Things to Do in Tuşba: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Tuşba

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Nature
• 1 Beach
• 1 Attraction

While you are in Tuşba, you can also see the highlights of Van province. These places are in other districts.

• Akdamar Church — An Armenian church rising on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, also known as Surp Haç (Holy Cross); it is renowned for its rich reliefs.
• Van Castle (Tuşpa) — A fortress built in the 9th century BC by Sarduri, looking down like a bird's-eye view over Tuşpa, the Urartian capital; it is 1,800 metres long and 80 metres high, and lies 5 km from Van.
• Lake Van — Türkiye's largest lake, covering 3,713 km²; its water is salty and rich in soda, so it does not freeze.
• Hoşap Castle — A castle rising on a steep slope at Güzelsu, on the Van–Başkale road; it was rebuilt in 1643 by the Mahmudi bey Sarı Süleyman.
• Çavuştepe Castle — An Urartian castle at Gürpınar, 25 km from Van, built by Sarduri II between 764 and 734 BC and made up of a lower and an upper fortress.
• Muradiye Waterfall — A waterfall dropping 18 metres, 8 km north of the Muradiye district centre; it takes its name from Murad IV.

Practical Information for Visiting Tuşba

Suggested time

3–4 days

Best time to visit

Summer months (June–September)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍳

  Van Kahvaltısı (Van breakfast)

  Van breakfast, made up of herb cheese, kaymak, honey, butter and dozens of kinds of jam, is one of the richest breakfast spreads in Türkiye. Murtuğa (flour roasted with egg) is an essential part of breakfast.

• 🧀

  Van Otlu Peyniri (Van herb cheese)

  Herb cheese made from sheep's milk and flavoured with local herbs (sirmo, heliz, siyabo), it is a geographical indication product of Van. It is matured in skin bags (tulum) or tin cans.

• 🥣

  Kelecoş (bean, bulgur and yoghurt dish)

  A traditional dish made with dried beans, bulgur and yoghurt, an essential winter flavour in Van.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Tuşba

• 🏛️

  Urartian Heritage

  Van is the capital of the Urartian Kingdom, which ruled between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Van Castle, rock tombs and cuneiform inscriptions are the most important remains of this civilisation.

• ☕

  Van Breakfast Culture

  Van breakfast, with its dozens of varieties, represents Türkiye's richest breakfast tradition. Breakfast salons in the city are the places where this culture is kept alive.

Local Products

• Van Otlu Peyniri (Van herb cheese) — Geographical indication Van herb cheese is made from sheep's milk and flavoured with local herbs. It is a widely recognised and sought-after product across Türkiye.
• Van Kedisi (Van cat) — The Van cat, with different eye colours (one blue, one amber), is one of the world's rarest cat breeds and a symbol of Van.

Economy

Tuşba is Van's central district and economic heart. Trade, the service sector and public institutions are the main sources of income. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University makes an important contribution to the education sector. Herb cheese production and livestock farming are traditional economic activities.

How to Get to Tuşba

Van Ferit Melen Airport lies within the boundaries of Tuşba district, with regular flights to Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities. The intercity bus terminal provides connections to major cities. Ferries run to Tatvan across Lake Van.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Van

Tuşba: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Tuşba Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Van The province's 9 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Van

• Bahçesaray 12 places Bahçesaray Valley, Bahçesaray Castle and Mir Hasan-ı Veli Zaviyesi (Sufi lodge)
• Başkale 4 places Başkale Castle, Hoşap Castle and Albayrak St. Bartholomeus Church
• Çaldıran 3 places Çaldıran Plain, Çaldıran Battlefield and Çaldıran Kübik Village Tombs
• Çatak 5 places Çatak Valley, Sorkin Çayı Bridge and Çatak Castle
• Edremit 5 places Şamran Kanalı, Edremit Coast and Akdamar Island
• Erciş 6 places Erciş Castle, Çelebibağı Tomb and Zernaki Şehir Kalıntısı
• Gevaş 6 places Akdamar Island Pier, Gevaş Seljuk Cemetery and Halime Hatun Tomb (Kümbet)
• Gürpınar 6 places Hoşap Castle, Gürpınar Waterfall and Çavuştepe Castle
• İpekyolu 4 places Van Castle, Akköprü and Alipaşa
• Muradiye 5 places Muradiye Waterfall, Muradiye Castle and Saint Stefanos Church
• Özalp 4 places Özalp Castle, Akgöl and Özalp Plateaus
• Saray 3 places Kapıköy Border Gate, Saray Castle and Saray Plateaus