Bursa Day Trip from Istanbul: Cable Car & Green Mosque

The cable car descends from Uludag straight into Bursa's city center.

A 12-hour day trip from Istanbul combines ferry travel across the Sea of Marmara, a guided tour of Bursa's Ottoman landmarks, lunch on Uludag Mountain, and a cable car descent back to the city. Hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned minivan, a local English-speaking guide, and the ferry ride are all included. The cable car itself is optional. You return to Istanbul the same evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bursa day trip from Istanbul

• Pickup from Istanbul hotel
• Travel to port and ferry to Yalova
• Bus ride to Bursa
• Visit 600-year-old plane tree
• Lunch at Uludag Mountain restaurant
• Free time at Uludag Mountain
• Cable car ride to Bursa city center
• Visit natural homemade jam preserve
• Visit Green Mosque
• Return bus to Istanbul hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Istanbul hotel on the European side, then heads to a harbor for the car ferry across the Sea of Marmara to Yalova. The crossing itself is part of the journey. You'll see the Bosporus and the bridges connecting Asia and Europe from the water. Once the ferry docks, an air-conditioned minivan takes over for the drive to Bursa, the Ottoman Empire's first capital. Just over two hours of travel gets you there, and your guide walks you through how this ancient seat of power became the modern city around you, with historical monuments still scattered through its streets.

In Bursa, the route takes you first to a 600-year-old plane tree for photos, then up to Uludag Mountain. Lunch happens at a local restaurant in a quiet mountain setting, and afterward you have free time to walk the area. The cable car ride down (optional on some booking options) is the signature moment. It carries you from the mountain straight into the city center in one descent. A stop at a local jam producer lets you see how traditional preserves are made by hand.

The Green Mosque, one of Bursa's most important monuments, is your final stop before the return journey. Its interior is covered in green tiles, and it holds a library and tombs inside. The minivan then retraces the route back to Istanbul (the same ferry crossing, the same harbor, the same road), and you arrive at your hotel late in the evening. The whole day runs 12 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off on the European side of Istanbul.
• ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara.
• air-conditioned minivan transport.
• local English-speaking guide.
• lunch on Uludag Mountain.
• free time to explore the mountain area.
• cable car ride (optional, depending on your booking choice).
• visit to the Green Mosque.
• stop at a traditional jam producer.

Options for this experience

2 options

Without Cable CarGuide in English or Arabic · 08:30Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, ferry, a local guide, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is included.

Day Trip to Bursa and Uludag from IstanbulGuide in English or Arabic · 08:30Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, cable car, ferry, a local guide, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Emir Tour

Is this one for you?Book this option if you want the cable car experience as part of your day. It's the defining moment of the tour and the reason many travelers choose this version over the version without it. If you prefer to skip the cable car and spend more time elsewhere, the other option removes it from the itinerary and the price.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's the Green Mosque actually like inside?

The Green Mosque is decorated throughout with green tiles and contains a library and tombs. It's one of Bursa's most important historical monuments and forms the final stop on the tour before the return drive to Istanbul.

How long does the ferry ride take?

The ferry crossing the Sea of Marmara is part of the journey from Istanbul to Yalova, after which the minivan continues to Bursa. The full travel time to Bursa is just over two hours from the ferry's departure.

Is the cable car included in the price?

The cable car ride down from Uludag Mountain is optional depending on which booking option you choose. One option includes it. The other does not.

How much free time do you get on Uludag Mountain?

After lunch at the mountain restaurant, you have free time to explore the area before boarding the cable car for the descent into Bursa.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, lunch is included and served at a local restaurant on Uludag Mountain as part of the day's itinerary.