Bursa

Bursa became the first Ottoman capital after Sultan Orhan took it in 1326, and the state's first mosques, markets and schools were built here. In 2014 Bursa and the village of Cumalıkızık were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as the birthplace of the Ottoman Empire.

Its landmarks include the Grand Mosque, Ulu Camii, with its twenty domes, the Green Mosque with its green and blue tiles, and the old bazaars known for silk. About 10 km away, Cumalıkızık keeps its coloured Ottoman houses and cobbled lanes.

Above the city rises Mount Uludağ, reached by an 8.8 km cable car from Teferrüç station to the hotel area. In winter the mountain is a ski resort; in summer its meadows are made for walks and picnics.

Bursa is about two to two and a half hours from Istanbul by car, an easy day trip or a one-night stay. It is also the home of the original İskender kebab.