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Home » Asia » Backpacking Yerevan Travel Guide (Budget Tips for 2024!)

Backpacking Yerevan Travel Guide (Budget Tips for 2024!)

Mean Girls wear pink on Wednesday. Yerevan does that every day.

Known as the “Pink City”, the capital of Armenia is a glistening, glittering metropolis that tourists and backpackers alike are just starting to discover.

If the Caucasus region is under-travelled, then Yerevan surely is even more so. As the bigger influx of travellers crowd to Armenia’s northern neighbour Georgia, this country and its awaiting capital are left with too little love.

Well, that’s good news for a backpacker that likes exploring without hordes of tourists.

Whether you’re planning a backpacking trip to Armenia or just planning to visit Yerevan as a weekend trip from Georgia, this epic Yerevan travel guide is a great intro to all the things that make Yerevan so unique. Find out where to wine and dine, how to get around, the best attractions in Yerevan – and where all the cool kidz hang.

And by the end of the trip you might find yourself completely unprepared to leave. This is just the beginning of the Armenian adventure!

sunset over yerevan

Why Visit Yerevan?

A sample 3-day itinerary for yerevan, top 9 things to do in yerevan, budget accommodation in yerevan, yerevan travel costs, best time to travel to yerevan, staying safe in yerevan, how to get into and around yerevan, working and volunteering in yerevan, nightlife in yerevan,  faqs about backpacking in yerevan, final advice before visiting yerevan.

Yerevan is the best way to kick off a backpacking adventure in Armenia.

Yerevan might not be on top of every traveller’s wishlist; it’s a little obscure, a little out of the way, and not as popular as the norther Tbilisi. However, the are travellers that do make it to the dazzling capital of Armenia and put in the effort to get to know her, swear that it quickly becomes one of the best cities they’ve visited.

What is Yerevan known for, then?

Yerevan definitely has a specific charm. It’s lively but calm at the same time, its little streetside coffeeshops filled to the brim with locals and travellers. A pure joy for living is palpable in the city: Yerevan will give a good run for any city named the most livable city in the world.

And it doesn’t get boring for a moment. There are heaps of cool places to visit in Yerevan.

garni temple

In 2019, Yerevan got a new slogan for its tourism: Discover Yerevan. It’s a very apt motto for a city with so many hidden gems. A real off-the-beaten-path destination , that’s what Yerevan is.

Its older parts have been slightly overshadowed by constructions from the last few decades but they are still hiding in the cityscape: brutalist Soviet buildings and parts of Old Yerevan stubbornly live on. 

Among touristy taverns, curious travellers can find charming local bars and hole-in-a-wall shops selling delicious Armenian food for ultra-cheap prices.

Yerevan is a city of culture, art, and architecture. But above all else, it’s a city that is loved by everyone who knows it. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you fall for it, too – once you learn its secrets.

What Are the Major Attractions in Yerevan?

Yerevan is actually jam-packed with different attractions: statues, parks, art, museums, and churches. Most of them are located in the city centre so you can easily explore them over a couple of days in the city.

Some of the top attractions in Yerevan are definitely worth checking out:

  • The Cascade: The giant staircase is the best hangout spot in Yerevan – and the absolute best place to see the sunset.
  • Cafesijan Center for the Arts: A collection of art from renowned international and local artists can be found in the sculpture garden leading up towards the Cascade and in a few smaller galleries inside the structure.
  • Armenian Genocide Museum and Monument: The museum is an emotional memorial to the Armenians killed during the genocide, and the monument outside the museum has an eternal fire burning. 
  • Republic Square: Yerevan’s main square is surrounded by impressive “tuff” buildings: buildings made of reddish volcanic stone that give the city its nickname “Pink City”.

A white building and the brown museum of armenia building.

  • Dancing Fountains. The fountain at the Republic Square “dances” to music in a nightly light and water show.
  • Blue Mosque: With large-scale Christianisation and 20th century Soviet rule, Islam went almost extinct in Armenia. Blue Mosque in Yerevan is the last operating mosque left in the entire country.

yerevan travel blog

  • Vernissage market: The biggest outdoor market in Yerevan sells exclusively Armenian souvenirs –  but don’t think just tacky keyrings and postcards, think paintings, beautiful textiles, handicrafts, and antiques!
  • Ararat brandy factory: Armenian brandy is said to be among the best in the world, and you can test the theory yourself at this brandy factory in Yerevan.
  • Kond AKA Old Yerevan: Yerevan doesn’t really have a historical centre but there are some older parts still left among the newer constructions, the district known as Kond. Make sure to walk through the Kond tunnel!
  • Children’s Railway: This Soviet-era railroad is still operating, and the old station building is pretty to see even if you’re not a kiddo.
  • Erebuni Fortress: An ancient fortress a little outside the city.
  • Yerevan’s parks: Yerevan has many chill green spaces to check out like Victory Park, Lover’s Park, and Hrazdan Gorge.

How Long to Spend in Yerevan?

Yerevan has more to see than you’d think at first glance – so make sure you’re not rushing your visit!

I know a lot of people visit Yerevan as a weekend trip from Tbilisi, spending as little as half a day in the city and focusing more on the sights around the capital. If you’re on a super-super tight schedule, make sure you’ll at least make it to Cascade for sunset!

church towers against orange sky

In general though, I’d say to spend at least 2 days in Yerevan. In 2 days, you can check out most of the top attractions in Yerevan. Although it will be a jam-packed schedule.

I do recommend though that you give Yerevan at least 3 days.  

The time you spend in the capital also depends on what else you’re planning to see in Armenia. (Spoiler alert: backpacking Armenia holds a lot of gems.)

Yerevan is the central transportation hub for spots around the country, and a lot of travellers like to stay there as a base for exploring the rest of the country. If your itinerary includes lots of daytrips, you can easily spend 5-7 days in Yerevan.

envoy hostel lobby in yerevan

Envoy Hostel

Envoy Hostel is not just “about accommodation, but a way of life”, and travellers agree. Envoy is one of the best hostels in Yerevan. It’s a social meeting place offering an unbeatable atmosphere for wandering wayfarers. Plus, a great free breakfast!

With such an avalanche of things to see, it might be hard to figure out how and what to do first. No fear, friend! I’m here to save your day with an awesome 3-day itinerary to Yerevan.

Feel free to pick and choose the parts you vibe with the most, or change some stuff around! This is just an example itinerary with some of the best places to visit in Yerevan. 

For example, this itinerary includes 2 half-day trips. If you’re planning to hire a private taxi to take you to the sights outside of the city, it makes the most sense to do both trips in one day. However, if you want to use public transport, fitting 2 trips outside the city in one day is hard to manage.

Day 1 in Yerevan

Yerevan Highlights

Pro tip: you can also join a free walking tour to cover most of the best places to visit in Yerevan! The free walking tour in Yerevan is excellent. Despite the name, remember to tip your Yerevan travel guide at the end.

Start your round-up of Yerevan’s best sights at its emblematic Republic Square. Walk down Vazgen Sargsyan Street towards Blue Mosque, the last active mosque in Armenia. 

From there, you’re just a short hop away from Kond , a small district that’s what remains of the true Old Yerevan. Explore the streets, then find your way to Kond Tunnel. The tunnel leads you to the edges of Tsitsernakaberd park where you can check out the historical Children’s Railway station.

Cross back into the main city to walk along Northern Avenue to a small park that hosts the Armenian Opera and Ballet. Close by, find the beautiful Katoghike Church and the Matenadaran museum.

End the day at the Cafesijan art park and the Cascade. Make sure to climb all the way to the top for the best sunset views!

After dinner, finish the day back at Republic Square to see the light show at the Dancing Fountains. The show goes on from 8-11 p.m.

Day 2 in Yerevan

Outskirts of Yerevan

Okay, today’s itinerary seems a little all over the place but I promise that getting from place to place is actually pretty easy!

Reserve the first half of the day to visit the Khor Virap monastery. Getting there on public transportation is a little tricky, that’s why we’re taking a few hours for the whole ordeal!

Take a train to David of Sasun station where you’ll find buses going to Pokr Vedi. From the town, it’s still a few kilometres to the monastery, which you can walk, hitchhike , or take a taxi. To get back to the city, just do the same backwards.

Once you’re back at David of Sasun, don’t go back to the centre yet. You’re in the Erebuni district, which means visiting distance to the ancient Erebuni Fortress.

After that, make your way back to the city to the Cascade. You can take the train to Marshal Baghramyan station at Lover’s Park and chill there for a bit.

If you’ve still got time (and energy!), you can walk to Victory Park in 15-20 minutes from there to see the Mother of Armenia statue. Plus awesome vistas over the city.

Come back down to the steps of the Cascade for sunset . For the second night in a row? Absolutely – the view is seriously dope.

Day 3 in Yerevan

Last bits of Yerevan

All righty – another half-day trip ahead!

Pro tip: This trip to Garni and Geghard is most popularly done as a day trip from Yerevan. But the town of Garni also has some cheap and adorable accommodation options, so you can even opt to spend the night there.

First, we are headed to Geghard Monastery . The easiest way to get to the monastery is by taxi or an organised tour – but broke adventurers don’t need those, right?

You can get a bus in Yerevan city centre to the Gai Station on the outskirts of the city where marshrutkas, small van buses regularly leave for Geghard. (Look for signs to the town of Goght.)

On the way back, make a stop at the town of Garni. The Garni Gorge is an awesome natural site to see, plus the town has Armenia’s last standing pagan temple and a unique rock formation called the Symphony of Stones.

Once you’ve got back to the city, it’s time to pay respects to the city and its residents. Make your way to the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial . Located up on a hill, it grants sweeping views over the capital, and is an unmissable way of learning about the country’s tragic past.

Spending More Time in Yerevan?

So your 3 days in Yerevan are up but you’re left craving more?

Well, for more to do in the city, you can always check out some of its top museums. The Museum of History and the National Gallery are located right on Republic Square and well worth a browse.

Sergei Parajanov House Museum is the old house of a Georgian-born but Yerevan-lived filmmaker. Even if you’re not familiar with his works, the house is still a cool place to check out.

I’d also recommend diving even deeper in the city’s wine & dine scene. Visit the Ararat Brandy Factory to sample world-class Armenian brandy.

yerevan travel blog

And there are even more awesome day trips from Yerevan than the ones already listed! Most of these attractions do also have nearby accommodation options but many backpackers prefer to visit them from Yerevan since the city has the best backpacker hostels in Armenia.

Travel up north to see the Armenian Alphabet Monument, ruins of the Amberd Castle, and the Buyrakan Observatory . 

The Zvartnots Cathedral around the same hoods is also absolutely gorgeous. In the east, Lake Sevan’s coastline awaits. In the south, travellers often combine a trip to Areni (for the best wine in Armenia) and the Tatev and Noravank monasteries .

Aether Backpack

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so  damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

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A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

So many things to see, so little time… When you’re deciding what to see in Yerevan, it’s good to have some idea what the must-sees are in the city.

I know, I know… Nothing is ever strictly must-see . But if you skip sunset at the Cascade, I will personally come for you.

Without further ado, here are the best things to do in Yerevan.

1. See the Sunset at the Cascade

Hands down – my favourite spot in Yerevan! And I know most locals and travellers would agree with me. It was legit one of my favourite things to do while backpacking the Caucasus ! The tall stone steps are a popular hangout, offering awesome views over the city and in clear weather, you can even see Mount Ararat.

Pssst – have you heard of Yerevan Card?

For hardcore sightseers, the Yerevan Card can be a super valuable travel buddy. Yerevan Card gives you tons of tasty freebies, like free access to museums, guided tours, entrance to attractions, AND free use of public transport!

Plus, tons of discounts in cafés and restaurants to make sure you’re getting the most out of delicious Armenian cuisine 😉

three statues in yerevan

2. Wander Around an Outdoor Statue Park

The Cafesijn outdoor gallery is located in the park leading up to the Cascade steps. It’s completely free to visit, and features sculptures from famous international artists like Lynn Chadwick, Barry Flanagan, and Fernando Botero.

3. Laze the Day Away at a Streetside Café

Yerevan is all about the VIBES. Sure, there are a lot of things to see, but turns out one of the best things to do in Yerevan is to not do anything at all.

Yerevan has a thriving, vibrant café culture, and the best way to tap into the city’s vital lifeforce is to spend a lazy afternoon drinking coffee (or wine!) in a little coffee shop people-watching.

4. Pay Your Respects at the Genocide Museum

The Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial is a dark but essential place to visit during your trip to Yerevan.

The museum features stories from people who lived through the genocide – or often, didn’t. The monument has an ever-burning flame, trees planted in honour of the countries that have recognised the genocide as such, and a bittersweet view towards Mount Ararat.

armenian genocide memorial

5. Fight Water with Water

Every July, the city erupts into watery chaos as it celebrates Vardavar , which is essentially a huge water fight. The festival was originally celebrated in honour of Astghik, the goddess of water, beauty, love, and fertility.

When Armenia went full Christian mode, the holiday got adopted by the church. Now, it’s one of the most fun ways you could spend a stifling hot summer day in Yerevan.g

6. Shop at the GUM Market

Is this the best food in Yerevan? The GUM Market is relatively small but jam-packed with fresh goodies from fruits, veggies, Armenian bread (lavash), cheese, pickles… Get the idea? The market is undoubtedly a foodie’s heaven, and a must-stop for the brokest backpackers who are planning to cook their own meals while in Yerevan.

GUM market in yerevan with local delicacies on display.

7. Explore Yerevan’s Soviet History

Armenia was under Soviet rule for the better part of the last century, and the typical brutalist architecture is still well visible in the streetscape. Some of the best examples are the so-called ‘Commieblock’ apartments and Moscow Theatre, but Soviet remnants are scattered all over the city.

8. Take a Day Trip

When there’s so much to see in Yerevan, it might seem counterproductive to get out of the city. However, some of Armenia’s highlights are located just outside the city bounds! Check out the iconic Khor Virap Monastery or swing by the gorge-ous Gorni Gorge.

yerevan travel blog

9. Sip on Some World-Class Brandy

Armenia is most well-known for its wines (and you shouldn’t skip them!) but they don’t do too bad on the hard liqueur front, either. When in Yerevan, it’s also worth checking out the Ararat brandy factory which is an absolutely delicious way to get a lil’ day-tipsy.

yerevan travel blog

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Yerevan is still pretty new on the backpacking map so it doesn’t offer a huge platter of hostels for backpackers at the moment. Budget accommodation in general, though? That’s super easy to find in Yerevan.

Even the best hostels in Yerevan are generally pretty basic but comfortable. Many of them have free breakfast included, and most of them are super centrally located somewhere in the city centre.

They’re not all equally made, though. Backpackers in Yerevan tend to flock to certain hostels so if you’re feeling social, make sure you pick the right place where to stay in Yerevan! You can check out my recommendations for specific hostels in Yerevan in the table below.

You won’t struggle to find a cheap hotel in Yerevan. The more low-cost private rooms might be a tiny bit run down but they’re usually good for basic accommodation. There are also some Airbnbs scattered around the city.

Funny enough, there is a lot of intersection between hotel rooms offered on Airbnb and apartments offered on Booking.com so it’s worth comparing both sites to find your ideal digs. The price difference between cheap hotel rooms and holiday apartments in Yerevan is not huge, either.

The Best Places to Stay in Yerevan

Yerevan is an extremely walkable city – lucky you! There are still a few options on where to stay in Yerevan. 

The benefit of staying close to Republic Square is that you’re an equal distance from all the attractions. The Cascade area, on the other hand, is dope if you’re spending many an evening gazing at the sunset at the monument (my fave thing to do in Yerevan!). In that case, the walk back to your lair will never be too long.

people sitting on the stone steps of the cascade with mount ararat on the background

Cascade Complex

Just a few steps away from the most famous attraction in Yerevan and the place for the city’s best vistas! You’re also still just a 20-minute walk from Republic Square.

A white building and the brown museum of armenia building.

Republic Square

Staying in the heart of Yerevan, you’re close to all of its sights: 20 minutes to the Cascade, 5-10 minutes to the Blue Mosque and Kond, and everything else just a few steps away.

street art graffiti

The Erebuni district is a few kilometres south of the city centre. You can walk to the centre in 30 minutes or take a train to get there. More local, quieter, and super close to the ancient Erebuni fortress.

Armenia is a holy land for cheapskate cowboys: it’s one of the cheapest countries in Europe . It’s like a little oasis of almost-Asia prices in Europe! Prices in Yerevan are very backpacker-friendly, from cheap hostels to low-cost local food.

The currency used in Armenia is called dram . The denominations are pretty big but once you get an idea of them, the maths is easy enough. You can count roughly that 500 dram = $1 USD.

a sattue of three men outside a traditional Yerevani tavern

Whenever you’re travelling abroad and especially when there’s currency conversions involved, transaction and ATM fees can really put a dent in your budget. Get your travel banking sorted out before travelling to Yerevan!

I personally use and highly recommend Wise (formerly known as Transferwise). It’s a free platform that you can use for bank transfers and payments with hugely smaller fees than any other platform I know of.

Cheap hostels in yerevan are not a rarity. A bed in a hostel dorm sets you back about $5 USD at cheapest. Five dollars! Even the more expensive hostel rooms only go up to about ten bucks a night.

A private room in a cheap hotel in Yerevan or guest house can be as cheap as 10 dollars a night. If you fancy something a tad fancier, a double room in a boutique hotel or a small apartment is about $25-35 per night.

Even the nicer options hardly break the bank. A bigger apartment on Airbnb or a room in a hotel sets you back $50-70. You COULD splash and spend $200 a night for a suite at a real fancy hotel in Yerevan, but there really is no need.

Food in Yerevan is definitely affordable. A fast food meal costs about $2-3, and a meal in a cheap restaurant maybe $5. Your food budget could explode quickly if you pick more touristy restaurants though!

