Bursa is the biggest fourth city in Turkey with a rich history and many touristic spots. Bursa is spread out east-west across the northern slope of Uludağ (Bithynian Mount Olympus).
Bursa hotels are mostly in the city center around the historical spots within Bursa between Heykel("Statue," the square with an equestrian statue of Atatürk) and the Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque); the Kültür Parkı (Culture Park); or the spa district of Çekirge to the west.
It is also centrally located, so many options exist for visiting Bursa. Let's look at the most common ways of Transport to Bursa.
Traveling to Bursa from Major Cities in Turkey
You can use buses, ferry boats, and planes to visit Bursa from any major airport in Turkey. There are tickets available every day. Since Bursa is centrally located, most major cities will be within hours of drive distance.
For example, it would take 4 hours from Istanbul to Bursa, 4 hours from Izmir to Bursa, and 8 hours from Antalya to Bursa.
Istanbul to Bursa
There are many options for traveling from Istanbul to Bursa. You can take a bus all the way around the Sea of Marmara takes hours through heavy traffic, so you'll probably end up traveling faster by a fast catamaran ferry boat. Planes are another option. However, please note there are no trains from Istanbul to Bursa.
Let's look at the most common travel methods by Sea to Bursa.
BUDO Ferries (Mudanya)
BUDO (Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri) runs ferries between Istanbul (Kabataş) and Bursa (Mudanya).
IDO Ferries (Güzelyalı)
IDO (İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri) operates ferries between Istanbul (Kabataş, Yenikapı, Kadıköy) and Bursa (Güzelyalı).
Istanbul - Bursa Car Ferries
Fast car ferries depart Istanbul's Yenikapı Feribot Terminalı daily for two ports on the south shore of the Sea of Marmara, from which you can easily make your way to Bursa.
Bursa (Güzelyalı) Car Ferry
The two or three daily Bursa car ferries take about 90 minutes to cross the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul to Güzelyalı. You continue by yellow city Bus 1-GY or taxi to the Bursaray (Bursa's metro system) Emek station to take a train to the city center.
Day Trip Excursions from Istanbul to Bursa
It's possible to visit Bursa on a day-trip excursion from Istanbul (map).
Yalova Car Ferry
More frequent Istanbul-Yalova ferries (five or more a day) on the 70-minute voyage take you to Yalova, but then you must take a bus to Bursa's main bus terminal (50 minutes) and another bus to the city center (30 to 50 minutes) unless you intend to detour to İznik (Nicaea).
Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Bursa
Several companies operate buses every 30 minutes right from Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Bursa via vehicle ferry over the Gulf of İznik. BBBus operates buses around the clock, usually every 30 to 60 minutes, between the airport and the Bursa Terminal.
Transport within Bursa
Traveling from one place to another is quite straightforward in Bursa. You can take the tram (BursaRay), buses, minibusses, and taxis. Public transportation is well-developed, so relying on trams and buses is also okay.
BursaRay
Bursa's light rail public transit system is called BursaRay. You'll find it useful to connect the Kültürpark, Osmangazi, and Şehreküstü (city center) stops.
Buses in Bursa
Buses can get you anywhere in Bursa. There is also an air conditioner and many bus routes for various destinations. However, it can get crowded during the rush hours.
Remember to have a ticket/card before boarding the bus. Tickets are sold at many newsstands and snack shops. Look for Bu Kart Satış Noktası (Bu Kart Sales Point) signs in shop windows.
Bus Terminal Transport in Bursa
The bus or taxi ride from the Terminal to Ulu Cami or Heykel can take 45 minutes or more in heavy traffic, at least 30 minutes even in lighter traffic (if Bursa can ever be said to have light traffic).
To get to the Ulu Cami and Heykel, walk out the front doors of the Terminal, turn right, and walk to the taxi rank or, beyond it, the city bus stops. Before going to a bus, buy a bus card and put some money in it at the ticket office. You can also get a one-time bus ticket for a small fee.
Bus ticket in hand, walk to the Peron (row, gate) for Bus 38. Say Ulu Cami or Heykel to the driver so he can assist you in getting out at the proper stop. If you're ever in doubt, say either of those words to any other passenger for help.
To return to the Terminal for your trip back to Istanbul, ask at your hotel, or anyone for that matter, for a Terminal otobüs. Bus 38 departs from the south side of Atatürk Caddesi just west of Heykel.
Travel to Bursa
Bursa is one of the hidden gems in Turkey, popular with local and international tourists.
The city is full of ancient structures left by the Ottoman Empire and famous for snowboarding tourism in winter.
Regardless of your choice, remember to embrace the journey and have an amazing time in Bursa!
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