Türkiye
Things to do in Van
11 places11 stories1 routes
Sightlore has 11 places to explore in Van, and 11 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Van's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Aghtamar Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey, is a medieval Armenian Apostolic cathedral, built in 921 as a palatine church for the kings of Vaspurakan and later serving as the seat of the Catholicosate of Aghtamar.
Read its story → - 2
Van Museum
The Van Museum or Urartu Museum is a museum located in the city of Van in eastern Turkey.
- 3
Van Fortress
The Fortress of Van is a massive stone fortification built by the ancient kingdom of Urartu during the 9th to 7th centuries BC, and is the largest example of its kind.
- 4
Çavuştepe
Sardurihinilli, also known as Haykaberd or Çavuştepe Kalesi, is an ancient Urartian fortified site located on a ridge on the northeastern edge of the village of Çavuştepe in the Gürpınar district of Van Province in eastern Turkey.
- 5
Hoşap Castle
Hoşap Castle is a large 17th-century castle located in the village of Hoşab, Gürpınar District, Van, Turkey. It is at a distance of approximately 50 km to the city center of Van.
Discovery routes in Van
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Lake Van and Urartu
From the fortress of the Urartian capital Tushpa and the Van Museum to the castles of Çavuştepe and Hoşap, then by boat to the church on Akdamar Island.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Van Fortress
The Fortress of Van is a massive stone fortification built by the ancient kingdom of Urartu during the 9th to 7th centuries BC, and is the largest example of its kind.
Çavuştepe
Sardurihinilli, also known as Haykaberd or Çavuştepe Kalesi, is an ancient Urartian fortified site located on a ridge on the northeastern edge of the village of Çavuştepe in the Gürpınar district of Van Province in eastern Turkey.
Hoşap Castle
Hoşap Castle is a large 17th-century castle located in the village of Hoşab, Gürpınar District, Van, Turkey. It is at a distance of approximately 50 km to the city center of Van.
Museums
Van Museum
The Van Museum or Urartu Museum is a museum located in the city of Van in eastern Turkey.
Places of worship
Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Aghtamar Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey, is a medieval Armenian Apostolic cathedral, built in 921 as a palatine church for the kings of Vaspurakan and later serving as the seat of the Catholicosate of Aghtamar.
Karmravank
Karmravank is an abandoned 10th century Armenian monastery in the Vaspurakan province of historic Armenia (now in the Van Province of Turkey). It was founded by King Gagik I of the Artsruni dynasty.
Ktuts monastery
Ktuts monastery is an abandoned 15th century Armenian monastery on the small island of Ktuts (Çarpanak) in Lake Van, Vaspurakan (present-day Turkey) which fell into ruins after the Armenian genocide beginning in 1915. According to tradition, the monastery was founded in the…
St. Thomas Monastery, Van
St. Thomas Monastery is a ruined Armenian monastery overlooking Lake Van in Turkey. The monastery is situated near the village of Kanzak (Altinsac), on the Southern shore of Lake Van.
Great Mosque of Van
The Great Mosque of Van, in the ruined old city below Van Fortress, is a Seljuk-era mosque that is now largely in ruins; its minaret still stands.
Varagavank
Varagavank was an Armenian monastery on the slopes of Mount Erek (Varag), 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of the city of Van, in eastern Turkey.
Nature
Muradiye Waterfall
The Muradiye Waterfall, 80 km northeast of Van on the Bendimahi stream, is 18 m high and named after Sultan Murad IV. It can be viewed from a suspension bridge.
Explore Van with your camera
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