Van has a small airport (VAN) with daily flights from Istanbul and Ankara. Flying is the fastest option — the overland alternative is a long haul.
Long-distance buses connect Van to major Turkish cities, though journey times are substantial: around 24 hours from Istanbul, about 6 hours from Diyarbakir. Several private bus companies operate these routes, with comfortable overnight services. For shorter regional hops, dolmus minibuses run frequently between nearby towns.
From the Iranian border at Kapikoy, it is about 3 hours by road to Van, making the city a natural first stop for overland travellers entering Turkey from Iran.