Historic Bursa: Seeing the First Ottoman Capital in One Day

If you are seeing Bursa in one day, the backbone of the route is these stops: the Grand Mosque, the Covered Bazaar and the hans district, the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, and the tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi at Tophane. These places are pieces of a story that tells of the Ottomans' founding years and their first capital. On TatiliYakala's Cumalıkızık, Bursa and Gölyazı tour, these stops are visited in a single midday programme.

Why is Bursa important?

Bursa was taken by the Ottomans under Orhan Gazi and became the state's first capital. Although the capital later moved to Edirne and then Istanbul, Bursa remained the spiritual centre of the founding period. The clearest sign of this is that the tombs of the first Ottoman sultans are in this city.

Together with the village of Cumalıkızık, the city's historic areas are on the UNESCO World Heritage List as 'Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire'. The site brings together külliye complexes, the bazaar and hans district and an example of a rural village.

Tophane: the tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi

Tophane is a hill overlooking the city centre. The tombs of Osman Gazi, founder of the Ottoman state, and his son Orhan Gazi are here. The present tomb buildings were renovated in later periods, but the meaning of the visit lies in being in the presence of the state's founders.

The clock tower and viewing terrace at Tophane give you a wide view of the Bursa plain and the city's rooftops. In winter, looking out from here at snow-covered Uludağ is a lovely start for groups heading up the mountain the same day.

Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)

One of Bursa's best-known buildings, the Grand Mosque was built in the reign of Bayezid I (Yıldırım Bayezid). According to the popular story, before the victory at Nicopolis Bayezid vowed to build twenty mosques if he won; instead, he had a single mosque with twenty domes built.

The ablution fountain (şadırvan) that greets you inside the mosque stands in the middle of the prayer hall, a detail unique to this building. The large calligraphy panels on the walls are also among its most striking features. When visiting, pay attention to prayer times; women are expected to cover their heads, and clothing should be appropriate.

The Covered Bazaar and the hans district

Bursa's historic commercial centre begins right next to the Grand Mosque. The Covered Bazaar, the bedesten and the surrounding hans show the city's centuries-old trading life. Throughout history Bursa has been associated with the silk trade; the Koza Han in this area takes its name from the silk cocoon (koza) and, with the tea garden in its courtyard, is still a lively place today.

The bazaar has shops selling candied chestnuts, silk scarves, towels and local products. For Bursa's flavours, see our article what to eat in Bursa.

Green Mosque and Green Tomb

The Green Mosque on the east side of the city and the Green Tomb opposite it date from the reign of Mehmed I (Çelebi Mehmed). With the tilework of its interior and its fine stone carving, the Green Mosque is regarded as one of the outstanding examples of early Ottoman architecture.

The Green Tomb is the tomb of Mehmed I and stands out from afar thanks to the turquoise tiles covering its exterior. The tilework inside the tomb is also well worth seeing. This pair is one of the most popular photo spots in Bursa.

A suggested one-day route

The order in the tour programme gives a route that follows the flow of the city:

1. Morning: Village breakfast in Cumalıkızık. We describe the village in our Cumalıkızık guide.
2. Midday: The Grand Mosque, the Covered Bazaar, the Green Mosque and Tomb, and the tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi at Tophane with the viewing terrace.
3. Lunch: İskender.
4. Afternoon: Gölyazı on the shore of Lake Uluabat. Details in our Gölyazı guide.

The Cumalıkızık, Bursa and Gölyazı tour completes this route in a single day, leaving Istanbul at 05:30 in the morning. For those who want to combine Bursa with snow in winter, the Uludağ tour also starts with breakfast in Cumalıkızık and a short history tour of Bursa.

If you have time left

There are also places outside the programme that you may want to see on your own or on a separate visit. The Muradiye Complex sits in a peaceful garden and holds the tombs of many members of the Ottoman dynasty. The Emir Sultan Mosque and its surroundings are also among the city's spiritual stops. These places are not part of the tour.

For school groups

A trip to Bursa is like a lesson on the Ottoman founding period, taught on site. With students, you can talk about the founding of the state at Tophane, the reign of Bayezid I at the Grand Mosque, and the Interregnum and Mehmed I at the Green Tomb. The fact that Cumalıkızık is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site is also a good topic for discussion. For school programmes, take a look at our school trips page.

Things to keep in mind while sightseeing

• Dress appropriately at mosques and tombs; women should have a headscarf with them.
• Visitor entry may be restricted during prayer times.
• Wear comfortable shoes for the slopes of Tophane.
• Be quiet in tombs and mosques, and don't take flash photos.

Frequently asked questions

What can you see in Bursa in one day?

The Grand Mosque, the Covered Bazaar and Koza Han, the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, and the tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi at Tophane are the main stops on a one-day route.

Where is the tomb of Osman Gazi?

The tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi are in Bursa, in the Tophane district overlooking the city.

Why does the Grand Mosque have twenty domes?

According to the popular story, before the victory at Nicopolis, Bayezid I vowed to build twenty mosques and instead had a single mosque with twenty domes built.

Does the Bursa tour also go to Gölyazı?

Yes. On the Cumalıkızık, Bursa and Gölyazı tour, you go on to Gölyazı in the afternoon and spend about an hour there.