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Various sources and scholarly research covering the history of Bandırma indicate that Bandırma was founded between the eighth and ninth centuries BC, at the same time as the city of Cyzicus on the Kapıdağ Peninsula. In 1345, Bandırma, a small fishing village, was given over to his eldest son, Süleyman Pasha, by Orhan Gazi.
For a time, Bandırma, now part of Aydıncık (Edincik) and Hüdavendigar in Bursa, was incorporated into the administrative structure in the second half of the sixteenth century as a village within the Kapıdağ sub-district of Galata District. In 1879, Bandırma became a district center within the Balıkesir Karesi Sanjak, and later, a municipal organization was established.
In the fierce fighting that took place in Bandırma, a total of 80 soldiers, including Lieutenant Colonel Vecihibey, Commander of the Sixty-first Regiment under the Kocaeli Group Command, were martyred. Like every inch of our homeland, Bandırma was shed with the blood of martyrs on September 17, 1922, liberated from occupation, defeated the enemy, and achieved victory.
Bandırma is a district of Balıkesir Province, located in the innermost part of Bandırma Bay, south of the Sea of Marmara. As of the end of 2024, its official population was 167,363.
Bandırma, which has developed rapidly in recent years, also boasts one of Türkiye's largest ports. Ferry services from Istanbul operate regularly to Bandırma Port daily. Economically robust, Bandırma is a significant industrial and poultry district in Turkey.
Host of cultural and artistic events, the city attracts a large number of tourists every year. According to a 2004 ranking of all provincial centers and districts in Türkiye, Bandırma was the 23rd most developed district. Additionally, the district ranked third out of 87 districts in a list of districts eligible for provincialization based on various criteria.
Bandırma's coastal land is quite flat. These plains, interrupted by gentle undulations, rise southward. The Kocaavşa Stream, originating in Bandırma, flows into Kuş Lake. The Gönen Stream, originating in Çanakkale, passes north of the district and flows into the Sea of Marmara west of the Kapıdağ Peninsula.
Bandırma is located in a first-degree earthquake zone, with a fault line penetrating the gulf. To the south of Bandırma is Lake Manyas, also known as Kuş Cenneti (Bird's Paradise). The 24,470-hectare area surrounding this lake was declared a national park in 1959 as Kuş Cenneti National Park.
To the north of Bandırma lies the Sea of Marmara and the Kapıdağ Peninsula, where Erdek is located. To the south lies the Manyas district and Lake Manyas. To the west is Gönen. To the east is the Karacabey district of Bursa province. Bandırma is influenced by both the Mediterranean and Black Sea climates of Türkiye. It also lies on the transition zone of the continental climate from the Balkans.