Places to Visit in Van & Van Travel Guide

When I say Van, the first thing that comes to my mind is the beautiful people of Van. During my visits to Van at different times, I met beautiful people, chatted, shopped, and every time I felt that Van was a city of beautiful people. After my travels to Van; My experience with Van, Places to visit in Van, how to get to Van, what to do and eat in Van Answers to all your questions about Van travel, such as Van travel guide I compiled it in this article.

I update my article every time I go to Van, I hope I have the opportunity to update this article again, wait for me Van, I will come again!

Places to Visit in Van

First of all, Van is a much smoother, more organized and developed city than you might imagine. Having a metropolitan status, Van is a much more beautiful, clean and orderly city than many of our provinces in Central and Southeastern Anatolia. I would also like to state that you will feel extremely safe while traveling.

What is on the list of places to visit in Van, one of the largest cities in the East, which was the capital of the Urartians, let's see together!

Van Lake

When you think of Van, Lake Van comes to mind. The people of Van call it the sea, it is a shame to call it a lake when it is so big and magnificent… When I was approaching Van by plane on my first flight to Van, my pilot was telling me about the places around Lake Van, and I was fascinated by the Lake Van… Was there really a Lake Van Monster? The world's largest soda-drinking lake, and Turkey's largest lake, sparkled among the snowy peaks of the mountains surrounding it, Lake Van… I continue to experience the same excitement and admiration every time I see it.

Süphan Mountain on one side (northwest) of Van Lake and Artos Mountain on the other (south) are waiting in all their glory like the guards of the lake.

Walking areas have been built on the lake shore in the city center of Van, and the ferries going to Tatvan on the opposite shore leave from the pier here. A pleasant spot for an evening walk is the shore of Lake Van. Also, if you continue towards Gevaş from the center of Van, in addition to the places where you can try the famous Van breakfast on the roadside, there is a diving center in the Edremit Region, diving in the lake can be a different experience.

Van Urartu Castle (Tuspa)

Van Castle (Tuspa), the capital of the Urartian Kingdom. The castle, which is surrounded by walls, has a palace, temple, rock tombs, storage areas and cuneiform stelae. The castle, which was founded by the Urartians, continued to be used in the Persian and Ottoman periods.

Van Castle, which can be reached by minibuses from the center of Van (approximately 5 km), is an important place on the must-see list. The castle, which was built on the top of the hill, which you can climb in 15-20 minutes with steps from the entrance, is built on a thin and long crater hill. Watching the sunset from the castle is priceless. In addition, all Van and Van Lake are under your feet.

They built a few examples of the old Van house at the entrance of the castle, but I could not find it open. There are also shops and cafes where you can buy souvenirs. A coffee break before climbing the castle or a cold drink on the way back wouldn't be bad.

• Van Castle 2022 entrance fee is 12,5 TL, free with Müzekart.
• Van Castle visiting hours are between 10:00-19:00 in summer and 08:00-17:00 in winter.

Van Museum

The new Van Museum, on the outskirts of Van Castle, was opened to visitors, and it was very good. The old Van Museum was very small and had bad exhibition areas. The new museum is quite large in terms of area and the exhibits are arranged very nicely. While many valuable pieces from the Urartians are exhibited here, areas have been created where you can get to know many important points in and around Van. It takes at least a few hours to do justice to the museum.

• Van Museum 2022 entrance fee is 12.5 TL, free with Müzekart.

Van Cat House

Since Van cats are endangered, they are under protection. For this reason, you can only see real Van cats at the Cat House at Yüzüncü Yıl University. 2022 entrance fee to the cat house called Cat Villa is 3.5 TL. If you want to love cats inside, you pay 12,5 TL and buy food and you can go to the area where the cats are and feed.

When you enter through the door, you first see the newborn cats with their mothers. In the middle, there is a section surrounded by wire mesh where cats roam. It is lined up around this area with feeding chambers. All of the feeding rooms are concrete floors. It didn't seem to me like there was a place for cats to lie down and rest softly and warmly. Although they were well fed, most of them were shed and looked unhappy. I hope they are well taken care of.

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Van Bazaar

When you come to Van, I recommend you to spend time in the city center of Van; restaurants, breakfast rooms, hotels in this area. The old bazaar has been restored and is a lively place with many shops. You should definitely include the Offal and Cheese Bazaar on your list. You can stop by to buy the famous Van cheeses.

Cumhuriyet Street is the most central street of the city, it is crowded and lively in the morning and evening. It is possible to find everything you are looking for on the street.

