Van Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in Turkey
About Van
Van is near the eastern shore of Lake Van (Van Gölü), a soda-salt lake also known locally asVan Denizi("the sea of Van") for its size – it's the largest lake in Turkey. The lake surface is 1640 metres above sea level and ringed by high mountains, so the area has a harsh continental climate. An active tectonic boundary runs beneath, so earthquakes are not uncommon, and the nearbyvolcanoMount Nemrut is only dormant, not extinct. The region is historically important as the centre of the kingdom of Urartu – established in the area between the 9th and 6th centuries BC by an Iron Age people who named their countryBiainili, a word which eventually morphed into "Van" – and later of the Armenians. Afterwards, Van was ruled by theByzantines, Seljuks, andOttomans. At its dramatic lakeside setting jus
Top Attractions in Van
Explore the best things to see and do in Van:
- ★Akdamar
- ★Arter Monastery
- ★Çavuştepe
- ★Devil's Bridge
- ★Fairy Chimneys
- ★Hoşap
- ★Karmravank Monastery
- ★Ktuts Monastery
Where to Eat in Van
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Cafe Şehr İ Sıla Bistro
Where to Stay in Van
- 🏨Hotel Asur
- 🏨Hotel Emre
- 🏨Hotel Ipek
- 🏨Merit Sahmaran Hotel
- 🏨Otel Bahar
- 🏨Otel Şehrivan
Van Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: