ISTANBUL
Bursa Day Trip from Istanbul & Uludağ Cable Car
From $69 per person
- Duration: 10–12 hours
- Pick-up: Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Meals: Lunch included (BBQ or kebab)
- Entrances: Cable car ticket included
- Group: Small group or private · English or Arabic
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Tour Overview
Bursa Day Trip from Istanbul: Uludağ Cable Car, Green Mosque & Iskender Kebab
This Bursa day trip from Istanbul lasts 10–12 hours and starts with hotel pick-up at 08:30. You travel to Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, by road via the Osmangazi Bridge or by the Yalova ferry, depending on traffic and schedule.
The highlight is the Uludağ cable car, with panoramic views over Bursa and the forests. After a lunch featuring Iskender kebab you see the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, browse the Koza Han silk market and stop at the 600-year-old İnkaya plane tree.
It suits families, couples and first-time visitors wanting nature and history in one day. Choose Shared (small group) or Private (your own vehicle and licensed guide); the tour includes hotel pick-up, return to your central Istanbul hotel, round-trip transport, an English or Arabic guide, cable car ticket and lunch. Read our Bursa day trip guide, see Istanbul tour packages or try the Sapanca and Maşukiye trip.
Highlights
- Drive to Bursa via the Osmangazi Bridge or Yalova ferry
- Uludağ cable car panorama
- Green Mosque and Green Tomb
- Koza Han silk market
- 600-year-old İnkaya plane tree
- Iskender kebab lunch
Quick facts
- Recommended season: April–June and September–November; bring a warm layer for Uludağ.
- Daily departures with English or Arabic guiding.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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08:30Hotel Pick-up & Drive to Bursa
Your day starts at 08:30 with a pick-up from your hotel in Istanbul. The drive to Bursa, the gateway to the green side of Türkiye, goes via the Osmangazi Bridge or the Yalova ferry (depending on traffic and schedule), with the Sea of Marmara and the countryside along the way. On the Shared tour you travel with a small group; on the Private option you have your own vehicle and licensed guide on the same program.
Transport: Drive via the Osmangazi Bridge or Yalova ferry (depending on traffic and schedule) -
11:30Mount Uludağ & the Cable Car
You reach Mount Uludağ, one of Türkiye’s most famous nature retreats, and ride the Uludağ cable car up the mountain on your included ticket. The ride gives panoramic views of Bursa and the surrounding forests. At the top you have free time to walk, breathe the mountain air and take photos. Bring a warm layer, because it is cooler up there than in the city.
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13:30Iskender Kebab Lunch
After coming down from the mountain you stop for a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant. The meal features Iskender kebab, a Bursa specialty of sliced grilled meat served over bread with tomato sauce and yogurt. It is a relaxed break of about two hours before the afternoon sights in the old centre.
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15:30Green Mosque, Green Tomb, Silk Market & İnkaya Tree
In the afternoon you step into Ottoman history at the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) and the Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe), 15th-century landmarks of Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Next is the historic Koza Han silk market, where you can look for silk textiles, local honey and Turkish delight. The last stop is the 600-year-old İnkaya plane tree.
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19:00Return to Istanbul
After a full day of nature and history you head back to Istanbul. You are dropped off at your central Istanbul hotel at around 19:00, about 10.5 hours after the morning pick-up, which fits the 10–12 hour length of the tour. The return route also depends on traffic and schedule.
Places Along the Route
Mount Uludağ
The pine-covered mountain rising above Bursa is a well-known nature retreat and winter-sports area. The cable car climbs through the forest to cooler air and wide views over the city and the plain below.
Koza Han
This Ottoman courtyard caravanserai has long been the centre of Bursa’s silk trade. Two storeys of arcades surround a small domed mosque, and the shops sell silk scarves, local honey and sweets.
Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii)
Built in the early 15th century for Sultan Mehmed I, this mosque is admired for its carved portal and its turquoise and green tilework. It is a key example of early Ottoman art from Bursa’s years as capital.
Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe)
Standing on a rise opposite the mosque, the tomb of Sultan Mehmed I is covered in blue-green tiles that gave the whole complex its name. Inside, the tilework and the sultan’s sarcophagus can be seen.
İnkaya Plane Tree
A giant plane tree in the İnkaya district, said by locals to be around 600 years old. Its massive trunk and spreading crown shade a small tea garden, making it a calm last stop of the day.
Why Choose This Bursa Day Trip from Istanbul?
This Bursa day trip from Istanbul joins a mountain and the old Ottoman capital in 10–12 hours, with the Uludağ cable car ticket included and a choice of Shared small group or Private tour.
- Cable car ticket included — The Uludağ cable car ticket is part of the price, so you ride up for panoramic views, with free time at the top.
- Ottoman landmarks after lunch — After an Iskender kebab lunch you see the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, the Koza Han silk market and the 600-year-old İnkaya plane tree in Bursa, the first Ottoman capital.
- Shared or Private — Shared is a small group; Private gives you your own vehicle and licensed guide on the same program. Both include hotel pick-up and drop-off, with guiding in English or Arabic.
- Road route and families — The drive goes via the Osmangazi Bridge or Yalova ferry, depending on traffic. On the Shared tour, children 0–2 are free and ages 3–7 get 30% off.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start date.
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Add these to your request — we confirm availability and the final total before you pay.
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Good to Know
Uludağ cable car
The cable car can close in strong wind or for maintenance. In that case your guide changes the program on the day and spends the time at other sights in Bursa.
Pick-up Times
Pick-up from 08:30; the exact time is confirmed the day before.
What to Wear
Please dress modestly when visiting mosques and religious sites: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on every tour.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 24 hours before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 24 hours before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). Pay after we confirm, via secure link or bank transfer.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
The day lasts 10–12 hours. Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel is at 08:30 and you are back at around 19:00. The drive goes via the Osmangazi Bridge or the Yalova ferry, depending on traffic and schedule.
The shared tour costs $69 per person. The private tour costs $389 per person for 2 travellers, $229 for 4 and $169 for 6, with your own vehicle and licensed guide.
Both follow the same program with hotel pick-up and drop-off, and guiding in English or Arabic. The shared tour is a small group; the private tour gives your group its own vehicle and licensed guide.
Yes, the cable car ticket is included in the price of both options. At the top you have free time to walk and take photos; it is cooler than in the city, so bring a warm layer.
Lunch is a traditional Turkish meal (BBQ or kebab) at a local restaurant, with Iskender kebab on the menu. Vegetarian guests should tell us when booking.
A warm layer, because Uludağ is cooler than the city, and comfortable walking shoes. Dress modestly at the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb.
Yes, the program is easy for families. Shared tour: Children 0–2 free, ages 3–7 receive 30% off.
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