Akdamar Island and Akdamar Church

Akdamar island, named after the Legend of Ah Tamara, is 10 km from the Gevaş district of Van. at distance. You can come to the pier from the district by minibuses or taxis, and from the pier to the island by boat.

Ferries depart from Van pier directly to Akdamar Island in summer. Boats depart from Gevaş every half an hour during the summer period. In winter and spring, you have to come to one of the two motor piers in Gevaş. One is called Granddeniz Pier and the other is Gevaş Akdamar Pier. The motors depart from the piers when they reach 10 people. Engine prices were 20 TL per person last time I went, but it could be 30-35 TL in the summer season.

There are bus services to Gevaş Akdamar Pier from the center of Van. Buses depart from Van at 07:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 16:00. Return buses depart from the pier at 08:00, 11:30, 14:30 and 18:00.

• 2022 entrance fee to Akdamar Island is 35 TL, free with Müzekart.

Try to be at the motor pier between 12:00 and 14:00, which is the busiest time, as the number of visitors during the winter months is low, otherwise you may have to wait for a very long time for 10 people to complete.

After getting on the bike, the view is so beautiful. Since I went at the end of winter, we are walking calmly on the lake towards the island, watching the snowy peaks surrounding Lake Van. The lake is also so calm, so still… The church on the island started to attract a lot of tourists after it was opened for worship in 2010, and its not bad restoration made me happy. I hope it will have more visitors. While we sit in the tea garden and sip our coffee, we dive into the peaks again….

For all the details about Akdamar Island, which must be seen while in Van; Akdamar Island and Akdamar Church I look forward to writing.

There is a small gift shop on the island, which also serves as a buffet. You can have tea, coffee, soft drinks if you want.

The place that makes the island so special is Akdamar Church. In Akdamar, an Armenian Church, the Holy Cross Festival is held every year in September, but the ritual can be canceled from time to time for security reasons.

Muradiye Waterfall

Muradiye Waterfall, 90 km from Van, is another place worth seeing in Van. Entry to the waterfall is free. Walking paths and viewing terraces around the waterfall are properly arranged. There is a cafe with a view of the waterfall and a few kiosks around. There is a suspension bridge that you can cross to the side of the waterfall and picnic areas in the vicinity.

The height of the waterfall is 18 meters. It was named after Murat IV, who embarked on the Baghdad Campaign. I had the opportunity to see Muradiye Waterfall under snow and in spring when its flow rate was high. I'm sure it will be even more beautiful in the spring (May or even June) when the trees are green and blooming.

Transportation by public transport is a bit of a problem, minibuses leave from the center of Van, but be sure to ask if there is a return on the way.

st. Thomas Church

st. Thomas Church; It is 118 km from Van city centre, 42 km from Gevaş town center and 5 km from Altınsaç Village. The last 15-20 km of the road to the church is quite bad. Do not see the church in Altınsaç Village and do not turn back, keep going. After the point where you leave the vehicle, you have to walk on the path for 800 meters.

st. Thomas Armenian Church was built to protect the sacred belongings of St. Thomas. Although it is not known exactly, it is thought that the church was built in 1581 by the high priest Kirakos.

Cavustepe Castle

Çavuştepe Castle is 27 km from Van city center. There is not much left of the Urartian Castle, which was built on a hill like Van Castle. If you go to the Van Museum first, a simulation of what the Çavuştepe Castle looks like is exhibited. After seeing it, what you see becomes much more meaningful when you come to the castle.

Mehmet Kuşman, who learned the Urartian language while working as a watchman here, is now retired and there is no one waiting for the castle. If you contact Kuşman, who lives in Gürpınar, in advance and he is available, he will tell you about these places.

Entry to the castle is free. There is no public transportation facility here, you have to come by private vehicle.

Hosap Castle

The history of Hoşap Castle, which is about 60 km away from Van, dates back to the Urartians. Literally a Medieval Castle. The castle on the hill and the outer walls protecting the city have turned this place into a fairy-tale place. There is an Ottoman Bridge and a cupola around the castle.

Unfortunately, in order to visit the Hoşap Castle, special permission must be obtained from the Van Museum Directorate. Otherwise, there is no entrance inside the castle.

Unfortunately, the municipality has built terrible buildings on the Hoşap (Beautiful Water) stream side of the castle. If you want to look at the castle from that angle and take pictures, you will see the scary buildings that try to get in front of the castle. They blocked the entrance to supposedly protect the castle, it is subject to special permission, but it seems that no one spoke out against the construction of ridiculous buildings in front of it...

