Green Bursa Day Tour: A Helpful Review

Thinking about visiting Bursa from Istanbul? The Green Bursa Day Tour could be just what you’re after. This very tour promises a break from Istanbul’s lively energy with, like, visits to some stunning nature spots and some cool historical sites over in Bursa. It’s almost a chance to see a completely different side of Turkey, all packed into just a single day. In this piece, you’ll get what I hope is a useful look at what the Green Bursa Day Tour is like, and, I hope, give you some, you know, pretty useful insights and advice, that I would hope helps make the most of your trip. I want to say from the start, that the tours can and often do vary, depending, usually, on what the local tour operators offer. This is based on a tour that takes in places like the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb, that cable car up Uludağ mountain and the Turkish delight factory. So, basically, a little bit of everything!

What You Should Know About the Tour

So, first, before booking anything, just find out what is, very specifically, included. A few tours, they might focus a bit more on the religious sites, yet, others might really spend a lot of time up Uludağ. Most, too, that I’ve come across will cover your transportation to and from Istanbul, plus, like, lunch and your entry fees. A thing you need to check for, arguably, is whether drinks are covered, because, those little costs, they can all add up. The tour that I experienced started early, really early, with a hotel pick-up in Istanbul. Very often, you might find that there is a bit of a wait as other people get picked up, is that right? The coach was typically comfy and often they now have WiFi, that is pretty good for sharing photos, or catching up, on the move. The drive to Bursa takes, maybe, a few hours, it all depends on the traffic going across the Sea of Marmara, it’s almost always on a ferry.

A real key bit of the tour is, for many, the visit to the Green Mosque (Yesil Camii) and the Green Tomb (Yesil Türbe), so too, both gems hailing all the way back from the early Ottoman period. The architecture is, in a way, pretty amazing, I think, plus, like, the detailed tile work inside the mosque really are amazing. Usually, you’ll have, as I did, some of the local guide explain the history, and give the background stories to all those intricate designs. When I think back now, these two places were, for me, like, a good place to get a feel for Bursa’s past.

Going Up Uludağ Mountain

The trip to Uludağ is what really many, many people are looking forward to. Reaching the top involves going on a cable car, now, is that pretty exciting. The cable car ride, often, provides really quite amazing views of the Bursa area as you climb higher and higher. When you actually get up there, well, that depends a bit on the time of year, basically. So, in winter, it can be really cold, I would suggest wrapping up well, because, you know, the mountain can be properly snow-covered. There could be a chance to have a go at activities like skiing, too, or just take in all that wintry landscape, really. That said, in summer, it’s still cooler, so, still take a jacket, alright? You might enjoy hiking, or picnicking, I mean, the scenery is quite spectacular whatever you decide to do. Just remember, there might be an extra cost for any mountain activities you take part in.

Those Tasty Turkish Treats

Lots of Green Bursa tours involve, or did on the ones that I took part in, a stop at a Turkish delight factory, you, like, get the chance to see how these yummy treats are created. There’s often a little demonstration that explains that traditional process and you nearly always get to sample some. It’s a, a little bit touristy, really, yet, arguably, still an interesting look at one of Turkey’s well known exports. If anything, that stuff is persuasive, and you could well find yourself, in that case, buying a box, or two, of Turkish delight to take home with you. I usually did!

Most of these tours include a lunch at a local restaurant, too, typically offering up some of the local cuisine, so too, often focusing on what is well known from Bursa. I ate, like, Iskender kebab which Bursa is really very well known for, basically a dish with slices of grilled lamb, that has pita bread, with yoghurt, and, usually, some sort of tomato sauce on it, it’s pretty lovely. Just a point to remember is that vegetarian, or any specific, dietary requirements can be a bit harder to cater for, it’s often, then, better to check with the tour operator, clearly, before you actually book.

Is a Green Bursa Tour Worth Doing?

So, overall, I do feel that the Green Bursa Day Tour can be, almost, a good way to experience what is something that is really quite different from the, you know, non-stop vibe in Istanbul. It’s typically a fairly long day, yet, with history, natural beauty, I guess, all mixed together. Whether it is worth doing, arguably, will all depend on what you might be looking for. Now, if you have, sort of, only a few days in Turkey, a day trip to Bursa could be a good use of that time, giving you a pretty quick glimpse of another region. Yet, keep in mind that some of these tours might feel a bit rushed, especially, with some of the key sights being so popular, I’ve had that quite often, basically. For that reason, arguably, if you could stay a night in Bursa, I feel that this would provide for you a better relaxed experience. As I keep saying, really check all of what is included, with the tour operator, and what it might cost, too. Do also give some thought to the time of year you go, for example, because, it really affects what activities you might find up on Uludağ mountain. A really useful trip might start by checking some trusted online reviews to try and pick a really pretty reliable tour group.

Essential Information For a Visit

First, in terms of dress code, if that is right, when going to the religious sites, like, make sure you are dressed respectfully, now is that really important. Gals usually, might need a headscarf when visiting the mosques, they, mostly, usually, do provide them for you if you don’t actually have one. As I say, so too, wear, really, comfortable walking shoes, because, you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking during the day, usually on some uneven surfaces, that I’ve found quite a few times! Bring some money with you too, for the drinks, any snacks, or, you, like, any extra activities, like hiring a ski equipment if it happens to be that time of year. Be prepared, I guess, for the fact that you are likely to spend a fair amount of the time travelling by coach or minibus. With traffic, of course, is that always predictable! To that end, maybe, think about taking a book or some sort of entertainment with you to keep yourself happy on those longer drives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long is the Green Bursa Day Tour?
I often get asked this, basically, so, this particular tour generally lasts for around 12 to 14 hours, clearly, from when you are picked up in the morning, to when you get dropped off back at your hotel, isn’t that a pretty long day.

Is lunch included in the tour price?
I would, so often, say check with the specific tour operator you plan on using. In my experience, lunch is actually included, yet, any drinks usually are an extra cost.

What should I wear on the Green Bursa Tour?
I really do feel it is best to dress respectfully, I’m just saying. Think layers for the changeable weather up Uludağ mountain and those, so important, comfortable walking shoes.

Are there opportunities for shopping during the tour?
So, there certainly might be! Just watch out for those Turkish delight factories with the sampling, it is a way that, if you are anything like me, will tempt you to buy!

Is there wheelchair access on the tour?
Accessibility can, arguably, be pretty limited, I mean, just at the historical sites, and especially up on Uludağ mountain. Call the tour operator so that they can describe to you what might work or might not.