If you want to save even more, cook your own food. You can find cheap, fresh produce at the GUM market and local supermarkets.

In a mid-range restaurant, you can easily get a meal for $7-15 including wine and an appetizer. A cappuccino costs about $2, and a glass of wine in a restaurant about the same (you knew I had to include it, didn’t you).

Within Yerevan, you can travel around cheaply with a combo of metro and local taxis. A metro ticket is 100 dram (about $0.2), and a taxi ride is a couple of dollars.

A domestic beer in a restaurant would typically cost about $1, and an imported beer $1.5-2.

A glass of wine might be about $2 apiece. A bottle from the supermarket (for pre-gaming or a civilised picnic in a park) is about $6; in a restaurant, it’s a little bit more.

There are tons of free things to do! Yerevan has a free walking tour, open-air art galleries, parks, and streets to wander. Even the Genocide Museum is free to enter but donations are welcome.

The biggest expense you’ll likely face are tours and day trips outside of the city. For example, a private taxi for a few hours to go see the Khor Virap Monastery costs about $20-30 USD.

A Daily Budget in Yerevan

Travel costs in Yerevan are really reasonable. Even budget backpackers with more holes than dollas in their pockets can easily navigate the city. 

Here is an estimation of a traveller’s daily budget in Yerevan. The biggest differences in costs come from accommodation and food; if you cook for yourself and avoid touristy restaurants, and bunk up in the most basic hostels, your trip to Yerevan can be as cheap as a day in Thailand.

Yerevan on a Budget – Top Tips and Tricks

Yerevan is cheap, but there is no reason that an experienced broke backpacker couldn’t make it cheap -cheap. Here are some of the tried and tested principles of high-level budget backpackers:

  • Carry a portable stove. Cooking your own food saves money, sure. But having a lightweight stove with you is a grand idea anyway. A great backpacking stove saves your ass in hostels that don’t have a kitchen, and it’s your best friend if your trip takes you to the Armenian wilderness after Yerevan.
  • Hitchhike! Finding a ride in Armenia is easy, and thumb-travel is a very cheap (and adventurous) way to see the lands unknown. Take a local train to the borders of the city, from where it’s pretty easy to hitch your way to see the sights around Yerevan.
  • Surf a couch. Couchsurfing is a fantastic way to get to know locals and local life while saving money! The couchsurfing scene in Yerevan is not huge but you’ll find some hosts willing to take in poor lost little backpackers.
  • Travel with a water bottle. The sexiest travellers help combat the world-wide plasticapocalypse by avoiding single-use plastic. Get a reusable water bottle and fill up anywhere – tap water is good to drink in Yerevan.

Why You Should Travel to Yerevan with a Water Bottle

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… So do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful.

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel to some of the world’s most remote places, you come to realise the full extent of the plastic problem. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a  responsible traveller .

grayl geopress filter bottle

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Listen – the shoulder season is usually the best time to visit any place. In Armenia (and subsequently Yerevan), shoulder season is April-May and September-October. Spring and early autumn have pleasant weather, and you’ll mostly avoid peak-season tourists.

The thing about the Armenian peak season is that it really isn’t that crowded though. Yerevan, its biggest city and biggest tourist attraction, is still pretty devoid of the kind of crowds that plague bigger, badder destinations on the European Travel Trail . Plus, if you’re a backpacker, the summer is the best time to catch other travellers en route to their adventures.

On top of that, summer is festival season, and Yerevan has a few awesome ones going on. From film festivals to music and even hot air ballooning, there are many events in the long summer months. It all culminates to Vardavar . It’s essentially a city-wide waterfight and one of the most unique things to experience in Yerevan.

Yerevan Cityscape with Moutains Backpacking Georgia

The downside is that the summer months are slightly more expensive than the rest of the year (but c’mon, this is still Armenian prices), and the summer temperature in Yerevan can occasionally get stifling hot.

If your trip will take you elsewhere than Yerevan, my favourite season to visit is in the early autumn. Armenia has a gorgeous display of autumn colours, and the hiking trails in the Caucasus are at their absolute best at this time of the year.

The winter is pretty mild in Yerevan too, and the temperature in Yerevan rarely dips below zero.

All in all, while Yerevan is decently nice all year round, visiting in September or October will guarantee the best experience if you want to explore the rest of the country. 

What to Pack for Yerevan

There are a few trusty things I always add to my backpacking packing list . These will surely come in handy also when you’re backpacking Yerevan.

Osprey Aether AG 70

Osprey Aether 70L Backpack

Ya can’t go backpacking anywhere without a blasted backpack! Words cannot describe what a friend the Osprey Aether has been to The Broke Backpacker on the road. It’s had a long and illustrious career; Ospreys don’t go down easily.

feathered friend backpacking sleeping bag

Feathered Friends Swift 20 YF

My philosophy is that with an EPIC sleeping bag, you can sleep anywhere. A tent is a nice bonus, but a real sleek sleeping bag means you can roll out anywhere in a and stay warm in a pinch. And the Feathered Friends Swift bag is about as premium as it gets.

Grayls Geopress Water Bottle

Grayl Geopress Filtered Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator – so you can enjoy a cold red bull, or a hot coffee, no matter where you are.

yerevan travel blog

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Every traveller should have a head torch! A decent head torch could save your life. When you’re camping, hiking, or even if the power just went out, a top-quality headlamp is a MUST. The Petzl Actik Core is an awesome piece of kit because it’s USB chargeable—batteries begone!

packable travel medical kit

First Aid Kit

Never go off the beaten track (or even on it) without your first aid kit! Cuts, bruises, scrapes, third-degree sunburn: a first aid kit will be able to handle most of these minor situations.

Is Yerevan safe?

Armenia has a bit of a bad rep because of the whole having-an-active-warzone thing. (The skirmish with Azerbaijan occasionally escalates from skirmish to military action). As long as you stay away from border areas with Azerbaijan, you’ll be right as rain. And Yerevan, in its part, happens to be far from the hotspot of action.

In Yerevan, like any city, keep an eye on your stuff for pickpockets (although petty crime isn’t as bad as in other European capitals). The best way to protect your cash is to get a money belt , and it’s worth taking a padlock to hostels with you.

mother of armenia statue with a sword in hand over the city landscape

There can sometimes be demonstrations and protests that usually go nicely and calmly, but there is a possibility for escalation, so it’s best to avoid them.

Traffic in Armenia is CRAZY. Your biggest danger is getting mowed down by an erratic driver more than anything else.

In a word: Yerevan is super safe to travel. Even for solo female travellers. I traipsed through the whole Caucasus region completely on my glorious lonesome, and Yerevan felt totally safe for me. 

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in Yerevan

As much fun as taking drugs on the road might be, it’s very much illegal in Armenia, including cannabis. Having it on you could result in heavy fines and a short jail sentence (as a foreigner you’d probably be able to bribe your way out but… probably best if you don’t put yourself at that risk in the first place). 

Actually, even finding weed might be a task if you were hell-bent on breaking the law: Armenians are at the bottom of the list when it comes to weed consumption in Europe.

yerevan travel blog

Luckily, Armenians are not all too saintly. You might’ve already noticed a continuous thread through this guide – wine. Ah, the wine… local wine is delicious, tasting like something your grandma brewed up in her basement but with world-class quality. 

Armenians are also no strangers to hard liquor. The signature hard spirit is oghi , a vodka made with fruits and berries, and oh boy – it’s strong. Yerevan also has some great brandy that you can try at Ararat Brandy Factory.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Yerevan

No matter where you are or what you do, you’re always at risk to slip in the shower or throw out your back out admiring local statue art a little too hard. A savvy backpacker should always consider getting a comprehensive travel insurance policy before leaving home. This covers you from little boo-boos to 127 hours-style predicaments.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

yerevan travel blog

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You can always fly into Yerevan: it has a decent international airport. Arriving overland is also easy.

If you’ve been backpacking Georgia before this, arriving is easy-peasy. There are regular bus and train services between Yerevan and Tbilisi, Georgia. You can also take a taxi for the journey that probably sets you back a ridiculous $40 (Armenia is cheap, yo).

Just be prepared that the driver is most likely to drive like a maniac. That’s the noble Caucasian way.

old car with armenian flags

You can even get a bus all the way from Iran but it’s gonna be a long-ass journey. (And I highly recommend stopping at other destinations around Armenia first since you’ll travel through the whole country to get to the capital!)

From other parts of Armenia, arriving to Yerevan is super easy. Since it’s the capital and the biggest transportation hub in the country, all roads eventually lead to Yerevan.

You can NOT enter Armenia directly from Azerbaijan or Turkey.

Getting Around Yerevan

Yerevan is a pretty sprawled-out city but luckily the biggest attractions are all more-or-less in the same grid. The best way to see the attractions in Yerevan is by foot – so bring a comfy pair of kicks.

There are many ways to get around Yerevan, so here are your options!

The centre of Yerevan is easily walkable if you’re reasonably fit. Most of the big attractions are a 20-30 minute radius from the Republic Square. Even though you’ll definitely clock in some kilometres, it’s a fun way to explore the city.

There is also a great free walking tour in Yerevan in case you don’t feel like making up your own itineraries.

Yerevan’s city buses are extremely cheap, one ride costing about 20 cents. The system is pretty easy to figure out, and I managed to get around the town with buses no problem.

Buses don’t operate at night so if you’re indulging in nightlife delights, make sure you’ve got enough drams for a taxi ride.

Taking taxis around Yerevan is cheap and easy. A 10-minute ride costs just a couple of dollars. The most popular taxi apps in Yerevan are GG taxi and Yandex , so I recommend you download them!

Taking a private taxi is also the easiest way to do day trips around Yerevan. For example, using public transportation to get to Khor Virap monastery – the most popular attraction in Armenia – is a total pain in the ass. Organising a private taxi there and back (plus wait time as you explore the monastery) costs about $20-30 USD. It’s worth avoiding the hassle, and it’s pretty cheap if you can split the cost.

The metro in Yerevan is almost a sight in itself. It was built in Soviet times in early 80s, and its design has earned it the name “retro metro”. The stations are great examples of Soviet architecture, and some of them are also (surprisingly?) beautiful.

The metro is not a super useful tool for travellers that are planning to stay mostly in the city centre. It only has 10 stations, out of which 2 are close to popular attractions. Still, it’s a cheap ride: a metro ticket costs 100 dram (about $0.2). Might be worth a ride if you’ve got some extra time!

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Working in Armenia is not a super popular option for foreigners. Work can be tough to find, and your future employer has to be the one to sponsor your work visa. Your best bet might be with one of the international companies operating in Yerevan.

For remote workers though, Yerevan is a pretty good spot. The nearby Tbilisi is already a huge for digital nomads, and there’s no reason Yerevan wouldn’t soon become a big destination for laptop lifers . The climate in Yerevan is pleasant, it’s got a lively cityscape to explore, an affordable lifestyle… 

The only thing that is a bit lacking still is the community. Some expats and long-term nomads have already started finding Yerevan as their next destination, so keep an eye on the sitch. Soon, Yerevan might be a major digital nomad hub.

people sitting on the stone steps of the cascade with mount ararat on the background

The best way to stay in a city long-term as a backpacker, though? Volunteer!

Volunteering is easy since most places don’t require you to have any special skills – just some people skills and good vibez. For the measly price of your free labour for a few hours a day, you’ll get free board and meals, and the experience of a lifetime.

Because sure, volunteering is great if you’re looking to cut costs but that’s not the biggest reason we do it. But the best reason to volunteer is to form deeper connections with the people of the country and to give back some of the wonderful hospitality you’ve been shown as a traveller. 

While there are many excellent work exchange sites online, The Broke Backpacker’s favourite one is Worldpackers . It’s one of the best work exchange sites out there with great volunteer opportunities, a communal platform to share your experiences, and a company that actually cares about you.

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Worldpackers: connecting travellers with  meaningful travel experiences.

What to do in Yerevan at night? Party, duh!

a night time street view of a cafe with people walking in the distance.

There’s definitely no shortage of places to visit in Yerevan to put your dancy pants on or get some serious drinking done in Yerevan nightlife. Now all you gotta remember is one important word: “cheers” in Armenian is “ kenats !” 

The busiest nightlife is focused in the city centre so if you’re bunking up near Republic Square or the Cascade, you’re already in a good starting position. Confused on where to start? There are a couple of pub crawls that run in Yerevan in peak season and on the weekends so it might be worth hopping in on that.

There are a few bigger nightclubs if you’re serious about your parties. Paparazzi Club is one of the top clubs in town – think DJs, entrance fees (just a few bucks, though) and hardcore dancefloor action. This is where nightlife in Yerevan gets crazy!

Kami Club is also a pretty cool spot and has more of a live music vibe.

Not feeling like a big night out? You can always take it easy and just chill. Try a few different beers at Dargett, Yerevan’s best craft beer bar, or find a chill wine bar to debauch on Armenia’s #1 pride. There are also a few fan-favourite jazz clubs – check out Malkhas Jazz Club in particular.

Dining in Yerevan

Armenian food is mouth-wateringly tasty… And being in the nation’s capital, you have a whole party platter of places to choose from. Food in Yerevan is a great show for the best bites Armenia has to offer.

The best restaurants in Yerevan are its true cheap eats: little hole-in-a-wall places. You’ll find steaming lahmacun (Armenian pizza), freshly baked bread and sizzling barbeque to fill your belly.

Yerevan doesn’t have many only-vegan restaurants. Luckily the national cuisine is pretty veggo-friendly since a lot of traditional dishes are vegetable-based. My vegetarian and vegan friends didn’t have a hard time finding grub in Yerevan!

dolmas on a plate

Walking around the centre of Yerevan, keep an eye out for restaurants that say “Pandok”. These are traditional taverns with a wide array of Armenian dishes on the menu. These places are usually quite touristy but if you don’t mind that, they can be a great intro to all the Armenian classics.

I know I’m a huge sucker for a pretty restaurant setting even when I know it’s all been set up for tourists. These taverns are slightly pricier than more local places but hey, it’s still Armenian prices.

Best Restaurants and Cheap Eats in Yerevan

  • GUM market – mostly for shopping for ingredients but you’ll get lots to sample too!
  • Lahmajun Gaidz – different varieties of lahmacun, “Armenian pizza”
  • Zatar Pizza – hole-in-a-wall with some seriously delish cheap bites (not just pizza)
  • Hin Zangezur – An affordable, traditional, slightly touristy resto
  • The Green Bean – environmentally friendly coffee and lots of vegetarian options
  • Twelve Tables – not ultra-cheap but cozy, organic and among backpacker favourites
  • Dolmama – slightly pricier but it’s hands down the best place for dolmas in Yerevan

Is Yerevan worth visiting?

Absolutely! Especially if your trip is already bringing you to this side of Europe, I would definitely recommend putting Yerevan on your list of cities to visit.

How many days do you need in Yerevan?

I recommend at least 2-3 days. You can see some of the top spots in a day. But for the best, chilled-out touristing experience you’ll need a bit longer.

Is Armenia cheaper than Georgia?

In my experience, yes! It is still possible to burn some serious cash – but in general, overall costs are very low. Although it’s a hard comparison: Georgia is also super cheap.

Is Armenia better than Georgia?

This is a great question to ask in the Caucasus if you want to start a fight! Some people are madly in love with Tbilisi, some with Yerevan, and they’ll defend their favourite till the end of time. Personally, I resonated with Georgia slightly more than Armenia. But both countries are beautiful, cheap, awesome, and hospitable – and great to visit!

Are there a lot of arms in Armenia?

Just the normal amount – Armenia is not named so because of any freakish extra-arm mutations.

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Yerevan these days is a bustling metropolis, on its way to becoming a popular tourist destination and a centre for business. But the city is still shadowed by its past traumas.

Only about one-third of Armenians actually live in Armenia – many escaped a century ago when the Armenian genocide by the Ottomans started. The total death toll might’ve been as high as 1.5 million. Armenia is still campaigning to have the genocide internationally recognised as such, and it’s the reason its relations with modern-day Turkey are so sour.

Walking around Yerevan, you can’t miss Mount Ararat – it’s visible from almost everywhere. The fabled mountain is one of the symbols of the city and Armenia in general.

However, these days it’s located inside Turkish borders, stopping Armenians from visiting it. It’s kind of bittersweet how such an icon for Yerevan serves as a constant reminder that the mountain doesn’t belong to Armenians anymore.

I don’t want to end this little Yerevan travel guide on a dark note. Yerevanians surely would want you to see the city as it is now: vibrant and full of life. However, it’s important that you know the city’s and the country’s history.

So, celebrate Yerevan as it is today. But do pay a visit to the genocide memorial to get the full story.

tops of buildings with snow-covered mountain on the background

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Elina Mattila

Elina Mattila

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Beyond Wild Places

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Yerevan, Armenia

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Yerevan is a cool city. While Tbilisi seems to take a lot of the tourist spotlight in the Caucasus region, Yerevan has been slowly creeping into its own embodiment of cool, calm and collected. If you’re heading to the Caucasus, you should definitely travel to Yerevan and explore the architecture, history, bars, markets and churches that make this city one of the most underrated travel destinations in Eurasia.

The Armenian capital, like its people, has had a rough time over the course of its long history. However, since the fall of the Soviet Union, it seems that it’s been rebounding stronger than ever, albeit slowly. You’ll still see remnants of the country’s past with the dominating stone buildings reminding you of the Soviet era, but the streets are also filled with a buzzing energy and with almost more cafes and wine bars than in the laneways of Melbourne (if you can believe that). 

Although Tbilisi tends to steal people’s hearts almost immediately, Yerevan is more of a slow burner. Whether it’s the flea markets and pop up artists selling their work in small city squares or the vibrant cafe and bar scene, the city can actually be pretty intoxicating if you let it. 

Here’s my comprehensive guide to Yerevan travel to get you exploring the best that the city has to offer.

