Bursa Day Trip from Istanbul: Green Mosque & Cable Car

Travel to Bursa’s Ottoman treasures without the hassle of driving or crowds

A full-day small-group tour from Istanbul to Bursa, the Ottoman Empire's first capital, with a local guide, hotel pickup, ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara, and lunch at a mountain restaurant. The tour includes a 30-minute cable car ride into Bursa's city centre (not a chairlift), visits to the Green Mosque with its distinctive green tile decoration and the Green Mausoleum, and a stop at a 600-year-old plane tree. Groups stay under 25 people. Return to Istanbul is by ferry or highway depending on traffic, with arrival typically late evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Bursa tour from Istanbul

• Hotel pickup in Istanbul
• Bus drive to ferry harbour
• Ferry ride across Marmara Sea
• Stop at Turkish delight shop
• Cable car ride to Bursa city centre
• Visit 600-year old plane tree
• Lunch at Uludag Mountain restaurant
• Free time at Uludag Mountain
• Visit Green Mosque in Bursa
• Return bus to ferry harbour
• Ferry or highway return to Istanbul
• Drop off at hotel in Istanbul

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your Istanbul hotel in an air-conditioned bus. The route takes you to a harbour where you board a car ferry for the crossing to Bursa across the Sea of Marmara. A two-hour journey that gives you views of the Bosporus and the bridges connecting Asia and Europe. On the way, there's a stop at a shop selling Turkish delight, a chance to pick up the confection before reaching the city.

Once you arrive in Bursa, you ride a real cable car for 30 minutes into the city centre: the operator distinguishes this from a basic chairlift by putting you in an actual cable car cabin. At the top, you visit a 600-year-old plane tree for photos, then head to a local restaurant on Uludag Mountain for lunch in a quiet setting with free time afterward to explore. The cable car is included in one option. The other skips both the cable car and lunch, so you choose at checkout which suits your day.

The afternoon centers on the Green Mosque, one of Bursa's most important monuments. Its interior is covered in green tiles, and the building holds a library and tombs. After this stop, the bus begins the return to Istanbul, following the same route back: either by ferry across the Sea of Marmara or via the highway and bridges, depending on traffic. Arrival at your hotel is typically late evening, though traffic and weather can push it as late as 11 p.m., so plan accordingly if you have evening plans.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or Arabic.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned bus.
• ferry crossing the Sea of Marmara.
• 30-minute cable car ride into Bursa's city centre (Cable Car option only).
• lunch at a mountain restaurant (Cable Car option only).

Options for this experience

2 options

Without the cable car or lunchGuide in English or Arabic · 08:30Options: transfers and guide service are included, and so is the ferry. The cable car and lunch are not included.

Bursa tour that includes the cable carGuide in English or Arabic · 07:00 and 08:30Choice: hotel transfers, guide service, ferry, cable car and lunch are all included. 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 dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:30

Book up to1h before

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

GroupUp to 15

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sultanahmet Old City Travel Turizm Organizasyon

Is this one for you?Book the Cable Car option if you want the full Bursa experience with the cable car descent and a meal included. Choose No Cable Car if you prefer a shorter day and plan to eat on your own, though you'll still see the Green Mosque and the plane tree. Either way, the ferry crossing and guide are the same, so the choice is really about whether the cable car and lunch matter to your day.

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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 cable car ride like on the Bursa tour?

The cable car is a 30-minute ride in a real cable car cabin (not a chairlift) that takes you from the base up into Bursa's city centre. It's included in the Cable Car option. The No Cable Car option skips this and lunch both.

How long is the ferry crossing from Istanbul to Bursa?

The ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara takes about two hours total for the journey from Istanbul to Bursa, and you travel in the same air-conditioned bus you rode from your hotel.

What is the Green Mosque and what makes it worth visiting?

The Green Mosque is one of Bursa's most important monuments, named for the green tiles that cover its interior. It contains a library and tombs, and the tile work is the main draw. The decoration is what distinguishes it from other Ottoman mosques in the city.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch at a local mountain restaurant is included in the Cable Car option but not in the No Cable Car option, so you choose which one fits your needs when you book.

What time does the tour return to Istanbul?

Return to your hotel is typically late evening, though traffic and weather conditions can delay arrival as late as 11 p.m., so plan your evening activities with that window in mind.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in this tour. The bus collects you from your Istanbul hotel in the morning and returns you there at the end of the day.