Uludag Mountain (Uludağ)

Directly behind Bursa, Uludag climbs to 2,543 metres, the highest point in the Marmara region. Its summit is often covered in snow while the city below is still green. Uludag means great mountain; to the Greeks it was the Mysian Olympus. The mountain is now a national park with a ski resort, pine forest, meadows and picnic areas. You reach it by road or on a cable car about 9 kilometres long, one of the longest anywhere. From Istanbul, it is the simplest way to find snow in winter and cooler air in summer.

Quick facts

About the mountain

Uludag became a national park in 1961. Beech, chestnut and black pine cover the lower slopes. Higher up there are fir forests, then open alpine meadows full of flowers in early summer. Tungsten mines, shut long ago, have left marks on part of the upper mountain. Below the summit ridge lie glacial lakes that you can only reach on foot.

The hotels zone, called Oteller, is at about 1,800 to 1,900 metres and forms the heart of the ski resort. Further down, in the forest, Sarialan is a big area for picnics and grilling that Bursa families fill on summer weekends.

Riding the cable car

The teleferik, Bursa's cable car, leaves from Teferruc at the city's edge and rises through the forest to Sarialan before continuing to the hotels zone. The line runs for about 9 kilometres, and the whole trip in the small gondola cabins lasts around half an hour. Many people ride it just for the views over Bursa and the plain, without any plan to hike or ski. Expect long queues on winter weekends and on sunny Sundays in summer.

Skiing in winter

Skiing normally runs from December to March, and into April in some years, depending on the snow. More than a dozen lifts serve the hotels zone, and most runs are easy or intermediate. As Turkey's best-known resort, Uludag gets very crowded at weekends and during school holidays. Ski passes, rental gear and hotel rooms cost more at weekends. Snow quality changes from one year to the next, so check conditions before planning a trip around skiing.

Walking and grilling in summer

Between June and September the mountain offers relief from the heat. Trails run from the hotels zone into the meadows and up towards the summit area, a full day's hike for fit walkers. For a picnic, Sarialan is the easiest choice, with grills and tea stalls among the trees. The weather can turn quickly, so pack a waterproof layer even if the morning is clear.

When to go

For the most dependable snow, go in January or February. For walking, June and September are best: the meadows are green and weekend crowds are smaller than in July and August. On weekends, set off early to beat the cable car queues.

The Bursa Full-Day Tour from Istanbul with Cable Car & Lunch takes you up Uludag by cable car, visits the Green Mosque and Green Tomb and crosses the Sea of Marmara by ferry, in about eight hours, from US$75 per person. The Full-Day Private Bursa Tour from Istanbul combines a private day in the city with views from Uludag, from US$100.

Tips

• Confirm on the day that the cable car is running; strong wind can stop it.
• In winter, pack sunglasses and sun cream, because the glare off the snow is intense.
• The road up moves slowly on winter weekends, and you may need chains or winter tyres.
• Eat grilled meat at Sarialan, and pick up chestnut sweets in Bursa on your way back.

Other sights in the area are on our Bursa destination page.

Frequently Asked Questions