65 · City guide
Van
City of Tuşpa, the Urartian capital, Akdamar and the Van breakfast
Van was founded in the 9th century BC as Tushpa (Tuşpa), the capital of the Urartian Kingdom; Van Castle, on the rock rising from the lakeshore, is the most striking witness of this period with its cuneiform inscriptions and rock tombs. South of the castle lie the mosques and ruins of the Old City of Van, abandoned in the early 20th century. Lake Van, in which only the inci kefali (pearl mullet) can survive because of its soda-rich water, is Turkey's largest lake; in spring you can watch the fish migrating into the streams to spawn. Akdamar Island off Gevaş holds the 10th-century Surp Haç Church (Church of the Holy Cross), its façade adorned with reliefs. Hoşap Castle and the Urartian city of Çavuştepe in Gürpınar, the waterfall in Muradiye, birdwatching at Erçek Lake and the white-furred Van cat with eyes of different colors are the province's highlights. Starting the day with a Van breakfast rich in herbed cheese, murtuğa, kavut and honey with kaymak (clotted cream) is one of the city's traditions. Part of the city was affected by the 2011 Van earthquakes; repair work may be ongoing at some historic buildings.
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Ski resort
Abalı Ski Center
Gevaş, Van
The region's ski center, close to Van on the slopes above the Abalı neighborhood of Gevaş, with runs overlooking Lake Van.
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Akdamar Island and the Church of the Holy Cross
Gevaş, Van
The Church of the Holy Cross on Lake Van's second-largest island, built in 915-921 and famous for the unique stone reliefs on its exterior; a monument museum.
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Lake
Akgöl
Özalp, Van
A salty tectonic lake with no outflow at an altitude of over 2300 meters in Özalp; a feeding area for flamingos, ruddy shelducks and cranes.
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Castle
Anzaf Castles
İpekyolu, Van
An archaeological site on the Van–Özalp road consisting of two castles, lower and upper, from the time of the Urartian kings Ishpuini and Menua.
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Castle
Ayanis Castle
Tuşba, Van
The last great castle of the Urartian King Rusa II, on a hill overlooking Lake Van, with a temple of Haldi and storage buildings uncovered by excavations.
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Bridge
Bendimahi Bridge
Muradiye, Van
A two-colored stone bridge dated to the late 13th century over the Bendimahi Çayı on the old Erciş–Tabriz caravan road; on the migration route of the pearl mullet.
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Çavuştepe Castle (Sardurihinili)
Gürpınar, Van
An Urartian archaeological site on a ridge overlooking the Gürpınar Plain, founded by the Urartian King Sarduri II, with fine stonework, temples and a palace.
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Lake Erçek
İpekyolu, Van
The second-largest lake in the Lake Van basin; the region's 'bird paradise' with its soda waters, flamingos and hundreds of bird species.
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Old Van City
İpekyolu, Van
A large archaeological area at the southern foot of Van Castle, full of the remains of mosques, kümbets and churches of the historic city abandoned in the early 20th century.
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Halime Hatun Kümbet and Gevaş Seljuk Cemetery
Gevaş, Van
An elegant twelve-sided kümbet in Gevaş commissioned in 1335 by İzzeddin Şir, bey of Hakkari, for his daughter, and the area of historic gravestones beside it.
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Lake
Hıdırmenteş Lake
Çaldıran, Van
A tectonic lake on the Çaldıran plateau, formed by the movements of the Çaldıran fault and declared a sensitive area to be strictly protected.
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Hoşap Castle
Gürpınar, Van
An impressive castle on the Van–Hakkari road, built on a steep rock above the Hoşap Çayı, with its gate with lion reliefs and the remains of the Mahmudi palace.
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Hüsrev Paşa Mosque and Complex
İpekyolu, Van
A restored Ottoman complex in Old Van City, commissioned in 1567-68 by Hüsrev Paşa, Beylerbeyi of Van, and attributed to Mimar Sinan.
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Tomb (türbe)
Kadem Paşa Hatun Kümbet
Erciş, Van
A Karakoyunlu-period monumental tomb dated 1458 in Erciş, ancestral homeland of the Karakoyunlu, continuing the region's kümbet tradition.
