Getting around Bursa is easy — and getting to it is simpler than most visitors expect. The city has its own airport, connected to the capital and the region by the ferries of the Marmara, and a modern transport network inside: the metro, the trams, the buses, and the cable car that climbs the mountain. This guide covers the airport of Bursa and the transport of the city: the connections, the tickets, and the practical details of the moving. Here is the airport and transport guide to the first capital.
The Airport of Bursa
The airport of Bursa — the Yenişehir airport — sits in the plain east of the city, about an hour from the center by the road. The airport serves the domestic connections of the region: the flights from Istanbul above all, and the seasonal and the charter flights of the region. The airport is a modest one — the terminal, the parking, and the services of the regional airport — and the flights are the short hops across the Marmara. The connections from the airport run by the shuttle buses and the taxis: the havaş-style services and the official taxis carry the travelers the hour to the city. The airport is the air gateway of Bursa — the practical option for the travelers with the connections, and the seasonal gateway for the flights of the region.
The Options to the Airport
The airport of the region is served by the shuttles and the taxis. The shuttle buses — the airport shuttles of the city — run the routes between the airport and the center, timed to the flights: the hour’s ride, the stops of the center, and the fares of the shuttle service. The taxis of the airport — the official taxis with the meters — run the same route on demand: the direct ride, the fixed journey, and the fares of the metered taxis. The travelers with the cars use the parking of the airport — the lots and the garage of the terminal. The options to the airport are the simple ones: the shuttle for the budget, the taxi for the convenience, and the private car for the freedom.
The Alternatives to the Airport
The air travel to Bursa often uses the alternatives: the airports beyond the city that serve the region. The Sabiha Gökçen airport of Istanbul — on the Asian side, across the sea — is the major gateway for the travelers to Bursa: the flights of the low-cost carriers, and the connection across the water — the ferry or the road — to the city. The Istanbul airport — the great airport of the European side — serves the international travelers, with the crossing to the city beyond. The airports of the region — the Yenişehir and the alternatives — divide the traffic of the Bursa travel: the regional flights direct, and the international connections via Istanbul. The visitor chooses the airport by the itinerary: the direct Yenişehir for the domestic, and the Istanbul airports for the international.
The City Transport: The Metro
The metro of Bursa — the Bursaray — is the backbone of the city’s transport: the light-rail system that crosses the city east to west. The metro runs from the center through the main districts of the city: the stations of the city center, the stops of the modern quarters, and the connections to the wider region. The metro is the fast transport of the city — the frequent trains, the modern stations, and the reliable service — and it carries the commuters and the visitors across the spread of the city. The metro is the practical transport of the Bursa stay: the ride from the center to the districts, the connection to the bus and the tram networks, and the ease of the city’s size. The Bursaray is the modern spine of the city — the transport that the city runs on.
The Trams of the Old City
The trams of Bursa — the modern tram lines of the city — serve the historic center: the routes that connect the old city to the wider network. The tram runs through the city center — the stops near the Ulu Cami and the historic district — and the modern trams carry the visitors and the residents through the heart of the city. The tram is the easy transport of the center: the frequent service, the simple boarding, and the stops at the monuments and the markets. The tram connects to the metro at the stations of the center — the interchange of the city’s network. For the visitor, the tram is the historic transport: the ride through the old city, and the stops at the sights of the center.
The Buses of the City
The buses of Bursa fill out the city’s transport: the routes that reach where the metro and the tram do not. The municipal buses run the streets of the city — the routes of the districts, the connections of the neighborhoods, and the links to the wider region. The buses of the region run beyond: the intercity and the regional routes — the minibuses and the coaches that serve the villages, the towns, and the day-trip destinations of the region: Cumalıkızık, Gölyazı, and the coast. The bus transport of Bursa is the flexible network: the municipal routes for the city, and the regional routes for the excursions. For the visitor, the buses are the transport of the day trips — the regional travel beyond the city’s rails.
