9 places to visit in the Keles district of Bursa: Keles Plateaus, Keles Thermal Baths and Keles Market Mosque. Plan your trip to Keles with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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The district was founded in the valley of the Keles Stream. Forests cover 57% of Keles’s land, making it the district with the richest forest cover in Bursa. In 1953 it separated from its status as a subdistrict of Orhaneli and became a district in its own right.

History and Geography

Remains from the Bithynian and Eastern Roman periods are found in the Keles area, and it was once one of the important settlements. With an average annual rainfall of 782.9 mm, Keles is the district of Bursa that receives the most rain.

Economy

Most of the district’s people make their living from agriculture and livestock, producing strawberries, cherries, sour cherries, tobacco, chickpeas and aniseed. In the district there is a lignite coal mine, but in recent years it has started to run at a heavy loss.

History and Culture

Migrant Yörük tribes settled in the Keles area in the 12th century. Between 1868 and 1882 Keles was made a subdistrict of the Bursa central county, and in 1953 it became a district. Keles militias played a major part in the War of Independence.

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Places to Visit in Keles

  • 1 Historic
  • 2 Religious
  • 6 Nature

Historic Sites 1

Historic

Yakup Çelebi Hammam

Hammam surviving from a complex commissioned by Yakup Çelebi, brother of Yıldırım Bayezid.

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Religious Buildings 2

Religious

Keles Market Mosque

Mosque built in the Ottoman period, one of the oldest buildings in the district centre. Its stone masonry and wooden interior continue the traditional Ottoman provincial mosque style.

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Religious

Kemaliye Mosque

Mosque in Kemaliye village, which is understood to have been built in 1874–1875.

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Natural Wonders 6

Nature

Keles Plateaus

A historic area whose plateaus around Keles were used as summer pastures with the expansion of the Ottoman principality.

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Nature

Keles Thermal Baths

Thermal springs located close to the district centre, with mineral-rich water at 50°C. They are believed to be good for rheumatism, joint pain and skin complaints.

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Nature

Akçapınar Waterfall

Waterfall near Akçapınar village to the south-west of Keles. Its water falls from rocks in the forest, making it an attractive spot for nature photographers.

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Nature

Gavurini Cave

Cave on the land of Gelemiç village, known for its stalactites and stalagmites.

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Nature

Kayalıdere Canyon

A rocky, steep valley through which the Kocasu River flows within the borders of Keles.

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Nature

Haydar and Belenören hot springs

Natural hot springs near the Haydar and Belenören neighbourhoods.

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Places to Visit Around Bursa Province

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While you are in Keles, you can also see the highlights of Bursa province. These places are in other districts; Keles is about 70 km from the provincial centre.

  • Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) — A 20-domed mosque built between 1396 and 1400 by Bayezid I after his victory at Nicopolis; it is the most monumental example of the multi-pillared mosque plan and has the widest inner congregation hall of any mosque in Türkiye.
  • Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami) — A mosque with zaviye rooms (a mosque-cum-lodge) commissioned by Sultan Mehmed I Çelebi, designed by Hacı İvaz Paşa and completed in December 1419; it holds the finest examples of 15th-century Ottoman tilework.
  • Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe) — A tomb that Sultan Mehmed I Çelebi had built during his lifetime in 1421, its exterior covered in turquoise tiles; the tiled mihrab inside is among the masterpieces of İznik tilemaking.
  • Muradiye Complex — A complex of mosque, madrasa, hammam and imaret (soup kitchen) built by Murad II in 1425–1426; with the 12 tombs added later, it is the burial place of more members of the dynasty than anywhere except Istanbul.
  • Koza Han — A caravanserai in the Khans District, between the Grand Mosque and the Orhan Mosque, commissioned by Bayezid II at the end of the 15th century from the architect Abdül Ula bin Pulat Şah; it takes its name from the silk cocoon trade and still carries on that function today.
  • Cumalıkızık — A village 11 km from Bursa on the northern foothills of Uludağ, founded in the 1300s as a waqf (endowment) village and preserving early Ottoman rural architecture; it became a UNESCO World Heritage site together with Bursa in 2014. It is famous for its stone and timber houses, narrow streets and village breakfast.

Practical Information for Visiting Keles

Suggested time
1 day
Best time to visit
Spring and summer
Places to visit
9 places

What to Eat in Keles

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  • Keles Sorgun Peyniri (Keles Sorgun cheese)

    Keles Sorgun Peyniri was registered as a protected geographical indication on 24 June 2026 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1873). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.

  • Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

    Prepared by cooking cracked wheat and meat for a long time and then pounding them together. In Keles, keşkek is the traditional dish of wedding and festival tables.

  • Çorba Aşı (flour soup)

    A local flour soup prepared with flour toasted in butter and meat broth. It is a nourishing soup often eaten in the winter months.

  • Bazlama (griddle flatbread)

    Thick bread baked on a griddle, the staple of village breakfasts. Served with fresh butter, kaymak and honey.

  • Keles Güveci (casserole of goat or kid meat)

    Keles güveci is made with goat or kid meat. The baker adjusts the heat of the oven that is lit in the morning so the casserole can slow-cook. There is a strong long-standing link between Keles güveci and the Keles market, held in the district centre on Fridays.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Keles

  • Yörük Way of Life

    Historically, Keles has been a settlement area for Yörük communities. Nomadic livestock farming, felt-making and regional costume carry traces of this culture.

  • Traditional Village Life

    In Keles villages, communal work by imece, shared threshing and wedding traditions are still kept alive. These traditions are strong examples of social solidarity.

Local Products

  • Keles Kirazı (Keles cherries) — Keles Kirazı was registered as a designation of origin on 22 June 2023 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1394). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.
  • Coal — Keles is home to important coal deposits in Bursa. Lignite coal mining is one of the main sectors of the district economy.
  • Forest Products — Timber, firewood and mushrooms obtained from the extensive forest areas are the traditional livelihood of local people.

Economy

Keles's economy is based on mining, forestry and agriculture. Lignite coal mining is the most important economic activity in the district. Forestry and livestock farming are traditional livelihoods. Wheat, barley and pulses are grown in agriculture.

How to Get to Keles

Keles is 70 km from Bursa city centre. Transport is by road, and regular minibus services run from Bursa. The nearest airport is Bursa Yenişehir Airport (about 100 km).

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Keles: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Keles?

The 9 leading sights in Keles are: Keles Plateaus, Keles Thermal Baths, Keles Market Mosque, Akçapınar Waterfall, Gavurini Cave, Kayalıdere Canyon, Kemaliye Mosque, Yakup Çelebi Hammam and Haydar and Belenören hot springs.

What is there to eat in Keles?

Keles Sorgun Peyniri, Keşkek, Çorba Aşı and Bazlama are the outstanding flavours on Keles's tables.

What is Keles famous for?

Keles is known for Keles Kirazı and Yörük Way of Life. A product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a designation of origin.

How do I get to Keles?

Keles is 70 km from Bursa city centre. Transport is by road, and regular minibus services run from Bursa. The nearest airport is Bursa Yenişehir Airport (about 100 km).

How long should I allow for a visit to Keles?

Suggested length of visit: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and summer.

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