Photo: Elelicht (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source 13 places to visit in the İznik district of Bursa: İznik City Walls, Ayasofya Orhan Mosque (İznik Ayasofya) and İznik Lake. Plan your trip to İznik with local food, practical tips and transport information.
İznik is a district of Bursa Province, and the town that is the seat of the district. It lies on the eastern shore of İznik Lake, to the north-east of Bursa, and according to 2025 TÜİK data its population is 45,510.
The first settlement in İznik is thought to date back to around 2500 BC. In 316 BC the town was renamed Antigoneia by Antigonus I Monophthalmus, a general of Philip III of Macedon. After a siege between 1328 and 1331, it was taken by the Ottoman State. Under Ottoman rule, İznik became a centre of art, trade and culture.
İznik tilemaking, which took an important place in Ottoman art from the middle of the 15th century, covers the tiles and ceramics produced in İznik. Developing under the influence of the Seljuk tile tradition, it revived during the reign of Murad II and reached its peak in the 16th century. Towards the end of the 17th century, İznik production declined and was replaced by Kütahya tilemaking.
Among the agricultural products grown in İznik, olives rank first as a source of income for 70% of farming families. The Müşküle grape, a local product, is still grown in the district.
İznik joined the Cittaslow network on 27 November 2021. İznik hosted the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The art of İznik tilemaking reached its peak in the 16th century, when it was used in the works of Mimar Sinan. İznik Ayasofya has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List since 2014.
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The İznik City Walls, built and repaired in the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods, are about 5 km long. With four main gates, the walls encircle the town and are one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in Türkiye.
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Photo: Elelicht (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source Built as a basilica in the Roman period, this building is where the First Council of Nicaea met in AD 325. Converted into a mosque in the Ottoman period, it is one of the most important places in the history of Christianity.
View on mapRemains of the kilns in which the world-famous İznik tiles were produced in the 15th to 17th centuries, uncovered through archaeological excavations. It has great historical importance as the birthplace of Ottoman tile art.
View on mapA building constructed as a basilica in the Byzantine period and converted into a mosque in 1331.
View on mapMadrasa in the centre of İznik, said to have been built by Şehzade Süleyman.
View on mapFunerary monument dating to the Roman period, located south of Elbeyli village in İznik.
View on mapArchaeological site on İznik Lake with the basilica architecture of the early Christian period.
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Photo: Acar54 (CC BY 2.5) · Source Built between 1378 and 1392 by Çandarlı Halil Hayrettin Paşa, the mosque takes its name from its minaret, decorated with İznik tiles. It is an important example of early Ottoman architecture.
View on mapMosque in the district centre, begun by Çandarlı Halil Hayrettin Paşa.
View on mapMuseum in the Mahmut Çelebi neighbourhood, opened in 2023, displaying archaeological finds dating from 6500 BC onwards.
View on mapİznik Lake, Türkiye's fifth-largest lake, covers 298 km². Swimming, fishing and boat tours are possible on the lakeshore, and the sunset view is particularly striking.
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Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source Imaret built in 1388 by Sultan Murad I in the name of his mother Nilüfer Hatun, now serving as a museum. Archaeological artefacts from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are displayed.
View on mapWhile you are in İznik, you can also see the highlights of Bursa province. These places are in other districts; İznik is about 80 km from the provincial centre.
Prepared by coating freshwater fish from İznik Lake in cornmeal and frying them. Served fresh in restaurants on the lakeside.
Prepared by kneading a mix of beef and lamb mince with onion and bread crumb, then grilling. Served with piyaz and roasted peppers.
A traditional dessert made by mixing fresh cheese with flour and sugar and cooking it in a pan. It is also eaten at breakfast tables in İznik and the surrounding area.
İznik is the place where two important ecumenical councils of Christian history met, in 325 and 787. The First Council of Nicaea established the basic principles of the Christian faith.
In the Ottoman period, İznik was the world's most important centre for tile production. Today the İznik Tile Foundation and various workshops keep this tradition alive and run tile courses.
İznik's economy is based on agriculture, tourism and handicrafts. Olives, grapes and vegetables are grown around the lake. Thanks to its historical and cultural riches, tourism income is steadily increasing. İznik tile production has both cultural and economic value. Fishing is also an important livelihood for lakeshore residents.
İznik is 80 km from Bursa city centre. It is reached via the Bursa–Yalova road. Regular minibus services run from Bursa Intercity Bus Terminal. Ferry connections to Istanbul are provided from Yalova by İDO ferries.
The 13 leading sights in İznik are: İznik City Walls, Ayasofya Orhan Mosque (İznik Ayasofya), İznik Lake, İznik Tile Kilns Excavation Site, İznik Museum (Nilüfer Hatun Imaret), Green Mosque, İznik Ayasofya Mosque, Süleyman Paşa Madrasa, İznik Green Mosque, Dikili Taş (Obelisk), İznik Roman Theatre, İznik Museum and İznik Lake Basilica Archaeological Site.
Göl Balığı Tava, İznik Köftesi and Höşmerim are the outstanding flavours on İznik's tables.
İznik is known for İznik Çinisi and the İznik Councils. A product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a designation of origin.
İznik is 80 km from Bursa city centre. It is reached via the Bursa–Yalova road. Regular minibus services run from Bursa Intercity Bus Terminal. Ferry connections to Istanbul are provided from Yalova by İDO ferries.
Suggested length of visit: 1-2 days. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.