More about hotels in Bitlis
Bitlis is a stone-built mountain town in eastern Turkey, wedged into a narrow gorge more than 1,500 metres above sea level. It grew up on an old trade route linking east and west, and the dark volcanic stone houses climbing the hillside still give the town a look you won't find anywhere else in the country. A hilltop citadel, ringed by close to three kilometres of wall, watches over the old town, and several centuries-old arched stone bridges cross the river running through the centre.
Most travellers base themselves nearby in Tatvan, the lakeside town on Lake Van that also happens to sit a few minutes from Nemrut Crater Lake, one of the largest volcanic crater lakes in the world. The mountains around both towns make for a proper scenic stopover too, especially if you're breaking up a longer trip through eastern Turkey. Whichever end of the region you're staying in, there's a straightforward, no-fuss range of hotels to pick from.
Where to stay in Bitlis
- Tatvan is where almost all the accommodation sits. It's right on the shore of Lake Van and a short drive from Nemrut Crater Lake, making it the practical base if lake views and volcanic scenery are why you're here.
- Merkez, Bitlis's old town centre, is the quieter pick. The stone houses, the citadel above and the old bridges are all walkable from here, though hotel choice is more limited than in Tatvan.
How much is Bitlis accommodation?
Bitlis is a budget-friendly stay by Turkish standards, with rooms starting from around AU$98 a night. Most of what's on offer clusters in the budget-to-midrange band: simple guesthouses and family-run hotels, usually with breakfast included. A handful of properties add a spa, a fitness centre or a jacuzzi, and nightly rates climb a little for those extras, but this isn't a region with big five-star resorts. If that's what you're after, Van, across the lake, has a much wider selection to choose from.
Top-rated hotels in Bitlis
- The Crater Hotel, in Tatvan, is about a two-minute drive from Nemrut Crater Lake and has a rooftop terrace looking out over lake, forest and mountains at once.
- Beyaz Köşk Hotel & Cafe sits right on Lake Van's promenade in Tatvan, with rooms looking straight out over the water to the mountains beyond.
- Tasar Royal Hotel is a 58-room hotel in Tatvan with its own spa and fitness centre, handy if you want to unwind after a day out at the crater lake.
- Oz Cavusoglu Hotel is one of the few budget picks in town with a jacuzzi, plus a terrace restaurant and a satellite TV in every room.
- dilek butik otel is tucked on a quiet pedestrian street close to the lake in Tatvan and holds one of the higher guest ratings in the region.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Bitlis
- Stay in Tatvan if Nemrut Crater Lake and Lake Van are the main reason for the trip. Nearly every hotel in the region is within a few minutes of both, so you won't save much by looking further afield.
- Pack layers no matter the season. Bitlis sits over 1,500 metres up, so summer nights are properly cool and winters bring heavy snow.
- The closest airports are Muş and Van's Ferit Melen Airport. Coming from Van itself, the old car-and-passenger ferry across the lake to Tatvan takes around four hours and is a scenic, unhurried way in if you're not in a rush.
- June to August is peak season for the crater lake and the walking trails around it, so book ahead if you're travelling then.
- Rooms fill up fast. Hotels here are small, often under 60 rooms, so the better lakefront spots book out sooner than the prices might suggest.
- Getting between Merkez and Tatvan is easy. Shared minibuses run the short route regularly through the day, so you're not stuck picking one town over the other.
- Nemrut Crater Lake is actually five separate crater lakes inside one caldera, with hot springs and steam vents still active in places. It's a full-day round trip from Tatvan, so plan your stay around an early start.
After a bigger hotel selection or something closer to a proper resort? Van, on the far shore of the same lake, has a much wider range to choose from.
