Doğubayazıt
Dogubeyazit is a town in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.
Understand
When going towards east to Iran, this is the last Turkish town you'll come across.
As of Nov 2010, electricity supply is operating normally, but there were reports that it was intermittent in the past, which may or may not be the case in the future.
Get in
Coaches running Trabzon - Van line don't pass Dogubeyazit itself, the closest town to Dogubeyazit on that route would be Agri. From where it's possible to get on a minibus to Dogubeyazit for 15TL/person.
- 1 Bus station (Otogar). Main bus station used for distant destinations, like a 24hr coach from Istanbul. Minibuses to Ishak Pasa Palace also depart from here.
- 2 Minibuses to Iğdır. From Kars, there is no direct bus. First you have to take a minibus to Iğdır (6 TL) and transfer there to another minibus (15 TL) (from the same place you have been dropped). Road between Igdir and Dogubeyazit passes by Mt. Ararat, offering fine views.
- 4 Minibuses to Iranian border. Iranian border (Gurbulak) is in 35 km of town.
Note that it can be difficult to leave after about 14:00 as most buses depart in the morning.
Get around
You can walk to most places in this fairly small city of about 70,000 inhabitants.
See
- 1 Beyazit mosque.
- The ancient Armenian cemetery.
Further afield
- 2 Ishak Pasa Sarayi (Ishak Pasa Palace) (on a hill, 5 km to the south outside the city). This ancient fortress/castle/mosque is stunningly beautiful, and is a must see when in Dougbeyazit. Try to go on a dry, sunny day.
- For a taxi from the town center, expect to pay approximately 10-15 TL one way. Worth considering asking the taxi driver to wait at the Palace.
- There is a dolmus service to the Palace; but hitch-hiking was quicker both going up and coming down so no idea about the price (1.5 - 2 TL).
- Alternatively, it´s a very stiff walk all the way up (or down), in summer possibly dangerous even. entrance fee: 3 TL.
- Eski Beyazit (Old Beyazit) (across the valley from the Ishak Pasa palace, just trek a little bit further up from the palace). Old town probably built during Urartu times at 800 BC. It has the tomb of Ahmedi Xani, the famous Kurdish poet and philosopher, and also the ruins of the Urartian castle and a mosque.
- Mount Ararat (15 km from Doğubeyazıt). One of the best views of the mountain are from Dogubeyazit city itself.
- 3 Durupınar site (up in the hills east of town and south of the main highway). This area is famous for the rock formation assumed to be the remains of Noah's ark.
- Balık Gölü (60 km from Doğubeyazıt, near Taşlıçay). a lake in a lava bed
- The Ice Cave (on the side of Little Ararat near the village of Hallaç).
- Meteor crater (in the vicinity of the Iranian border).
Do
- Climb Mount Ararat (5,137 metres/16,854 ft), on the border of Turkey and Iran, supposedly where Noah's Ark landed. Guides and vehicles are available in Dogubeyazit. The climb is long, but there is a fairly easy route from the south in late summer for climbers who are familiar with the use of axe and crampons. Snow covers the last 400 m (¼ mile) year-round. There are two possible campsites on the mountain, and the glacier begins around 4,800 m (15,750 ft). International climbers need a climbing permit that can be obtained through the Turkish Embassies or, the easier option is to let your guide's company do it. Expect the authorities to process your permit application in two months. You also need a licensed guide to accompany you on the trek. People most often attempt to climb upp to the summit and return to Dogubayazit in 4 days. However, you may need more time to acclimatise, so it can be wise to add an extra day.
You may also want to climb other mountains in the region, such as Mt Suphan, as part of your acclimatisation.
Some local experienced guides that you can contact ahead of time are erkan sedef erkanararat@hotmail.com mobile:+90 542 732 2454
Buy
Eat
Try to get a rare Abdigor Kofte. It is a fist size meatball on the pilaf but it difficult to find because not many people know how to cook it. This dish cannot be found anywhere else. It is a local delicacy that can be found only in Dogubayazit.
CAUTION: The Yöresel Yemek Evi mentioned in the Lonely Planet 2011 does evidently no longer exist. However, the Doguş Restaurant has snatched up the name and tries to lure eaters with it. It's not a bad place in itself, but overpriced and often crammed with tour groups. Adding the deliberately misleading name this is best avoided.
Drink
- Cafe shop on Kermelsi Rd. in the center of Dogubeyazit
- Pure fruit juice shop, makes nice pure juice! Istanplak Avenue in eastern Dogubeyazit
Sleep
Hotels are numerous. Not all places provide air conditioning.
- Hotel Ararat, Belediye Cad. No:24, ☏ +90 472 312-49-88, fax: +90 472 312-25-23, info@hotelararatturkey.com. This Hotel not so expensive and it was remodeled with new owners it was cute and lovely also very clean. Single 50 TL, Double80 TL, Triple 110 TL (2014).
- Hotel Erzurum, İ. Beşikçi Caddesi. This hotel has clean rooms with shared bathrooms.
- Hotel Grand Derya, Abdullah Baydar Caddesi 203, ☏ +90 472 312-75-31, fax: +90 472 312-78-33. This three star hotel is run down, but has air-conditionıng.
- 1 Hotel Isfahan, Emniyet Cad. No:26, ☏ +90 472 312 4363, info@hotelisfahan.com. This hotel has spacious although quite basic rooms and a somewhat worn lobby area. Friendly stuff, good breakfast, adequate price-value ratio. Some rooms come with balcony. WiFi
- 2 Hotel Nuh, ☏ +90 472 312-72-32. It has an impressive lobby area but a bit shabby rooms. The rooftop restaurant has views of Ararat. Free WiFi
- 3 Hotel Ortadoğu, Ağrı Caddesi 105, ☏ +90 472 312-42-25, hotelortadogu@yahoo.com. Carpet floor rooms with en-suite bathrooms, TV. Next door to convenience store, very close to bus stops. Staff were helpful, spoke some English. From 30TL..
- 4 Hotel Tahran, Büyük Ağrı Caddesi 124, ☏ +90 472 312-01-95, info@oteltahran.com. Hotel Tahran is inexpensive and very basic hotel with surprisingly clean but small bathrooms. They also provide depository service for unnecessary stuff when doing a trip across the border to Iran or up to Ararat. Manager speaks very good English and is very helpful about all things local. Laundry service is 3 TL per kilo and very quick (can give laundry in the late evening and get it back semi-dry in the morning). Good breakfast with some view. Occasional problems with Internet. 60 TL for a double ensuite with breakfast (September 2013).
- Hotel Urartu, Abdullah Baydar Caddesi (across the street from post office), ☏ +90 472 312-72-95. Urartu is reasonable with friendly staff.
- Hotel Yayla Palas, ☏ +90 472 312-78-61. Hotel Yayla Palas — anything but a palace. 20TL single - 70s decor, cleanish rooms with sink, relatively clean (though smelly) shared bathrooms, perfect for budget travellers. On the main pedestrian shopping street.
- Butic Ertur Hotel, Gurbulak Cevreyolu uzeri, Dogubayazit Otogar Karsisi. Smallish but clean rooms. Good reviews
Go next
| Routes through Doğubayazıt |
| Erzincan ← Erzurum ← | W  E
|
→ Ends at  Turkish- Irani border
|