Van is a historic city in eastern Turkey set on the southeastern shore of Lake Van — the largest lake in Turkey and one of the world's largest soda lakes at 3,713 km². The city sits at 1,750 metres above sea level, surrounded by dramatic volcanic mountains. Van is famous for its extraordinary breakfast tradition (Van kahvaltısı), its legendary white Van cats with heterochromia, and the nearby Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island. The ancient Urartian fortress of Van Castle looms over the old city ruins, recalling a civilisation that flourished here from the 9th to 7th centuries BC. Van today is a vibrant Kurdish-majority city with a warm, hospitable culture and access to some of eastern Turkey's most rewarding landscapes.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
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Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Accept tea when offered — it is a gesture of welcome
- Learn a few Kurdish/Turkish words: 'Spas' (Kurdish: thank you), 'Merhaba' (Turkish: hello), 'Teşekkürler' (Turkish: thank you)
- Dress modestly in the city centre, bazaar, and near mosques
- Engage with Van breakfast culture enthusiastically — it is locals' greatest pride
- Bargain politely in the bazaar for handicrafts and kilims
- Ask for permission before photographing people
Don't
- Do not photograph military facilities, checkpoints, or security forces
- Do not criticise Atatürk, Turkish institutions, or politics (serious legal consequences)
- Do not be loud or disruptive near mosques during prayer times
- Do not refuse tea multiple times — a single refusal is fine; multiple refusals can seem rude
- Do not assume everyone speaks Turkish — Kurdish (Kurmanji) is the first language of many residents
- Do not attempt to enter mosques during prayer times as a sightseer
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Merhaba
Hello (Turkish)
Mehr-ha-ba
Teşekkürler
Thank you (Turkish)
Teh-shek-keur-lehr
Spas
Thank you (Kurdish/Kurmanji)
Spas
Silav
Hello (Kurdish/Kurmanji)
Sih-lav
Evet / Hayır
Yes / No (Turkish)
Eh-vet / Hah-yur
Ne kadar?
How much? (Turkish)
Neh kah-dar
Su
Water (Turkish)
Soo
Lütfen
Please (Turkish)
Lewt-fen
Yardım edin
Help! (Turkish)
Yar-dum eh-din
Nerede?
Where is? (Turkish)
Neh-reh-deh
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Van.
Items:
- Religion
- Sunni Islam
- Prevalence
- Dominant — majority of residents observe Muslim practices
- Impact on visitors
- Conservative dress expected in public; prayer calls (ezan) heard 5 times daily; alcohol less readily available than in Istanbul
- Religion
- Alevism
- Prevalence
- Small minority
- Impact on visitors
- Minimal direct impact on visitors
- Religion
- Armenian Christian heritage
- Prevalence
- Historical — Akdamar Church represents pre-WWI Armenian presence
- Impact on visitors
- Akdamar Church of the Holy Cross is open to visitors of all faiths; occasional Armenian church services held (1–2 times yearly)