Van GoTürkiye

With the largest interior basin in Anatolia, Van holds a cultural background of nearly seven thousand years. Accordingly, Van is an important city in the region due to its cultural, historical and natural richness.

As the gateway to Anatolia, the province lies within a territory that bears the millennia-old traces of numerous civilizations, including the Urartians, Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Macedonians, Sassanids, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. The city of Van was the capital of Urartu for many years and some of its most prominent sites are the Menua (Shamran) Water Canal from Urartu, the Van Castle, described by Evliya Çelebi as resembling a “collapsed camel”, and Hoşap Castle, reminiscent of an eagle's nest.

A trip to Van offers an opportunity to enjoy a profound cultural atmosphere, eat delicious dishes, and access a deep history. No doubt, some or all of this will be new to you, but you are sure to enjoy these new discoveries! 

At 1,640 meters above sea level, Van welcomes visitors to a mysterious journey through turquoise waters, ancient temples and a glorious past of seven thousand years.