Bursa Car Rental

With a rental car in Bursa, you have the freedom to explore this fascinating region at your own pace. There are plenty of historical monuments and natural landscapes worth visiting, but you really should make time for Uludag Mountain. Standing at an awe-inspiring height of 2,543 meters, it is home to the longest cable car ride in the world. The cable car ride starts at 236 meters, reaches a height of 1,810 meters, and attracts visitors from all over the globe.

If you want to try Turkish cuisine, there's a multitude of mouth-watering options available. The İskender kebap – sliced meat topped with hot tomato sauce, served with pita bread, butter and yogurt – is arguably the most famous dish in Bursa, while İnegöl meatballs-kofte (seasoned only with onion) have been a local staple since 1893. Breakfast often includes oil-rich Tirilye olives, with traditional sweets like hurma and candied chestnut served as a dessert. For true gastronomic authenticity, grab a meal in one of the many eateries around Arap Sukru Street or Sakarya.

The central business district boasts multiple bazaars and markets. The Covered Market (Kapalı Çarşı) is the oldest, right in the heart of the city. The Silk Market (Koza Han) is situated between the Bursa Grand Mosque and Orhan Mosque. Dating back to the 15th century, it offers visitors a spacious courtyard and café, as well as high-quality silks. On Sundays, head to the Pazar Pazari for fresh Black Sea products, sweet treats, fruits and vegetables. Most markets open a few times a week, and you can always shop for souvenirs.

Art lover? Fan of culture? Bursa has festivals and special events staggered throughout the year. The biggest is the Silk and Cotton Festival which occurs in June, celebrating the city's unique place in the history of the Turkish textile industry. Also starting in June, and running through July, is the International Bursa Festival. Attracting attendees from across Turkey and beyond, it features art, music, dance and theater performances.

But whatever time of year you visit, you shouldn't miss a whirling dervish show. Mevlevis (the dervishes themselves) perform this dance (the sema) as a form of worship, and its whirling represents humanity's spiritual journey. Banned in Turkey in the early 20th century, restrictions on public performance were lifted in the 1950s. It is now recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and you can see them every night at the Karabas-i Veli Kultur Merkezi, with the most energetic performances happening on Saturdays.

Bursa has a great road system, conveniently connected to freeways and beltways at the main access and exit arterial roads. The Istanbul-Bursa-Izmir freeway provides an uninterrupted route into and out of the city. The Bursa Beltway cuts down travel time, while the Bursa Northern Beltway has tunnels and viaducts for a bit of added visual flavor.

The city roads are not particularly busy in comparison to Istanbul and are relatively easy to navigate. There are pedestrian areas, though, so keep an eye out – some are only accessible by car with a special permit. Pedestrians also have the right of way in Turkey, and you are not permitted to pass a cyclist.

On-street parking in Bursa is similar to other Turkish cities – there are no meters, so you'll need to wait for a parking official and pay them directly. You can also find an Oto Park (parking lot) where an attendant will take your keys and your money, and park for you. Even if you consider yourself an excellent driver, it's usually best to give up the wheel – Oto Parks are usually tightly packed, so the risk of a ding for a novice is high.

The biggest learning curve will be traffic lights; they're set much further back than you'd expect, so if you pull right up to the line, you won't know when they've changed. Someone will usually hit the horn to let you know, but don't get too carried away with honking yourself – it's frowned upon unless absolutely necessary and banned in urban areas from 10:00 pm until sunrise.

If you're exploring further out in your rental car or van in Bursa, you'll need to exercise patience. The more rural areas often have farm vehicles that will slow things down to a crawl or livestock like cows and goats that you'll need to wait for before continuing. Don't lean on the horn or get annoyed – it's simply part of the experience.

Finally, make sure to carry a notarized (in Turkish) copy of your US driver's license and rental documents with you at all times. You can legally drive up to six months with a US driver's license in Turkey – after that, you'll need a Turkish license.