Situated by Turkey's largest lake and surrounded by the Taurus Mountains, this eastern city has ancient hot springs and a medieval fortress on Akdamar Island.
Van, a city in eastern Turkey, lies on Lake Van, the largest lake in the country. Start your day with a traditional Van breakfast of 30 different dishes, including local otlu peynir cheese and honey. Walk through the 9th-century BC Van Castle ruins, take a 20-minute boat ride to see the medieval Armenian church on Akdamar Island, or visit the Van Cat House to meet the region's distinctive white cats known for their different-colored eyes and love of swimming.
Getting to Van
You can fly to Van's Ferit Melen Airport daily from Istanbul (2 hours) or Ankara (1.5 hours). By road, Highway D300 connects Van to the Iranian border in the east and continues west through Turkey, while Highway D975 leads north to Dogubeyazit. Bus journeys from western Turkey take between 20 and 24 hours.
Van's Famous Breakfast Culture
An entire street in Van, called Kahvaltıcılar Sokağı (Breakfast Makers Street), dedicates itself to morning meals. A typical Van breakfast includes 30 different items, with local specialties like kaymak (clotted buffalo cream) and otlu peynir (cheese mixed with wild herbs from the mountains). This tradition started in the 1940s when small milk houses began serving early morning meals to workers, and has since grown into an essential part of daily life in Van.
Lake Van and Akdamar Island
Lake Van covers 3,713 square kilometers at 1,646 meters above sea level. Boats depart regularly from Gevaş pier to Akdamar Island, where you'll find the 10th-century Church of the Holy Cross. The church walls display detailed stone reliefs telling biblical stories. The boat journey takes 20 minutes each way, with departures every hour during summer and less frequently in winter.
Van Castle and Archaeological Sites
The ancient fortress rises on a steep rock formation with views over Lake Van. The Urartian kingdom built this complex in the 9th century BC, carving rock tombs and inscribing cuneiform texts into the stone. Visit the Van Museum nearby to see Urartian metalwork, pottery, and other artifacts discovered in the region.
The Unique Van Cats
At the Van Cat House (Kedi Evi), you can meet the city's distinctive cat breed. These cats have pure white fur and often one blue eye and one amber eye (heterochromia). Unlike typical cats, Van cats swim in Lake Van and play in water regularly. The center works to preserve this rare breed through breeding programs and veterinary care.
Weather and Best Times to Visit
Van sits at 1,750 meters altitude, creating hot summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures reach 30°C (86°F) in July and August, while winter brings frequent sub-zero temperatures. Plan your visit in April-May or September-October when mild temperatures make it comfortable to explore the castle and take boat trips to Akdamar Island.
