6 days • 5 nights • Turkey
A winter getaway combining Istanbul and Uludağ's snow: two nights in hotels at the top of the mountain with skiing and snow play, and a tour of historic Bursa.
The 6-day winter program in Istanbul and Uludağ is designed for anyone who dreams of snow without traveling far: three nights in Istanbul with its winter atmosphere and covered markets, and two nights in hotels in the ski area at the top of Uludağ above Bursa, with white slopes, skiing, sledding and snowmobiles. On the way, there is a tour of historic Bursa with its Grand Mosque and silk market.
The snow season on Uludağ usually starts in mid-December and lasts until about March, and it varies from year to year depending on snowfall. You travel in a private car equipped for winter, with an English-speaking driver who knows the mountain road, so there is no need to worry about snow on the road. The program suits families, friends and beginner skiers, as lessons with instructors and equipment for rent are available at the resort. Bookings rise a lot around New Year and the school holidays, so we recommend sending your dates early so we can secure you a hotel close to the slopes.
Your driver meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and takes you to the hotel. In the evening we suggest a walk along İstiklal Avenue in its winter lights, with a hot cup of salep and roasted chestnuts from the street vendors. We hand you a SIM card and go over your snow preparations.
A day that suits winter because most of the sights are covered: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, then Topkapı Palace. In the afternoon we take shelter from the cold in the Grand Bazaar with its covered lanes, then the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü. The day can end with a short boat ride on the Bosphorus, weather permitting.
We set off in the morning for Bursa, about two and a half hours away via the Osmangazi Bridge. We visit the Grand Mosque and the silk market at Koza Han and taste candied chestnuts, then have lunch on the İskender kebab that Bursa is famous for. In the afternoon we drive up the mountain road (about an hour) or take the cable car to the hotel area on Uludağ, check in and enjoy the snow until evening.
A day open on the slopes: a ski lesson with an instructor for beginners, free skiing for the experienced, or sledding and building a snowman with the kids. You can also try snowmobiles among the pine trees. In the evening, warm up inside the hotel with the indoor pool or spa, if available.
A last morning in the snow, then we come down the mountain and head to Istanbul via the Osmangazi Bridge; the whole drive takes about three and a half hours. We enter the city from the Asian side and stop at the Çamlıca Mosque and its hill overlooking the Bosphorus. Then we cross to the hotel, and the evening is free for shopping or dinner.
Depending on your flight time, a free morning for shopping at one of the warm malls. The driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you to the airport about three hours before departure. We wish you a safe journey home.
| City | Nights | Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | 3 | 4-star hotel in Taksim, Şişli or Sultanahmet (2 nights at the start and 1 night before departure). |
| Uludağ | 2 | A hotel in the hotel area at the top of Uludağ, near the slopes. Many mountain hotels run on a full-board or all-inclusive basis in the ski season, and we explain this in the offer. |
Book this program
Add your arrival date, the number of travelers and the hotel level, and you will receive a written offer with the final price via WhatsApp.
Questions & answers
It usually starts in mid-December and lasts until about March, and it may start earlier or later depending on snowfall. We follow the snow conditions before your trip date and let you know.
No. Uludağ has beginner slopes, instructors who give lessons by the hour, and equipment for rent. If you don't want to ski, you can enjoy sledding, playing in the snow and snowmobiles.
Yes. The road from Bursa to the hotel area takes about an hour, and chains may be required on heavy snow days. Our car is equipped for winter, and you can also go up by cable car when it is running.
Often cold and rainy, and it may occasionally snow in January and February. That is why we built the Istanbul tour around the sights and covered markets, and all transfers are in a warm private car.
From the OYA guide
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Personal service from start to finish
We design a custom program for you, with the number of days, cities and hotels you want — just tell us.
