Geography, districts and key features of the city
Bursa lies south of the Sea of Marmara at the foot of Mount Uludağ and was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Today it is Turkey's fourth most populous city and a hub of the country's automotive and textile industries. It is less than two hours from Istanbul by ferry and highway.
Administratively, Bursa is divided into 17 districts (ilçe), 5 of which form the main urban fabric while the rest include rural, coastal and industrial districts. The province has a population of about 3.2 million.
The districts of Osmangazi, Yıldırım, Nilüfer, Gürsu and Kestel form Bursa's main urban fabric — with the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), the historic clothing bazaar, Uludağ University and automotive and textile industrial zones.
Beyond the city center, Bursa includes coastal districts such as Gemlik and Mudanya on the Marmara coast, the historic town of İznik (ancient Nicaea) and the industrial district of İnegöl (Turkey's furniture capital).
At a glance, get to know all of Bursa's districts — from the city center to the surrounding towns.
