
Bursa Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii)
Built between 1396-1399 by Yıldırım Bayezid in Bursa, the Grand Mosque is considered a classic and monumental example of multi-domed mosques in Anatolia. The mosque has two minarets and 20 domes, with a large fountain in the middle. Its pulpit is a masterpiece of walnut wood carving and dough work. The inscription at the front door of the pulpit reads "Built by Yıldırım Bayezid Khan in the year 804 (AD 1399)" in Ottoman Turkish. The walls of Bursa Grand Mosque bear many calligraphic signs.
The 621-year-old pulpit features symbols of galaxies and solar systems, with the proportions of planets meticulously adjusted. The mosque is not only one of Bursa's but also one of Anatolia's most important grand mosques. Its grandeur, along with its surroundings, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015, evokes different emotions in visitors.
Uludağ Ski Resort
Uludağ, the largest winter and nature sports center in Turkey, is also the highest mountain in the Marmara region. It was registered as a national park in 1961, covering an area of 13,000 hectares.
The view of Istanbul, the Marmara Sea, and the nearby open areas adds a special touch to this place. Being Turkey's largest ski resort, Uludağ attracts domestic and foreign tourists every year thanks to its good road conditions, long winter season with snowfall, and unique scenery. Although each season has its own beauty, Uludağ is the first place that comes to mind when it comes to skiing due to the many hotels around it.
Inkaya Millennium Plane Tree
The majestic plane tree on the Uludağ Highway in Bursa is almost as old as the Ottoman Empire. The 600-year-old plane tree, with a history dating back to one of the first villages of the Ottoman Empire, Inkaya, is 3 meters in diameter and 35 meters in height.
The Millennium Inkaya Plane Tree is one of Turkey's oldest trees and has gained worldwide fame. With 13 main branches and a circumference of 9.2 meters, the giant plane tree has branch thicknesses of 3-4 meters, almost the thickness of a normal tree trunk.
Trilye Houses
Trilye, one of Bursa's historical corners, is located 11 km from Mudanya province. The village, also known as "Zeytinbağı," is worth seeing with its houses and narrow streets, seeming like a place where the calendar has forgotten to fall and the clock has stopped. The houses are mostly made of wood and mud bricks, reflecting Ottoman architecture with three floors.
Gölyazı
Gölyazı, a charming fishing village on the shores of Lake Ulubat, affiliated with the Nilüfer district of Bursa, has not been sufficiently discovered despite its unique beauty.
Gölyazı stands out with its unique view and protected historical houses. When you look at Gölyazı, it resembles two islands connected by a bridge, but you can drive around the whole village in 5 minutes. As you enter Gölyazı, you will undoubtedly hear the sound of the "weeping plane tree." A huge plane tree extending parallel to the ground in the middle of a tea garden will surprise you.
Atatürk Museum in Bursa
The historical house where Atatürk stayed during his visits to Bursa was converted into a museum and opened to visitors in 1973. The first floor of the museum houses a reception hall, a dining room, and an adjacent resting room. On the second floor, there is a bedroom on the right and a study room on the left.
The basement of the museum is used as a kitchen and service area. Almost all the items in the Bursa Atatürk Museum are original artifacts used by Atatürk.
Emir Sultan Mosque and Tomb
Emir Sultan Mosque was built in 1429 by Hundi Fatma Hatun, the daughter of Yıldırım Bayezid, in Bursa. Hundi Fatma Hatun had this mosque built in the name of her husband, Emir Sultan. Next to Emir Sultan Mosque, there is the Emir Sultan Tomb. The mosque is surrounded by trees. Initially, the mosque had a single dome, but it was later converted into a three-domed structure through renovations. The mihrab adorned with İznik tiles is striking.
Lake İznik
Lake İznik, the fifth largest lake in Turkey, takes its name from the historical town of İznik on its shores. With an area of 298 km2, Lake İznik's water is fresh and flows into the Gemlik Gulf and the Karsak Stream. Its unforgettable scenery, surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and vegetable gardens, makes it one of the region's most important tourist routes.
Bursa Koza Han
Throughout history, Bursa has been one of the most important centers of silk trade. The Han is located in the Hanlar district of the city center. Koza Han was built in 1491 by Sultan Bayezid II.
In the early years, silkworm cocoons and silk fabrics obtained from cocoons were bought and sold here. The two-story, 95-room Han still operates in silkworm breeding. There are cafes on the ground floor.
Muradiye Complex
Muradiye Complex is undoubtedly one of the most important attractions of Bursa, known as the "city with a soul" by the great Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi. In addition to the mosque, imaret, tomb, fountain, and madrasa built in the name of Sultan Murad II, many princes' tombs are also found here.
Bursa Clock Tower
The Historical Clock Tower in the Tophane district was built in the second half of the 19th century during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz. If you climb the clock tower, you can also see the graves of the founders of the Ottoman Empire, Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi, located here. The tower is 33 meters high and has an 89-step staircase. There is a window on each facade of each floor.
Green Tomb (
