Bursa & Uludağ Daily Tour from Istanbul | Ottoman Heritage & Mountain Escape

Tour Overview

Bursa & Uludağ Day Tour from Istanbul: One Day, Three Worlds

Escape the energy of Istanbul and travel to Bursa, the green city at the foot of Uludağ. Long before Istanbul became the Ottoman capital, Bursa was the first great seat of the dynasty. Its mosques, tombs and silk-trading inns still tell that story, while the mountain behind it offers forest air, seasonal snow and wide views.

This guided Bursa daily tour from Istanbul blends Ottoman heritage, Turkish culture, local flavours and nature in one well-paced day. You travel across the Marmara region by the Osmangazi Bridge or by ferry, meet the legendary Hacivat and Karagöz, sit beneath the Inkaya Plane Tree, enjoy a traditional lunch, spend free time on Uludağ and finish in Bursa’s historic quarter.

Front facade of the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa

Green Mosque, Bursa

The jewel of early Ottoman architecture

The Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe) of Sultan Mehmed I seen from outside

Green Tomb, Bursa

Resting place of Sultan Mehmed I

View of Bursa from the hills near Mount Uludağ

Uludağ, the Great Mountain

Forested slopes above Bursa

Osmangazi Bridge

Your gateway across the Marmara

Traditional Karagöz and Hacivat shadow theatre figures

Hacivat & Karagöz

Shadow theatre born in Bursa

Prayer hall of the Green Mosque in Bursa

Inside the Green Mosque

Tilework, light and calm

The Tiled Mihrab

Craftsmanship of the Tabriz masters

Duration

12–14 h

incl. transport

Pickup

08:00–09:00

from your hotel

Return

21:30–22:30

traffic dependent

Guides

EN · AR

confirm for your date

From

€30

per adult

Tour code

KNY-631

daily departures

Why take a Bursa day trip from Istanbul?

Istanbul is magnificent, but Turkey’s story did not begin or end on the Bosphorus. In the early fourteenth century the Ottomans made Bursa their first major capital, and the city grew rich on silk, craftsmanship and pilgrimage. In 2014 UNESCO recognised this legacy by inscribing Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire on the World Heritage List. Visiting Bursa lets you read the earliest chapter of Ottoman architecture, long before the great imperial domes of Istanbul.

The day is also an escape into landscape. Uludağ, the “Great Mountain”, rises to 2,543 metres and is the highest peak of the Marmara region. Known to the ancients as Mysian Olympus, it became a national park in 1961 and is today Turkey’s favourite ski mountain. In summer it is a cool green retreat; in winter it is a snowy playground within reach of Istanbul.

A tour designed around real Turkish culture

Bursa is the birthplace of the Karagöz and Hacivat shadow theatre, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2009. It is famous for Turkish delight, chestnut sweets, jams and honey, and for the grilled meats of its mountain restaurants. Rather than rushing between monuments, this tour weaves tastings, stories and free time into the route, so you leave with flavours, photographs and a real feel for the place.

Comfort, clarity and honest planning

We believe a long day is only enjoyable when it is well organised. Pickup and drop-off are included, the vehicle is air-conditioned, and you can pick the package that fits your budget, from transfers only to transfers, lunch and cable car. The cable car, ATV safari and winter activities depend on weather and operating conditions, and we tell you so up front. Our guide will adapt the order of stops if traffic, ferry schedules or opening hours require it.

Who will love this tour?

First-time visitors who want to see beyond Istanbul, families, history and architecture fans, photographers, food lovers and anyone seeking cool mountain air in summer or snow in winter. If you travel with a group, ask us about a private departure on the same route.

UNESCO-listed BursaUludağ National ParkCable car rideTurkish lunchFamilies welcome

Topic Highlights

Bursa & Uludağ Tour Highlights

Twelve reasons travellers choose this Bursa excursion from Istanbul, from UNESCO heritage and mountain scenery to Turkish delight and a traditional lunch.

Early Ottoman Heritage

Walk through the city that launched the Ottoman Empire. Mosques, tombs and a UNESCO World Heritage setting show how the dynasty’s first architects and craftsmen shaped a new style long before Istanbul’s great imperial domes.

