Bursa Day Trip Istanbul: Green Mosque & Cable Car with Lunch

A ferry ride away: Ottoman Bursa in one day from the city

You travel by ferry from Istanbul to Bursa, visit the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, ride the cable car above Uludağ National Park, and eat a traditional lunch with mountain views: all with hotel pickup, a licensed guide, and no transport logistics to handle yourself. The day runs 10+ hours and includes the cable car ride if you select that option at booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Green Tomb15m
2. Green Mosque15m

Full day Bursa tour from Istanbul

• Depart Istanbul by ferry
• Enjoy scenic ferry ride
• Arrive in Yalova
• Take forest safari tour
• Visit local Turkish delights shop
• See Inkaya Sycamore Tree
• Have traditional lunch in Uludağ National Park
• Experience Uludağ chairlift ride
• Ride Bursa Great Cable Car
• Visit Green Tomb mausoleum
• Shop at local silk and souvenir store
• Visit Green Mosque complex

The experience

Most Istanbul day trips keep you in the city. This one crosses the Sea of Marmara by ferry (a quiet morning ride that already feels like leaving), and lands you in Bursa, the Ottoman Empire's first capital. The contrast hits fast: you trade the noise of Istanbul for the calm of a 600-year-old sycamore tree, the Inkaya, standing in a field like it's been waiting. Your guide, fluent in English or Arabic, walks you through what each place meant: the Green Mosque with its tilework, the Green Tomb built for Sultan Mehmed I in 1421, the weight of history that doesn't announce itself loudly here.

The day moves at a real pace. After the ferry and a stop in Yalova for a forest safari through rolling hills, you reach Bursa proper and taste the regional sweets, the city's famous Turkish delights, before heading up to Uludağ National Park for lunch. The food is local, the views are mountain-wide, and then comes the cable car. You glide above the treetops on the Teleferik, the great cable car that's been carrying people up and down this peak for decades. It's the kind of moment that feels both simple and hard to forget, and it breaks up the walking in a way that makes sense.

The silk shops come last, when you're ready to slow down and pick through handicrafts and Bursa's traditional silk products. The things the city has been known for since the trade routes ran through here. Pickup and drop-off from your Istanbul hotel are included, so you don't arrange transport yourself. The whole day is ten hours or more, which sounds long until you realize how much ground you cover: a ferry, a forest, four major Ottoman sites, a mountain, and lunch, all threaded together by someone who knows the stories.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Istanbul, a scenic ferry crossing the Sea of Marmara, a forest safari in Yalova, visits to the Inkaya Sycamore Tree, the Green Mosque, and the Green Tomb, a traditional lunch with regional specialties at Uludağ National Park, a cable car ride above the peak, a stop at a local silk and souvenir shop, and a professional licensed guide fluent in English or Arabic throughout. The cable car is included if selected at booking.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cable Car ExcludedGuide in English or Arabic · 07:30Lunch is included; pickup is included

Cable car includedGuide in English or Arabic · 07:30The cable car is included; includes pickup

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 07:30

Book up to7h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 90 years) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 94

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 86

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Abrakadabra Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Bursa's Ottoman landmarks and mountain scenery in one day without arranging ferry tickets, park entry, or a guide yourself: the fixed itinerary and included transport mean you step off your hotel and return without planning the logistics.

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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: Youth (7 to 17 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the ferry ride from Istanbul to Bursa?

The ferry crossing the Sea of Marmara is part of the morning departure. The full day trip runs 10+ hours including all stops and transport.

Is lunch included in the Bursa day trip?

Yes, a traditional lunch featuring Bursa's regional specialties is included at Uludağ National Park.

What is the cable car experience like?

The Teleferik (cable car) glides above the treetops and city skyline, offering panoramic views from the peak of Uludağ. It is included if you select that option.

Is the Inkaya Sycamore Tree worth visiting?

Yes. It is one of Bursa's most iconic natural landmarks, dating back over 600 years, and offers a peaceful spot to learn about Ottoman history and take photos.

What is the Green Mosque?

The Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) is a 15th-century Ottoman complex with green and blue interior tile decorations. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits opposite the Green Tomb.

Can I buy souvenirs in Bursa?

Yes. The tour includes a stop at a local silk and souvenir store where you can browse traditional Bursa silk products and handicrafts.

What time does the tour depart?

Hotel pickup is included. The exact departure time will be confirmed at booking.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the ferry?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Istanbul are included in the tour price.