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About Yerevan city

Yerevan is often referred to as “The Pink City” because of the rosy stone used to build many of the city’s imposing buildings and houses during the Soviet era. However, the origins of the city date back many centuries. It’s one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited urban areas, although it’s been completely levelled and rebuilt many times from both natural disasters like earthquakes and invading empires.

The known origins of the city are from 782 BC when the fortress of Yerbuni was constructed and which become a central part of what is referred to as the Armenian kingdom. Since then the city has come under the rule of many great empires, from Romans, Parthians, Persians, Arabs, Mongols, Turks, Georgians and, finally Russians. In 1920, the city became the capital of the independent Armenian republic and has remained so until the present day. 

The city flourished under the Soviets becoming an important industrial centre. However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city has struggled to deal with the reintegration into the global market economy and you’ll notice many factories still abandoned and in ruin. But the city is a lively centre of activity and it’s slowly finding its feet.

Street market in Yerevan

When to go to Yerevan

The best time to visit Yerevan is in the summer months, from June until August, although weather is usually good until September. This is when the weather is warm, reaching up to 30 deg and only dipping to around 15 deg overnight. May and June are relatively wet months in Armenia though so July and August are most popular with tourists. This is also when you’ll find prices tend to peak as do crowds at popular sights. 

The best months to travel to Yerevan are then September and October when the weather is still pleasant but the crowds have gone and the prices tend to lower a little. Towards the end of October, the weather will be getting cool pretty quickly though before winter sets in. Spring in April and May also have relatively decent weather although they tend to be rainy months too, so Autumn is best.

Vernissage Market

How to get to Yerevan

If you want to travel to Yerevan, then you have many options with a good transport network to other major cities in the region and further beyond. Yerevan is well connected to other European cities by international flights, with new connections opening each year as the demand for Yerevan tourism increases.

Otherwise, you can reach Yerevan by land from Georgia or Iran. The land border with Azerbaijan is closed because of the ongoing conflict between the two countries. It’s also not possible to cross the Armenia and Turkey border due to the political tensions that go back to the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1917.

From Georgia

There are  trains  between Tbilisi in Georgia and Yerevan, which are extremely popular and run daily from June to September, usually overnight. In winter, these trains usually run on a bi-nightly schedule and it’s best to book a ticket in advance at Station Square in Tbilisi or Yerevan Railway Station or Sasuntsi Davit Station in Yerevan. Tickets start from 70GEL and 11, 500 AMD depending on the class.

There are also  marshrutkas  or shared minivans that shuttle across the border. There are regular marshrutkas from Yerevan to Tbilisi and vice versa. The Armenia-Georgia border is probably one of the easiest I’ve ever crossed and the process is extremely efficient and quick, especially if you are from a visa-free country.

The marshrutkas from Tbilisi to Yerevan depart from both the  Station Square  and  Ortachala stations. However, I was travelling in low season and was told that Station Square was a more efficient service, so I headed there. You can ask around for the Yerevan marshrutkas but they congregate in a carpark outside the train station near a broken down and abandoned caravan which is the ticket office. 

They have departures at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and midnight. I got a ticket for the 9am departure which didn’t leave until 11am and we only had four passengers. BUT in the summer months, you should have no problem for timely departures with more demand from tourists. My ticket cost 40GEL (AU$22).

From Yerevan back to Tbilisi, the marshrutkas leave from the  Central Bus Station  or sometimes referred to as Kilikia Bus Station. Tickets are around 7000AMD and you can expect departures every two hours.

The journey takes around 6-7 hours.

Read next: The Ultimate Travel Itinerary for the Caucasus Region

Marshrutkas in Yerevan

There are  daily buses  between Tehran in Iran and Yerevan. They are usually deluxe VIP Iranian buses, as Armenia only has marshrutkas which don’t go the long distances. The journey takes almost 24 hours and stops in Goris in Armenia and Tabriz in Iran as well. I’ve heard prices can be between US$30-50, depending on whether it’s a VIP bus or not. 

I would recommend visiting Goris and Tabriz as well anyway and that way you can break your journey up with a few days between Yerevan and Tehran.

Read next: What You Need to Know Before You Travel to Iran

Soviet souvenirs in Yerevan

Getting around Yerevan

Travelling around Yerevan is best done on foot as much as possible. This way you can really appreciate the architecture and atmosphere on the streets as well as the main sights. However, the city does have a decent transport network.

The city  metro system  is useful and extremely affordable. You just simply buy one-use tokens for each journey you take, which cost 100 AMD (AU$0.35). 

There are also  marshrutkas  (minivans) and  buses  which run around the city and are distinguishable by numbers displayed on their windscreens. These can be more difficult to navigate simply because nothing is in English and the drivers are unlikely to speak English. However, if you know the number you need to catch then they are an extremely affordable way of getting around. 

Taxis  are everywhere in the city and you can use apps like Bolt and Uber to get cheap fares and minimise the language barrier. Taxis can cost anywhere between 1000 AMD and 5000 AMD depending on where you’re going.

Read next: Best Day Trips from Yerevan

The Cascade

Top things to do in Yerevan

For a city that is relatively compact and walkable, there are plenty of things to do in Yerevan to keep you busy for days. In fact, if you want to know how long you should stay in Yerevan, I would say, how much time do you have? 

You can easily fill in time by gazing at the Soviet-era architecture, wandering through markets and visiting all the museums. Here are the top things to do in Yerevan that you can’t miss on your visit to the Armenian capital.

1. The Cascade

The Cascade is a giant stone staircase outside the Cafesijian Museum of Art. It’s incredibly unique and each level of the complex showcases different micro gardens and sculptures. A climb to the top of the 570 stairs is completely worth the effort as the unrivalled view sweeps across the city’s skyline to Mt Ararat which can be seen on a clear day.

The area is like a public square and is one of the best things to do in Yerevan for free.

2. Opera Theatre

This is one of the best examples of heavy Soviet architecture and a must see for anyone who enjoys seeing remnants of the Soviet past in the region. It was designed and built by the Soviets in 1930s and holds ballet and opera performances regularly. The surrounding park area is also popular for families to congregate on sunny afternoons and summer evenings.

3. Katoghike Holy Mother of God Church

This Orthodox church is the oldest in Yerevan, dating back to the 1260s. There’s a tiny chapel next to a newer cathedral and it’s right in the middle of the city. You’ll find people stopping to pray as they pass the church and it’s a nice spot to just observe the local devotion to faith.

History Museum

4. Republic Square and The History Museum

This huge imposing square is the heart of the city and where you’ll find a lot of the streets’ buzz emanating from. In summer, the fountains are full of water and people relax on one of the benches, especially of an evening when the dancing fountains, lights and music are turned on for everyone to enjoy.

It’s quite impressive and when you enter the square for the first time, it’s impossible not to be taken aback by the grand stone buildings, which are very reminiscent of the Soviet era.

You’ll also find the History Museum of Armenia here, which is well worth a visit. This multilevel display showcases various artefacts and history of both the country and the region from the Stone Age all the way up to the present day. It’s open every day and costs 2000 AMD (AU$7) for entry.

5. Blue Mosque

Although the majority of the population is Christian and have been since the first century AD, you might be surprised to find a mosque in the centre of Yerevan. It’s known as the Blue Mosque and is the biggest place of worship for the city’s Shia Muslim community. The Iran Embassy is technically the guardian of the place and it will remind you of the tiled mosques that you find in Iran.

It’s open to the public to enter, except at prayer times. You should dress conservatively before entering.

Kond Neighbourhood

6. Kond Neighbourhood

One of the best things to do in Yerevan is to explore the Kond neighbourhood, which is one of the oldest parts of the city and where you can get a glimpse of what the city was like before the imposing Soviet buildings sprung up in the city centre.

It’s a very rundown part of town and it’s not technically a tourist sight but the charm is just in walking the laneways and streets. It is a residential area though so don’t be too nosy or aggressive about taking photographs as many people may not understand why you’re so interested in their neighbourhood. 

Still, Armenians are super friendly people and although the area is easy to get lost in, there’s always someone around to ask directions.

7. Sergei Parajanov House Museum

Yerevan has some great museums and a lot of them. There’s apparently around 50 museums in the city and you can pick and choose from them depending on your interests. But, a personal highlight of the museums in Yerevan was  Sergei Parajanov House Museum . 

An unassuming place that is dedicated to the life of Parajanov, a pioneering artist, author and screen writer of the 20th century. You’ll find weird and eccentric artwork and displays, some of which make underlying gestures and commentary about the world we live.

Sergei Parajanov Museum

8. Vernissage Market and GUM Market

Yerevan has some excellent markets and I visited the same two markets multiple times because they were that good. 

The  Vernissage Market  is an open-air flea market which is held daily but best to visit on weekends when it’s most busy. There’s everything from Soviet memorabilia to carpets to jewellery and any souvenir you could possibly want. You can easily spend a couple of hours here looking at each stall.

The  GUM Market  is a large covered fresh produce market where locals come to buy all their food from local vendors. You can find butchers, bakers, farmers as well as vendors with dried fruit and nuts. One of the highlights is watching the traditional Armenian bread, lavash, being made and sold.

GUM Market

9. Genocide Museum and Memorial

A moving monument up on the hill above the city is dedicated to the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. There is an eternal flame inside the concrete monument which you can enter to pay your respects. 

The Genocide Museum can also be found at the complex, which documents in raw and eye-opening detail what happened to the Armenian people at the hands of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. It’s extremely well presented with English descriptions and it’s a must-see in Yerevan to fully understand the people of Armenia. It’s still considered a contentious international issue, as some countries, including Turkey, do not recognise the genocide as ever happening. 

This museum and memorial is a bit far to walk from the city centre, although I did walk back and it took me around 45 minutes. An Uber cost me 400 AMD (AU$1.50) to get there from the city centre.

Genocide memorial

10. Bar and cafe hop

The wine and coffee culture is strong in Yerevan. There are hundreds of open-air cafes and bars, which are most lively in summer when the weather is warm. Cafe and wine bar hopping is almost like a sport in the city too, with locals sitting outside cafes and bars throughout the day and into the night. 

Yerevan nightlife would be nothing without a good wine bar and the best of them can be found along  Saryan Street , a strip full of bars and restaurants. Here you’ll find everything from Armenia’s finest wines to fancy cocktails and vegan smoothies, it’s basically where you want to be at night in Yerevan. It’s also home to In Vino, a wine bar that is considered to have sparked the wine bar revolution in the city less than ten years ago. It’s become a sort of wine institution.

The cafe scene in Yerevan reminded me a lot of Melbourne’s and in fact, it’s not unusual to find many people sitting with their laptops at one of the cafes for multiple hours. A couple of cafes I highly recommend include The Green Bean and Eat&Fit. 

When the weather gets cooler, sitting in a cosy cafe or bar with a glass of wine or mug of coffee is one of the best things to do in Yerevan in winter.

Republic Square

Where to stay in Yerevan

As the city is pretty walkable, the best bet is to stay in the city centre area from where you can reach most attractions easily. The city has plenty of accommodation options for all types of budgets, but in general, it’s a very affordable place to stay.

The best  Yerevan hotels  can be found around Republic Square and towards The Cascade. You’ll also find all sorts of budget hostels and Airbnb apartment’s to rent within the apartment blocks around the city centre. 

Avenue Hostel || This very convenient and budget friendly hostel is located right in the centre of Yerevan. They offer 6 and 8 bed dorms, and are within walking distance from all the main attractions. Check their availability here .

Olive Hotel || For a budget friendly, boutique hotel, Olive Hotel is located just 300m from Republic Square. They have very clean and spacious double and family rooms, with friendly staff. Check their prices here .

Dolmas

Where to eat in Yerevan

I have to admit I spent a lot of my time in Yerevan at restaurants and cafes because the food is very good and there’s a great attitude towards people working from their laptops in cafe spaces. 

Saryan Street  is the best place for nightlife in Yerevan with bars and restaurants.  Tumanyan Street  is another popular place with some of the best restaurants in the city like Lavash Restaurant and The Tolma, although they are a bit more on the pricey side.

My favourite cafes, restaurants and bars

The Green Bean:  They have two central locations, one near The Cascade and the other on Amiryan Street. They have an extensive menu with vegan and gluten-free options. It’s a very popular place for students and digital nomads to spend time at their laptops.

Eat&Fit:  An incredibly beautiful cafe with healthy food and vegan and gluten-free options. It’s only small so it fills up quickly but it’s certainly worth it. It’s a bit more pricey than Green Bean but with a similar vibe. 

Karas food chain:  A national food chain that has a very extensive menu with every type of traditional Armenian food, as well as, Georgian food and Western options. There are plenty of outlets in Yerevan and you’ll come across them on almost every major street. The menu is in English. My hostel recommended it for a quick, easy, affordable and all-round good place to go and I ate there plenty of times.

Tavern Yerevan:  A pretty fancy place that has become the city’s most sought after restaurant. My hostel told me it was the best place to go for traditional Armenian food but every time I tried to enter they told me I had to pre-book days in advance, so I gave up. But, for a special treat or if you’re a real foodie, it might be worth planning a meal here.

Exploring more of Armenia and the Caucasus?

If you’re travelling around Armenia you might want to check out some of my other posts:

  • Best Day Trips From Yerevan in Armenia
  • The Ultimate Travel Guide to Dilijan National Park
  • 12 Best Places to Visit in the Caucasus

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Day trip from Yerevan

Best Day Trips from Yerevan in Armenia

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The Ultimate Guide to Dilijan National Park, Armenia

[…] you’re wondering where to head from Yerevan within easy reach, this guide to the best day trips from Yerevan will help you plan your trip in […]

[…] is the country’s ultimate escape into nature and incredibly easy to reach from Yerevan. It’s popular on weekends and holidays but the multitude of activities on offer means you can […]

[…] having spent a lot of time in Tbilisi and Yerevan, I honestly didn’t think I’d feel much love for Baku. But I was wrong. It truly is a cool city […]

I highly recommend a visit to Yerevan. Not only is the city filled with beautiful architecture and rich history, but the people are also incredibly friendly and welcoming. During my visit, I was able to explore the city’s vibrant culture through its delicious food, unique museums, and lively nightlife. I also had the opportunity to visit some of the nearby sights, such as the ancient ruins of Erebuni Fortress and the stunning Temple of Garni.

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Long Weekend: Yerevan

Stuart Wadsworth reports on Armenia’s cognac capital, Yerevan, enjoying a glass or two of brandy as he calls in on the Central Bazaar food market, the impressive Cascade steps and even a Beatles tribute bar…

yerevan travel blog

In the shadow of the fabled Mount Ararat , Yerevan stands at a crossroads between Asian and European civilization, and for centuries has been a battleground between Christians and Muslims. Armenia was once a vast empire stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian, but now it’s a slice of land not much bigger than Belgium, hemmed in by Turkey, Georgia – and Azerbaijan, its sworn enemy. Under the yoke of Soviet control for seventy years, Armenia stumbled through one crisis after another during the 90s, but finally the country is starting to look confidently to the future with genuine economic growth and a developing tourist industry.

Ararat looms over Yerevan at dusk

Yerevan, with a population of around one million, is a relaxed and friendly capital, with a strong European café culture and lively nightlife scene. A mainly Soviet-era city, its architecture is not always photogenic, but does provide a sense of grandeur, whilst the central core possesses some lovely 19th-century edifices. It may not immediately impress, but Yerevan grows on you as you peel away its layers and begin to understand its expressive, passionate people. Engaging, friendly and very hospitable, Armenians, like their Georgian neighbours, have a reputation for enjoying life – and especially their most famous export, cognac…

Best of the Beaten Track

…and where better to start your sightseeing in the capital than in the premises of its celebrated tipple: at the Yerevan Brandy Company . The company runs English-language tours which are a lot of fun and very informative, taking you through the whole distilling process, from grape to glass. There are cellars dating back to the 19th century, and barrels with the names of countless famous foreign dignitaries who have visited. The best part of the trip is of course the tasting at the end, and you get to sample three delicious blends, ranging from 5 to 30 years in age. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and costs $30.

Barrels of fun on the cognac tour

Hipster’s Guide

For art enthusiasts, a trip to the Sergei Paradjanov Museum should be rewarding. Not your run-of-the-mill artist, Paradjanov spent his life flitting in and out of prison during soviet times, still producing some of the most brilliant, inventive and amusing avant-garde collages, sculptures and films to have come out of this grim period. There’s real flair and originality to his work, and a visit to the slightly out of town house-museum is well worth it. The Vernissage art market, showcases both local avant-garde and traditional talent.

Methuselah's birthday

A second place you really need to go to understand the Armenian soul is a half-hour taxi drive from the city. Echmiadzin , 20km west, is something akin to the Vatican, or spiritual centre, of the Armenian Apostolic Church . You can admire two important religious artifacts here: a piece of wood from Noah’s Ark (which is said to have come to rest on nearby Ararat) and a piece of the lance used by a Roman soldier to stab Jesus’ side as he was hung from the Cross. Also, if you go on a Sunday, you get to see an Armenian service in action, a rare treat with lots of men in hoods, swinging thuribles, incense, candles and beautiful chanting.

Beached backpackers

The stronger-thighed traveller might want to combine a city break in Yerevan with a bike tour of Armenia’s monasteries . (Follow the link to read about one Urban Travel Blogger’s cycling experience when he did just that!).

Pillow Talk

Yerevan’s budget options are limited. But the good news is that it’s not over-run with backpackers, so you should still just be able to turn up and get a bed should you wish. The only bona-fide hostel is Envoy , weighing in at about $20 a night, and it packs 70 beds into its ten rooms. A bit cheaper still (at around $15 a night) are the homestay options near to the Opera house. By far the most popular is Anahit Stepayan’s . A somewhat over-bearing host to some, she is motherly and sweet according to others – she will certainly make you feel at home. Moving upscale quite rapidly (there are few mid-range options here), there are the soviet-era hotels Shirak and Erebuni – both of which charge around $60 per person. Other than the Soviet chic on offer, the only advantage to staying in either of these places is that you get your own room and breakfast and a central location. At the top end, the Golden Tulip is by far the most comfortable option in town, with all the usual mod-cons, and a swimming pool on its roof – a real bonus in the summer heat in a town where getting a swim can be difficult and expensive.

