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5 Hidden Gems Things to do in Van That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Van, Turkey including Lake Van, Holy Cross Church, Akdamar Island, Ancient Urartian site of Cavustepe (Sardurihinilli), Hosap Castle (Hosap Kalesi).
Restaurants in Van
1. Lake Van
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 279 reviews
The largest body of water in Turkey, this triangular shaped lake contains salt water that is unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. The only life form that can survive in the water is a species of freshwater fish called darekh that has adapted to live in a saline environment.
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
Lake Van, history and geography.. Lake Van,home to its interesting geological formation,history,fish species, natural beauty and dozens of civilizations that settled around the lake... It is surrounded by volcanic mountains around the earthquake zone within the turkey's largest, 5th largest lake in Europe. The area of the lake is 3764 km². It exceeds 125 km in length and 65 km in width. Its height above sea level is 1646 m. The most important feature of the lake is that its water is salty and soda. It is stated that there is 42.3% kitchen salt, 34% soda, a small amount of sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate and magnesium carbonate in lake waters. With this feature, it is the world's largest soda lake. The fact that the water of the lake is soda limits the biological diversity in the lake and its shores. No mollusk crustaceans or plant-like animals can survive in the lake and its shores. The biggest reason why the lake is salty and soda is that the lava gushing out from the subhan and nemrut volcanic mountains about 100,000 years ago, blocking the front of the lake and becoming a closed lake. Before becoming a lake, the van lake is thought to be a part of the Karasu or Tigris river. It is known that the van lake basin and the plain of Muş province were a single basin before volcano lavas. The age of the salt in the lake was measured to be about 60,000 years. Van lake is fed by Karasu, Bendimahi, Deliçay, Zilan, Sapur and Engil rivers, apart from underground waters. The depth of the lake varies between 170 meters and 450 meters. the heights of the volcanic and other mountains surrounding the Lake van Basin range from 1600 meters to 4000 meters. Pir Rashit, Isabey, Erk, Sudis, Baset, Ispiriz, Hibarit , Mengene,Artos, Vavirar, Kevushshahap, Sarı, Hosabeshir, Pili ,Kars ,Nemrut , Suphan , Aladaglar and Tendurek mountains surrounded the Lake Van Basin. The most important ports of van lake are Erciş Bay, Van, Gevaş and Tatvan bays. There are 4 islands in the van lake. Akdamar Island, Çarpanak Island, Bird(Lim) Island and Adır Island.. One of the most important features that make van lake unique is the pearl mullet, which has only lived in the van lake and has been a source of income for the local people since ancient times. The pearl mullet (Chalcalburnus tarichi), a species from the Cyprinidae family, lives. Pearl mullet is a migratory species. Although he lives in the lake, he migrates to the rivers that drain the lake to reproduce and returns to the lake after breeding. Festivals are held every year in the Van Lake basin during the migration and breeding times of the fish. Van, Erciş, Tatvan, Ahlat, Adilcevaz and Gevaş settlements are located in the van lake basin. The first inhabitants of the lake van basin were the hurries. Later, after the urarti, the meds, persians, the Armenian principalities, the great Alexander, the Romans, the parts, the sasanis, the Umayyads, the abbasians, the Seljuks, the Mongols and the Ottoman. Ship transportation has been used in the Van lake since ancient times. Some ruins of the ancient port can still be seen on the west side of the van castle. Besides the port of van, Tatvan, Erciş, Gevaş and Ahlat ports are the most important trade and transportation ports of the lake. Since ancient times, the height of the mountains around the van lake basin, geographical conditions, security reasons have led people to ship shipping. In the records of the 10th century, we know that ships were popular during the period of some Armenian principalities that ruled here.again, it is known that Ahlat shipbuilders went as far as the Black Sea for shipbuilding.it is mentioned in some sources that during the Ottoman Empire, 3 ships were built by Mimar sinan to pass through the army in the 16th century. the first records of the region are recorded in expeditions and plundering events in the region during the Assyrian period(BC 13 century). the most important historical artifacts of the Lake van Basin are artifacts made during the time of the Urartians,Armenian principalities,Seljuks and ottomans. the Church of the Holy Cross(Akdamar),Van Castle and Ahlat cemetery located on akdamar island are the main historical monuments. nemrut crater lake at an altitude of about 2400 meters, located in the basin of Lake van, is one of the natural beauties of the basin. around the lake and in the surrounding settlements ,many historical monuments dating from the Armenian principalities period,dating from the Urartu, Seljuk and Ottoman periods are very visited today.
2. Holy Cross Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 188 reviews
Located on the Akdamar Island in Lake Van, this Cathedral is significant because it is the only surviving medieval Armenian church in which most of the wall paintings are still intact.
Reviewed By 1973LYS - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This small church has extensive history and to have a local guide who knows the history and the meaning of frescoes and reliefs is a must, at least for me. Every detail has its story, every part of the church has its significance. With guide, it will take more than 2 hour to explore the church itself.
