Bursa
From Turkey Travel Guide
Bursa is a city in the Marmara Region of Turkey. Bursa is the fourth largest city in Turkey. It was the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire and still an important industrial and cultural metropolitan center in Turkish Republic.
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[edit] History
The early history of Bursa still remains unclear. Once it was called Prusa when named after King Prusias of Bythinia in 202 BC. In the Medieval period, it was a strategic location on the famous historical Silk Road.
Bursa became the first major capital city of the early Ottoman Empire. Ottomans captured the city from the Byzantines in 1326. As a capital city and cultural center, it developed a huge importance in the 14th century. In 1365, Ottomans conquered Edirne. Although Edirne was appointed as the capital Ottoman Empire in 1402, Bursa still remained to be an important trade and culture center. During the Ottoman Empire period, lots of great mosques were constructed in Bursa by Ottoman Sultans. As a commercial center silk trade was very popular as well as the local silk production in Bursa. With the founding of the Turkish Republic, Bursa started to develop as an industrial centre, especially in motor vehicle production industry.
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Nestled against the slopes of Uludağ (Mt. Olympus) in Western Anatolia, Bursa is bordered by the Sea of Marmara and Yalova to the north; Kocaeli and Sakarya to the northeast; Bilecik to the east; and Kütahya and Balıkesir to the south.
[edit] Weather
Bursa has a very similar climate to Istanbul, with warm summers, mild winter weather and lots of sunshine. In the summer time July and August are the hottest months, when daytime highs regularly top 30°C / 86°F and have been known to climb considerably higher, with up to 12 hours of sunshine a day. The driest climate of the year is between June and September, when monthly precipitation levels average some 80 mm / 3.1 inches in June and September, and just 45 mm / 1.8 inches in July and August. Rainy weather is most likely in December with rainfall of around 300 mm / 11.8 inches. January and February are the months with heavy snow which create great skiing opportunities in Mount Uludağ. The best time to visit Bursa is either in April and May, in the spring, or in the early autumn, between September and October.
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[edit] Getting there
[edit] By plane
In Bursa there's the Yenişehir Airport which serves domestic flights. In order to get to Bursa from another country by plane, you will have to take a transit flight via one of Turkey's international airports.
[edit] By train
There is no railway in and around Bursa.
[edit] By car
[edit] By bus
Buses from Istanbul take about 3-4 hours and the cost is cheap. There are bus services from all major cities to Bursa. The ride from the Bus Terminal to Heykel or Ulu Cami can take 45 minutes or more in heavy traffic.
[edit] By boat
The fastest and most enjoyable way to go from Istanbul to Bursa is by fast ferry across the Sea of Marmara because driving or taking a bus all the way around the Sea of Marmara takes hours through heavy traffic. Fast car ferries depart from Istanbul's Yenikapi Feribot Terminali daily. It takes about 70-80 minutes to cross the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul to Güzelyali.
[edit] Getting around
[edit] By car
Driving is possible but not recommended because of the traffic jam in this big city.
[edit] By public transport
The city has a metro line called Bursaray, connecting downtown with suburbs in the northwest.
There is an extensive bus and dolmuş network. The dolmuşes in Bursa are white cars with a sign on the roof unlikely than the yellow mini-buses that are common in Istanbul.
[edit] By foot
You can walk in some neighbourhoods in the city center but can't cover the whole city by foot since it's a big one.
[edit] By bike
[edit] See
Bursa is also known as Yeşil Bursa (Green Bursa) which refers to the green lush hinterlands and parks of the city but there sure is more than to that in Bursa.
The city has lots of old Ottoman houses, particularly in the Hisar district just west of the city center.
Bursa`s Ulu Camii (Grand Mosque) is the most magnificent multi-domed mosque in Anatolia which was built in 1399. It is the largest mosque in Bursa with striking examples of Ottoman art.
Yeşil Camii (Green Mosque) was built between 1491-1421 by architect Haci Ivaz Pasa. The building went under extensive renovation following the earthquake in 1855, led by architect Parveillée. It is located at the intersection of Yeşil and Emir Sultan Streets, Yeşil neighborhood of Bursa.
Abdal Mehmed Mosque is named after the mystic Abdal Mehmed in Bursa and was founded by Basci Ibrahim ( a rich merchant of Bursa who also built the Basci Ibrahim Complex) in the 15th century.
Orhan Gazi Complex was built in the market area of Bursa in 1339. The endowment (vakfiyye) of the Orhaniye Complex includes a mosque, medrese (school), two hamams (baths), a soup kitchen (imaret) and a han, of which only the mosque, a hamam and the han survive today.
Other historical mosques with amazing architecture works are Bayezid I Mosque and complex, Karacabey Grand Mosque, Hüdavendigar complex, Emir Sultan Mosque and complex, Ishak Paşa complex, Bursa Grand Mosque and Koca Sinan Paşa complex.
The museums of Bursa are also great to explore history. Bursa Turkish Architecture Museum, Iznik Museum, Bursa Atatürk Museum, Bursa City Museum, Islamic Works Museum and Bursa Archeology Museum.
[edit] Do
- Visit Iznik which is 85 km. from Bursa and see the world wide famous Iznik tiles. Iznik was once the capital city of the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman empires. At the end of the 19th Council held in the Vatican in 1962, Iznik was declared a "holy city" for Christians.