Yerevan is famous for its khorovats (grills) and, come dusk, you can see the smoke rising over the city as a thousand roadside vendors and restaurants singe their kebabs to a crisp. Hit Paronyan Poghots (Barbecue Street) for a host of smokin’ options. However, there is more to food here than barbecues. The fresh fruit and vegetables grown locally are delicious, as is dairy produce, fish, wine and of course brandy (check out Central Bazaar if you’re self catering!). For excellent traditional fare, why not try Our Village, handily placed under Anahit’s place if you’re staying there. Dishing up hearty traditional Armenian dishes in ethnic surrounds and with live music, this is an excellent introduction to local cuisine. Khashlama – lamb stew cooked in beer – is delicious here. Another great traditional place, though a bit less cosy, is Old Erivan . On the eastern edge of the centre is Kaukas, which serves similar local staples in rustic surrounds; it can get very busy here, so book ahead.

Veg out at the Central Bazaar

The bar scene in Yerevan is a bit more exciting and inventive than in fellow Caucasian capital, Tbilisi . An evening in Kalamat, just down from Envoy hostel, is a great way of meeting friendly, hip and knowledgeable young locals. The dress code is strictly informal, and the atmosphere eastern and ethnic. You get a fair few Diaspora Armenians here too, so it’s a good place to get an insight into that scene. Nearby, the Beatles Bar offers English music – not easy in Armenia, where Russian pop rules – and some fun memorabilia. Slightly underground and off most tourists’ radars is The Club , which multi-tasks as a bookshop, restaurant and bar in one. Great for a quiet pint, you can sit on bean bags and chill out, and if you ask the owner nicely you can go to a secret hidden bar behind the kitchen and listen to his smuggled record collection from soviet times. A few Irish bars cater to the smattering of expats here, the pick of which is Shamrock (1A Saryan Street), which has a great welcoming vibe and typically grungy feel. If you’re in your glad rags, head for Stoyka for a guaranteed fun night out. Open ’til 5am at the weekends, it caters to expats, tourists, local and Diasporan Armenians, and offers a wide range of beers.

The Club's tea room

Getting There

Much like Georgia, Armenia is somewhat hemmed in and difficult to access by land and, as it’s landlocked, you can’t get there by sea either. The only land borders you can come in by are via Iran or Georgia – which pretty much means that if you’re coming here, you’re flying. Some find cheaper flights to Tbilisi and come overland from there, but Yerevan is well-connected to western Europe. BMI fly from Heathrow and LOT fly from Warsaw ‘s Chopin Airport.

The local Yerevan Scope has good maps and some info, otherwise Armeniapedia and World 66 are the best of a distinctly average bunch of online help.

Lonely Planet’s Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan is a solid, if unspectacular, guidebook and good on cheap accommodation; whilst the other alternative, Bradt’s Guide to Armenia , is dull, dry, and only of use if you are obsessed with every last dusty detail of monasteries and churches. Thankfully there’s some great travel literature in the form of Kapuscinski’s Imperium , which includes a memorable, poetic chapter on the wonder and magic of Armenian cognac. For background info on the genocide, read Children of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and the Century-long Struggle for Justice (Michael Bobelian), a moving account (at times unbearably so) of the 1915-22 tragedy. It reads almost like a thriller, and provides damning evidence of a crime the U.K and U.S still deny happened. The Crossing Place by Philip Marsden is a haunting evocation of the Armenian spirit, from the forced marches into Syria through to the old communities of the Middle East and Eastern Europe to a frontier village in the middle of the Karabach War . Visions of Ararat by Christopher Walker is a collection of writings on Armenia by visitors over the centuries.

Soundtrack to the City

Cher: Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves Bambir: That’s Fine With Us The Armenian Navy Band: Ararat The Beatles: Back in the U.S.S.R

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Current version updated on June 11th, 2015

First published on January 8th, 2011

Posted in City Guide with destination tags Armenia , Yerevan

8 thoughts on “ Long Weekend: Yerevan ”

“An evening in Kalamat…” It’s called Calumet and yes, it’s the best bar in town. Process is another good one, on Saryat by the junction with Tumanyan. There is also 80s Bar and Woodrock to check out.

Aside from bars, I would add walking in the gorge; the park where the Genocide Museum is located, and Vernissage Market (weekends only) to the list.

Thank you so much, Stuart, for this really useful article. Am travelling to Yerevan end of June and will definitely be using some of your suggestions for my trip. As my trip will also include an Armenian wedding experience, you may want to check my coming article. safe travels at all times! Anja on talkwellness

Stuart, this is a great article. Two questions,is OVIR registration compulsory like in Russia, Uzbekistan etc and do Yerevan hotels keep passports?

Dear Emma, OVIR registration is compulsory only if you are on a long stay (usually over 90 days). In general the hotels do not keep your passport, just take to register you and give back.

Once in Yerevan, do not miss the chance to be in Republic Square, especially in the evening when there are dancing water fountains. You can find it at the end of Abovyan and Nalbanyan streets. There you will find also the National Gallery which is alsi worth to see.

Hi dear friends, my name is Diana. I am personal guide in Armenia. If you look for convinient and cosy trip than we can help you (my future husband and me… and yes, we are engaged!):) With us you shall visit the most unique places where a regular tourist doesn’t have access. Once you will arive in Armenia we shall meet you at the airport by our personal car and accompany you during your whole trip. We charge cheeper than taxist do )) As for transportation we provide comfortable Mitsubishi Grandis car with 7 seats We can organise as well as walking tours in our amasing capital Yerevan, help you with your hotel (both chiep and convinient one). We shall show you were you can find tasty armenian cuisine with low price and so on and so on… Call us if you are interested in extraordinary and interesting trip 🙂 1 hour with us will cost you just $7

Hi, I am planning to visit Armenia by Mar 18th with my wife and 2 kids aged 13 & 7 years. We will be there till 23rd. Looking forward to hear from you about your services

Once in Yerevan, do not forget to visit the museums and galleries here. Right in the Republic square you will see the National Gallery of Armenia where there is much to see.

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The World Was Here First

The Ultimate Armenia Itinerary: 5 to 7 Days (or More!)

Last Updated on February 16, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

As one of the least-visited countries in Europe, Armenia can be viewed as an exotic destination that only the most intrepid of travellers would choose to visit. Because of this, there isn’t a lot of information about this South Caucasus nation available online and it can make planning the perfect Armenia itinerary a difficult task.

Because so many of those who do visit Armenia do it by organised tour, it can be very tricky to find the right information for those who want to visit this underrated country independently. Planning a trip to Armenia is one of the best decisions you could make, especially if you’re combining it with a trip through the other Caucasus countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The gorgeous Noravank Monastery

Table of Contents

Best Time to Visit Armenia

Despite its relatively southern geographic location, Armenia very much experiences four proper seasons and, therefore, there are some times of year to visit this Caucasian nation that are better than others.

Winters in Armenia can be very cold, with high temperatures between the months of December-February barely clocking in above freezing. Luckily, however, the cold weather doesn’t tend to last too long as it will usually begin to warm up in the month of March and temperatures will fall into the low 20s Celcius (70s Fahrenheit) by April.

Because of this, travelling in the springtime is one of the best times of year to plan a trip to Armenia. Besides the tendency for a bit more rain, the temperatures will be mild and pleasant with it rarely getting too hot or too cold.

The Autumn seasons between September-November also see similar temperatures to Spring albeit with less rain, making that the absolute optimal time to visit Armenia.

Summers in Armenia are sunny and hot, with daily high temperatures often clocking in over 40 degrees Celcius (102 degrees Fahrenheit). Though many hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants will be air-conditioned, this becomes less likely the further from big cities or tourist hotspots you venture.

It is also worth noting that public transport (like buses and marshrutkas) rarely are air-conditioned so it can get unbearably hot to travel from point A to B in the summer.

All in all, the best times to visit Armenia would likely be in the shoulder seasons of March-May and September-November.

Khor Virap Monastery with views of Mt Ararat in the distance

How Many Days in Armenia?

If you’re wondering how many days in Armenia is sufficient to get a good feel for the country but you’re strapped for time, we would recommend spending five days in this southern Caucasian nation. This will give you time to explore the lively capital of Yerevan, take a day trip into the surrounding area, and spend a couple of nights in a smaller city as well.

Spending 5 days in Armenia will allow you to get beyond the capital and experience the culture of this underrated travel destination without being too exhausting or taking too much time.

If you have longer, spending one week in Armenia is ideal to get a really good grasp of the country and a more well-rounded view of the culture and history of this beautiful nation.

With 7 days, you have time not only to explore the capital city, but you can head quite off the beaten path and take in the city of Gyumri and enjoy some of the beautiful nature that Armenia has to offer.

The Cascade in Yerevan

Getting Around Armenia

Armenia isn’t that highly-visited of a country and those who do venture to this underappreciated nation tend to do so on an organised tour, which means that figuring out how to get around independently can be a confusing and albeit daunting task for tourists.

Luckily, locals in Armenia tend to be extremely helpful and eager to lend a hand to confused visitors, so it is likely that you wouldn’t be stranded for too long if you couldn’t figure something out.

If you only plan to visit Yerevan while you explore Armenia, getting around the city is incredibly easy and manageable as the majority of the city’s main sites can be reached on foot and the city centre is compact and easy to navigate. Anything else that is not within walking distance is easy to get to with either the metro or an affordable taxi ride.

Taxi rides are accessible for most travellers in Yerevan and it can actually be the easiest way to get to some more out-of-the-way attractions within the city. It is worth knowing, however, that taxis throughout Armenia (and the Caucasus in general) don’t tend to have meters, so it is essential to negotiate a price before you get in.

Finding a cab through the Yandex taxi app or the Bolt app is a great option. This operates much in the same way as Uber and will quote you the exact price of the journey before you get in the cab, leaving out any need for stressful negotiations.

If you’re travelling outside of the capital — for example, from Yerevan to Dilijan , Gyumri, or Goris — there are a few options available for independent travellers. The easiest and most common option for inter-city travel in Armenia is by marshrutka, or minibus.

tbilisi to gyumri marshrutka

Depending on the popularity of your destination, marshrutkas have a vague schedule and generally depart when full or mostly full.

The destination of the bus will be posted in the front window and it will generally be in the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet if they are popular routes amongst tourists. If you can’t already, it can be helpful to learn the Cyrillic alphabet or learn what your destinations look like printed both in Cyrillic and in the Armenian alphabet.

You can find the most up-to-date bus timetables from tourist information centres or from your guesthouse, hostel, or hotel staff. Often, you might need to book a spot on the bus if there are only a finite number that leave per day. The tourist info centre or your accommodation can call and book these for you as well.

Generally speaking, you pay the driver for the ride, however, there are some routes where you buy a ticket at a counter instead. Don’t worry, they will let you know for your specific route.

Train travel does exist in Armenia, however, it isn’t all that well-developed and not every route is available. While the trains are not the most comfortable mode of transportation in Armenia, they tend to be more comfortable than a marshrutka and can be preferable if there an option for your route. Ticket prices vary, but they are quite affordable.

Another easy way to get around Armenia, especially if you’re on a tight schedule and not travelling on a tight budget, is to rent a car. Though the road quality may not be the best in some areas of the country, having your own car makes it easy to travel independently and to see some out-of-the-way attractions without having to rely on organised tours or being beholden to erratic bus schedules.

If you want to find great prices on car hire, we recommend using Rentalcars.com , which aggregates many deals across multiple major companies. You can also rent private cars directly from locals through Local Rent .

Yerevan to Dilijan Bus

5 to 7-Day Armenia Itinerary

Day 1 – yerevan.

Armenia’s dynamic capital city has been continuously inhabited for more than 2,800 years, however, it retains a modern and hip edge that cements itself firmly in the 21st century. With an easy-to-navigate city centre and a streetside cafe culture to rival Paris, Yerevan is one of the most logical places to begin your itinerary for Armenia.

Because it doesn’t have as much information written about as neighbouring capitals like Tbilisi or Baku , many people will ask themselves “is Yerevan worth visiting?” And the answer to this is a resounding “yes,” especially if you are planning a larger Caucasus itinerary and want to see how all three capitals differ.

If you trying to figure out how many days in Yerevan is best to get to know the city, then we would say three. Spend your first day in Yerevan in the city centre, enjoying the main sites and getting the lay of the land.

The current centre of Yerevan was designed in the 1920s by Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian and, as a planned city, it is much easier to navigate than the other two Caucasus capitals, with wide avenues and a logical setup to the streets.

The view of Yerevan and Mt Ararat from the Cascades

Begin your morning at the impressive Cascade complex , a series of steps spanning seven floors where, from the top on a clear day, you can see spectacular views of Yerevan and Mount Ararat in the distance.

If the 572 steps of the complex seem daunting to you, there are a series of escalators inside that you can take to the top instead. These are free to use and are open every day. There are also some interesting art exhibitions inside to enjoy while you’re riding up. No doubt that visiting the Cascade complex is one of the best things to do in Armenia.

After enjoying the Cascade, walk a few hundred metres to see the imposing Armenian Opera building, also designed by Alexander Tamanian. While the building isn’t as impressive as the one you might find in Tbilisi, it is still a great example of Armenian neoclassical architecture.

The building consists of two concert halls: the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theatre and the Aram Khachaturian concert hall which is home to the Armenian Philharmonic.

You can purchase tickets to the opera, ballet, and symphony from ticket offices nearby for very affordable prices and it is a great way to support the arts and culture of Yerevan. Michael and I were able to get very good seats for the ballet for 6000 AMD (about $14 USD) per person.

The Yerevan Opera building

Armenia is an incredibly Christian nation and it is an important part of the country’s identity, however, one of the most beautiful sites to see is the Blue Mosque , which isn’t a far walk from the Opera building. This Shia mosque is the only functioning mosque in the city and the courtyard and colourful dome are very much worth seeing.

After admiring the mosque, head to Republic Square , the main square in Yerevan. There is a beautiful fountain situated in front of the Armenian History Museum that, during summer evenings, is lit in different colours. The square is also surrounded by beautiful examples of Armenian neoclassical buildings in Yerevan’s iconic rose-hued stone, making it obvious as to why it is known as the “pink city.”

Now wander over to the Vernissage Market , a large open-air souvenir market that is the perfect place to find something unique to bring home to your friends and family.

Contrary to what you might find in tacky souvenir shops full of mass-produced magnets and pomegranate tchotchkes, here you can get local handicrafts like beautiful chess and backgammon boards, intricate silver jewellery, and much more. You will also be supporting local artisans by keeping traditional practices alive.

Your last stop for your first day in Yerevan should be at the St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral . Opened in 2001 to mark the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia (which is believed to be the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion), this is the largest Armenian Apostolic church in the world and is truly spectacular to see.

St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral

Round out your sightseeing at Yerevan’s GUM Market , the central market hall of the Armenian capital. Though it isn’t as lively and chaotic as, say, the Green Bazaar in Kutaisi, Georgia , it is still a great way to see what locals eat and to sample some regionally sourced and produced treats while staying away from multinational supermarket chains.

End your first day in one of the great restaurants, cafes, or wine bars on Saryan Street. In Vino is a good choice if you want to choose from an extensive list of both local and international vintages paired with local meats and cheeses.

If you want something a bit more substantial, Tapastan is a great Armenian fusion restaurant. Alternatively, head over to the Cascade and enjoy some surprisingly delicious Thai food from Wine Republic , which was one of our favourite haunts in Yerevan.

If you want to explore more of the capital’s food scene, consider this food tour of Yerevan .

A glass of local red and a meat a cheese board from In Vino in Yerevan

Where to Stay in Yerevan

Skyline Hotel Yerevan – If you’re looking for a well-located hotel to stay at in Yerevan, then this is a good option for you. This locally-run hotel has a range of clean and comfortable rooms available, is located within walking distance of most of Yerevan’s top attractions, and there is an option to add breakfast to your nightly rate.

Avenue ApartHotel – This aparthotel is an excellent option if you want your own place to stay in Yerevan while still having all of the nice amenities of a hotel. They have a range of both suites and rooms on offer along with plenty of perks to make your stay a great one.

Envoy Hostel – This hostel is one of the best places to stay in Yerevan for backpackers, budget and solo travellers alike. They have a range of dorm beds and private rooms available, helpful staff, clean facilities, and good common areas. They also provide day tours to other areas in Armenia at a discounted rate to their hostel guests.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Yerevan!

Day 2 – Yerevan

Your second day in Yerevan may be a bit more sombre and not quite as busy as the first, but will still give you a great insight into the history of the city and Armenia as a whole.

Begin your day by hopping in a taxi to the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, which is located a bit outside of the city centre. It will take about 10-15 minutes to get there.

The eternal flame at the Armenian Genocide Memorial

The memorial and museum are free to enter and it is extremely well-curated and an incredibly powerful place to visit. When visiting Armenia, it is important to learn about the darkest part of its history where up to 1.5 million people were murdered.

There is also a garden in front of the museum with a tree planted for each foreign official who has officially recognised the atrocities carried out by the Ottomans in 1915-1923 as a genocide. There is also a plaque honouring the countries and the European Union that have officially recognised the Armenian Genocide.

After visiting the memorial and museum, it is likely you will need a drink and it isn’t an easy place to spend time in. Therefore, take a taxi to Dargett Brewpub , a microbrewery which serves up some fantastic craft beers along with some fantastic western-style bar food.

