Başkale district, Van, Turkey

Places to visit near Başkale

Başkale is a town in Başkale district, Van, Turkey, home to about 14,516 people. Within 50 km by road there are 106 places to visit — 66 mosques & dargahs, 33 hill stations & viewpoints, 0 caves and 2 forts & heritage. The must-see places are Monastery of the Holy Cross at Soradir (40 km), Hoşap Castle (45 km) and Akgöl (63 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Başkale on the map

Başkale, Van
Başkale, Başkale district, Van, Turkey. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Başkale at a glance

Location
Başkale district, Van, Turkey
Population
about 14,516
Coordinates
38.0453° N, 44.0172° E
Places within 50 km
106 (2 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for mosques & dargahs and caves

Top places to visit near Başkale

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Başkale: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Başkale

Things to see near Başkale, by type

Mosques & dargahs near Başkale

75 mosques & dargahs within 100 km of Başkale. The closest is Edeman Pasajı Mes. Camii (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All mosques & dargahs in Van →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Başkale

73 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Başkale. The closest is Başkale Dağı (9 km); the best-known is İspiriz Dağı (9 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Van →

Caves near Başkale

13 caves within 100 km of Başkale. The closest is Abuzet Cave (55 km). Best time: year-round.

All caves in Van →

Forts & heritage near Başkale

11 forts & heritage within 100 km of Başkale. The closest is Pizan Castle (15 km); the best-known is Hoşap Castle (45 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Van →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Başkale

9 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Başkale. The closest is Dilimli Barajı (45 km); the best-known is Akgöl (63 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Van →

Waterfalls near Başkale

6 waterfalls within 100 km of Başkale. The closest is Gilezo Şelalesi (68 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Van →

A one-day trip from Başkale

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 122 km on the road.

  1. Start in Başkale
  2. 9 km İspiriz Dağı · viewpoint, Başkale
  3. 33 km Monastery of the Holy Cross at Soradir · monastery, Başkale
  4. 34 km Koç Dağı · viewpoint, Başkale
  5. 24 km Geriziyaret Tepesi · viewpoint, Gürpınar
  6. 5 km Puroma Dağı · viewpoint, Gürpınar
  7. 17 km Back to Başkale

Plan a longer trip from Başkale — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Başkale

No traveller has reported from around Başkale yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Başkale

    All places near Başkale by distance

    Within 15 km of Başkale

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Başkale by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Mosques & dargahs6675Edeman Pasajı Mes. Camii (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3373Başkale Dağı (9 km)
    Caves013Abuzet Cave (55 km)
    Forts & heritage211Pizan Castle (15 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs19Dilimli Barajı (45 km)
    Waterfalls06Gilezo Şelalesi (68 km)
    Other attractions15Kalekom Köprüsü (15 km)
    Buddhist sites13Saint Bartholomew Monastery (25 km)
    Churches12Monastery of the Holy Cross at Soradir (40 km)
    Museums02Hakkari Castle (73 km)
    Parks11Şehit Korucu Hüsnü Keskin Parkı (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens01Hakkâri Cilo and Sat Mountains National Park (91 km)

    Başkale: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Başkale?

    İspiriz Dağı (viewpoint, about 9 km), Puroma Dağı (viewpoint, about 17 km), Monastery of the Holy Cross at Soradir (monastery, about 40 km), Koç Dağı (viewpoint, about 21 km), Geriziyaret Tepesi (viewpoint, about 23 km), Hoşap Castle (heritage site, about 45 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Başkale?

    106 places on Spotwander: 66 mosques & dargahs, 33 hill stations & viewpoints, 2 forts & heritage, 1 lake, 1 attraction.

    Which is the nearest dargah to Başkale?

    Edeman Pasajı Mes. Camii, about 1 km by road; Merkez Camii (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Başkale?

    Başkale Dağı, about 9 km by road; İspiriz Dağı (9 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest cave to Başkale?

    Abuzet Cave, about 55 km by road; Zincirpalak Mağarası (67 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Başkale?

    Start in Başkale, visit İspiriz Dağı, then Monastery of the Holy Cross at Soradir, then Koç Dağı, then Geriziyaret Tepesi, then Puroma Dağı, and drive back — about 122 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Başkale?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for mosques & dargahs and caves.

    Towns near Başkale

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Başkale’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Başkale on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.