Van Fortress (Tushpa): The Urartian Rock Above the Old City

✓ Last reviewed: 29 September 2026 — Verified and updated by İlyas Bayrak, licensed Turkish guide (licence 070867), with the My Turkey Adventure editorial team. Prices, opening hours, transport fares and visa rules reflect the latest 2026 guidance. Quick Answer: The magnificent Van Fortress , known in antiquity as Tushpa , is a colossal rock citadel that served as the capital of the Iron Age Kingdom of Urartu . It is absolutely worth visiting for its 3,000 years of history etched into the stone, from royal tombs to cuneiform inscriptions, and for the unforgettable sunset views over Lake Van , making it one of the premier things to do in Van, Turkey . Fact Detail Location Van province, Eastern Anatolia , on the eastern shore of Lake Van . Period / Type Iron Age / Urartian Fortress with later additions (Achaemenid, Ottoman). What It Is A 1.8 km-long limestone ridge fortified in the 9th century BC as the Urartian capital, Tushpa . UNESCO Status On the UNESCO Tentative List since 2016 as 'Tushpa/Van Fortress'. Entry A small ticket fee is required. (Last checked September 2026 , confirm locally). Typical Visit Length Roughly 1.5 - 2 hours to explore thoroughly. Nearest Airport Van Ferit Melen Airport (VAN) , approximately 8 km from the fortress. Driving Time from Nearest Big City Approx. 5.5 hours from Diyarbakır (380 km) or 3.5 hours from Erzurum (235 km). Best Months May to October , for pleasant weather. Winters are extremely cold and snowy. What Is Van Fortress (Van Kalesi)? Van Fortress , or Van Kalesi in Turkish, is a massive, elongated rock citadel that dominates the landscape just west of the modern city of Van . This is not just any castle; it is the ancient heart of the region. Rising over 80 metres above the plain, this limestone ridge was first fortified in the 9th century BC by King Sarduri I to serve as Tushpa , the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Urartu . For centuries, this fortress was the epicentre of a civilization that rivalled Assyria, controlling