Turkey is full of beauty to the east to the west. This time we take you to the far east, Van. Places to visit in Van and special dishes to taste are waiting for you. In recent years, especially Iranian tourists have been attracted to Van. Here is a Van travel guide that will take you to Paris of the East. Check out the best rent a car in Van alternatives on Yolcu360.com and begin discovering the hidden parts of Van.
They said that Van is the East of Paris. The city, which is located around the magnificent Van Lake, is also very rich in terms of places to visit. Van served as the capital for the Urartians. Many historical monuments can be seen in the city. The first thing that comes to mind when talking about Van is undoubtedly the colorful eyed cats and the Van Breakfast.
Van Travel Guide / Places to Visit in Van
Van Castle is one of the most important places to visit in the city. You can walk to the castle from the city center. Castle is one of the rare works that have survived from the Urartu period. While you are here, you can also see the historical Van House and historical bridges in the park just below the castle. Van Cat House is also on this road. The blue and green-eyed cats, the symbol of the city, live here under protection.
Another symbol of Van is Akdamar Island and the church with the same name as the island. The church has an important place in terms of the history of religions. It is estimated that the True Cross, who was kidnapped from Jerusalem to Iran, was brought here in the 7th century. According to legend, the cross was entrusted by King Gagik I. It is known that the king placed a monk with the cross in the church that you have heard the story of Tamara…
Ah, Tamara!
According to the story, a monk was living on the island of Ahdamar (Akdamar). Tamara, the beautiful girl of the monk, meets the son of a shepherd while wandering with his father in the villages of the Gevaş district. The relationship between Tamara and shepherd’s son grows over time. The son of the shepherd begins to swim to Akdamar Island to see Tamara.
Tamara and the young man communicate and meet with the help of a lantern. Then the monk learns the situation and does not want his daughter to meet the shepherd’s son. On a stormy night, the monk goes to the rocks without his daughter knowing and lights up the lantern to swim to the young man on the island. The young man begins to swim, but he cannot reach the shore. Because the monk moves the lantern along the shore to get tired of the young man. Thus, the young man gets tired thoroughly. The shouts of “AH TAMARA! AH TAMARA!” reverberate in the water when he has no more power to swim. As a result, the young man will drown in the water. When Tamara hears the screams, she throws herself into the water. The girl is buried with her loved ones. Elderly people living in Gevaş Town told me this short but sad story by sighing. For a while, I would have lost myself in the story and wish mercy.
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Akdamar Island
To reach Akdamar Island, you first get on the Gevaş District minibus from the city center. If you say you will go to the island, they will drop you off at the port where the boats to the island depart. You reach the island after a 15-minute journey by boats departing from the harbor.
You can enter the island free of charge by using Müzekart or paying 10 TL. Akdamar Church was built by Monk Manuel between 915-921 AD. The church was designed in the form of the Holy Cross. You can see the best examples of relief and stone processing in the church. Quotes from the Bible and the Torah are on these artworks. Preserving the figure of Jesus, which is located on the long wall inside the dome, increases the value of the church even more. Unlike the others, the exterior decorations of the Akdamar Church are quite remarkable. When you come to Van, you should visit here in terms of Van travel guide.
Another point to visit in Van is the Muradiye Waterfall, where mullet migration takes place from April to July every year. Hosap Castle is another visiting point. It fascinates you with its history. It is built on a steep rock. You need to travel 1 hour to reach the castle.
Vanadokya got its name from its similarity to Cappadocia. Vanadokya should be on your list of places to visit when you come to Van. Although it is not known as Cappadocia, it is as beautiful as Cappadocia. The region is 33 km away from Van city center. Seven Churches half an hour from the city and Travertines 45 km away are other places to visit.
How to Get to Van?
You can find direct flights from Istanbul and other major cities to Van every day of the week. It is useful to look at Yolcu360 to rent a car at Van Ferit Melen Airport. If you want to rent a car in the city center, these options are also available at Yolcu360.
What to Eat in Van?
Of course, you should eat the famous Van Breakfast. From herbal cheese to local butter to homemade jams to honey, they equip the table with such a thing that I’m sure you won’t want to eat anything until the evening. Another delicious suggestion for this beautiful city will be the pearl mullet famous for Muradiye Waterfall. You should try this delicious fish. Büryan, which is a Bitlis meal, is another taste that should be eaten early in the morning. I suggest you try it around the old bazaar. Meat is the main ingredient of this dish because the animals are fed from nature in Anatolia, and the meat is always delicious in this region.
Paris of the East
Recommendations: Van is an ideal spot for a weekend trip. If you want to travel to this paradise city faster, I suggest you rent a car. While you are here, you can go to Doğubayazıt and visit İshakpaşa Palace. The world’s first heating system was installed in this palace. You can also add the Seljuk Tombs and Nemrut Crater Lake in Ahlat, Bitlis to your list.
6 Things You Should Do in Van;
- You should visit Akdamar Church on Akdamar Island,
- You should see Hosap Castle,
- You should discover the castle from the Urartians,
- You should see Muradiye Waterfall and watch pearl mullet migration,
- You should love the beautiful colored cats in the van cat house,
- You should not return without having Van Breakfast.
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