Place to visit
St. Thomas Monastery, Van, Turkey: what it is and when to go
St. Thomas Monastery, Van is a former Armenian monastery in Turkey (Kantsaga Surp Garabedi Vank). Interests: History. The best time to visit is April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20. It has articles in 5 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Former Armenian monastery in Turkey · History
- Local name
- Kantsaga Surp Garabedi Vank
- Where
- Turkey
- Best time
- April to June and September to October.
- Nearest airport
- ESB Ankara, 872 km as the crow flies
- Coordinates
- 38.41686, 42.87403
What it is and where
St. Thomas Monastery, Van is a former Armenian monastery in Turkey (Kantsaga Surp Garabedi Vank). It has articles in 5 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
Its coordinates are 38.41686, 42.87403; the nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB, Ankara), 872 km as the crow flies. How to get around Turkey (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
It is one of the History places in Turkey. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit St. Thomas Monastery, Van is April to June and September to October.
- JanPossible9:36
- FebPossible10:34
- MarPossible11:42
- AprBest time13:00
- MayBest time14:05
- JunBest time14:40
- JulPossible14:26
- AugPossible13:30
- SepBest time12:14
- OctBest time10:58
- NovPossible9:52
- DecPossible9:20
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
When to go to Turkey in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to Turkey
To enter Turkey there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport with plenty of validity”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Turkey checklist. Currency: Turkish lira (TRY); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz (the same plug as in Spain); emergencies: 112 for everything (the same number as in the EU).
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- KarmravankMonastery in Gevaş, Van, Turkey5.6 km
- Cathedral of the Holy Cross, AghtamarArmenian Cathedral on Akdamar Island in Turkey17 km
- Hasanbeşir HillHill in Van, eastern Turkey22 km
- Monastery of Surp Gevork of GomsMonastery ruins in Tatvan, Bitlis, Turkey22 km
- Dilkaya MoundArcheological site in Turkey24 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Turkey guide.
More in Turkey: History
- Hagia Sophia: mosque, museum, and former church in Istanbul, Turkey
- Troy: ancient Homeric-era city in northwest Asia Minor; it is known as the setting for the Greek myth of the Trojan war
- Temple of Artemis: temple in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Ephesus: ancient Greek city in Anatolia
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Blue Mosque, Istanbul: historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey, also known as Blue Mosque
Every Turkey place under History, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is St. Thomas Monastery, Van?
It is a former Armenian monastery in Turkey (Kantsaga Surp Garabedi Vank in the local language). It has articles in 5 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
When is the best time to visit St. Thomas Monastery, Van?
April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20.
How do you get to St. Thomas Monastery, Van?
The nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB), 872 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Turkey is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Turkey map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Karmravank, Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Aghtamar, Hasanbeşir Hill. The rest is in the Turkey guide.
Keep reading
- History832 places for history in Turkey, from Hagia Sophia to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: April to June and September to October. Each with its own season by altitud
- TurkeyBefore travelling to Turkey: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for tourism: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and Spanish citizens…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about St. Thomas Monastery, Van on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.