Van's Grand Mosque is a major landmark in the central city.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
22.42 MILES
Perched on Akdamar Island, 3km out on Lake Van, Akdamar Kilisesi is one of the marvels of Armenian architecture. Built in 921 by the Armenian King of…
3.51 MILES
About 4km west of the centre, Van Castle dominates the view of the city. Visit at sunset for great views across the lake. From the summit the foundations…
2.87 MILES
This gleaming glass structure at the foot of Van Castle, built after Van's original museum was damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, houses the world's pre…
10.76 MILES
The ruins of the Urartian fortress of Sarduri-Hinili, built by King Sardur II between 764 and 735 BC, sit scattered atop a rocky hill at Çavuştepe. The…
25.36 MILES
Hoşap Castle, built in 1643 by a local Kurdish chieftain, looms over the village of Güzelsu from its rocky perch. From the castle entrance you can see the…
27.98 MILES
This relatively well-preserved Armenian church is perched on a mound overlooking the lake. From Akdamar, drive 12km towards Tatvan until you reach a…
19.97 MILES
Gevaş has a cemetery full of tombstones dating from the 14th to 17th centuries. Notable is the polygonal Halime Hatun Türbesi, built in 1358 for a female…
Nearby attractions
2.87 MILES
This gleaming glass structure at the foot of Van Castle, built after Van's original museum was damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, houses the world's pre…
3.51 MILES
About 4km west of the centre, Van Castle dominates the view of the city. Visit at sunset for great views across the lake. From the summit the foundations…
10.76 MILES
The ruins of the Urartian fortress of Sarduri-Hinili, built by King Sardur II between 764 and 735 BC, sit scattered atop a rocky hill at Çavuştepe. The…
19.97 MILES
Gevaş has a cemetery full of tombstones dating from the 14th to 17th centuries. Notable is the polygonal Halime Hatun Türbesi, built in 1358 for a female…
22.42 MILES
Perched on Akdamar Island, 3km out on Lake Van, Akdamar Kilisesi is one of the marvels of Armenian architecture. Built in 921 by the Armenian King of…
25.36 MILES
Hoşap Castle, built in 1643 by a local Kurdish chieftain, looms over the village of Güzelsu from its rocky perch. From the castle entrance you can see the…
27.98 MILES
This relatively well-preserved Armenian church is perched on a mound overlooking the lake. From Akdamar, drive 12km towards Tatvan until you reach a…