Getting to Know Van
Van is a province in the east of Eastern Anatolia, on the shore of Lake Van. Lake Van is a volcanic barrier lake of 3,713 km², formed in a tectonic depression whose outlet was blocked by the eruption of the Nemrut volcano; its water is salty and rich in soda (salinity 19‰, pH 9.8), and so it does not freeze despite the harsh winters. Mountains make up 53 per cent of the province’s land; Mount Erek (3,204 m), Süphan, Tendürek and Artos mountains surround the area.
The province was the centre of the Urartian Kingdom. The capital Tuşpa, regarded as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, lies on the eastern shore of Lake Van, west of present-day Van; Van Castle, which looks down over the city like a bird’s-eye view, was built in the 9th century BC by Sarduri, son of Lutipri, and is 1,800 metres long, 120 metres wide and 80 metres high. Sarduri II built Çavuştepe (Sardurihinili) between 764 and 734 BC.
Akdamar Church (Surp Haç), rising on Akdamar Island in the lake, is the best-known building of the region’s Armenian heritage. There are also many Islamic-period structures from the Middle Ages: the Seljuk cemetery at Gevaş, Hoşap Castle (rebuilt in 1643 by the Mahmudi bey Sarı Süleyman) and the tombs around Lake Van belong to this heritage.
When to Go
Van has a high-altitude continental climate: winters are very cold and snowy, and summers are cool and dry. Averages for 1939–2025 from the Turkish State Meteorological Service:
| Month |
Avg. high |
Avg. low |
Rainfall |
Rainy days |
| January |
2.1 °C |
−7.4 °C |
36 mm |
10 |
| February |
2.7 °C |
−7.0 °C |
33 mm |
10 |
| March |
6.7 °C |
−2.7 °C |
47 mm |
12 |
| April |
13.0 °C |
2.7 °C |
55 mm |
12 |
| May |
18.6 °C |
7.1 °C |
46 mm |
11 |
| June |
24.1 °C |
11.0 °C |
18 mm |
5 |
| July |
28.3 °C |
14.8 °C |
6 mm |
2 |
| August |
28.6 °C |
14.8 °C |
6 mm |
1 |
| September |
24.4 °C |
10.9 °C |
15 mm |
2 |
| October |
17.5 °C |
5.8 °C |
47 mm |
8 |
| November |
10.4 °C |
0.5 °C |
47 mm |
9 |
| December |
4.6 °C |
−4.4 °C |
38 mm |
10 |
The best period is May to September. From June to September you can swim in the lake, and this is also when boats run to Akdamar. Winter is harsh.
How to Get to Van
By air: Van Ferit Melen Airport, which opened in 1943, is one of the first airports in Türkiye; it lies within the Edremit district and is close to the city centre. It is named after Ferit Melen, who was prime minister in 1972–1973.
By road: Erciş is 100 km from Van city centre. A road runs via Başkale and Hoşap towards Hakkâri and Iran.
Van Area by Area
- Van city centre (İpekyolu, Tuşba) and Edremit: Van Castle, Tuşpa, the Van Museum (its new building opened in 2019), Mount Erek and the shore of Lake Van.
- Gevaş: At 1,685 metres, at the foot of Mount Artos (3,650 m); the Seljuk cemetery and the boats that leave for Akdamar Island.
- Gürpınar: Çavuştepe Castle (25 km from Van).
- Hoşap (Güzelsu) and Başkale: Hoşap Castle, 50–60 km from Van, on the Van–Başkale road.
- Muradiye and Çaldıran: Muradiye Waterfall (18 m); the Çaldıran Plain.
- Erciş: 5 km inland from Lake Van, at 1,690 metres; Erciş grapes and cabbage.
- Bahçesaray and Çatak: Bahçesaray and Çatak walnuts.
Suggested Itineraries
Day 1 – Van city centre: Van Castle and Tuşpa, the Van Museum; in the evening, Van breakfast and otlu cheese.
Day 2 – Gevaş and Akdamar: A boat trip to Akdamar Island and the church; lunch on the shore of Lake Van (pearl mullet).
Day 3 – Hoşap and Çavuştepe: Çavuştepe Castle and Hoşap Castle; on the way back, Muradiye Waterfall.
Van Cuisine
Van cuisine is famous for its breakfast and its otlu cheese. The registered delicacies with geographical indications are Van kahvaltısı (Van breakfast), Van otlu peyniri (Van herbed cheese), Van Gölü inci kefali (Lake Van pearl mullet), tandırda Van inci kefalisi (Van pearl mullet baked in a tandır), Van ayran aşı (ayran soup), Van erişte aşı (noodle soup), Van acem köftesi (Acem meatballs), Van Kürt köftesi (Kurdish meatballs), Van tava yemeği (Van pan dish), Van helise yemeği (helise), Van kavut (kavut), Van keledoşu, murtuğa, Van pastası (Van cake), cembeli tatlı (cembeli dessert) and Van sengeseri. The products are Erciş üzümü (Erciş grapes), Erciş lahanası (Erciş cabbage), Bahçesaray cevizi (Bahçesaray walnuts), Çatak cevizi (Çatak walnuts), Gevaş fasulyesi (Gevaş beans), Sıhke kavunu (Sıhke melon) and Van gül reçeli (Van rose jam).
Handicrafts
The Van savatlı gümüş işlemesi (Van savat silverwork) and the Jirkan kilim (Jirkan kilimi) are registered geographical indications. The Van cat was registered as a national breed in 2006.
Practical Tips
- Boats to Akdamar run frequently in season; ask about departure times, which depend on the weather and the state of the lake.
- For Van breakfast, go to the breakfast restaurants early in the morning.
- Because of the high altitude, evenings are cool even in summer; take a light jacket.
Photo: Attaleiv (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source 
