Eastern Anatolia · Plate code 65
Van
Van lies on the eastern shore of Lake Van, Türkiye's largest lake. The church on Akdamar Island, Van Castle of the Urartian capital Tushpa, the Muradiye Waterfall and the white Van cat with odd-coloured eyes are its highlights, and the lavish Van breakfast and herbed cheese are famous.
Explore this province →Detailed guides
Religious · Gevaş
Akdamar Island and Church
A 10th-century church famous for its reliefs, on an island in Lake Van.
© Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0Historic · Tuşba
Van Castle
The fortress of the Urartian capital Tushpa, a rock above Lake Van.
© Ziegler175 · CC BY-SA 4.0Nature · Muradiye
Muradiye Waterfall
A roadside waterfall on the Bendimahi stream, easy to reach.
No places in this category.
Highlights
Places
Akdamar Island
Van Fortress
Van cat
Muradiye Waterfall
Tastes
Van breakfast
Herbed cheese
Local food and products
- Dish
Van breakfast
A lavish breakfast with herbed cheese, murtuğa, kavut and honey with cream.
- Product
Herbed cheese
Cheese matured with mountain herbs.
- Dish
Pearl mullet
The only fish species living in Lake Van; fishing is banned in its breeding season.
When to go
May to September; in spring you can watch the pearl mullet migrate up the rivers.
Getting there
- Airports
- Van Ferit Melen Havalimanı (VAN)
- Bus terminal
- Van bus terminal has services to every province in the region.