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Kaya Çelebi Mosque
İpekyolu, Van
An Ottoman mosque just behind the walls of Old Van, completed in 1660-63, known for its two-colored stone facades and muqarnas mihrab.
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Keşiş Lake (Rusa Lake) and Urartian Dam
İpekyolu, Van
A reservoir on the highland above 2500 meters behind Mount Erek, created with the dams of the Urartian King Rusa II and holding water for 2700 years.
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Kırmızı Köprü (Red Bridge)
Bahçesaray, Van
A brick and stone bridge crossing the Müküs Çayı with a single pointed arch on the Bahçesaray–Hizan road, notable for the rooms on either side.
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Viewpoint
Kız Kalesi Viewing Terrace and Edremit Shore
Edremit, Van
A viewing terrace on the hill with old castle remains in Edremit, opening onto Lake Van and Mount Erek; at its foot, a shore strip along the lake.
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Meher Kapısı (Meher Gate)
Tuşba, Van
A three-stepped niche carved into the rock at the foot of Zımzım Dağı; the principal source on Urartian religion with its inscription listing the Urartian gods and the sacrifices to be offered to them.
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Castle
Muradiye (Kaldehar) Castle
Muradiye, Van
The castle on the rocky hill in the Muradiye district center, rearranged in the time of Shah İsmail on Urartian foundations, which gave the district its name.
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Muradiye Waterfall
Muradiye, Van
Van's most visited waterfall, where the Bendimahi Çayı drops 18 meters over a basalt ledge, with its green surroundings and waters that freeze in winter.
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Şamran (Menua) Canal
Edremit, Van
An ancient water canal commissioned by the Urartian King Menua about 2800 years ago, flowing between the gardens of Edremit and still used for irrigation.
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Toprakkale (Rusahinili)
İpekyolu, Van
A castle founded by the Urartian king Rusa on the rocks of Zımzım Dağı just northeast of Van, known for its rich bronze finds.
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Van Castle (Tushpa)
İpekyolu, Van
The citadel of Tushpa, capital of the Urartian Kingdom, built on a long rock rising on the shore of Lake Van; with royal inscriptions, rock tombs and lake views.
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Van Cat Villa (Van Cat Research Center)
Tuşba, Van
A research center open to visitors on the Van Yüzüncü Yıl University campus, where Van cats with blue, amber and 'odd' eyes are cared for.
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Van Museum
İpekyolu, Van
A museum displaying one of the world's richest Urartian collections and the Hakkari stelae in its new building beside Van Castle.
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Yedi Kilise (Varak Monastery)
İpekyolu, Van
The remains of Varakavank, founded in the 11th century in Bakraçlı on the slope of Mount Erek, one of the most important Armenian monasteries of the Van region.
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Ancient city
Zernaki Tepe
Erciş, Van
A walled ancient settlement on the plateau just north of Erciş, considered one of the earliest grid-plan cities of the Middle East with its right-angled streets.
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Martyrs' memorial and battlefield
Zeve Martyrs' Memorial (Zeve Şehitliği)
Tuşba, Van
A martyrs' memorial and monument in Tuşba, built in memory of the Muslim villagers who lost their lives in the village of Zeve in 1915, during the First World War.
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Tomb (türbe)
Zortul (Kara Yusuf) Kümbet
Erciş, Van
A 15th-century kümbet on the old Erciş–Patnos road, thought possibly to belong to the Karakoyunlu ruler Kara Yusuf, with decoration featuring animal figures.
Practical information
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- Check road and security conditions locally in rural areas and those close to the border; see muze.gov.tr for current museum and archaeological site hours
- Climate
- Continental climate; winters are long, snowy and cold, while summers are mild thanks to the lake
- Best time
- May–October; April–June for the pearl mullet migration, summer months for boat trips to Akdamar
- Getting there
- Van Ferit Melen Airport is close to the city center; there are road connections toward Tatvan (Bitlis), Erciş–Ağrı and Hakkari
- Getting around
- Dolmuşes (shared minibuses) and municipal buses run in the center; a tour or private car is practical for Akdamar, Hoşap, Çavuştepe and Muradiye