Tatvan Voyage Tips and guide

Tatvan is a town in Eastern Anatolia, on the western shore of Lake Van. It had a population of 82,000 in 2022, with another 17,000 in its associated villages.

Tatvan stands on the western shore of Lake Van (Van Gölü), a soda-salt lake also known locally as Van Denizi (“the sea of Van”). This lake, the largest in Turkey, lies 1640 m above sea level and is ringed by high mountains, so the area has a harsh continental climate. The ridge behind the town was a lava flow from nearby Mount Nemrut 250,000 years ago, blocking the valley outflow and creating the lake. The area remains seismically active, with the last major earthquake in 2011.

This region was historically the centre of the Urartu and Armenian kingdoms. It later came under the rule of Byzantines, Seljuks and then the Ottomans. Very little of this heritage is visible as old buildings have been wrecked by earthquakes and their sites built over with modern ticky-tack. Tatvan's main importance to travelers is as a transport hub. It's the eastern terminus of the railway from Ankara, with onward connections by road.

38°30′0″N 42°16′48″E

Map of Tatvan

Fly either to Muş or to Van, both with daily flights from Istanbul.

Vangölü Ekspresi runs twice a week from Ankara to Tatvan, scheduled to take 26 hours but often long delayed. There are couchettes and a sleeping car and a buffet with breakfast and snacks. The main stops are Kayseri, Sivas, Malatya and Elazığ, see TCDD for timetables and tickets. This train connects with the ferry across the lake to Van, whence a train runs to Tabriz and Teheran. However it's quicker to take a bus or dolmuş around the lake to Van, so you can reach it same evening unless Vangölü Ekspresi is exceptionally late even by its tardy standards. There is no railway between Tatvan and Van, nor plans to build one, so this is a strategic gap in the Eurasian rail network.

A train from Elazığ runs four days a week, taking 6 hr 30 min via Muş and numerous villages.

38.50867542.2761941 Tatvan Garı is the main railway station, with a ticket hall but no other facilities.

If the ferry is sailing, then after a suitable repose the train reverses down the spur to the pier.

38.51352642.2972732 Tatvan İskele is not separately shown on TCDD timetables, your ticket to Tatvan covers this section but not the ferry fare. No amenities here.

A ferry crosses the lake between Tatvan and Van, three per day at irregular times. The 90 km crossing takes four hours.

Highway D300 is of a good standard, mostly dual-carriageway, and connects westward to Bitlis (20 km) and eastwards to Van (100 km).

Buses run daily from Istanbul, taking 23 hours via Ankara, Kayseri, Malatya, Elazığ, Muş and Bitlis, and continuing to Van.

They also run daily from Izmir, taking 26 hours via Konya, Nevşehir (for Cappadocia) and Kayseri then as above.

The main bus line is Kamil Koc, part of Flixbus. Frequent dolmuşes run from town centre to Van (100 km, 2 hrs) via the south lake shore, Highway D300. There are no direct services around the north shore. For transport to Doğubeyazıt and into Iran, go via Van.

Buses stop downtown by the ticket offices.

The town is small enough to walk. You need wheels to reach the crater lake.

Most amenities are along the main street Cumhuriyet Cd. The Google Map street view of the central strip is redacted, as there's a large Jandarma base here.

