The notebook of İznik
Look at the city differently.
The old Nicaea occupies the eastern end of Lake d İiznik, in a hill-lined agricultural basin. Its walls, Byzantine and Ottoman buildings and its ceramic history make up a separate destination from Bursa. The historic centre allows to bring together places of worship and collections, before reaching the shores of the lake for a landscape walk.
At your own pace
Identity summary
1 to 3 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn
Possible without car depending on area
City · Heritage · Lake
Variable accessibility
Sweet rhythm
General presentation
İznik
The old Nicaea occupies the eastern end of Lake d İiznik, in a hill-lined agricultural basin. Its walls, Byzantine and Ottoman buildings and its ceramic history make up a separate destination from Bursa. The historic centre allows to bring together places of worship and collections, before reaching the shores of the lake for a landscape walk.
St. Sophia d'Iznik — Orhan Mosque, Imaret Nilüfer Hatun — Turkish and Islamic Art Museum and Green Mosque of Iznik give the most telling landmarks of Iznik. Together, they form a destination where urban life, heritage and shores and lakes meet, with atmospheres that change over the stages rather than a single uniform setting.
See all
For a stay of 1 to 3 days, a quiet rhythm works well. Also to be anticipated: distinguishing archaeological museum and Imaret Nilüfer Hatun; the point of the lake is not a riverfront access. The trip can be organised without a car if the drop point and local connections are selected in advance. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Sainte-Sophie d’İznik — mosquée Orhan
- Imaret Nilüfer Hatun — musée d’arts turcs et islamiques
- Mosquée verte d’İznik
- Lake d’İznik
- archéologique d’İznik Museum
Before you choose
- Distinguish archaeological museum and Imaret Nilüfer Hatun; the point of the lake is not a riverfront access.
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Heritage
Sainte-Sophie d’İznik — mosquée Orhan
In the centre of the ancient Nicaea, this Byzantine basilica, which has become a mosque, is located inside the historic enclosure. It bears witness to the religious transformations of the city and must be distinguished from St.Sophie in Istanbul.
Museum
Imaret Nilüfer Hatun — musée d’arts turcs et islamiques
The former museum of Čiznik occupied the imaret built in memory of Nilüfer Hatun. This Ottoman building now houses a Turkish and Islamic art museum; it should not be confused with the city's new archaeological museum.
Heritage
Mosquée verte d’İznik
The Yeşil Camii belongs to the Ottoman heritage of the ancient Nicaea. Located in the area of the Imaret of Nilüfer Hatun, it bears the same name as the Green Mosque of Bursa, but designates a different monument.
Nature
Lac d’İznik
The former Lake Askania extends west of the city of Čiznik in a basin of Bursa province. The city occupies its eastern end; the lakescape offers a complementary reading of the settlement of the old Nicaea.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