3. Akdamar Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 360 reviews
This island located in the salty Lake Van is home to the Church of the Holy Cross and some Armenian monastery ruins.
Reviewed By songulk1819 - London, United Kingdom
We have visited it in winter and it’s stunning. I never saw such a beautiful view. It takes a few min with a small boat to reach the island. Definitely a must visit. We have been there with two small children and it’s total safe!
4. Ancient Urartian site of Cavustepe (Sardurihinilli)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By BulentDaglar - Ankara, Turkey
We visited Cavustepe last weekend (28th of April). We were so lucky to meet Mehmet Kushan, who is one of the few living persons knows Urartu language. He told us some history and culture of the past civilizations lived here. I recommend buying special handcrafted stones with Urartu nail-writings on it. So, I think this place is a must visit place who came to Van
5. Hosap Castle (Hosap Kalesi)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
HOSAP CASTLE It is located in Hoşap (Güzelsu) on the Van-Hakkari highway in the Gürpınar district of Van. Hoşap is 60 km from Van and 40 km from Gürpınar district center. The castle, which was built on a steep and steep rock mass in the northwest of Hoşap Water, consists of the inner castle and the outer castle to the north. The castle, which dates back to the Urartu State in terms of its past, has survived to the present day as it was built by Mahmudi Beys subject to the Ottoman Empire. The foundation stones of the Hoşap Castle entrance bastion bear the characteristics of Urartu masonry. The medieval fortress of the 17th century has largely destroyed and closed the Urartian ruins. It is certain that the stone blocks on the wall foundations to the north of the entrance bastion belong to the Urartu period in terms of workmanship. It is understood that the entrance to the medieval castle was completely new, but the steps and corridors carved into the bedrock after the gate are again from the Urartu period. The road first follows the Hoşap Cayı Valley. In this case, Hoşap Castle must be under control of one of the important passages on this road. According to the inscription on the entrance gate of the inner castle, it was built by Mahmudi Süleyman Bey in H. 1052 (1643 AD). The outer fortress walls are surrounded by walls encompassing the east, north and west, shaped according to the structure of the land. The eastern walls are partially destroyed, and the western ones are largely destroyed. Some of the bastions supporting the walls have survived, and the east and west gates are completely destroyed. There is a watchtower to the northeast of the outer castle. It contains the ruins of a mosque and village houses today. The inner fortress was built on a steep mass from the south and sloping from the north. Fortified with fortification walls, bastions and towers from the north, east and west, and a second fortification was built to the northeast. The castle is entered through a door opened to the entrance bastion located near the center on the north side. The inscription, blind window and lion reliefs on the west side of the sign, arranged as a crown door, provide a certain dynamism. In addition, the original iron door wings still function. Inside, there are complex structures called Mahmudi Palace. These are listed on the south side of the castle. There is a viewing pavilion at the top and east, the harem just west of it and the selamlik at the far west end. Masjid, dungeon, oven and cistern are other structures of the inner castle. XIX. The castle, which was abandoned in the middle of the century, has come to the present day largely intact with its buildings. For this reason, it is one of the remarkable symbolic structures of the region. After the Neolithic period, the Hurri-Mittani Kingdom, Urartians, Medes and Persians dominated Hoşap, for a long time under the control of Vaspurakan, one of the satraps of Armenia, with a semi-independent administration. Conquered by the Seljuk prince Melik Shah in 1064 and in 1100 In Hoşap, which came under the rule of Ahlatşah dynasty, later Eyyubians, Anatolian Seljuks, Ilkhanit and XIV. Karakoyunlu reigned since the middle of the century. The castle was ruled by mahmudi beys who migrated from cizre or candlestick since the 16th century. They were administered by the ruler of Karakoyunlu, Kara Yusuf. The period of the mahmuds ended with the Tanzimat decree, and it became a town in the province of van. Suitable for the four-stage construction of the inner castle, the first level consists of a selamlik, a mosque and a dungeon, the second level is a bathhouse, the third level is the harem, and the fourth level is a viewing pavilion and a bey's bath. At the highest point of the inner castle, a viewing pavilion was established at a point dominating the view. The castle consists of 2 parts as an outer and inner castle. There is a mosque in the outer part of the castle. The entrance to the inner castle part is provided from the door inside the bastion in the north direction. Another gate of the inner castle is located in the east part. It is reached by steps carved into the rock. the iron door that provides it has preserved all its glory for centuries. At the top of the castle, there is a viewing pavilion where the whole view can be seen. Harem and selamlık sections are the kitchen, dungeon, masjid, bathhouse, bakery ... the other parts of the castle. While Mahmudi beys were emigrating from jizre or candlestick, they belonged to the Yazidi belief and accepted the shafi and sunni sect from the 16th century on.