• Town centre is modern mediocre low-rise. Ibadullah Mosque is the largest mosque, on main street.
• 38.6225742.246681 Mount Nemrut (Nemrut Dağı) is a 3050 m mountain brooding over the town and lake. It's a dormant volcano with impressive mountain terrain and a caldera or crater lake. It erupted 250,000 years ago to block the valley outflow and create Lake Van; the last eruption was in 1692. Within its crater are several small lakes warmed by geothermal springs, so you can swim even in winter, and there are hiking trails. You can camp in the crater and there's a small café. Tortoises roam the lakeside, but there are no giant heads here, don't confuse it with the better known mountain of the same name near Adiyaman, 300 km west. A cobbled road climbs from town over the rim and down into the crater. Enquire at bus offices about tours going here, or negotiate a taxi, or just hitch, there's a steady stream of cars heading up from town.
• 38.7425242.4577592 Ahlat tombs are a large collection of graves from the Urartian period of 12th-15th century AD. The tombstones resemble khachkars, the Armenian Christian style. The museum is closed but the area is free to explore 24 hours. Frequent dolmuşes from Tatvan take 45 minutes, ask to be set down at the museum as Ahlat village is 3 km further on.
• Akdamar Island has an old Armenian church. It's 90 minutes by road towards Van: get off the bus at the highway port or the marina just before Gevaş.

• Lakeside is quiet, the town rather turns its back on the lake and doesn't have a "strip". One reason is the lack of water activities, as the high salt-soda content stings your eyes.
• Boat trips may be available, but you've more chance near Van for Akdamar and other islets.
• Mount Nemrut has hiking trails.
• Lunapark is a sorry amusement park south past Tasar Royal Hotel, open daily 10:00-00:00.

Lots of small stores and malls ("AVM") along main street.

You're probably destined to eat Turkish again; this region doesn't have the cosmopolitan offerings found in Europe. Innumerable small cafes and eateries along main street but for a clean enjoyable meal with lake views, try the fast food court on the second floor of the shopping mall.

• Camping by the lakes on Mt Nemrut is free, but consider the altitude, the logistics and the weather outlook, and the amount of litter can be off-putting.
• 38.494742.28691 Crater Hotel, Cumhuriyet Cd 181, ☏ +90 434 827 3535. Good inexpensive place, spacious rooms, rooftop breakfast buffet with lake views. B&B double 3000 TL. (updated Sep 2025)
• Tatvan Karaman Otel is a budget hotel in the alley next to Crater Hotel.
• Tatvan Park is a budget place at Cumhuriyet Cd 210 in the block opposite Crater Hotel.
• Tatvan Dilek is basic but clean. It's 100 m south of Crater Hotel at Yeni Çarşı Cd 33/A, the alley parallel to Cumhuriyet Cd.
• Hanemir Otel is another 100 m south at Ofis Cd 14
• Otel Kardelen is modern but basic. It's 100 m west of Crater Hotel at Hükümet Cd 229.
• 38.495442.29092 Beyaz Köşk Hotel, Sahil Cd 13, ☏ +90 536 950 1453. Mixed reviews for this lakeside hotel. B&B double 3000 TL. (updated Sep 2025)
• Öğretmenevi means "Teachers' House" but at quiet times may have basic accommodation for others. It's on the lake shore 200 m north of Beyaz Köşk at Göl Cd 95.
• 38.489442.29083 Tasar Royal Hotel, Cumhuriyet Cd 333, ☏ +90 434 827 3300. Clean and welcoming. B&B double 3000 TL. (updated Sep 2025)

As of Sep 2025 Tatvan has 4G from all Turkish carriers, but the signal along the approach roads is poor. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

Beware traffic and safeguard valuables, same as anywhere else.

You're at little risk from the Lake Van Monster (see Van for this implausible legend) but pay heed to signs in the crater warning of Ayı, bears. They're common European brown bears and normally shy of humans. But occasionally people feed them until they get accustomed to this, and get stroppy when food isn't offered.

• Van is an easy day-trip from Tatvan. It has an ancient citadel, and a train into Iran.
• Erzurum to the north is at 1890 m altitude and has a ski resort.
• Malatya to the west is the city nearest the other Mount Nemrut, the one with the giant heads. Kâhta is nearer still.
• Diyarbakir southwest has an old city encased in basalt walls.

Malatya ← Muş ←	W  E	→ Van → Kapıköy/Razi
Dilucu/Sədərək ← Doğubayazıt ←	N  S	→ Diyarbakır → Şanlıurfa