The Cable Car
The cable car — the Teleferik — is the iconic transport of Bursa: the longest cable car line in the world, climbing from the city to the plateau of Uludağ. The line runs from the station in the city — the valley station on the edge of the built-up area — up the slopes of the mountain to the plateau, at the altitude of the resort. The ride is the experience: the climb, the views over the city and the plain, and the arrival in the alpine world. The cable car serves the skiers in the winter, the walkers in the summer, and the visitors through the year — the transport and the attraction in one. The Teleferik is the essential ride of Bursa — the mountain by the longest line in the world.
The Tickets and the Card
The tickets of the Bursa transport run on the smart card: the Bursakart, the city’s transport card. The card loads with the credit and taps on the readers of the metro, the tram, and the buses — the fares of the city’s transport, discounted on the card. The card is available at the stations and the kiosks — the purchase and the top-up of the transport network. The fares of the city are the moderate ones: the per-ride charges of the metro and the tram, and the bus fares of the network. The visitors buy the Bursakart for the stay — the card of the city’s transport, the discount of the regular travel, and the ease of the tap-on travel. The card is the simple system: load, tap, and travel.
The Taxis and the Ride-Hailing
The taxis of Bursa are the official taxis of the city: the yellow cabs with the meters, available at the ranks and the stands of the city. The taxi rides of the city are the metered ones: the flag fall, the per-kilometer charge, and the fare shown on the meter. The ride-hailing services of the region — the app-based services — operate in Bursa: the booking by the phone, the fixed fares, and the ease of the app. The taxis serve the journeys the public transport does not: the airport runs, the night rides, and the door-to-door journeys. The visitor uses the taxis for the convenience — the metered cabs of the city, and the app rides of the modern services.
The Transport of the Region
The transport of the region extends the Bursa stay: the ferries of the Marmara, the intercity buses, and the roads of the region. The ferries — the fast catamarans from Istanbul — land at the terminals of the region: Mudanya above all, with the connections to the city. The intercity buses — the great coaches of the lines — arrive at the otogar of the city, connecting Bursa to the cities of the region and the country. And the roads — the motorways and the highways of the region — serve the drivers: the journeys to Istanbul, to the resorts of the coast, and across the region. The regional transport of Bursa is the complete network: the sea, the road, and the rail of the wider travel.
The Rhythm of the Transport
There is a rhythm to the transport of Bursa that makes the moving easy. The morning belongs to the city’s rails: the metro and the tram, carrying the visitor to the monuments of the old city. The midday belongs to the walking and the buses: the sights of the center on foot, and the regional routes for the day trips. The afternoon belongs to the mountain: the cable car, the ride that is the destination. And the evening belongs to the return: the tram to the center, the taxi for the late, and the city at rest. The visitor follows the rhythm of the transport — the city’s network, used in the order of the day — and the moving of Bursa becomes part of the ease of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest airport to Bursa?
The nearest airport is the Yenişehir airport of Bursa, about an hour from the center — the domestic airport of the region, served by the flights from Istanbul. The Sabiha Gökçen airport of Istanbul is the major alternative, across the sea from the city.
How do you get around Bursa?
The city transport of Bursa runs on the Bursakart: the metro (Bursaray), the trams of the center, and the buses of the city and the region. The cable car climbs the mountain, and the taxis and the ride-hailing apps serve the journeys beyond the network.
Is Bursa easy to get around?
Yes — Bursa is easy to get around: the metro and the tram cross the city, the buses reach the region, and the card system makes the travel simple. The old city is walkable, and the cable car reaches the mountain. The transport is the modern and the reliable one.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
More guides like this
48 Hours in Bursa: The Perfect Itinerary
Two days in Bursa is enough to see the first capital's essentials — the Ottoman monuments, the old city, and the mountain…
Hidden Gems of Bursa Most Tourists Miss
Every visitor to Bursa sees the Ulu Cami, the Green Mosque, and the bazaar. The city's famous sights are the essentials, and…
A Foodie’s Guide to Bursa
For the foodie, Bursa is one of the great destinations of Turkey — a city where the food carries the history, and…
Best Time of Year to Visit Bursa
Bursa is a city of the seasons. The first capital changes through the year: the green springs, the long summers, the golden…
