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.
Bursa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) influenced by its position on the northern slopes of Uludağ mountain and proximity to the Sea of Marmara. Summers are warm to hot (28–33°C) with low humidity compared to Istanbul. Winters are cold with significant snowfall on Uludağ (making it Turkey's premier ski resort) and occasional snow in the city itself. Spring and autumn offer mild, pleasant conditions ideal for sightseeing.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
Items
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Items
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- Items
- Period
- July–August
- Level
- High
- Notes
- Domestic Turkish tourists; Uludağ resort visitors; book ahead
- Period
- January–March (ski season)
- Level
- High on Uludağ
- Notes
- Uludağ hotels booked weeks in advance; city itself less crowded
- Period
- Turkish national holidays
- Level
- Very High
- Notes
- Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Republic Day bring domestic tourism surges; prices spike
- Period
- April–June
- Level
- Moderate
- Notes
- Comfortable for sightseeing; accommodation available without advance booking
- Period
- September–October
- Level
- Moderate
- Notes
- Pleasant conditions; autumn travelers fill some hotels but not peak rates
- Period
- November–December
- Level
- Low
- Notes
- Least crowded; lowest prices; cold and shorter days
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Annual cultural festival with concerts, theatre, and art exhibitions throughout the city
Ski resort opens; typically mid-December depending on snowfall
Major national holiday; most shops and restaurants close on first day; family travel surges
Largest Turkish holiday; city-wide closures; significant price increases
National holiday with parades in city center; domestic tourism peaks