From Istanbul to Bursa
Whilst Turkey is a huge country, and getting from place to place can require a plane or long bus journey, there are some cities which are thankfully quite close together. If you’re visiting Istanbul, and you want to check out another historic spot, not too far away, how about Bursa?
Bursa is just under two hours away by road, and there are many bus services which run to and from the city every single day. For a low price, you can sit in total comfort, with free Wi-Fi connection, tea, coffee, enjoying on board entertainment, whilst speeding your way from Istanbul to Bursa.
What could be better?
Of course, you could hire a car and drive yourself, stopping off at the various small towns along the way. It’s totally up to you, but either way is also totally do-able!
Why Should You Visit Both Istanbul and Bursa?
Basically, you should visit both because they’re so close together and it means you get to see two wonderful destinations within the space of one break. Do you really need another excuse or reason?
Istanbul and bursa are both former capital cities of the Ottoman Empire, with Bursa actually holding the title long before Istanbul, or Constantinople as it was called back then. As a result, both cities are teeming with historic buildings dating back to the Empire’s time, and beautiful mosques to stand in awe at. Of course, Istanbul is without a doubt the bigger city of the two, being the biggest city in the entire country, and it ahs far more history to explore than Bursa does, but that doesn’t mean it is a poor second place!
Bursa is a fantastic natural spot to visit, and it is home to the famous ski resort, Uludag. Mount Uludag is around 12km away from the main city centre, and during the winter months you can enjoy some of the most breath-taking scenery you will ever set your eyes on. The cable cars to the top of the mountain really are an experience you need to tick off your bucket list, and if you want to learn to ski, there is perhaps no better place to try. Even in the summer months, the mountain scenery is really amazing, and fantastic for walking, biking, and photo moments.
Bursa is a huge university city, just like Istanbul, so both cities have an old and new vibe.
How Long Should You Stay in Each One?
The size of Istanbul really tells you that you need to dedicate more time to the biggest city, but Bursa deserves a couple of nights at least. The fact you can get to and from each city so quickly and easily also means that there are no long journeys between, and no tiredness downtime required!
Istanbul itself is a personal deal. Some people stay a week and explore slowly, some people stay for a weekend and go at a faster pace, but it’s totally up to you. If you want to see both cities then a week is preferable for your entire break, but hey, you can always go back another time!
You will learn a lot about the whispers of the past by checking out both historic cities in one vacation, especially about the Ottoman Empire. There are many museums in both cities, so you should certainly plan your time accordingly, to make sure that you drag every last drop out of your time. Accommodation is not a problem in either, with something to suit every budget.
So, is it Istanbul to Bursa, and back again?