- Relax in one of the hot mineral water baths located in Çekirge.
- Shop in Bursa's Covered Bazaar (Kapalı Çarsı) and the caravanserais; Koza Han and Ipek Han. You can find high quality of silk (silk scarves are famous) or interesting Karagöz shadow puppets.
- Escape to the summit of Uludag (Great Mountain), the Mount Olympus of the ancient province of Bithynia, which is great for hiking in the summer time and skiing in winter.
[edit] Events and Festivals
Conquest of Bursa by the Ottomans, 6 April
Freedom Day of Bursa, 11 September
Bursa Garment and Textile Exposition, 3rd week of May
Bursa Book Fair, in April
Bursa Furniture, Decoration and Rug Fair, in August
Bursa Flower Fair, 1st week of May
Bursa Food and Agriculture Exposition, in September
Orhaneli Strawbery - Cherry Festival, in June @ Orhaneli, Bursa
Orhangazi Folklore Festival, in September @ Orhangazi
Gemlik Culture and Art Festival, in July @ Gemlik
[edit] Eat
Bursa is famous for Iskender kebap, slices of roast lamb dressed with browned butter and savory tomato saucegrilled lamb dressed with savory tomato sauce and browned butter. This special kebab is a pita-based speciality containing strips of beef that have been soaked overnight in a yoghurt and tomato marinate. Other than kebab restaurants there are great fish restaurants, providing seafood captured in the nearby village of Mudanya. Bursa is also famous for fresh fruits espcially peaches and sweet kestane şekeri (candied chestnuts).
[edit] Drink
Try Ayran a salty yoghurt based drink or zavuş which is a sour pomagranate and green lentil syrup type of drink in Mudanya, Bursa.
[edit] Sleep
[edit] Budget
Beceren Hotel [1] and Fahri Hotel [2] are both 3* hotels located in Uludağ.
Adapalas Hotel [3]is situated in Çekirge which is the most beautiful quarter of Bursa, that overlooks the Bursa plain and is well known with its history going 100 years back to the past and that has adopted as a principle giving the best service to its customers and will not have the peach and warmth of your home sought.
Gonluferah Thermal Hotel [4] is 3* hotel in Çekirge, Bursa.
[edit] Mid-Range
Holiday Inn Bursa [5] is a 4* hotel, opened in Görükle Campus of Uludağ University in July 2000. It is a part of InterContinental Hotels Group chain. Clean air, nature, closeness to historical places and industry region are reasons to be preferred by tourists and businessmen for Holiday Inn Bursa, which has a modern and qualified service understanding.
Ağaoğlu My Resort Uludağ [6] is 4* hotel located in Uludağ, the most popular winter sports centre of our country. The hotel serves every facility regarding winter sports to you and you can utilize any equipment for skiing, snowboard, etc., or take lessons of skiing and experience an ultimate thrill of skiing on all over ski runs for free.
Grand Yazıcı Hotel [7] is another 4* hotel option located in Uludağ.
[edit] Upscale
Celik Palas Hotel [8] is a 5* hotel located in the city center of Bursa.
Almira Hotel [9] is 5* hotel located on Ulubatli Hasan Bulvari in Bursa.
Kervansaray Hotel [10] is also 5* hotel with branches in Bursa and Uludağ. The one located at the city center, is one of the favored hotels of Bursa with its proved service quality, experienced and dynamic staff and its understanding that makes customer satisfaction a principle.Kervansaray Bursa, with its Main Restaurant catering 250 people and Terrace Restaurant catering 150 people, offers its customers unique banquets and serves to make eating a pleasure. Another branch name as Kervansaray Uludağ is offering excellent hotel service for unforgettable holidays in Uludağ. Kervansaray Thermal Hotel has the healing source thermal spring (Turkish bath) which serves under the name Eski Kaplıca where the Byzantine queen Thedora discovered the secret of her beauty and youth, under its constitution, is one of the favored hotels of Bursa and is founded in 1984 on 3000 m2 area.
[edit] Work
There industries like textile, automobile very active and developed in Bursa but a valid work permit by Turkish State is a must.
[edit] Learn
Uludağ University [11] is located in Görükle in the city of Bursa, approximately 25 km from the city centre. There are several associated regional campuses in the province of Bursa. Uludağ University has 10 faculties, 2 high schools, 1 school at undergraduate level, 15 vocational schools, 1 conservatory, 3 institutes, 18 research centers and 5 departments under Rectorate.
[edit] Keep connected
[edit] Internet
Most of the hotels have wireless internet if you have have your own computer access. If not, there are so many internet cafes located around the town.
[edit] Phone
You can get prepaid phone with simcard or use the landline phones with phone cards, credit cards, or Turkish liras, depending on the type. Phone code for Bursa is +90 (224)
[edit] Post
Turkish State Postal Office (PTT) [12] has branches in the city and the province of Bursa.
[edit] Safety
Bursa is a safe city but for emergency calls you can dial 155. Bursa Police Department [13] can be reached at phone numbers +90-224-271 4336 or +90-224-271 4366.
[edit] Stay Healthy
Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Eğitim Ve Araştırma Hastanesi [14]
Acıbadem Bursa Hastanesi (Private Hospital) [15]
Bursa Vatan Hastanesi [16]
[edit] External links
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