Province · Anatólia Oriental

Bitlis

Bitlis has the crater lake of the Nemrut volcano above Tatvan, the Seljuk cemetery of Ahlat on the shore of Lake Van, a stone capital in a narrow valley and the büryan kebabı.

In the photo: Nemrut crater lake, Tatvan

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Bitlis

Bitlis lies on the western tip of Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, with salty alkaline water. The capital occupies a narrow valley, with stone houses, a fortress on the rock and old mosques; the Seyir Tepesi viewpoint shows the ensemble from above, and the city museum operates in a former government palace built with Ahlat stone.

Above Tatvan, the Nemrut volcano holds in its crater a lake at about 2,250 meters altitude, with a second smaller warm-water lake and steam vents in the ground. The road climbs to the crater rim and descends to the shore; when there is snow it often closes.

In Ahlat, on the lake shore, the Selçuklu Meydan Mezarlığı gathers thousands of carved stone tombstones with geometric motifs and inscriptions, some nearly 4 meters high, over an area of about 210,000 m². The cemetery is on the World Heritage tentative list, and the conical mausoleums (kümbetler) and the Urartu House complete the visit.

Further north, Adilcevaz has the Zal Paşa mosque by the water, with Mount Süphan in the background. On the table, büryan kebabı, lamb slow-cooked in a pit oven, is served with avşor soup; mountain honey and walnuts are sold along the roads.

When to go

June to September is usually the season for the Nemrut crater, with the road open and mild days. May and October work well for Ahlat and the capital, with cold nights. Winter brings heavy snow, and the crater road is often closed.

Getting there

Bitlis has no airport; the most used are Muş (MSR) and Van (VAN), on the other side of the lake. The capital is about 25 km from Tatvan, and the Nemrut crater about 15 km from Tatvan by mountain road. Ahlat is roughly 40 km from Tatvan along the lake shore.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Bitlis

How to get to the Nemrut crater?

From Tatvan, a mountain road climbs to the crater rim and descends to the lake, a drive of about 15 km. Go by car, taxi or tour. The road typically opens in late spring and closes with the snow.

How much time to allow for Ahlat?

Half a day for the Seljuk cemetery, the kümbetler and the museum. Ahlat is about 40 km from Tatvan, on the shore of Lake Van, and pairs well with Adilcevaz on the same day.

What is büryan kebabı?

It is lamb roasted slowly, hung inside an oven dug into the ground, until the meat falls off the bone. In Bitlis it is usually served in the morning or at lunch, with bread and avşor soup.

Which town to use as a base in Bitlis?

Tatvan, on the lakeshore, is close to the Nemrut crater and Ahlat and has road links to Van and Muş. The capital, Bitlis, has the historic center and the museum.