Uludağ, the Great Mountain

Rise to the highest massif of the Marmara region, a national park since 1961. Enjoy cool forest air, wide views and, in winter, real snow, all within a single day’s drive of Istanbul’s busy streets.

Bursa Cable Car (Teleferik)

Descend by one of the longest cable car lines in the world, around 8.8 km from the Uludağ plateaus to the city, with panoramic views of forest, slopes and the Bursa plain when weather allows.

Inkaya Historical Plane Tree

Stand beneath a giant plane tree widely said to be over 600 years old, with about thirteen branches as thick as ordinary trunks. It is a living monument and one of Bursa’s best-loved natural symbols.

Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii)

Admire a masterpiece commissioned by Sultan Mehmed I and completed in 1424, known for its carved marble portal and the green and blue tiles that give Bursa’s most famous mosque its name.

Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe)

Visit the octagonal mausoleum of Sultan Mehmed I, finished in 1421. Its tilework and calm hilltop setting make it an unforgettable symbol of Bursa and a photographer’s delight.

Traditional Ottoman House

Step into the domestic side of history. A preserved Ottoman house shows how families lived, received guests and used timber, courtyards and living rooms in the old city of Bursa.

Hacivat & Karagöz Legends

Meet the two comic heroes of Turkish shadow theatre. Tradition says they were workers on a Bursa mosque, a charming legend that still inspires puppeteers and storytellers across Türkiye.

Turkish Delight (Lokum)

Taste a confection loved for centuries. Learn how sugar, starch and flavourings such as rose, lemon and pistachio become lokum, and pick up gifts from a local production shop with no pressure to buy.

Local Jams & Honey

Browse a production house for jams, honey and preserves that fill a traditional Turkish breakfast table. Ask about seasonal fruit flavours and take a little taste of Bursa’s orchards home.

Lunch at Kerasus Restaurant

Pause at the foothills of Uludağ for mixed grill and traditional Turkish dishes. Mountain air, shared plates and a relaxed pace prepare you for the afternoon on the mountain.

Optional ATV Safari in Yalova

Add a little adventure at the Yalova stop. The quad safari is optional and paid separately, and anyone who prefers to rest can simply enjoy the surroundings while the others ride.

Your route

From the Bosphorus to the Great Mountain

Istanbul to Bursa is roughly a 2.5-hour drive with a crossing of the Gulf of İzmit. The day moves in a gentle arc: sea and bridge in the morning, villages and lunch at midday, mountain and city in the afternoon.

Istanbul

08:00 pickup Drive

Gulf of İzmit & Yalova

Bridge / ferry Drive

Inkaya & Villages

Tastes & lunch Drive

Uludağ & Cable Car

15:45–18:00 Cable car

Bursa Old Town

18:15–19:00

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Bursa & Uludağ Itinerary: Eleven Stops in One Full Day

How the Bursa and Uludağ day tour unfolds

This Bursa tour from Istanbul follows a simple rhythm. The morning belongs to the road: a hotel pickup, the crossing of the Gulf of İzmit by the Osmangazi Bridge or by ferry, and a first stop in Yalova where adventurous guests may try an optional ATV safari. Around midday the programme turns cultural, with a Hacivat and Karagöz Turkish delight shop, the Inkaya Historical Plane Tree, a jam and honey house and a traditional lunch at Kerasus Restaurant in the Uludağ foothills.

The afternoon is for the mountain and the old city. After free time on Uludağ you ride the Bursa cable car (teleferik) down toward the city, then visit the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb and a traditional Ottoman house, the most important monuments of early Ottoman Bursa. By about 19:00 the group heads back to Istanbul, with hotel drop-off usually between 21:30 and 22:30.

Places you will visit on this Bursa day trip

Every stop was chosen to give a different flavour of the region: Osmangazi Bridge and the Marmara coast, Yalova, Turkish delight in the city of Karagöz and Hacivat, the Inkaya Plane Tree, local jams and honey, Kerasus Restaurant, Uludağ National Park, the Bursa cable car, the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb and an Ottoman house. Together they make this one of the most complete Bursa sightseeing tours from Istanbul.

