Lake Van covers 3,755 km² — Turkey’s largest lake, and one of the world’s largest soda lakes. The water is highly alkaline (pH 9.8), supporting almost no fish except a single endemic species, the pearl mullet (inci kefali), which still spawns in the lake’s freshwater tributaries each spring and is a local delicacy.
The Urartu kingdom, which built Van Castle and dozens of fortresses across the lake basin, was a sophisticated Iron Age civilization with its own script, irrigation systems, and architectural traditions. The extraordinary Akdamar Church on its island in the lake is the region’s most celebrated monument.
- Region
- Eastern Anatolia
- Lake altitude
- 1,648 m above sea level
- Lake size
- 3,755 km² — Turkey's largest
- Known for
- Akdamar, Van Castle, Van cats, Van breakfast
Akdamar Island
Akdamar Adası holds the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross(Surp Haç), built in 921 CE by the Armenian king Gagik I Ardzruni. Its exterior walls are covered in extraordinary bas-relief carvings depicting biblical scenes — Adam and Eve, Jonah and the whale, David and Goliath — in a style unlike anything else in medieval art. A short boat ride from the mainland, the island is one of the most moving sites in eastern Turkey.
Van Castle
Van Kalesi, rising 80 m above the lake shore just west of the modern city, was the capital citadel of the Urartu kingdom — one of the most powerful states of the ancient Near East (9th–6th century BCE). Rock-cut Urartu inscriptions, cuneiform texts, and tomb chambers are carved directly into the basalt cliff. Below the castle, the ruins of the old city of Van are still being excavated.
Lake Van
Van Gölü is a world unto itself — a turquoise inland sea surrounded by volcanic mountains, with the cone of Süphan Dağı (4,058 m) to the north and Nemrut Kalderası (a volcanic caldera lake) to the west. Boat trips around the lake, swimming in its famously buoyant water, and watching the spring pearl mullet migration are essential experiences.
Muradiye Waterfalls
The Muradiye Şelalesi, 80 km north of Van city, is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Turkey — the Bendimahi River drops in a series of broad cascades over dark basalt shelves into a deep canyon. The surrounding area is green and photogenic, particularly in spring when snowmelt maximises the water volume.
Van Breakfast
Van kahvaltısıis arguably the greatest breakfast in Turkey — a multi-course spread of local cheeses (Van otlu peyniri, herbed white cheese unique to the region), honey, cream, olives, dried fruits, eggs cooked multiple ways, and freshly baked bread. Van’s breakfast culture has influenced cafes across Turkey; experiencing it in a lakeside setting in Van itself is a highlight of eastern Turkey.
Van in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Van
3Fly from Istanbul (IST or SAW) to Van Ferit Melen Airport — 2.5 hour flight, multiple daily services. Buses take 24+ hours. Van is Turkey's easternmost major city, so flying is strongly recommended.
May–September is best: the lake is warm enough for swimming, the waterfalls are at their most spectacular in May–June (snowmelt), and Akdamar Island is accessible year-round by boat but most pleasant in summer.
Van cats are a natural breed of domestic cat from the Lake Van region — large, white cats with odd eyes (one blue, one amber) and a love of water unusual for cats. They are considered a national symbol and are kept at the Van Cat Research Centre in the city.