Van (pronounced vahn in Turkish, wahn in Kurdish) is a city in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

Understand

Akdamar Island, Lake Van

Van is near the eastern shore of Lake Van (Van Gölü), a soda-salt lake also known locally as Van Denizi ("the sea of Van"). This lake, the largest in Turkey, is 1640 metres above sea level and ringed by high mountains, so the area has a harsh continental climate. An active tectonic boundary runs beneath, so earthquakes are not uncommon, and the nearby volcano Mount Nemrut is only dormant, not extinct.

The region is historically important as the centre of the Urartu — established in the area between the 9th and 6th centuries BC by an Iron Age people, naming their country Biainili, the origin of the modern name of Van — and Armenian kingdoms. Van was later ruled by Byzantines, Seljuks, and the Ottomans. At its dramatic lakeside setting just beneath the striking rock of the castle, multicultural Van of the olden times was known as one of the most beautiful cities of "the East", and was especially famous for its jewellers' bazaar on the Silk Road and fine silverwork. During World War I, it changed hands several times between the Ottoman Empire, mostly supported by local Kurds and other Muslims, and the Russian Empire, mostly supported by local Armenians and other Christians. By the end of the war the old city had been devastated, and many of its people massacred. The remaining inhabitants relocated to the city's present location, 5 km further east inland. What was left of the old walled city was later reduced to rubble by strong earthquakes, including a 7.1-magnitude quake in 2011. Only a couple of mosques have been rebuilt.

Talk

Local people mainly speak Turkish and Kurdish. The national language is Turkish, while the native language, Kurdish, is also very common. People, especially the young generation, understand some basic English.

On a trivial note, if you need to practice your rusty Urartian, a language unrelated to any other, except for the also extinct Hurrian that was spoken in the surrounding area and written in the cuneiform that they imported from their Mesopotamian neighbours to the south, one great opportunity to do so is to meet Mehmet Kuşman, the retired security guard of the Urartu-era Sarduruhinili Castle (in the village of Çavuştepe 25 km southeast of Van), and one of the 30 or so people in the world proficient in the near extinct language. He is self-taught in the language, and has no academic degree in history or linguistics.

Get in

Get around

Dolmuşes and taxis take you anywhere beyond walking distance, such as the castle.

See

The fortress

Church of the Holy Cross, Akdamar

• 🌍 Van Fortress (Van Kalesi) (take a dolmuş to "Kale" (20min), from anywhere in the town centre.). Daily 08:00-17:00 (last ticket 16.30). The fortress stands on a 100 m-high bluff near the lake shore, with great vistas over the town and lake. Kale means castle but also refers to the sprawling suburb north of it, so get out at the castle fence before the dolmus dives into the back streets. Or you could, on a cool day, walk 3 km here from the centre, but there’s still another 1½ km to walk along the lane to the official entrance, and later to walk back. From the entrance a broad track zig-zags up through barbicans to the summit. Locals often take a short-cut, and dodge the 5 TL entrance fee, by slipping through the fence near the dolmus drop-off, and following a rough path up the north side of the bluff. This isn’t altogether safe, and isn’t recommended for visitors. 70 TL. (updated Oct 2023)
• Van Museum (Van Müzesi), Yalı Mahallesi Kale Sokak No:02 (right at the entrance of the Van Castle complex. As few dolmuş pass right by the entrance, to return to the city center you may prefer to walk a couple of hundred metres to the bus shelter by the park on Melen Cad.), ☏ +90 432 216 11 39, vanmuzesi@kultur.gov.tr. 08:00-17:00 (Closed M). The Van Museum includes relics and archaeological items from the different people who lived in the area throughout history, with an emphasis on the Urartians, plus a large section devoted to woven works typical of the region. 70 TL. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Akdamar (Aghtamar) (Small boats take visitors there from a marina just west of Gevas on the main highway D300 (about 50 km west of Van) or from the closer highway port a little further west. You don't have to take the same boat back, spend as long as you want on the island. A dolmuş signed Gevas /Akdamar runs from Van minibus otogar in the north-east of the city, to the marina, or dolmuşes to Tatvan will drop off & pick up here, also at the more western highway port which is a shorter boat trip.). The ancient Armenian church on Aghtamar or Akdamar Island in Lake Van is one of the highlights of any trip to the area. The church has been re-opened after an extensive restoration, making its impressive frescoes possible to see. There is a mesjid, small cafe and toilets. Return ferry: Gevas 65 TL, Western highway port 40 TL; Entrance: 60 TL. (updated Oct 2022)
• The old city of Tuşpa a few kilometres west of the city, was the Urartian capital.
• 🌍 Varagavank Monastery (Yedi Kilise) (10km east of Van in the village of Bakrachli). The once large and impressive Armenian monastery of Varagavank was partially destroyed during World War I, and swallowed up into a Kurdish village with homes built up against it. What remains however is worth a visit, with a nice entrance with a series of unique crosses carved into it, and the interior with a couple of remaining frescoes. 
• 🌍 Arter Monastery (charter boat). On an island a little northwest of Akhtamar Island and Monastery is the island and Armenian monastery of Arter. Of the two churches that were built, only the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church remains. It is visible from the lake shore. A boat must be chartered to visit, as there is no regular ferry. 
• Mount Nemrut and the Ahlat tombs: but Tatvan is the better base for these, see that page.
• 🌍 Karmravank Monastery (Garmravank). 10th century Armenian monastery built by King Gagik, 12km west-northwest of Akhtamar Island. (updated Jan 2021)
• 🌍 Tovma Monastery (Kantsaga Surp Garabedi Vank). Near the village of Altınsaç. 10-11 centuries. Renovated by Tovma Aghtamartsi in 1671 and Catholicos Hovhannes in 1801. Partially ruined today. (updated Jan 2021)

Do

Buy

Van Shopping Center is in the city centre: it offers shops, restaurants, cafes, and cinemas.