A flexible schedule you can trust

Traffic, ferry timetables, weather, opening hours and prayer times can all change the exact order and timing of the stops. Your guide will adjust the programme so that you still see everything possible. The cable car and the optional activities are never guaranteed, and we always tell you honestly what is running on your date.

Full Day: Istanbul, Yalova, Uludağ and Bursa (08:00–22:30)

12–14 hours · 11 stops · hotel pickup and drop-off Osmangazi Bridge · Yalova · Turkish Delight Shop · Inkaya Plane Tree · Jam House · Kerasus Lunch · Uludağ · Cable Car · Green Mosque · Green Tomb · Ottoman House

Eleven carefully timed stops take you from your Istanbul hotel to the foothills and summit area of Uludağ and into Bursa’s Ottoman quarter, and then home again. Tap each stop below for what to expect.

Places visited today (11)

Hotel Pickup in IstanbulOsmangazi Bridge or Ferry CrossingYalova Stop and Optional ATV SafariHacivat and Karagöz Turkish Delight ShopInkaya Historical Plane TreeJam and Preserved Products HouseLunch at Kerasus RestaurantUludağ Mountain Free TimeBursa Cable Car (Teleferik) DescentGreen Mosque, Green Tomb and Ottoman HouseReturn Journey to Istanbul

The Osmangazi Bridge over the Gulf of İzmit on the route from Istanbul to Bursa

Morning: across the Marmara to Yalova

08:00–09:00 · Hotel Pickup in Istanbul

Your guide and driver collect you from your hotel, meet fellow travellers and settle you into an air-conditioned vehicle. As the city fades into the Marmara countryside, you receive a short introduction to Bursa, its history and the plan for the day. Exact pickup time depends on your hotel’s location.

09:00–11:30 · Osmangazi Bridge or Ferry Crossing

Cross the Gulf of İzmit by the Osmangazi Bridge, a suspension bridge about 2.7 km long that opened in 2016, or by ferry, depending on the day’s conditions. Sea views, hills and small towns mark the change from metropolis to the southern Marmara, and the guide explains why Bursa became the Ottomans’ first capital.

11:30–12:15 · Yalova Stop and Optional ATV Safari

The first break is in Yalova. Guests who like outdoor fun may join an optional ATV safari, paid separately and subject to availability, age and safety rules. Others can simply stretch their legs, enjoy a drink and the scenery. Ask your guide about price, minimum age and riding time before deciding.

Traditional Karagöz and Hacivat shadow theatre figures, the story linked with the Turkish delight stop

Midday: Bursa’s villages, traditions and lunch

12:30–13:00 · Hacivat & Karagöz Turkish Delight Shop

Visit a Turkish delight shop inspired by the comic duo of Turkish shadow theatre. Hear the legend that links them with Bursa, then taste and browse lokum in rose, lemon, pistachio and other flavours. Buying is entirely optional, and it is a good place for gifts.

13:15–13:45 · Inkaya Historical Plane Tree

In Inkaya village on the road to Uludağ, stand beneath a plane tree widely described as more than 600 years old and some 35 to 37 metres tall. Take photos beside its enormous trunk, enjoy the free time and a short tea break in the shade of the great branches.

13:45–14:15 · Jam & Preserved Products House

Stop at a local production house for organic jams, honey and preserved goods. Sample seasonal flavours, learn how a Turkish breakfast table is built and, if you wish, pick up small edible souvenirs. There is no obligation to buy.

14:30–15:30 · Lunch at Kerasus Restaurant

Enjoy lunch at Kerasus Restaurant in the foothills of Uludağ, with mixed grill and traditional Turkish dishes on the menu (included in Packages A and B). Mountain air and shared plates make a relaxed pause. Drinks may cost extra, so tell us about dietary needs before departure.

The Green Mosque in Bursa, the main monument of the afternoon visit

Afternoon and evening: mountain, cable car and Ottoman Bursa

15:45–17:00 · Uludağ Mountain Free Time

Spend free time on Uludağ, the Great Mountain, at 2,543 metres the highest peak of the Marmara region. Walk, photograph the scenery and breathe fresh air. In winter, watch skiers and play in the snow; the chairlift is available at extra cost. It is always colder than Istanbul, so keep a jacket handy.

