The ancient city of Bursa was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The city has preserved a historical district with attractions, including mosques, a mausoleum, the ruins of a fortress, as well as many museums. In addition, Bursa is located near the Uludaga ski resort. It’s worth going here to spend a vacation away from the noisy streets of tourist cities, among the mountains and the heritage of the great empire.
How to get there and where to stay
An air ticket from Moscow to Istanbul costs from 8,400 rubles* per person round trip. There are several ways to get to Bursa. For example, by bus. However, we recommend renting a car on OneTwoTrip (from 2400 rubles* per day). This is the most convenient way to overcome the distance between cities.
Several suitable hotel options:
Mercure Bursa The Plaza Thermal & Spa Hotel – from 8300 rubles* per night per person;
Ibis Bursa – from 2500 rubles* per night per person;
Kardes Hotel – from 4900 rubles* per night per person;
Almira Hotel Thermal Spa & Convention – from 9000 rubles* per night per person.
What to do in the former capital of the Ottoman Empire?
Many buildings in Bursa can serve as visual aids to the history of Ottoman architecture. Go see with your own eyes the grandeur of the huge Ulu-Jami Mosque and the originality of the village of Dzhumalykyzyk, where the streets literally “breathe” with history. In Uludag you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings from a bird’s eye view, and in local eateries you can enjoy traditional fast food kokorec.
Visit the Ulu-Jami mosque
Ulu Cami, or the Great Mosque, is one of the main historical monuments not only of ancient Bursa, but throughout Turkey. The building with thick walls and high ceilings is decorated with 20 domes supported by 12 pillars. In addition, the mosque has two minarets, where the muezzin calls Muslims to prayer daily.
The Great Mosque is famous for its interior wall paintings. After your visit, take a stroll around the area, where there are historical markets and a park with seating nearby.
Village Dzhumalykyzyk
Cumalıkızık is perhaps Turkey’s most authentic village. The village has preserved Ottoman houses made of stone, wood and mud brick. Piled up on top of each other, the buildings are built from the same stones that line the streets. Wooden terraces are installed on the upper floors of the houses. Moreover, some of them can even be visited; they operate in the format of museums. And around there were tourist shops with shaggy hats, clay jugs, wooden figurines and magnets.
You can wander through the cozy alleys of ancient Dzhumalykyzyk for a long time. We recommend stopping by local canteens for lunch and trying homemade chorba, kofte and dolma.
Climb the Small Olympus (Uludag)
The next point on the route could be Uludag National Park. In summer it is a popular hiking and camping spot. And from December to the end of March, the park turns into a mecca for skiing – the snow cover can reach three meters. There are trails for both beginners and experienced athletes.
You can stay here overnight; almost every hotel has its own ski lifts, the cost of which is included in the price of your stay. Well-maintained wide trails pass through picturesque mountain landscapes, most of them through forests.
If you go to Uludag in the summer, be sure to arrange trekking with a picnic at the top. As you climb, you will be accompanied by deciduous beech, oak, hazel, juniper, aspen, hyacinths and the bright bells of crocuses.
Try kokorec in one of the street stalls
In Bursa, they especially love an unusual sandwich made from lamb giblets – kokoreç. This is a popular Turkish and Albanian dish that is common in the Balkans, Azerbaijan and Iran. But Turkish chefs do not miss the opportunity to remind that it first appeared on the territory of the Ottoman Empire. Kokorech consists of fried heart, lungs, kidneys and other offal, which are chopped or crushed, sprinkled with spices and served on a plate or piece of flatbread. In Bursa they like to eat kokoreç on a baguette cut in half and sprinkled with oregano and red pepper.
It’s worth saying that this dish is one of the most beloved fast foods in the country. Be sure to try it, it can become a memorable gastronomic experience of your trip.
Our “Where to Go” project will help you with ideas for your upcoming vacation. You choose the month and city of departure, and we offer the most interesting and affordable options – with ticket prices and information about restrictions for tourists.
*Prices valid at time of publication
