Things to Do in Hizan: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Hizan

• 2 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 1 Nature
• 1 Cultural

While you are in Hizan, you can also see the highlights of Bitlis province. These places are in other districts; Hizan is about 40 km from the provincial centre.

• Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery — The world's largest Turkish-Islamic cemetery, with about 8,200 gravestones over 210 decares; it has tombstones up to 3.5 metres tall, decorated on all four sides, and underground burial chambers.
• Ahlat Ulu Kümbet (Great Tomb) — The largest Seljuk tomb in Ahlat; with its cylindrical body and cut-stone decoration, it is the most monumental example of Ahlat tomb architecture.
• Emir Bayındır Tomb — A monumental tomb built in 1481 for the Aq Qoyunlu lord Emir Bayındır by his wife Şah Selime Hatun, also called the 'Parmaklıklı Kümbet' (Railed Tomb) because of its upper storey with a colonnaded portico; a masjid stands beside it.
• Ahlat Museum — Opened in a new building in 2018, the museum displays Urartian steles, Seljuk gravestones, manuscripts and works relating to the urban memory of Ahlat in its archaeology, urban memory and garden sections.
• Nemrut Crater Lake — In the caldera of the Nemrut stratovolcano between Tatvan, Ahlat and Güroymak, at 2,247 metres, this is Türkiye's largest crater lake; its deepest point is 155 metres.
• Mount Süphan — A stratovolcano north of Lake Van and the third-highest peak in Türkiye after Mount Ağrı and the Cilo mountains; June–September is the right time to climb, and permission must be obtained from Adilcevaz.

Practical Information for Visiting Hizan

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Summer months

Places to visit

6 places

• 🥩

  Büryan Kebabı (lamb slow-cooked in a clay oven)

  Büryan kebab, prepared by slow-cooking lamb in a clay tandır oven, is Hizan's best-known delicacy.

• 🧀

  Otlu Peynir (herbal cheese)

  Herbal cheese made with wild herbs gathered on the plateaus is an essential item on Hizan's breakfast tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Hizan

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  Plateau Tradition

  The tradition of plateau life is still maintained in Hizan. Families who migrate to the plateaus in the summer months preserve the traditional way of life.

Local Products

• Hizan Honey — Flower honey obtained from high mountain plateaus, Hizan's most valuable natural product.
• Dairy Products — Herbal cheese, yoghurt and butter produced in Hizan on the basis of livestock farming are the region's traditional products.

Economy

The economy of Hizan is based on livestock farming and agriculture. Small livestock farming is the district's main source of livelihood. Beekeeping and cereal production also contribute to the economy.

How to Get to Hizan

Hizan is 40 km from Bitlis city centre. Regular minibus services run from Bitlis.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Bitlis

Hizan: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Hizan Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Bitlis The province's 11 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Bitlis

• Bitlis Central District 8 places Bitlis Castle, Şerefiye Mosque and Historic Stone Houses of Bitlis
• Adilcevaz 5 places Adilcevaz Castle, Mount Süphan and Kef Castle (Urartian Castle)
• Ahlat 8 places Ahlat Seljuk Meydan Cemetery, Ahlat Castle and Çifte Kümbetler (twin tomb towers)
• Güroymak 3 places Güroymak Castle Ruins, Güroymak Plateaus and Güroymak Stream Valley
• Mutki 3 places Mutki Castle Ruins, Mutki Plateaus and Mutki Waterfalls
• Tatvan 7 places Nemrut Volcano, Nemrut Crater Lake and Lake Van Shore