While you are in Van, you can consider adding Ahlat, which is located on the shores of Lake Van and once one of the important cities of Anatolia and Turkish-Islamic history, to your route. If you want to get ideas Places to Visit in Ahlat & Ahlat Travel Guide Check out my post.

List and Map of Places to Visit in Van

I have explained in detail above, the list of places to visit in Van is summarized below.

1. Van Lake
2. Van Castle
3. Van Museum
4. Van Cat House
5. Van Bazaar
6. Akdamar Island and Akdamar Church
7. Muradiye Waterfall
8. st. Thomas Church
9. Cavustepe Castle
10. Hosap Castle

Places to visit, eating and drinking places and accommodation options in Van are on the map below.

Van Travel Guide

Now that we have completed the list of places to visit in Van, we can look at the history of Van, transportation, food and beverage.

Brief History of Van

Van has been an important city throughout history due to the abundance of Lake Van and its strategic location. Van's history BC It has been found that it dates back to 5000 BC. The first known state established in Van BC. Hurrians in 2000. The Urartians, the continuation of the Hurrians, BC. They established the Urartian State in 900 BC. B.C. The Medes who came to Anatolia in 612 put an end to the domination of the Urartians. After the Medes, Persians, Macedonians and Parthians dominated the region. Van, which the Romans and Sassanids could not share, passed under the rule of the Great Seljuks during the Eastern Roman period. After the Karakoyunlu, Ayyubid, and Safavids, the Ottoman Empire took Van in 1548.

Where is Van, How to Go?

Van is located on the western shore of Lake Van in the Eastern Anatolia Region. van; It is neighbor to Ağrı in the north, Bitlis in the west, Siirt and Hakkari in the south, and Iran in the east.

• The most practical way to reach Van from big cities is to arrive at Van Ferit Melen Airport by plane. It is possible to reach Van by airway from domestic and international destinations.
• If you want to reach Van by bus, there are regular bus services from both the surrounding cities and big cities.
• Although it does not come directly to Van, the Van Lake Express, which comes from Ankara to Tatvan, is a way to come to Van by train.
• If you want to come to Van by crossing Lake Van, it is also an option to reach Van by car ferry.

Transition from Van to Iran

There is Kapıköy border gate between Van and Iran. The border gate is located 108 km from the city center of Van. This door is quite busy as it is used for both commercial and individual passages. Although the Turkish side is very organized, the Iranian side is quite irregular and complex.

There are minibus services from Van city center to Iran's border and cities close to the border. Gölvan Turizm and Erdem Turizm are companies going from Van to Iran. You can contact Gölvan Turizm at +905452056413 for information about departure times and prices.

Traveling from Van to Iran by train is also an option, for details Van-Tabriz Train Schedules You can take a look at my post.

Best Time to Go to Van

The best time to go to Van is May-June. In May, inverted tulips, an endemic species unique to this region, bloom, and you can see them. Again in May, the pearl mullet migrates. It would be a good opportunity to see that migration live. If you go to Van during the winter months (I went at the end of February and beginning of March), you will encounter plenty of snow and cold weather. If you go in September, you may have the opportunity to catch the Holy Cross Festival held on Akdamar Island.

What to Eat and Where to Eat in Van?

Although Van is famous for its breakfast, it is a city where you can find many local dishes and fish caught from Lake Van. For my suggestions on Van food What to eat and where to eat in Van Check out my post!

Where to Stay in Van?

Since Van is the largest city in the region, chain hotels such as Wyndam and Ramada have branches here. One of the more economical options is Van Şişli Teacher's House. I stayed here on my way to Van. Pretty good for price/performance. You have to make a reservation by phone.

Lake Van Express

Starting from Tatvan and ending in Ankara Lake Van Express You may also be interested in the article I wrote with the details of the train. For those who like to watch videos instead of reading, I also prepared a short Van Lake Express video with plenty of snow: Van Lake Express video

Beautiful People of Van

Besides the natural and historical beauties of Van, I witnessed the beauties of its people.

The most important thing that I saw when I went to Van and that terrified me was how we misunderstood the people there from our glass mansions far away. Hospitable, friendly, helpful… I would like to express my gratitude to my friend Yusuf, who made us feel at home every time I went to Van.

Now is the right time to share with you a few sentences that have never left my ears:

"You look at us from afar and label us as terrorists without even knowing us, whereas we perhaps love this country more than you do. Although we see Nowruz as our holiday, we cannot celebrate it because we are all harmed by a few malicious people. While we do not separate ourselves as Turks and Kurds, you always separate us…"

Stay on the Road!