• Urartu Halı (handmade carpet), Van edremit yolu 9.km (5 miles after Van airport), ☏ +904322179765. If you would like to see beautiful handmade carpets and kilims, you could stop for this free presentation. If you are going to buy, you need to bargain to get a reasonable price. 

Eat

The city is famous for its breakfast halls (kahvaltı salonu), in which for about 10 TL, you are served a really filling breakfast including locally produced cheese (different types) and honey among many other stuff. The price usually includes an unlimited amount of tea. Look around.

• 🌍 Cafe Şehr İ Sıla Bistro, Feribot Yolu, 4, ☏ +90 432 222 0808. All-day bistro and café beautifully situated at the harbour. (updated Dec 2016)

Drink

Sleep

There are plenty of hotels around the northern end of the bazaar.

• Otel Şehrivan, Just off Sihke Caddesi (South of Sihke Caddesi close to Cumhurriyet Cd, opposite Hazreti Ömer Mosque. Second street to the left coming from Cumhurriyet. Look for the big sign of the Çaldiran Hotel, the Şehrivan is just behind it.), ☏ +90-539-729-68-38. You can walk pretty much anywhere in 10 min, minibuses to Akdamar and the Kale are even closer. Rooms are small but clean, powerful showers, decent WiFi, no breakfast. Staff do not speak English but are rather helpful. There is a big mosque very close that has even longer and louder calls to prayer than usual in the morning. You may not be able to sleep through them. (updated Oct 2023)
• Hotel Emre, PTT Caddesi (One street west of the main drag of Cumhuriyet Caddesi, one block north of Hotel Yakut), ☏ +90-544-497-47-46. A simple hotel with trivial hot showers in the morning. A little noisy outside during the day, but night is silent. Decent staff but no English. No breakfast but the location is near everything. (updated Oct 2023)
• Hotel Ipek, Cumhuriyet Cad. 1. Sokak No: 3 (Close to the big downtown mosque), ☏ +90 432 216-30-33. Simple basic hotel, a bit noisy but with friendly staff. No breakfast. (updated Oct 2023)
• Hotel Asur. beside the tourist office, offers clean rooms with attached bathroom. The staff speak English and are very helpful. 
• 🌍 Otel Bahar, Ordu Caddesi, Carsi Polis Karakolu Ustu (east of Cumhuriyet, near the big green mosque), ☏ +90-539-729-68-38. Good location, clean rooms, decent WiFi. No breakfast and staff are grumpy. No lift. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Merit Sahmaran Hotel, Yeniköy mevkii. Sahil cad.12 KM. No:60 Edremit. A 4-star hotel near Van Lake. (updated Dec 2016)
• Van Şişli Öğretmenevi. 

Stay safe

Do not take an unofficial route into and up to the castle as it can be much more difficult and dangerous to get down again.

Nearby

Hoşap Castle

The countryside to the southeast is dotted by a series of historic and natural attractions, on and off the highway to Hakkari. 🌍 Çavuştepe is the site of an Urartu-era castle with extraordinarily long and well-preserved Urartian cuneiform inscriptions. Further away, 🌍 Hoşap (in the village of Güzelsu) is an impressive medieval castle on an outcrop. East from there, Albayrak is worth heading off the highway to visit the ruins of the Armenian 🌍 monastery of St. Bartholomew, believed to be built on the site of the martyrdom of Bartholomew the Apostle. The glyphs over its intact portal are especially attractive. Long off-limits as part of a military base, the site has been open for visits since 2013. Further east, towards the Iranian border is the village of Yavuzlar, overlooked by a group of "fairy chimneys" similar to those found in Cappadocia far to the west, earning the area the monicker of 🌍 Vanadokya, "Van's Cappadocia".

Çavuştepe and Hoşap are both on the highway to Hakkari (D975), so they are easy to visit by taking buses to Başkale or Hakkari. Albayrak and Yavuzlar are both off the highway, so you need to drive yourself or arrange a taxi from Başkale to visit them.

Connect

Van has 4G from all Turkish carriers, but only Turkcell has a signal on the highways around. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

• Doğubeyazıt 185 km north is the main border gate to Iran. (Be sure to have your visa in advance, there are no visa facilities in this area.) Even if you don't intend to cross the border, Doğubeyazıt itself is worth a visit for the nearby attractions of the stunning İshak Pasha Palace, and the legendary Mount Ararat, the highest mountain of Turkey. Doğubeyazıt has good bus connections to other destinations in Eastern Anatolia. If time allows, take the detour to the Muradiye Waterfalls, off the highway between Van and Doğubeyazıt.

Malatya ← Tatvan ←	W  E	→ Kapıköy/Razi → Becomes → Khoy
Merges with ← Doğubayazıt ←	N  S	→ Hakkari → Ends at