Weekend in Bursa

A 15th-century caravanserai turned silk market. Two storeys of shops around a leafy courtyard with a small mosque at the centre.

Tip: Cheapest silk scarves are from upstairs shops. Grab a tea from the courtyard garden for 10 lira and watch the merchants haggle.

A modern museum covering Bursa’s history from Ottoman foundation to today. Models, photographs and artefacts — all bilingual (Turkish/English). Free entry every day.

Tip: The top-floor section on silk production is the best part. Allow 45 minutes. Free lockers for bags. They have a small cafe with cheap tea.

A hilltop park with a clock tower and panoramic views over the city and the plains below. Benches, grass and Ottoman-era cannons.

Tip: Bring binoculars on a clear day — you can see across to Mount Uludağ. Best at late afternoon for golden light; the park gets busy with families at weekends.

The tiled mausoleum of Sultan Mehmed I. Covered inside and out in turquoise and dark green Iznik tiles. Small but striking.

Tip: Go early (just after 9am) to have the interior to yourself. The adjacent Yeşil Cami is also free and less crowded.

A 20-domed 14th-century mosque built by Sultan Bayezid I. Inside, a central fountain and enormous calligraphic panels. No entry fee; shoes off at the door.

Tip: Visit just before sunset; the light through the high windows hits the fountain and the atmosphere is quiet. Women need a headscarf (borrowed free at side entrance).