If you can’t decide which kind of beer to order, we recommend ordering a tasting flight. Our favourites included the American Pale Ale, the Vertigo IPA, and the Belgian Tripel.

Those who aren’t beer drinkers may, instead, be interested in a tour and tasting of Ararat Brandy . This is Armenia’s answer to cognac and it is very delicious.

Craft beer flight from Dargett Brewpub

After a beer and some lunch, head to the History Museum of Armenia at Republic Square. Though, as of May 2019, parts of this museum are under construction, it is still a great place to stop by to learn more about the history of Armenia beyond that genocide.

The museum is famous for being home to the world’s oldest shoe, which was found in a cave in the south of the country called Areni-2, or the “bird’s cave.”

After the history museum, if you’re keen to learn more about Yerevan from a local’s perspective, we recommend going on the Yerevan Free Walking Tour , which meets every day at 4 PM in front of the museum.

The tour is about 3 hours long and advance booking is required, however, it is an excellent way to learn about Yerevan’s history and culture from a friendly and knowledgeable local. There is also this paid walking tour if this schedule suits you better.

Finish your day with dinner at one of the restaurants recommended on Day 1.

The Armenian History Museum

Day 3 – Yerevan

On your third day, it is time to get out of Yerevan and see some of the surrounding area. There are a number of day trip options from Yerevan that are all fairly easy to organise, whether independently or via organised tour.

Two of the most popular day trips from Yerevan include heading to the nearby town of Garni , home to the ancient Garni Temple – the only surviving pagan temple in the country that’s datesw ot pre-Christian times.

You can also view the bizarre rock formations known as the Symphony of Stones and the beautiful Geghard Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nature lovers will also love seeing the Garni Gorge.

It takes about 30 minutes to get there via marshrutka. You can also visit these places on this day tour or this day tour .

The city of Etchmiadzin (Vagharshapat) is also an easy-to-do independent day trip from Yerevan. This town is known as the “Vatican of Armenia” and is the home of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is a separate church from the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican churches.

It is also home to the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, which is believed to be the oldest cathedral not just in Armenia, but in the entire world. You can also view the ruins of the Zvartnots Cathedral here.

Bus 203 from the Central Bus Station will get you there and back with limited expense and hassle. Those who would rather visit with a guide will like this guided day tour .

If you’re keen to explore more of Armenia beyond just the areas near to Yerevan, then the easiest way to do this is by organised tour. Some popular places to visit in Armenia as day trips from Yerevan include the Khor Virap Monastery , the Noravank Monastery , the Hin Areni Winery , or even Tatev Monastery .

We were altogether happy with our full-day tour to Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni, and the Bird’s Cave. Different tours depart on different days, so make sure to shop around and see what suits your schedule and what you want to see in Armenia if you’re keen to take a tour.

Noravank Monastery

Day 4 – Dilijan

After spending a busy three days in Yerevan, it’s time to head to the next destination on your Armenia itinerary: Dilijan.

Known as the “Switzerland of Armenia,” Dilijan is located just a 90-minute marshrutka ride from Yerevan, however, it feels like a different world. Dilijan is a great escape from the city and a fantastic place to spend a couple of days enjoying the laid-back mountain atmosphere, going for a few hikes, or taking a trip to some nearby monasteries.

While there aren’t a lot of traditional sites to see or things to do in Dilijan, it is still a great place to visit to see a different side to Armenia and to enjoy the pastoral side of the country. The town itself is delightful, with a lovely lake and plenty of great restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Plan to spend an hour or two exploring the town itself and then take the rest of your day to go for a hike in Dilijan National Park. The tourist information centre in the town outlines several hiking trails of varying difficulties where you can really get out and enjoy the pristine nature of Armenia regardless of your general fitness level.

If you’d rather stay in Yerevan but still experience the highlights of the next two days of this itinerary, then this day tour and this guided tour will take you from the capital to both Dilijan and Lake Sevan.

Where to Stay in Dilijan

Green Dilijan B&B – This family-run guesthouse is an excellent choice for budget travellers. They have a few rooms available, a cosy common area for guests, and a lovely balcony with views of the mountains. It is kept very clean and the extremely friendly and helpful owners also offer an excellent breakfast for an additional charge.

Chalet Dilijan Hotel – This hotel is a great option if your budget accounts for a bit more than a family-run guesthouse. They have a number of clean and comfortable rooms available for all types of travellers and breakfast is also included in the nightly rate.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other places in Dilijan!

Lovely Dilijan

Day 5 – Lake Sevan

Using Dilijan as a base, use the fifth day of your time in Armenia to head to beautiful Lake Sevan. As one of the largest alpine lakes in the entirety of the Eurasian continent and certainly the largest in the region, Lake Sevan is a gorgeous place to visit that is steeped in history.

It’s only a little bit over 30 minutes to reach Sevan town from Dilijan – if you don’t have your own car, you can organise an affordable taxi to reach the area. Your accommodation can often arrange this for you.

One of the highlights of visiting this area is the beautiful Sevanavank Monastery, located on a small peninsula just north of the town. Sevan is also a popular resort area for Armenians to holiday in and there are several beaches along the shore of the lake where you can take a dip in the water.

Another thing you must do is try the famed Sevan trout – an Armenian delicacy. There is a lot of trout fished from the lake and lots of restaurants feature the fish prominently on their menus.

If you’re only spending five days exploring Armenia, then you can easily end your time by heading back to Yerevan and flying out or continuing onward to Tbilisi if you’re interested in exploring neighbouring Georgia.

Lake Sevan

Day 6 – Dilijan to Gyumri

Your sixth day exploring Armenia is going to be a bit of a travel day as you make your way from Dilijan to Armenia’s second-largest city of Gyumri.

There are no direct bus connections between these two towns so you have a couple of options. From Dilijan, hop on a marshurtka to the town of Vanadzor or Spitak and catch a connecting mini bus to Gyumri. Alternatively, you can travel south back to Yerevan and then either grab a marshrutka or, our preference, a train to Gyumri.

The train from Yerevan to Gyumri is especially fun for fans of old Soviet transport as they haven’t been updated in decades and can offer quite an insight into the past. The scenery you will pass is also simply delightful as you travel through the Armenian countryside.

Once you arrive in Gyumri, no matter how you’ve arrived, spend your evening simply getting your bearings and exploring a bit of the city centre before finding a great place for dinner.

The Mother Armenia statue in Gyumri

Where to Stay in Gyumri

Lind Hostel & Guesthouse – This family-run guesthouse is one of the best places to stay in Gyumri if you’re travelling on a budget. They have a range of comfortable rooms available, a fully equipped kitchen for guests to use, and impeccably clean facilities. It is located an easy walk from the city centre and breakfast is available and an affordable additional cost. The owners are also incredibly friendly and ready to help.

Tomu’s Hotel – If you’re looking for a more traditional hotel rather than a guesthouse, then this is an excellent option for you. Centrally located, this hotel has a range of rooms available, helpful staff with 24-hour reception, and a restaurant and bar on site.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Gyumri!

Day 7 – Gyumri

In the past, Gyumri has been known as both Alexandropol (when it was part of the Russian Empire) and Leninakan (during Soviet times) and was once the largest city in Armenia — at its peak being home to over 500,000 people. However, the city was absolutely devastated by the Spitak Earthquake in 1988, which killed at least 25,000 people.

More than 30 years later, Gyumri is still recovering and rebuilding from the devastation and can seem a bit “rough around the edges,” meaning it isn’t the most popular tourist attraction in Armenia. However, if you want to see how people live in Armenia and venture where few tourists tend to go, Gyumri is an excellent addition to your Armenia itinerary.

Though it is lacking in traditional tourist sites, it is still worth strolling to the Black Fortress , through the Central Park , and enjoying one of the wonderful cafes on Pushkin Street (we recommend Herbs & Honey ).

Depending on if you’re only visiting Armenia or if you’re travelling onwards, you may want to return to Yerevan to fly out of the country. Alternatively, there is a marshrutka that can take you from Gyumri to Tbilisi if you’re heading to Georga or elsewhere in the Caucasus.

Alternatively, if you weren’t able to see some of the sites in the Armenian countryside, you could take this transfer tour from Yerevan to Tbilisi which includes several great stops along the way.

Gyumri buildings

Have More Time?

If you have more than five or seven days in Armenia, there are numerous places that you could add to your itinerary. For one, if you’re keen to spend maybe 10 days in Armenia, it is logical to add the town of Goris and Tatev Monastery to your itinerary.

At Tatev, you can embark on one of the world’s longest cable car journeys and take in some truly gorgeous natural scenery.

You could also opt to spend longer in Yerevan, explore more of the city or go on a couple more day trips or tours from there. If you want to do more hiking in Armenia, then spending longer will allow you to do that as well without sacrificing any of the cultural and historical sites on this itinerary as well.

As an independent traveller, planning a trip to Armenia doesn’t have to be a difficult task. With enough prior research and planning, you are sure to piece together the optimal itinerary for your own travel style!

Are you spending some time in Armenia? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

yerevan travel blog

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About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Hello Maggie, thanks for this post. I am heading to Armenia and Georgia late September/early October. I already have a plan for Georgia, but for Armenia not so much. In particular, there are 4 free days after spending the weekend in Yerevan that I am not sure how best to plan for. I would like to visit Tatev, so really that limits me to the south. What would you recommend? I’m probably going to stick with public transport, renting a car is a possibility but I’m a bit nervous about that when I’m traveling on my own.

Hey David, thanks for your comment! If you want to visit Tatev and you have 4 days to play around with, then I think it could be worth it to head down to Goris. It isn’t necessary to hire a car as Goris is accessible by public transit, it can just be tricky to find up-to-date information online. I would recommend heading to a tourist info centre or asking your accommodation about transit options if you don’t want to self-drive, often they can call and book you a seat as well. Hope this helps and you have a great trip!

Thanks Maggie for the swift reply. I was wondering what else you would recommend between Goris and Yerevan , in that 4 day timeframe? What would be realistic, if only using public transport? At the end of the 4th day I’d need to be back in Yerevan, for a tour that takes me through to Georgia that starts the following day (with Envoy Hostel).

Realistically, if you’re relying on only public transport, I would recommend staying one extra day in Yerevan and doing a day tour to some attractions in Southern Armenia (Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni, etc) and then taking three days for your Goris/Tatev leg. It can be really hard to visit those attractions independently if you don’t have your own vehicle and it’s also not very easy to break up the journey between Yerevan and Goris.

Hi Maggie, Nice article written on Armenia… I am on my vacation with my family to Georgia in May. Planning 7 days in Georgia and and 5 days in Armrnia.. Is it possible to cover the nb best of Armenia

Thanks for your comment! Yes, you can definitely see some highlights in Armenia in just 5 days 🙂

hi, thank you for this informative piece, im also planning on visiting Georgia, would u happen to have any knowledge of Georgia too tia

Hi Daniel! Yes, we’ve spent quite a bit of time in Georgia and have a lot of information written. You can find everything here: https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/georgia-travel-guide/

brilliant thank you very much indeed

Excellent and explained in simple language. Thanks

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Great Journeys 101

A complete 2-day Yerevan itinerary, the lively capital of Armenia

Share this 2-day Yerevan itinerary

Last updated on: 24 January 2024

Having already been to Georgia and Azerbaijan , the Caucasus and its amazing diversity fascinated me. Not much later I had the chance to spend 2 weeks in Armenia . In this 2-day Yerevan itinerary I tell you all you need to know before visiting the vibrant capital of this spectacular country. 

Table of Contents

Armenia map with all sights of this yerevan itinerary, yerevan history: from erebuni fortress to modern metropolis.

The history of Yerevan goes back to 782 BC. It was then that King Argishti I of Urartu founded the fortress of Erebuni .

Urartu was an Iron-Age kingdom in today’s Armenia and Eastern Turkey.

During the period of late ancient Armenian Kingdom   (4th-5th centuries AD), Yerevan declined in importance since new capital cities appeared. Under Iranian and Russian rule, Yerevan was the center of the Erivan Khanate from 1736 to 1828 and the Erivan Governorate from 1850 to 1917. After World War I, Yerevan became the capital of the First Republic of Armenia and hosted thousands of survivors of the Armenian genocide . They had arrived in the area from the Ottoman Empire .

The city expanded rapidly during the 20th century when Armenia was part of the Soviet Union . When Armenia declared its independence from the USSR on September 21, 1991, Yerevan became Armenia’s principal administrative, cultural and industrial center. The city kept growing and transforming. Today, it is a bustling metropolis of 1.1 million people. Most of it is not the prettiest city you will ever visit, but it certainly has character and lots to see!

Pink buildings at Tumanyan street in the center of Yerevan, Armenia

Exploring Kentron District of Yerevan

The heart of the city.

Our Armenia itinerary started at the Vernissage Market where we strolled through the pedestrian area. Here you will find typical memorabilia such as artifacts, clothes, small decorative items etc. We then continued to  Republic Square which is dominated by the dancing fountain, right in front of the History Museum of Armenia ( opening hours ).

Cars driving around Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia.

Yerevan's Persian heritage

We continued on Amiryan street and turned left after a few blocks until we reached the Blue Mosque . If you have been to Iran and Uzbekistan , you will immediately see the architectural similarities. It is no coincidence, since Armenia was under Iranian rule for a while.

The Blue Mosque is an 18th-century Shia mosque. Huseyn Ali Khan, the khan of the Iranian Erivan Khanate , commissioned its construction. It is one of the oldest remaining structures in central Yerevan and definitely the most iconic structure from the city’s Iranian period. It was the largest of the eight mosques of Yerevan during the 19th century. Today it is the only active mosque in Armenia.

Blue mosque in Yerevan, Armenia. Orange, green and red tilework. A must in a 2-week Armenia itinerary.

Following the river & reflecting on Armenian history

A short walk from the Blue Mosque west will bring you to Sergei Paradjanov Museum ( opening hours ), a famed Armenian director.  In this house museum you can see screenplays, artwork, drawings and other works of his.

Very close to Sergei Paradjanov Museum you will find the neighborhood or Kond , which stands on a hill. Kond is one of the oldest quarters of Yerevan. The neighborhood shows you the less charming and difficult life that many locals live. I think it is worth spending some time there to understand a bit more about life in Armenia. We met only friendly locals there who even helped us found our way through the labyrinth streets. 

Stairs leading up to Kond in Yerevan, Armenia. Dilapidaded houses.

From Kond you can take the pedestrian tunnel to Hrazdan Gorge . The gorge has hidden spots, great viewpoints, and is also home to one of Yerevan’s coolest festivals: the Urvakan Festival . Unfortunately, the Gorge has been neglected over the years but it is still worth visiting and walking along Hrazdan river. A few things to check out while you walk along the gorge are the Soviet-era Children’s Railway and Tumo Park .

If you continue north/northwest, you will reach stairs leading uphill to the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial ( opening hours ). This is a serene place where you can sit end enjoy great views of Yerevan and even of Mount Ararat if the weather is clear.

The Museum itself offers a glimpse at the historic events leading up to the Armenian Genocide. Remember that this is presented from an Armenian perspective. It is important to keep it in mind while interpreting what you see. This is not to say that the Genocide did not happen! But, just like any other historic event, the tone of voice matters. I had similar feelings when I visited Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku , Azerbaijan , where they referred to everything Armenian in a very negative way. 

The Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan, Armenia

Now you have probably reached the end of your first day in Yerevan and are getting ready to have dinner. We found restaurants in Yerevan pretty affordable and actually very good. Armenian cuisine is one of my favorite. Also check out the suggested books at the end of this article for some delicious recipes!

Day 2: Architecture, religion & art

A cascade like no other.

Our first stop was the building of the Armenian Opera Theater , which dates from 1993. Architecture lovers will find the circular shape of this building interesting. And, why not check their current performance calendar and see if you can get some last-minute tickets? Martiros Saryan park next to the theater is a nice lace to relax. 

Crossing to the opposite side of Martiros Saryan park will being you to Alexander Tamanyan park. This is another pleasant area to relax and you also get a view of the Cascade Complex . The Cascade is an imposing stairway made of limestone designed by architects Jim Torosyan, Aslan Mkhitaryan, and Sargis Gurzadyan. Its construction started in 1971 and was completed in 1980.

Inside the Cascade you will find exhibit halls that are part of Cafesjian Center for the Arts ( opening hours ). The exterior of the Cascade extends on multiple levels that contain fountains and modernist sculptures from the Cafesjian collection. When you climb to the top, you will get marvelous views of central Yerevan and Mount Ararat.

At the base of the Cascade you get the chance to admire  statues by contemporary sculptors such as Fernando Botero , Barry Flanagan and Lynn Chadwick . You will find many cafes and restaurants on both sides of the Cascade. You might even be able to enjoy a classical or jazz concert if you visit during the warmer months.

Alexander Tamanyan Statue and the Cascade, Yerevan, Armenia

Religion & art

Turning left on Iasahakyan street, then right to Teryan street will being you to the church of Holy Mother of God Kathoghike . This is Yerevan’s oldest surviving Catholic church, featuring 13th-century cross-stones with inscriptions. The church was partly destroyed during the 1679 earthquake. A large basilica named after the Holy Mother of God was built between 1693 and 1695. The new church was built with typical Armenian tuff stones in the three-nave basilica style.

In 1936, the Soviet authorities demolished the basilica of the Holy Mother of God to make room for residential buildings. During the demolition, the remains of the 13th-century church of Katoghike were discovered within the structure. Following protests from archaeologists, the church was preserved. Many old khachkars (cross-stones) dating from the 15th-17th centuries were also found in the walls of the demolished church. 

Besides monuments, Yerevan has its fair share of museums and libraries. Depending on how much time you have in Yerevan, I recommend visiting one or more of the following:

Matenadaran Museum of Ancient Manuscripts  ( opening hours) : A scientific research institute just northeast of the Cascade that exhibits many of rare manuscripts, parchments and books. Not too far from the museum you can also visit the monument of Mother Armenia , similar but bigger than the one in Gyumri . 

