City or town
Things to see in Van, Turkey (Turkey): 14 places and when to go
Van, Turkey is a city in Turkey with around 372,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 14 places in and around it, mainly History (8), Nature (5), Mountains (5). The best known are Van Fortress, Varagavank and Çavuştepe. The best time to come is April to June and September to October; also possible: November to March and July to August. In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Turkey · 38.4954, 43.4
- Population
- About 372,000
- Places
- 14 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- History (8) · Nature (5) · Mountains (5) · Temples (3) · Museums and art (1)
- Best time
- April to June and September to October.
- Also possible
- November to March and July to August.
- Nearest airport
- ESB Ankara, 914 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Mount Erek, at 3,181 m.
What to see in Van, Turkey
The places in and around Van, Turkey, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Van FortressMassive stone fortification in Turkey5.2 km
- VaragavankMonastery in Bakraçlı, İpekyolu, Van, Turkey7.4 km
- ÇavuştepeFortification17 km
- Van MuseumMuseum in İpekyolu District5.0 km
- Mount ErekMountain in İpekyolu, Van, Turkey9.5 km
- AyanisUrartian fortress from the 7th century, currently in the Van district of Turkey29 km
- Hogots MonasteryMonastery in Turkey44 km
- Surp Marinos MonasteryArmenian Monastery in Van, Turkey17 km
- Great Mosque of VanHistory · Temples5.4 km
- Çat DağıMountain in Turkey27 km
- Çeper HillHill in Van, eastern Turkey29 km
- Çomaklıbaba HillHill in Van, eastern Turkey18 km
- Dilkaya MoundArcheological site in Turkey27 km
- Ziyaret DağıMountain in Van Province, Turkey28 km
When to go to Van, Turkey
The best time to visit Van, Turkey is April to June and September to October; also possible: November to March and July to August. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanPossible9:36
- FebPossible10:33
- MarPossible11:42
- AprBest time13:01
- MayBest time14:06
- 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. In September, 14 of the 14 places are at their best.
When to go to Turkey in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Van, Turkey
The nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB, Ankara), 914 km as the crow flies. How to get around Turkey (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Tatvan9 places97 km
- Hakkâri9 places107 km
- Siirt6 places142 km
- Muş5 places168 km
- Şırnak5 places168 km
- Çengilli7 places186 km
And all of Turkey, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Van, Turkey?
The best known: Van Fortress, Varagavank, Çavuştepe, Van Museum, Mount Erek. In all, 14 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Van, Turkey?
April to June and September to October; also possible: November to March and July to August. In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20.
How do you get to Van, Turkey?
The nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB), 914 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Van, Turkey as the destination and these 14 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- 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…
- 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
- 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, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.