Five historical sites make the long trip across Eastern Türkiye worthwhile: Göbekli Tepe, Ani, Mount Nemrut, Ishak Pasha Palace and Akdamar Island. They span about 11,000 years, from the world’s oldest known monumental architecture to an Ottoman palace under Mount Ararat. Fees and times below are approximate, as of 2026.
The region is large and the sites are far apart, so we group them by area. Our Eastern Türkiye guide covers the wider route, and the history of Eastern Türkiye puts these sites in order.
1. Göbekli Tepe, near Şanlıurfa
Göbekli Tepe is a ridge of circular enclosures built around T-shaped limestone pillars, some up to 5.5 m tall and weighing as much as 20 tonnes, carved with foxes, vultures, scorpions, cranes and snakes. It is dated to roughly 9,600 BCE, and UNESCO listed it in 2018. Entry is about ₺300 as of 2026, and the on-site museum is included.
How to get there: the site is 15-18 km northeast of Şanlıurfa. A taxi costs about ₺150-200 one way, or agree a return fare of roughly ₺400-600 with waiting time. Allow: 2 to 3 hours. Local tip: day-tour groups from Istanbul often rush through in 45 minutes, so arrive independently if you want time with the museum first, and see the Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum afterwards for the original large pillars. Read our Göbekli Tepe guide.
2. Ani, near Kars
Ani was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom in the 10th and 11th centuries, with a population of around 100,000 to 200,000 at its peak. A 1319 earthquake and shifting Silk Road trade left it empty. Surviving features include city walls stretching 1.5 km, several churches, the oldest mosque in Anatolia, a caravanserai and a Silk Road bridge over the gorge. Entry is about ₺300-400 as of 2026, with no advance booking.
How to get there: Ani is 43 km east of Kars. A taxi costs about ₺300-500 return including waiting; agree the full fare first. Allow: 3 to 4 hours. Best time: June to September, when hours run 08:00 to 19:00 (08:00 to 17:00 in winter). Local tip: wear sturdy shoes, since the plateau is windy and uneven, and carry water. See Kars and Ani.
3. Mount Nemrut
Antiochus I of Commagene (69-34 BCE) built a 50 m funerary mound on a 2,150 m summit, flanked by terraces of colossal seated statues of himself and gods drawn from Greek and Persian traditions. The tomb itself has never been found. UNESCO listed the site in 1987. Entry is about ₺120-150 as of 2026, collected at the gate on the mountain road.
How to get there: from Kahta, private minibuses run in summer (roughly June to September) for about ₺200-300 per person return; outside that window a private taxi or tour is more reliable. Allow: 45 to 90 minutes on the summit. Local tip: sunrise needs a start before 03:00, while sunset is logistically easier, and even in July the summit can be 5-10°C at dawn, so bring a warm jacket. See our Mount Nemrut guide.
4. Ishak Pasha Palace, Doğubayazıt
This semi-ruined Ottoman palace sits on a rocky spur at about 1,900 m, 5 km east of Doğubayazıt, with Mount Ararat (5,137 m) behind it. It was begun around 1685 and completed in 1784, covering about 7,600 m² with 366 rooms, a harem section, a mosque, a mausoleum and a kitchen complex. Ottoman, Seljuk, Persian, Georgian and Armenian elements mix in a single carved portal. Entry is about ₺200-250 as of 2026.
How to get there: Van to Doğubayazıt is about 170 km (2.5 hours, ₺150-250 by bus); from Kars about 280 km (4 to 4.5 hours). Local tip: clear mornings give the best Ararat view, since afternoon cloud often builds. See Doğubayazıt.
5. Akdamar Island, Lake Van
The Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island was built in 915-921 CE by King Gagik I of Vaspurakan. It is small, about 15 m long, but its exterior bas-reliefs show Old Testament scenes including Adam and Eve, Jonah and the whale, and David and Goliath. It reopened for an Armenian Christian service in 2010. The combined boat and island ticket costs about ₺150-200 as of 2026.
How to get there: boats leave from near Gevaş, about 40 km west of Van, roughly every 2 hours from 09:00 in summer, taking 20 to 30 minutes. A taxi from Van costs about ₺600-800 return. Local tip: check the last return boat, which can leave around 17:00 to 18:00 depending on demand. See Lake Van.
Planning notes
Distances are the main challenge. Flights reach Van and Kars from Istanbul in about 2 hours, so many travellers fly in and out of different cities rather than backtracking. Pair each site with a local meal: Van is famous for its large breakfast spread of 15 to 25 small dishes, and Kars for its aged Gravyer cheese, sold from shops along Atatürk Caddesi. Kars Castle is free and gives a good overview of the plateau before the Ani trip. Fees at all five sites change regularly, so treat the prices above as a budget guide, not a fixed tariff.
Linking the five
A practical order is Şanlıurfa (Göbekli Tepe), then Nemrut via Kahta or Adıyaman, then Van (Akdamar), Doğubayazıt and finally Kars (Ani). The 5 days in Eastern Türkiye itinerary shows how to trim it, and the Eastern Express train is the scenic way into Kars. Browse Eastern Türkiye tours, search hotels in Van, and compare car hire in Türkiye for the long gaps. Official site information is on Go Türkiye, and UNESCO describes Göbekli Tepe and Nemrut Dağ.