History Museum of Armenia ( opening hours ): Very centrally located on Republic Square, with a large collection of archaeological finds.

Megerian Carpet Museum ( opening hours ): a bit outside of the center, this museum contains a rich collection of carpets from Armenia and other countries. You can learn more about the history and culture of Armenian carpet dyeing and weaving traditions.

Mirzoyan Library : Here you can see the personal photography-related books collection of photographer Karen Mirzoyan. Well-known photographers have had exhibitions there. It also has a book collection with more than 600 books. 

Want to see a very special bookstore? Do not miss LUYS bookstore ( opening times ) at 45, Mashtots avenue. It is one of Yerevan’s oldest bookstores and is preserved in its initial state. A visit there takes you back in time.

Haggling at the market

If you want to explore a local market, GUM market near Mirzoyan Library is a good choice. You will find a selection of foods and artifacts, just make sure to haggle. 😉

Last but not least, you might have visited metro stations in other former USSR countries. Yerevan has its share of interesting-looking stations as well. Though perhaps not as impressive as Moscow’s or Tashkent’s metro , it is a nice place to explore architecture.

Stalls inside GUM market, Yerevan

Yerevan practical information

Flights to yerevan.

Yerevan has a modern and efficient airport. Connectivity is not optimal, but you can fly to various destinations, mainly in Russia and Europe. 

Best time to visit Yerevan

It gets rather cold in winter, so you may want to think twice before visiting then. I visited in late May and it was a perfect time. It was warm but most of the time not too hot. April-May and September are ideal times to go.

How many days to spend in Yerevan?

2 days in Yerevan is a good time. I recpmmend spending more days, of course, to take day trips from Yerevan as part of a more extensive Armenia itinerary .

Where to stay in Yerevan?

Kentron district is the best area to stay in Yerevan. Most sights are located there and it is the liveliest part of the city.

Do not forget a good travel insurance!

Having a travel insurance is essential for traveling, just in case. Click on this link to get a free quote from SafetyWing , one of the best travel insurance companies out there.

Getting to Yerevan from the airport

Car icon 1

By taxi : You can easily get to the center of Yerevan from the airport by taxi and it should not cost more than 5-6 Euro/USD (approximately 3,000 Armenian Dram). To avoid being overcharged, it is best to pre-order a taxi using the Yandex, Bolt or GG Taxi app. Be sure to have small change (500 or 1,000 AMD is best). Be aware that many taxi drivers smoke, or may even talk on their phone during the ride. 

Bus icon 1

By public transportation : There is an express bus from the airport ( EliteBus – Minibus 201 ). It runs day and night and the journey takes approximately 30-40 minutes. The buses leave in front of the arrivals hall on the ground floor. Just look for the shuttle bus sign.  

The route is Yerevan Airport – Argavand – Admiral Isakov Avenue – Mashtots Avenue – Republic Square – Abovyan Street (Yeritasardakan Metro Station). The ticket costs less than 1 Euro/USD.

Getting around Yerevan

By public transportation : Yerevan has a metro network, though not very extensive. Minibuses known as marshutkas serve many parts of the city. They are very cheap (less than €1/$; cash only).

Public transport services run every 10-20 minutes from 7am until 11pm. There are no night services. Buses stop on request, so you need to give a sign to driver of an approaching bus. You can use all doors for boarding, but use the front door for leaving the bus.

In the buses and trains, men tend to offer their seat to women, girls and elderly. When you are approaching your stop, shout “Kangarum kangnek” to the driver (meaning “stop here”). Or just do some hand gestures. 😀 It is good to start walking towards the front of the bus while approaching your stop. You pay the driver when leaving the vehicle.

By taxi : Taxis are very affordable in Yerevan. To avoid being overcharged, it is best to pre-order a taxi using the Yandex App or the G Taxi App. Yandex Go is the local alternative for Uber. It is used a lot in countries of the former Soviet Union, like Uzbekistan , Kazakhstan and Armenia.

Be sure to have small change (500 or 1,000 AMD is best). Be aware that many taxi drivers smoke, or may even talk on their phone during the ride. 

So, is Yerevan worth visiting?

Yerevan is a great starting point for an Armenia itinerary . It is not the prettiest city, but has some of the most spectacular views I have encountered. Looking at mount Ararat from the Cascade was an unforgettable experience. Overall, I totally recommend spending some time in Yerevan. Have you been there? What did you think of the city?

Reading Material

Planning a trip to Armenia? Check out these highly rated travel guides! You can purchase them online easily by clicking on the icons.

Armenia - Lonely Planet guide 2 RF

I adore Armenian food that I had to buy a cookbook or two upon return. Here are a few acclaimed books.

Armenia - Food guide 4 RF

History & Literature

Learn more about the rich history of this amazing country with these carefully curated books.

Armenia - Literature 1 RF

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yerevan travel blog

About the author

Hi there, my name is Panos and I live and breathe for traveling! I have visited more than 55 countries so far and aim to discover them all! In my eyes, traveling is not a lifestyle item, but a way to learn and broaden one’s horizons. My philosophy is that, if you plan well, you can discover new places in a more relaxed way without spending a fortune. Being a natural-born travel planning consultant, I love making amazing trips accessible to everyone. I have done tons of on-the-ground research before each trip, and have documented my journeys in detail.

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Johnny Africa

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Itinerary And Guide: Yerevan, Khor Virab, and Noravank

Johnny

  • Last Updated On: September 8, 2023

Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia is often overshadowed by the more touristy Georgian capital of Tbilisi to the north. However, after spending a week in Tbilisi , I must say that I really loved Yerevan. Yerevan is totally underrated as a city and there is so much energy and vibe in this town.

Noravank Monastery Armenia

It’s a very historic city being one of the oldest continually inhabited cities of the world. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. Yerevan saw huge development and expansion in the 20th century as Armenia came under Soviet rule. Nowadays, it is a vibrant city with plenty of restaurants, bars, nightlife and more.

I really loved Yerevan because of how compact and walkable it was. Tbilisi was so sprawled out that I just felt like I was taking ride hailing cabs everywhere. Yerevan has a vibrant city center and life revolves around it. It’s definitely become one of my favorite new places. Also, prices in Yerevan are crazy affordable!

Free walking tour Yerevan

HOw to get to Yerevan from Tbilisi

There are a few ways to get from Tbilisi to Yerevan (and vice versa). This is a very popular route for travelers to visit all of the Caucasus countries together. Here is how you can get to Yerevan from Tbilisi:

Free walking tour Yerevan

By Overnight train

I took the overnight train to Yerevan from Tbilisi city. This train ride was highly talked upon and I really enjoyed it. The trains have actually been upgraded in recent years and is nothing like the former soviet trains that ran here. It’s certainly nothing like my train experience from Belgrade to Bar Montenegro .

Yerevan to tbilisi overnight train

The trains leave every day at 20:20 from the Tbilisi train station. It arrives in Yerevan at around 7am in the morning. There is  no food or water sold on this train whatsoever so make sure to buy everything before hand.

There are three classes you can book: private rooms (for two people), 2nd class (4 people to a room), and economy which is bunk beds shared with more people. I booked a first class private room and there was no one else in the room with me which was great. I paid 170 GEL one way for this ticket. The economy ticket was much cheaper at 100 GEL.

Note, that you can  only book tickets at the train station . You cannot book tickets online for international train travel unfortunately. You can either book the ticket at the Tbilisi train station beforehand, or at the Batumi train station beforehand. As I was road tripping through Georgia , I was already in Batumi and swung by the train station on the way out of the city to buy my tickets. This saved me plenty of time as I didn’t want to have to go into Tbilisi city as it would have been out of the way.

By Bus from Yerevan to Tbilisi

There are daily buses that make the journey from Tbilisi to Yerevan on Infobus. I was tempted to take this route as it was actually much faster than the train at only 6 hours (compared to the 10 hours on the train).

Buses leave every day every two hours from 9am to 5pm.

yerevan travel blog

How to get around Yerevan

Yerevan is quite a small city. The main parts of the city are all accessible by foot. From one end of the old town to the other is only 25 minutes by foot.

For everything else, simply use the  Yandex App.  This is a ride hailing app from Russia and is used by everyone in the city. It is incredibly cheap and costs about 500-1000 AMD per ride. It’s ridiculous really but I guess you just have to enjoy it?

Airport from Yerevan airport to the city

To get from the Yerevan airport to the city is quite easy. Simply download the ride hailing app Yandex . I would advise setting this up before arriving in Armenia as the airport wifi is questionable. With the App, you can get around anywhere around Yerevan.

How much is it from Yerevan airport to the city center? Well this one will shock you. The price is between 1,500-2,000 AMD. Yes really, that is $3-4. That’s one of the cheapest airport transfer prices I’ve seen anywhere in the world. I don’t know how they make money given that petrol costs in Armenia are near the world averages. I didn’t even bother looking at buses or trains to the city because at $3-4, there is nothing to consider. Even the most broke backpacker in the world can pay these prices!

Best time of year to visit Yerevan

Yerevan enjoys temperate weather year round. It is infact one of the most sunny places in the world getting over 300 days of sun a year. The temperatures can get very hot in the summers (40+) and chilly but not freezing in the winter months (0-5 degrees at the coldest).

Yerevan is terrible for its smog however. Being located in a valley between mountains means the existing pollution just stays in place preventing you from seeing much of the city’s beauty. My hope was to see the city of Yerevan with Mount Ararat in the background but that never happened.

Mount Ararat from Cascade Yerevan Armenia

Where to eat and drink in Yerevan

Yerevan has no shortage of places to eat and drink. Armenian food is absolutely delicious combining influences from the Caucasus, Turkish food, Lebanese food and the like. Being the middle of the silk road between east and west means that all the best parts of every culture made it here. The food is absolutely mouthwatering.

Lavash kebab meat yerevan sherep

My favorite food here is definitely the lamb BBQ with fresh herbs served on lavash bread. This ultra thin oven baked bread is the perfect vessel to scoop up your meat. Because it is so light, you don’t feel completely stuffed after eating which I loved.

Afrolab Cafe for breakfast

Without a doubt, Afrolab is the ultimate cafe in Yerevan. This is a relatively new cafe in town but it is definitely the most trendy. It has beautiful interior decor and a very inviting atmosphere. The coffee is delicious and the breakfast options are also quite tasty. It is definitely on the pricier side but it’s still quite reasonable in my opinion.

Afrolab Coffee Yerevan

They also have a restaurant and a cocktail bar in the same building as part of the same restaurant group.

Afrolab Coffee Yerevan

Located in the same building and a part of the same restaurant group as Afrolabs, Minas Bar is a very classy cocktail bars serving delicious drinks. The bartenders here really knew what they were doing given that there is no menu at all. I just told the guy I like a negroni and he made me a version with mezcal that was absolutely delicious. Prices are on the higher side (between 3000 and 3500AMD per drink).

Minas Bar Yerevan

Lavash Restaurant

Lavash is probably the most famous restaurant in Yerevan. It has thousands of reviews on Google Maps with high ratings. This restaurant is part of the same family of restaurants as Sherep and offers traditional Armenian cuisine in a more trendy setting. Lavash is the famous Armenian style bread and this restaurant has an on site oven making lavash for you.

Lavash Yerevan restaurant

I had the walnut paste which was absolutely delicious (similar to hummus), and various lamb dishes. One of my favorite things in Armenian cuisine is the offerings of fresh herbs to go with your meat and lavash. Put your lamb meat with these herbs in the lavash bread and it is absolute heaven.

Highly recommend this restaurant.

Kong Cocktail Bar

For the best cocktails in town, look no further than Kong Cocktail Bar. This cocktail bar is located in an old building with a very inviting interior. The bartenders here really know their stuff and I had some of the tastiest cocktails with gin and mezcal in a long time.

Kong cocktail bar yerevan

Prices are quite high here but well worth it for the quality in my opinion.

Sherep Restaurant

Sherep is perhaps my favorite restaurant in Yerevan. This slightly upscale restaurant serves traditional Armenian cuisine in a trendy setting. I got the hummus with lavash bread, and various lamb meat dishes. Lamb is the meat of choice to try in Armenia and I had no problems with that. Lamb kebab and lamb chop meat is the name of the game here.

Sherep Restaurant Yerevan

Make sure to make a reservation here!

Artashi Mot

Artashi Mot is a local grill house serving delicious grilled meats. You can see the open coal grill in the restaurant and you choose your meat. They also have a huge schawarma grill offering delicious roasted meats. Make sure to get the lamb kebabs and the lamb ikibir (small cubes of meat). Everything is served in lavash bread with herbs. Very tasty and very cheap.

Artashi Mot Yerevan

Anteb Restaurant

Anteb restaurant is another wonderful Armenian/Lebanese restaurant located in the city center. This casual spot serves delicious grilled meats, hummus, and mante soup. If you want to try Armenian style dumplings, this is the place to do it. It is very different than the khinkali of Georgia but you must try it as well.

What to see and do in Yerevan

There aren’t too many sights to see in Yerevan I’ll be honest. The city isn’t “beautiful” in comparison to other European capitals but it has its charm.

Yerevan Armenia City

Walking around the city, you’ll see examples of Gothic and Soviet architecture everywhere. There are a number of parks

Yerevan Armenia City

Visit the local weekend market

The weekend Yerevan Vernissage is a large open-air market that sits along Aram and Buzand streets, near the Republic Square metro. The market opened in the 1980s by a group of local artists to display and sell their work.

Yerevan Armenia City

The Yerevan Vernissage has become so large and popular that it moved from its original home next to Charles Aznavour Square to where it is today. It stretches from the Republic Square metro station to the statue of Vardan Mamikonyan.

This is a great place to snatch up a variety of traditional Armenian art work, such as rugs, wood carvings, paintings, musical instruments and jewellery. Another great place to purchase paintings is at Saryan Park.

Cascade Monument

The Cascade monument is without a doubt the most popular and well known tourist attraction in Yerevan. It’s located near the northern edge of the city center and you can’t miss it.

Cascade Monument Yerevan Armani

It is a huge pyramid like structure with almost 600 steps that is adorned with numerous modern art sculptures. The monument was built during Soviet times as a way to commemorate the Armenian allegiance to the Soviet Union. The monument never finished due to corruption as the stairs were supposed to extend all the way up to the victory monument.

Cascade Monument Yerevan Armani

After the fall of the Soviet Union, more money and work was put into completing the monument as it was such a integral part of the Yerevan skyline. Numerous art galleries, sculptures, and gardens were added to the mix. Nowadays, it’s an incredibly popular attraction in Yerevan with tourists and locals walking its steps soaking in the views.

During nice days, you can see Yerevan with Mount Ararat in the background. I think this would be absolutely stunning but sadly, I couldn’t see the mountains due to intense smog when I visited.

Free walking Tour

The free walking tours in cities are some of my favorite activities. I love to do these tours when I arrive just so I can get acquainted with the city. Then I can plan where I want to return to as I have a better understanding of the city.

Free walking tour Yerevan

The free walking tour in Yerevan is every day at 2pm and meets at the Republic Square. The guide was quite informative talking about the history of the Yerevan. He also went into detail about the modern day conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the lack of relations between Turkey. I found the modern day things much more interesting as it relates to how we live our lives now and totally more relatable.

Free walking tour Yerevan

Visit the Armenian Genocide Museum

The Armenian genocide museum is one of those things that you have to visit no matter what you like doing. Similar to the genocide memorial in Kigali , this museum is dedicated to the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman empire.

Armenian Genocide Museum Yerevan

The Armenian genocide is probably one of the least known genocides in rent history. Nationalist movements in the Balkans saw them successfully overthrow the Ottomans at the turn of the 20th century. This led to the Ottomans fearing the Armenians would have a similar uprising as the Ottoman empire was pretty much near its end. Before anything could actually happen, the Turks forced millions of Armenian women and children to walk through the Syrian desert without food or water ensuring their deaths. 1.5m Armenians were massacred in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman empire.

Armenian Genocide Museum Yerevan

Nowadays, Turkey and Azerbaijan still vehemently deny this genocide attributing it to just standard conflicts of that era. 30+ countries around the world recognize it as a genocide with the rest of the world just taking a neutral stance.

Armenian Genocide Museum Yerevan

The memorial itself is very impressive. As you enter, you’ll see there is a pine tree forest. Each tree was planted by dignitaries of countries that recognized the genocide. The larger trees mean they were planted many years ago with the smaller trees indicating it was recently planted (and hence more recently acknowledged).

Armenian Genocide Museum Yerevan

April 24 is national genocide day. If you’re in Yerevan around this period, definitely consider visiting the memorial and paying tribute to the lives lost.

Otherwise, the memorial is open 365 days of the year and open to the public. The museum itself is open Tuesday to Sunday and admission is free. You can hire an English speaking guide for 5000 AMD.

Day trip to Khor Virab, Noravank, and Wine Cellars

Yerevan is a great city that is totally underrated but I’m not going to lie and say that there aren’t more beautiful things that await you outside of the city.

The countryside of Armenia is quite beautiful. There are spectacular mountain landscapes all about with monasteries and churches in the most idyllic of places.

Zvartnots Cathedral Armenia Yerevan

Khor Virap is Armenia’s most sacred monastery, located 32km south of Yerevan at the foot of Mount Ararat. Khor Virap has been repeatedly rebuilt since the 5th century. It was a castle and royal dungeon right near the ancient Armenian capital of Artashat around 180 BC.  Legend says the pagan King Trdat III imprisoned St Gregory the Illuminator (Surp Grigor Lusavorich) here for 12 years.

This was the first stop on the day trip. The monastery is quite beautiful inside with an underground dungeon that you can visit. However, the smog was overwhelming and unfortunately you couldn’t see the famous Mount Ararat in the background that gives it such a beautiful view.

