Why go
For early Ottoman history, Bursa offers a different chapter from Istanbul: it was an early capital and holds the mausoleums of early sultans. Stay in town for buildings and baths, or use Uludağ to add a mountain landscape to the same regional trip.
What to look for
- Mausoleums of early Ottoman sultans remain in the city.
- Uludağ rises above Bursa and its surrounding forests.
- Parks and gardens help explain the name Yeşil Bursa, or Green Bursa.
Useful to know
- Keep the historic center and Uludağ as separate outings; the mountain is not another city-center stop.
- Pair Ottoman landmarks with a thermal-bath visit if both interest you.