Here's how to see the top sights of Bursa, Turkey, on a day-trip (or overnight) from Istanbul.

Take a fast ferry to Gzelyal or Yalova, then ground transport into the city. More... Historic Bursa is spread across the slopes of Uluda (the Bythinian Mount Olympus), its major sights in five separate districts, plus the mountain summit. The most important for visitors with limited time are Green Mosque, City Center and Citadel, which you can easily tour in about three hours. You can spend any remaining time (especially if you stay overnight) visiting the last two and the summit of Uluda. Here are the major sightseeing districts, from east to west across the mountainside: 1. Green Mosque (Yeil Cami) The district centered on the historic Green Mosque (Yeil Cami, YESH-sheel jah-mee) includes the mosque itself, the imperial tomb (Yeil Trbe) next to it, the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum in a historic medrese (theological college), and to the east of the Ysil complex, the Emir Sultan Mosque. More... 2. City Center (ehir Merkezi) The heart of historic Bursa, which is also the commercial and cultural center of the modern city, stretches from Heykel, the plaza marked by the equestrian statue of Atatrk, then westward along Atatrk Caddesi past the shady Koza Park by the Koza Han (Silk Cocoon Caravanserai) and Kapal ar (Covered Bazaar), to the Ulu Cami (Great Mosque). More... 3. Citadel (Hisar) A ten-minute walk west uphill from the Ulu Cami, Bursa's former citadel is the oldest part of the city, with some fine old Bursa houses, the tombs of Osman and Orhan, founders of the Ottoman dynasty, and panoramic views of the valley below. More... 4. Muradiye Mosque Complex A quiet neighborhood centered on the Muradiye Hdavendigr mosque complex, tombs of the sultans, and Old Ottoman House museums. More... 5. ekirge Hot Springs Known for its hot mineral watersand lots of hotels built to house those who have come to bathe in themekirge also boasts the interesting old Mosque of Murat I and the tomb of its founder. ekirge is well to the west of the other districts, and requires a bus or taxi ride. If you have an intense interest in early Ottoman mosque architecture, or if you intend to spend some time in one of ekirge's famous mineral baths, you'll want to visit here. More... 6. Uluda Uluda (OO-loo dah, "Great Mountain"), the Mount Olympus of the ancient province of Bithynia, rises 2543 m (8343 feet) to the south of the city, which is built on its slopes. A teleferik (cable car) east of the city center takes you to the half-way point, then another takes you to the summit for hiking (or just some fresh, cool air) in summer, and for skiing in winter. Minibuses also depart from the city center and drive the 23 km to the summit, but the cable car is a lot more fun The Muradiye Hdavendigr mosque complex is in a quiet Bursa neighborhood that includes the Mosque of Sultan Murat II (the "Muradiye," 1426), the tombs of many early Ottoman princes, princesses, sultans and sultanas, a medieval health center still in use (now modernized), a soup kitchen that's now an Ottoman-style restaurant, a historic Turkish bath, and two old Ottoman houses that are now museums.

The Muradiye Mosque is similar in style to Bursa's Green Mosque, which was completed just two years earlier. On the west side of the mosque is a shady garden filled with a dozen domed tombs. It would be nice to think that all these imperial princes (ehzade) died in old age, content with their courses through life, but because the early Ottoman Empire did not recognize primogeniture (entitlement of the first-born to inherit the throne), many of them were purposefully murdered by thei relativesusually their brothersto prevent civil wars of succession to the throne. Here are the most interesting tombs: 1. II. Murat Trbesi (Tomb of Murat II): The porch is fancy, but the rest of the sultan's tomb is severely plain. A hole in the dome allows rain to fall on the sultan's uncovered tomb, as he wished. 2. Cem Trbesi (Tomb of Prince Cem): the youngest son of the mighty Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror, upon his father's death Prince Cem (pronounced JEHM) fled to Europe to avoid capture and murder by his older brother Beyazit II. Held hostage by the pope and European powers, he was used as a diplomatic pawn in the European struggle with the Ottoman Empire. 3. ehzade Mustafa Trbesi (Prince Mustafa Tomb): this promising son of Sultan Sleyman the Magnificent was murdered by order of his father the sultan who was led to suspect him of treason. Soon after Mustafa's death, Sleyman bitterly regretted his error. The tomb has extremely fine znik tiles from the great era of their artistry. The 17. Y. Y. Osmanl Evi Mzesi (17th-century Ottoman House Museum) is across the park from the front of the Muradiye Mosque. Across the busy street to the west is the II. Murat Hamami, or Turkish bath of Murat II, still in operation and open to the public. Uphill behind the hamam (follow the signs) is the Hsn Zber Evi, another, later, Ottoman house museum