Khor Virab Armenia

Noravank Monastery

The next stop on the day trip to Armenia’s countryside is the famous Noravank monastery. This is probably the most stunning and beautiful church in the entire country. It is in fact, one of the most beautiful monasteries I’ve seen anywhere in the world.

Noravank Monastery Armenia

It’s located high up in the mountains enclosed by red rock cliffs. The setting is absolutely stunning reminding me of the American southwest.

Noravank Monastery Armenia

This monastery was built in the 13th century and became one of the largest religious institutes in Armenia. There are two churches here, the first being built in 1216 named St John the Baptist. The second church was built in 1275 and named Surb Grigor Church.

Noravank Monastery Armenia

You can take some amazing photos both in front of the churches and from afar. I especially loved the Grigor chuch which has these narrow steps leading up to the chapel.

Noravank Monastery Armenia

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Do you know if the buses/train between Yerevan and Tbilisi run consistently around Christmas? I’m trying to find out more for like the 20th or 21st of December and I keep running into nothing popping up for either (like through Omio or Rome2Rio and even also on some independent bus sites).

They should since Christmas is in January for the Orthodox church. A lot of these buses you need to book in person when you’re already there as they not sophisiticated enough to have major online presence.

Travel to Armenia – Tips and Information Guide (2024)

From enjoying the world’s longest cable car ride through the mesmerising landscapes of Vorotan canyon to admiring some of the oldest monasteries on record, these are just some of the reasons you should travel to Armenia .

Travel To Armenia

When you travel in Armenia you will often wonder, how come more people aren’t placing Armenia higher on their bucket list?

Not a lot of nations can boast to have preserved their rich cultural heritage dating far back as the ancient times. The perfect examples being the town Yerevan, that is 28 years older then Rome or, their 6,000 year old wine making tradition!

This small country will draw you in with it’s capturing landscapes, ancient monuments and unparalleled hospitality. If you’re up for discovering one of Europe’s best kept secrets travel to Armenia!

Table of Contents

Things To Do In Yerevan

Accommodation in yerevan, restaurants in yerevan, nightlife in yerevan, things to do in tatev, accommodation in tatev, restaurants in tatev, accommodation in garni, accommodation in dilijan, an introduction on travel to armenia.

Armenia is not a country that often rings a bell with tourists, which is actually surprising given that it is such an interesting country with an incredibly old, rich and eventful history, fascinating culture and beautiful nature.

The hospitable inhabitants, delicious food and cheap prices, together with a lack of (western) tourists make it a wonderful destination.

The history of Armenia has been nothing short of eventful. It has seen countless invasion as its strategic position was the reason for constant fights over this territory, especially during the Ottoman-Persian wars (from the 16 th century).

Over the course of history numerous major conflicts afflicted the country. Already centuries ago Armenia was battling the Roman Empire (62), invading the Byzantine empire (1145) and losing west Armenia to Turkey while the rest of the country was being Sovietized (1920) to name a few.

Armenia has also been the subject of many mythical stories, like the stranding of the ark of Noach on Mt Ararat, the holy mountain of Armenia, or the conversion to Christianity.

Nowadays the country is mostly known for the horrors of the Armenian genocide and as the first country in the world that adopted Christianity as its state religion.

More presently, the current poor relations with Turkey stem from their role in the genocide and there is a still unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory operating as a de facto state that is an unrecognized ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.

So over the centuries much has happened in Armenia, which is why it is so interesting in a cultural sense. Not only for culture buffs though, as the small country packs a great variety in magnificent landscapes that will surely satisfy nature lovers.

Selling Honey Travel To Armenia

General Advice For Travelling In Armenia

If you’re thinking about travelling to Armenia, here are the general things you need to know before you go.

Outside of the capital you can easily assume that nobody speaks English. The language that is spoken is Armenian with its own alphabet.

You can get by fairly well with Russian though as it is the most common foreign language in the country and many Armenians understand it. Road signs are usually in English and in Armenian.

Try to learn a few words like hello (barev) and thank you (mersi), which is much appreciated by the locals. Most accommodation and tour providers speak just enough English to be able to sort things out (if not, try some self-invented sign language which usually works. Or not).

Armenians are very friendly and will try their hardest to help you out, even when they don’t speak a word of English. It’s not uncommon to attract a group of about 10 Armenians when asking for directions, everyone weighing in with one or two words in English and their take on the directions you should have.

Armenia has an interesting, varied and delicious cuisine, with some dishes being well known even beyond Armenia like Shashlick and Dolma.

A lot of the dishes are meat based and they throw everything on grills and barbecue, including vegetables. Soon you’ll notice that the delicious barbecue smell is present basically everywhere you go.

You will eat a lot of Lavish, thin flatbread that is made in a traditional ‘tonir’ oven and is complimentary with almost every dish but doesn’t bore easily.

Common ingredients in Armenian dishes are lamb, eggplant, yoghurt, cottage cheese, grape leaves and many fragrant spices.

There are too many dishes to list and specify if they are delicious or not. I recommended to just try out a lot of different dishes and ask the person who is selling the food what they like.

Armenians appreciate tourists taking an interest in their culture, including food, and asking questions about it usually gets you an excited Armenian and something tasty to eat.

In that way you get to try some new things and there aren’t any exceptionally weird dishes anyway so it is rather safe to do.

Food Travel To Armenia

Most of the local beer is nothing special, except in Yerevan where there is a very new craft brewery called Dargett. They make absolutely delicious craft beer and the place is packed with young locals on the weekend.

But in terms of drinks the real speciality lies in wine and cognac. Armenian cognac is world famous, thus the Yerevan Brandy Company is proudly presented as a major attraction of the city with tasting tours and a museum (Ararat Museum).

Armenia and Georgia are one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world, with grape cultivation going back to ancient times. Well recognised within the wine world and producing some of the best quality wines there are, make sure to try out a few.

There are a lot of vineyards and factories throughout the country, the most famous one that is open to visitors is the Areni factory. I wouldn’t say it is really worth a visit unless you are passing by anyways, you can take a tour and taste some wines here.

Tap water is generally safe to drink, but as you’re in a different country there can always be different bacteria’s than that you are used to that upset your stomach.

In mountain areas (like Tatev) there are often many tap fountains in streets etc. providing delicious water from the mountains.

The currency is the Armenian Dram. It is very well possible to have a low budget holiday, whilst it is also tempting to splurge on food and stuff because it is all quite cheap.

For accommodation we paid on average 15 dollars per person a day which gets you rather nice accommodation. Food is inexpensive as well, in restaurants we paid around 6-8 dollar for a meal plus drinks.

Gas is around 0.86 dollar per litre.

Lovers Park Yerevan Travel To Armenia

Travelling in Armenia is completely safe. Never once did we feel unsafe somewhere. The only area prone to unrest is the Nagorno Karabakh border due to the before mentioned conflict.

The border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is closed and it is best to avoid the border area all together. Other than that the border with Turkey is closed (due to conflicts between the two countries) so you can’t cross it anyway.

Use your common sense and general precautions for petty crime etc. like you would anywhere.

Buses and share taxis (marshrutkas) get you to most of the major places for cheap but I always prefer to have my own car.

The landscape is just really nice to drive through with enough interesting stops along the way that you’ll want to decide yourselves when you get out.

We rented our car with Sixt and picked it up in Yerevan and dropped off in Tblisi, Georgia (other way around is not possible due to regulations).

If you rent with international companies like Sixt, Hertz e.g. the cheapest car would be around 40 dollar a day. Often you can get cheaper deals with local companies.

Make sure you get the full insurance as the roads can be in quite a bad shape. Unless you really want to go far up in the mountains there isn’t necessarily the need for a 4WD in Armenia as you can get to most places, albeit a bit bumpy sometimes.

Transport Travel To Armenia

The Best Places To Visit In Armenia

Now that you know the basics of the country, it’s time to check out the best places to visit in Armenia.

The capital is a great place to start you trip and spend a day or 2. Contradictory to what you might expect from a Soviet era city, it is quite metropolitan.

It has a lively nightlife scene with clubs, hip restaurants and European style bars. Mixed with the many remains of older days, like the typical pink colored soviet buildings and monuments or the 17 th century neighborhood Kond,

Yerevan has its very own appearance. You won’t find any grand landmarks here, rather it is just a nice place to absorb the atmosphere and familiarize yourself a bit with the country you are in.

Travel To Armenia

The Armenian genocide museum is well worth the visit if you want to learn and understand a bit more about Armenians, their history and relations with neighboring countries like Turkey.

There are a few other museums, like the History museum of Armenia and the National Gallery that are interesting as well.

Yerevan is incredibly old, 2800 years to be exact, which is 28 years older than Rome. Thus, it is drenched in interesting history.

A good way to learn more about this is one of the mentioned museum or a (free) walking tour.

A prominent feature of the city centre are the cascade stairs. It is a large stairwell that leads to the grim Soviet monument (not one for extravagant decorating those soviets) erected for celebrating 50 years of Soviet Armenia.

It provides great views over the city and to the massive statue mother of Armenia, supposedly placed defiantly in the direction of Turkey.

Underneath the stairwell is a contemporary art museum which you can enter for free and that you’ll pass through if you decide to take the escalator instead of the stairs to the monument.

You can wander around in the 17 th century neighborhood ‘Kond’, that really feels like a separate part of the city where incredibly old and derelict houses sit on the narrow streets and alleys.

Lover’s park is a small park that is excellent for a bit of relaxing and watching the locals going about their day, grabbing coffee or playing chess and other board games, a favourite pastime activity of many.

Kond Yerevan Travel To Armenia

There are enough hostels and guesthouses in the city. The Envoy Hostel is a highly recommended hostel and is small but good, the staff is helpful and the location is perfect. Homestays like Anahit Stepayan ’s are quite popular as well if you’d choose for a more local experience.

The restaurant called ‘ The Club ’ is my favourite place. It is a bit hidden in a basement underneath a clothing store. The atmosphere, absolutely delicious (and cheap) food and the fact that there was not another tourist to be seen make it a great place.

In the evening the city comes a bit more alive around the square, where there are many (trendy) bars and restaurants and well-dressed locals making their way for an evening of dining and drinking, a seemingly favourite activity of Armenians.

There are plenty of Western style bars, like an Irish, Beatles and 90’s bars. Most of the bars have a very unobtrusive entrance and are in the basement of the residency buildings.

Around the big square there a few more, but rather tacky looking, bars. I can absolutely recommend the Calumet Bar .

A small, warm bar filled with very lively locals. We spent two nights in a row there and had a great time.

On one occasion we met a group of guys who looked equally bewildered, out of place and fascinated as us. They turned out to be pretty much the only western people we’ve seen on our trip and together we enjoyed looking at the Armenians getting their groove on that night.

The bar goers were very friendly and interested in our country like we were in theirs. The level of English is notably better with young people in the capital.

Like mentioned before, if you like craft beer head over to Dargett to taste some great homemade craft beer and have a meal. It is quite western but rather popular with (young) locals.

Yerevan Travel To Armenia

Tatev has become known mostly for the longest cable cart in the world, the wings of Tatev, that lead to the Tatev monastery.

Most people arrive in Tatev by cable cart, have a look at the monastery and return. However, there is plenty to see and the drive alone through the Vorotan canyon is worth it.

If you leave from Yerevan it is a 4 to 5 hour drive, that takes you through an incredible varied landscape, starting with arid, desert like surroundings when you leave the capital.

It’s not too long before some thin pasture appears and many fruit and vegetable stalls alongside the road.

After a while the road climbs up into the mountains, 2 hours or so later you’ll cross a mountain pass and suddenly the landscape has changed to green hills and endless fields with blooming wildflowers, while the air is substantially colder due to the elevation.

The vendors have changed as well, now there are people selling honey on the side of the road. The road eventually leads to a junction where the main road continues to Goris (another destination worth checking out) and the secondary road to Tatev.

This road goes through a few old and derelict villages. Some of them look like a war has struck with streets full of rumble and scrap metal. Rusty old decaying cars, trucks and tractors are parked everywhere.

A man is sweeping up big pick piles of rocks, with a broom (probably still working on that I assume). The side streets are unpaved, rocky and full of holes. People stared at us unabashed, I don’t think they have seen many western tourists passing through here.

Granted, our shiny red Nissan Micra didn’t do a good job in hiding the fact that we were tourists either, as old Lada’s really are the only cars locals drive.

After passing through those villages, a zigzag road takes you along the edge of the canyon, providing magnificent views from several nice viewpoints, like the medieval bell chapel.

The road winds all the way down to the canyon to cross the river, only to go right back up the mountains again on a gravel road to reach the village of Tatev.

It is a very small village and pretty quiet, with most tourists concentrating in the area around the cable cart and the monastery.

Travel To Armenia

There are a number of short and longer hikes in the area. We hiked to Mount Petroskhach, which takes you through the old part of the village up into the hills, providing magnificent views across a large part of the steep canyon, which seems to have an almost straight drop from the plateau.

The trail is sometimes a bit difficult to follow as there are a number of trails leaving from the area. We asked a few locals for directions, ignored their advice anyway and went the wrong way (obviously).

Down in the canyon where you crossed the river by car, there is a small parking spot. From here you can follow the footpath alongside the river which takes you through bushy, shrubs and across the river.

In summer the area around the river is teeming with life, lots of butterflies, dragonflies, other insects, fish, birds and many flowers. Be aware that there are snakes as well, take caution when walking into thick grass.

The path leads to the Tatevi Anapat monastery, a complex dating from the 17 th century, which was abandoned by the monks due to an earthquake in 1658 resulting in the ruins that you see here today.

It has this amazing Indiana Jones feeling to it, as an ancient complex slowly taken back by nature, barely visible from the road. Upon entering the main building, which is still quite intact, a soft voice filled the room.

Near the altar there was a monk praying, dressed in his long black robe. Apparently he is still living here all by himself.

The path continues along the river, we didn’t take it due to lack of time but it looks very promising. Following your way back to the parking lot there are a number of viewing platforms over the river.

They call this area Devil’s bridge (Satani Kamurj), named like that because the formation of it seemed improbable, therefore it must be the Devil’s work.

From the viewing platforms you can’t really see that much of it, however you can get down in the river and explore the incredible caves alongside it.

Down in the river it really looks like a scene coming straight out of a fairy tale.

Moss and plants gracefully decorate the walls, while stalactites in all kind of shapes and colours hang from the cave ceilings and form weird terraces around pools, the water containing (supposedly) healing minerals. It gives the impression that you’re walking in a movie set or a themepark attraction.

From down in the river you can also see the Devil’s bridge much better. To get down there you follow the footpath from the viewing platforms all the way to the end, where there is a small hanging rope to get you down onto a wobbly ladder and finally in the river. This rope is a bit hidden between the bushes.

Be aware that it is all a little bit treacherous and one could easily fall and slip and you also have to wade through the river.

At some points the river flows quite fast, we decided to plunge in and let the river takes us somewhere, which landed us at another amazing spot.

Getting back upstream proved a bit more difficult, but also guarantees some hilarious videos of your travelmates struggling to return while the river keeps pushing you back.

It is not a very big or deep river so nothing too dangerous. It is absolutely worth it to get down in the river, this really made us feel like true explorers.

Back in Tatev the monastery is well worth a visit of course. If you continue down the road for a bit there is a nice viewpoint that looks out over the monastery and canyon. The monastery is perched beautifully on a rock overlooking the whole canyon.

We stayed for 2 days but it is an area that begs to be explored. The beautiful canyon has walking paths following the river that you just want to follow and see where it ends up or take one of the small unpaved roads and just see where it goes.

At this point we turned back in the direction of Yerevan, if you continue the road it will take you to even higher mountains and eventually to the border crossing with Iran.

Travel To Armenia

I highly recommend Saro’s Bed and Breakfast .  We were welcomed by Saro’s sister Maro, who is very friendly and hospitable and made sure we were provided with everything we needed, like homemade lemonade, cakes, coffee and she even brought us some lunch to take on a hike at no charge.

Most of the dinner is prepared on the big barbecue and delicious as well. Dolma, rabbit stew and a bottle of homemade red wine make for a great meal.

Maro’s dad also takes guests on a little excursion into the mountain in his old jeep. There are a number of options for guesthouses and bed and breakfasts in Tatev though.

On the drive from Yerevan you’ll pass the Areni Wine Factory. There are also people selling wine everywhere at the side of the road in plastic cola bottles, apparently for Irani truck drivers (as they are not allowed to drink alcohol in Iran thus have to hide it).

There are no supermarkets in Tatev. Stock up on some items and make sure your accommodation can provide all your required meals. There is however a small information centre with a small café. They can also provide with you with hiking routes, maps etc. Saro’s bed and breakfast is also a restaurant for non-guests.

Village Tatev Travel To Armenia

Garni is a town close to Yerevan and for a rather big settlement the road leading to it from the capital is quite strange (or we took a wrong route).

Leaving Yerevan the road suddenly consists of more dirt and holes than actual tarmac. The landscape is incredibly dry for a bit, although it still is a habitat for quite some birds.

Garni itself is a small town with the major attractions being the Garni temple, the only pagan temple in Armenia, the Geghard monastery and the beautiful Garni gorge with the adjacent Khosov nature reserve.

You can enter the Garni gorge from both side of town by car or on foot. Inside the Garni gorge you’ll find this incredible miracle of nature called the Symphony of Stones, a rather fitting name for stone walls that are carved out in perfect cube like pillars.

You can drive the dirt road all the way to the other entrance but after a while we were afraid our Nissan Micra couldn’t take it anymore with all the massive bumps and holes in the road.

There are many hiking trails in the Khosov nature reserve. If you come from Garni the entrance is quite unclear. I drove to the entrance on google maps, a dirt road climbing up the hill.

Eventually a guarded gate signed the entrance and that you could not go further with car, however there was no real parking place either. Thus from Garni it is best to walk to the entrance or enter from the other side.