17:00–18:00 · Bursa Cable Car (Teleferik) Descent

Glide down from the mountain to Bursa on the teleferik, a long modern gondola line with panoramic views of forest and city. It is included in Package A and runs only when weather and technical conditions allow. If it is closed, a bus descent can replace it.

18:15–19:00 · Green Mosque, Green Tomb & Ottoman House

Visit the Green Mosque, built between 1419 and 1424, the Green Tomb of Sultan Mehmed I, finished in 1421, and a traditional Ottoman house. Notice the tiles, the carved portal and the intimate scale that mark early Ottoman architecture. Dress modestly and follow guidance around prayer times.

19:00–22:30 · Return Journey to Istanbul

After a full day, relax in the vehicle as it heads back to Istanbul, with drop-off at your hotel or an agreed location. Arrival is usually between 21:30 and 22:30, depending on traffic and the crossing.

Schedule note: stops and times may change because of traffic, weather, ferry schedules or opening hours. The cable car and optional activities depend on operating conditions.

Destination Guides

Discover Every Place on the Bursa & Uludağ Tour

Beyond the names on the programme, here is what makes each stop worth your time: its history, what to look for and why it matters to anyone exploring historical and cultural Turkey.

08:00 · Istanbul

Hotel Pickup & the Marmara Drive

Your day starts at the hotel door. As the vehicle leaves Istanbul’s suburbs, the guide sketches Bursa’s story: the rise of the early Ottoman state, the city’s silk trade and the mountain that shaped its climate. It is an easy way to arrive prepared and curious rather than simply tired.

Context before you arrive

09:00 · The Gulf of İzmit

Osmangazi Bridge or Ferry

The Osmangazi Bridge opened in 2016, stretches about 2,682 metres and has a main span of 1,550 metres, among the longest in the world. Ferries offer the older, slower alternative. Either way, the crossing shows how the sea and the Marmara hills link Istanbul with Bursa, the old Ottoman heart.

A scenic engineering landmark

11:30 · Yalova

Yalova Stop & Optional ATV Safari

Yalova is a green, spa-famous province on the southern Marmara. Here the group takes a first break with an optional quad safari for thrill-seekers, while others relax and enjoy fresh coastal air. The activity is paid locally and depends on availability, age limits and safety rules.

Optional adventure, no pressure

12:30 · Delight Shop

Hacivat & Karagöz Turkish Delight

Turkish delight (lokum) is made from sugar, starch and flavourings such as rose, lemon, pistachio or other nuts. At this shop, inspired by shadow-theatre heroes Hacivat and Karagöz, you can taste, compare and browse. Tradition says the pair were Bursa builders whose jokes delayed a mosque, a legend rather than a documented fact.

Taste a true Turkish sweet tradition

13:15 · Inkaya Village

Inkaya Historical Plane Tree

About ten kilometres from the city centre, this monumental oriental plane stands roughly 35 to 37 metres tall, with a trunk some 9 to 10 metres around and a dozen or so huge limbs, some propped up for safety. It is widely described as more than 600 years old. A tea garden nearby makes it a perfect photo and rest stop.

One of Turkey’s great monument trees

13:45 · Production House

Jam & Preserved Products House

A Turkish breakfast is unthinkable without jam, honey and preserves. Here you can sample organic fruit jams, honey and other local preserves, learn what is in season and choose edible souvenirs if you wish. Purchases are optional, and the stop is as much about tasting as shopping.

Authentic local products

14:30 · Uludağ foothills

Lunch at Kerasus Restaurant

Set at the foothills of Uludağ, Kerasus serves mixed grill and traditional Turkish dishes. Grilled meats, bread, salads and seasonal sides reflect how Turkish cuisine shares food at the table. Lunch is part of Packages A and B; drinks may cost extra.

Hearty fuel for the mountain

15:45 · Uludağ

Uludağ Mountain: Nature, Air and Seasonal Fun

Uludağ means “Great Mountain”. It is the highest peak of the Marmara region and was known in antiquity as Mysian Olympus. Winter brings snow and skiing; summer brings cool forests and walking. Use your free time to stroll, photograph and breathe, and bring a warm layer in every season. Chairlift, ski gear and snow activities cost extra.

Snow in winter, cool air in summer

17:00 · Teleferik