Bursa is Turkey's fourth-largest city and the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, nestled at the foot of Uludağ mountain on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara. Known as 'Yeşil Bursa' (Green Bursa) for its abundant parks and forests, the city blends extraordinary Ottoman heritage with modern industry, thermal spas, alpine skiing, and the birthplace of İskender kebap.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Remove shoes before entering mosques — there will be a shoe rack or plastic bags at the entrance
Cover your head (for women) and cover shoulders and knees (all genders) before entering any mosque
Greet shopkeepers with 'Merhaba' (hello) — it is appreciated and sets a friendly tone
Bargaining is acceptable in bazaars and with taxi drivers, but not in fixed-price shops or restaurants
Do not photograph people without asking permission first — 'Fotoğraf çekebilir miyim?' means 'May I take a photo?'
During the holy month of Ramadan, eat and drink discretely in public — many locals fast
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Do remove shoes at mosque entrances
- Do dress modestly in religious areas — covered shoulders and knees
- Do accept tea (çay) offered by shopkeepers — no obligation to buy
- Do use both hands or the right hand when giving/receiving items
- Do say 'teşekkür ederim' (thank you) — locals appreciate the effort
- Do carry cash — many small restaurants and bazaar stalls are cash-only
Don't
- Don't photograph people, especially women, without asking permission
- Don't point the sole of your foot toward another person (considered rude)
- Don't enter a mosque during prayer time as a tourist
- Don't consume alcohol openly on streets — drink in licensed establishments only
- Don't raise your voice in public disputes — Turks value dignity in social interactions
- Don't be offended by persistent bazaar shopkeepers — a firm but polite 'hayır teşekkürler' (no thank you) is sufficient
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Merhaba
Hello
mehr-HA-ba
Teşekkür ederim
Thank you
teh-shek-KUR eh-deh-rim
Lütfen
Please
LUET-fen
Evet / Hayır
Yes / No
EH-vet / HA-yuhr
Ne kadar?
How much?
neh KAH-dar
İngilizce biliyor musunuz?
Do you speak English?
in-gih-LEE-zjeh BIL-ee-yor moo-SOO-nooz
Fatura lütfen
The bill, please
fah-TOO-rah LUET-fen
Tuvalet nerede?
Where is the toilet?
too-VAH-let neh-REH-deh
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Bursa.
Items:
- Faith
- Islam (Sunni)
- Prevalence
- Predominant religion; approximately 98% of the population is Muslim
- Practical notes
- The call to prayer (ezan) sounds 5 times daily from mosque minarets throughout the city — this is part of city life. Mosques are closed to non-Muslim tourists during prayer times (approximately 10–30 minutes each time).