The Geghard monastery is amazing, but very touristic. Like tour buses touristic, so be there early to avoid crowds and marvel at this dark coloured, ancient complex without too many tourists.

The Garni temple is beautifully perched on top of the ridge overlooking the gorge, best to visit it at the end of the day for nice lighting.

The nearby restaurant is excellent, and also has one of the best terraces I have ever seen, overlooking the gorge and the temple.

Travel To Armenia

We had rented a whole house (called ‘ Dinadav House ’) for ourselves for around 50 dollar in total. There are a number of options on booking.com and It is quite nice to stay in a residents house back in a neighbourhood to get a more local feeling.

Moving up north, Dilijan presents a completely different landscape again. Also commonly referred to as the Switzerland of Armenia, this is a small town in between lush green forests and hills.

There is not much to do other than hike the beautiful surroundings and visit some monasteries like Haghartsin, which can keep you busy for a few days though.

A bit further there is also a zipline but we stuck with the hiking. We hiked near the Haghartsin monastery, which can be reached by a road with twists and turns that begs to be driven with an old school convertible and a hot girl next to you, unfortunately we had to do it with a Nissan Micra and two dudes.

The forests are just like how I expect a real forest to be: lush, plenty of variation in the vegetation and full of blooming flowers.

It is a forest where you just expect to see a bear, or some creature from a fairytale pop up from behind a tree any minute.

Dilijan Travel To Armenia

We stayed in the Belvedere Eco Rest Zone , located 10 minutes out of town, and beautifully situated near the river. The food is nice, staff is friendly and the rooms are perfectly fine and very cheap. There are a few hotel/hostel options in town as well.

Monasteries In Dilijan

Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion. The story goes that after a Christian (Gregory the Illuminator) cured the Armenian king of a grave illness, he agreed to convert to Christianity, which happened in 301 AD.

Around 95% of the population nowadays is Christian, while Armenia is surrounded by Muslim countries except for Georgia.

As the country had such a major role in establishing Christianity, you will encounter a lot of monasteries and other religious sites.

All these incredibly old buildings and associated tales and myths instil a mysterious and ancient atmosphere to many of the sites that we visited.

You’ll notice one common denominator among the monasteries and that is they sure knew how to pick spectacular locations to build them, usually perched on some cliff surrounded by a dramatic landscape. A few noteworthy monasteries that I visited are listed below:

This 13 th century monastery is located on the way from Yerevan to Tatev, close to Areni, which is a nice little detour. It is beautifully situated in a landscape that most closely resembles the Grand Canyon; hot, dry, and with red dirt mountains.

The complex has a few different churches and chapels and it was the residency of Syunik’s bishops in the 13 th century. It is however, very busy with tourists.

A 9 th century monastery in Tatev (obviously). It is located on the edge of a plateau overlooking the gorge set in a spectacular landscape.

You can go inside the complex, but if you follow the road for a little bit there is a great viewpoint of the monastery. If you venture a bit through the bushes you can see a waterfall coming down as well.

The monastery played an important role as an spiritual centre and medieval university in Armenia.

Founded in the 4 th century in Garni, this dark coloured monastery complex is surrounded by cliffs and located next to a gorge.

The inside, and especially the cave chambers, feels so old (well they are, 4 th century!) and it has a bit of mysterious vibe to it, like you are stepping back in time.

The vendors and tour buses at the entrance detract the atmosphere a bit, but it is definitely worthwhile.

Geghard Monastery Travel To Armenia

We did not visit one of the most famous monasteries, as there were thick clouds that day and it is famous for having the snow-capped peak of Ararat in the background.

We were also out of time and guessed it would be another busy monastery as well, as this is one of the most popular landmarks in Armenia.

Gregory the Illuminator was 13 years imprisoned here by the king before he cured him of an illness after which the king and country converted to Christianity.

The construction of a chapel already began in 642, the current church was however finished in the 17 th century. It is located a few kilometres of the main highway around Yerevan.

A 13 th century monastery in Dilijan beautifully located in the lush green forests. It is small and not completely intact anymore but worth a visit. It is quite nice and the main building (church) is still intact.

Also the starting point from a number of trails in the forests so perfect for combining those activities.

There are many more monasteries, churches and other religious site of interest. Many can be done in a day tour from Yerevan (hostels organise these).

Note:  When I say busy with tourists, these are almost exclusively domestic Armenian and Georgian tourists. No tour buses with Asians or Europeans here. Best to get there early to avoid crowds. There are no entrance fees to the monasteries. The more popular ones will charge you a very small fee for parking.

These places will take you around the country, which we did in 8 days. It is not very big but there is plenty to see, I’d recommend to take at least 8 days to explore Armenia.

It is still a rather underrated destination, apparent by the low number of tourists that visit the country. It should however receive much more attention, as I have never been to a country before that made me feel like a true explorer without the discomfort of one.

The history is endlessly interesting and the landscapes fascinating. I’d say the country is the perfect introduction to one of the most interesting corners of the world, standing at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

[box] That’s it for my travel to Armenia guide. Leave a comment below if this has helped you, or if you have something to add.[/box]

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About the Author - Thijs Broekkamp

Thijs Broekkamp is a photographer and aspiring travel writer based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Like many, he tries to travel as much as possible and looks for interesting and authentic experiences on his journeys. Nature, grand landscapes or wildlife and cultural heritage or fascinating locals receive the most attention, preferably paired with delicious cuisine. Has a knack for getting in an unfortunate situation or two on every trip. Interested in the whole world, but special fascination for far eastern Europe and Central Asia. You can check out his work on the website www.thijsbroekkamp.com and www.Instagram.com/komorebi_photography

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13 thoughts on “Travel to Armenia – Tips and Information Guide (2024)”

I highly recommend a visit to Yerevan. The city is filled with beautiful architecture and rich history, and the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. I had a wonderful time exploring the city’s vibrant culture through its delicious food, unique museums, and lively nightlife

Hi, thank you for your great article! We’ll be going to Armenia tomorrow and I was wondering about the car rental. Where did you rent the car and do you think it is possible to do a similar trip with local buses? Thanks for your help 🙂

Hi Lauriane, sorry for the late reply. We hope you had a great time in Armenia. Happy travels

My daughter and I are going on our first trip to Armenia in the summer of 2020. I read your blog and look forward to my trip! Thank you, now I know more about Armenia! Great photos!

Hi Tori, I hope your trip is still on. Have a wonderful time. Happy travels

Hey, Thank you for this beautiful article. We are planning a trip a to Armenia and wanted to know if we rent a car can we do, Garni, Geghard, Dilijan and Lake Sevan on the way in an entire day if we leave early morning? We do not want to stay anywhere as we will be based in Yerevan. A Nissan Micra would be enough for this journey? We are traveling in October. Do google maps work here accurately? Thank you so much for your help!

Hi, thank you so much. About all the destinations with a car rental, we are not too sure sorry. Maybe contact the car rental company. They may be able to help. All the best. Happy travels

Thanks a lot for telling about your adventurous trip. Leaving for Armenia in a few days, liked your writing, hope to love this country ss you did.

Glad the article helped. All the best with your trip.

Thanks. I’m in Georgia now, then Turkey.Bulgaria, Romania . I’m going to Armenia end Sept.. Looking forward to it especially after reading your intensive tipsxx

Have a great trip. 🙂

According to you Armenia looking awesome to see.

It is a great place. We can not wait to go back and explore more.

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Yerevan, Armenia: 2020 Complete Travel Guide

Your Best Yerevan Travel Guide

Armenia is an incredibly old country (dates more than 3000 years ago) with very flexible boundaries, it stretched and contracted as the empires in the west and the east fought their wars in Armenian territories.

However, it is a very young country in the sense that it just got its independence on September 21st, 1991 after 55 years under the USSR occupation.

Important information about Yerevan

Language:  The official language is the Armenian language. Russian is the second most used language, in addition to English.

Location:  Yerevan is the Capital city of Armenia. Armenia is in the South Caucasus region of Asia bordering Europe. Armenia is landlocked, surrounded by Turkey from the west, Azerbaijan from the east, Georgia from the North, and Iran from the south.

There is a small Azerbaijan territory called Nakhichevan border Armenia from the south west, although it is an Azerbaijani territory, but it is separated from Azerbaijan by Armenia.

In return, there is Nagorno-Karabakh which is a in Azerbaijan but considered Armenia territory and there were many wars between the two countries over this area last decade.

Religion: Armenia is the home country of the Armenian people, the first country to adopt Christianity and the home of the Armenian apostolical church in Etchmiadzin.

Is Armenia an Asian or a European Country?

Geographically, Armenia is in the South Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, it can be considered both Asian and European country.

Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, also Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Culturally it is closer to European than traditional Asian country and is part European football (soccer) team.

My First Trip to Yerevan After Independence

It was June 2012 (eight years ago); I was in Dubai when my son in California gave me a call, he told me he will be going for a month vacation to Yerevan with his grandmother and his younger cousin and he asked me if I could join him there so we can spend some time together.

He was landing in Yerevan on July 25th, and I decided to be there on the 30th.

I was a kid when I visited Yerevan the first time, and that was in the 1970s, and then Armenia was still part of the Soviet Union.

I dedicated two blogs remembering and describing the one month I spent in the 70s living in Soviet Armenia, it sure looked like a different country then.

In Yerevan Airport

When I landed in Yerevan airport, I had to get an entry visa on arrival. It was a fast and painless process and it cost me a couple of dollars. The only issue was that the Visa fees must be cash and in Armenian Dram (the Armenian currency), so if you are going to Armenia, you have the option of getting an e-visa, which makes the process faster and you pay online.

Otherwise, when you land, make sure you have local currency or go to the exchange first before spending time waiting in line for the visa. The exchange rate in the airport was the same exchange rate as in the city, no considerable premium for exchanging in the airport.

Airport Taxis

When I left the passport control and claimed my luggage, I saw my name flashing on an electronic board indicating that the taxi I booked online was waiting for me (very Impressive).

And when I left the building the taxi was waiting with a sign with my name on it, and the car was parked very close. The driver was helpful, polite and the ride was very comfortable.

Recommended Hotel

The hotel was a bit unusual, it was only on the 14th floor of the building (hence the name 14th floor hotel), and there is a dedicated lift (elevator) so no intermediate stops.

I found that hotel online, it is a few hundred feet from the “Herabarak” (the main republic square in the city center), and very reasonably priced. I was not disappointed, it was a very comfortable stay, with very helpful people.

They quickly accommodated me when I asked for a sofa bed in the living room for my son to sleep on, and they didn’t charge me extra.

The breakfast was authentic Armenian with local butter, cheese, and homemade jams that Armenia is famous for, in addition to the typical western or continental breakfast (the eggs, ham, sausages, pastries and serials ..etc).

It looked more like a furnished one bed apartment but it was a hotel.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of 14th Floor Hotel in Yerevan

The 14th Floor Hotel in Yerevan

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of The Fountain in the Herabarak – City Center

The Fountain in the Herabarak – City Center, in front of City Townhall. Huge Change From What I Remember in my 1977 Visit.

Yerevan After 35 Years

After I settled in my room, I called my son to check how and where we will meet since he was there 5 days before my arrival. He told me to take a taxi and tell the driver “Nalbandyan and Tumanyan intersection”.

From my experience in other countries, including Dubai and even many European countries, taxis don’t understand intersections like in the US. They know either address, or description (for example,  the white building next to the Clock Tower, close to the Diera City Center in Dubai).

But it seems in Yerevan it was sufficient for the driver to understand and took me exactly where I wanted.

As the driver was driving and I was watching out through the car window, I suddenly realized that this city is totally different from the city I remembered visiting 35 years ago.

Yerevan in the past years (since independence) went from the cold, dry, almost no life city in the 1970s, to a new colorful, vibrant, modern city today. The city didn’t look anything like the miserable pictures I used to see on the news.

It looked like a medium size  European city with English and Armenian signs on most businesses and clean streets.

All the streets are named with clear signs in Armenian and English to make navigating the city as tourists friendly as possible.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Cheese Land

Most Signs in Yerevan are in Armenian and English to Make it Easy for Tourists

How to Go Around

Traveling around Yerevan and Armenia is easy. There are many choices as follows:

In Yerevan there are no UBER or LyFt. However there are many other choices, like UBER applications. The three I know are the below.

  • Yandex Taxi

These applications work just like UBER, but the navigation might not be as accurate as in the US.

Hence, you need to communicate with the driver via SMS or call and give exact description, or street intersections. The cars might not be the exact car advertised, they might send a msg saying they are using a different car.

Usually, this is okay. But it is up to you to accept or reject and ask for another one.

The default payment mode is cash, but you can pay by card through the application (for GG and Yandex, however I am not sure if UTaxi does accept cards), there will be a 2% card payment charge.

You can pin the destination on the app, or you can change your mind and describe it later to the driver.

The application will give you many choices depending on the type, model, and age of the car.

On the other hand, normal taxis, on call or from the street, have meters. But if they do not want to use it, bargain before getting in. The fares are as follows: 600 AMD ($1.5) for 5 kilometers (3 Miles) and an additional 100 AMD rate per each kilometer after that ($0.4 per mile).

You can rent a car with a driver per day. Rates vary from $80 to $150 per day for 4 to 6 people. Sometimes the driver will ask for fuel money which can be another $20. The rate depends on the type of car, destination, and how you found the car.

You can find these types of cars by local online advertisements, friend referrals, local social media advertisements, ask the GG or offline taxi driver, or the hotel reception.

You can rent a car and drive, the streets are right-hand traffic, and easy to drive. You might need an international driving license. The car rentals vary between $20 to $50 per day depending on the type of car and where you rent it from.

As for bicycles and motorcycles, these are not that big of an option in Armenia.

I noticed during that visit that the restaurants – unless you are planning to eat in one of the five star high end restaurants – the street restaurants that tourists usually use to have breakfast, lunch or just a doughnut with coffee were not up to standards.

In these types of restaurants, the food choices, the service, the restaurant sitting arrangement were quite simple and primitive. However, the situation changed dramatically year after a year.

Now when I visit Yerevan, I can easily find Kebob, Shawarma and other Armenian – Mediterranean food places, in addition to western burger joints, sandwiches shops, bagels, doughnuts and other French and Dutch pastry shops and cafes.

These were not available during my 2012 trip, and with the same cleanest and service standard that you find in western cities.

The fast improvement I think is attributed to the flux of Armenian immigrants from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon that fled the political unrest in their countries.

Armenia opened their doors to all Armenians from these countries and provided them shelters and food for limited period of time till they were able to integrate into the society and open businesses.

How Safe is Yerevan? Can I haggle When I want to buy something?

The city felt safe and all materials and foods were priced in local currency. I did not have the need to haggle and negotiate, everything was priced and you can see locals are paying the same tagged prices.

I tried bargaining a few times for the sake of bargaining (a habit I picked) but soon I learned that I was wasting my time.

The only exceptions are the taxicabs, some did not have meters, or they do have a meter but do not use it. So it is recommended in these cases to bargain before sitting in the car.

However, for a tourist from a western country, the fees are so low that even with hiking prices it is cheap.

Armenia was the first nation to adopt to Christianity as the legal religion of the nation.

That was in the year 301 when St. Gregory the Illuminator was able to convert King Trdat III to Christianity after curing him from a lycanthropy disease.

It was said that the King’s Sister had a vision that only a man called Gregory, in Kor Virab prison, can save her brother the King.

King Trtad III had previously punished Saint Gregory for preaching Christianity against Armenian original Gods, by sending him to Khor Virab.

That was the ultimate punishment for any criminal because usually people go there and die. But Gregory lived there for 13 years until he was released.

When the King’s sister had her vision, she ordered St. Gregory to be released from his prison. Just finding him alive was considered a miracle.

When he successfully cured the King, he was recognized as a Saint and became Saint Gregory the Illuminator and he was able to convert the King to Christianity.

As the King became Christian, he ordered all Armenians to become Christians and he destroyed all temples and started building churches.

Places to Visit In Yerevan (or Close Destinations)

Here are several places you can visit in Yerevan (including nearby destinations).

Etchmiadzin

The church is in the center of the Armenian culture, language, and Armenian people’s everyday life.

In Yerevan you can find churches and cathedrals old and new everywhere. But the most important and impressive cathedral is the  “ Etchmiadzin ”  and for the Armenian people, it is equivalent to the “Vatican”.

Etchmiadzin , is a 15-mile drive from the center of Yerevan, and it costed me around $25 as a tour. A private car picked me and my son from our hotel and dropped us back.

Another option is to get a taxi which will cost around $7 each way.

The most important cathedral in “Etchmiadzin” is the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin . It is the main and the original church in Etchmiadzin .

This Cathedral was built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator in 301–303. It is the oldest continuously used church in Armenia.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Etchmiadzin Gate (Entrance)

Etchmiadzin Gate (Entrance)

Echmiadzin means “the only begotten descent”. The church was built at the same place where Gregory the Illuminator had a vision that Christ came and hammered that place singing that “this is where I want you to build my church”.

It was built on the ruins of an ancient temple in Vagharshapat  (the capital of Armenia at the time) which exists till today under the main church.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin

Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin

The complex also has the Treasure Museum of Echmiadzin. It has many priceless collections of Armenian handwritten Bibles, and historical items including the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion.

That spear, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude   Thaddeus , and stored amongst many other relics displayed in the   Echmiadzin treasury.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Some of the Treasures in the Church’s THE TREASURY MUSEUM OF ECHMIADZIN

Some of the Treasures in the Church’s THE TREASURY MUSEUM OF ECHMIADZIN (Must See)

Zvartnots Cathedral

Zvartnots Cathedral is a 7th Century Cathedral on the way from Yerevan to Echmiadzin. You can find it at the edge of the city of Vagharshapat where Echmiadzin is also located.

It was built by the order of Catholicos Nerses III Shinogh  “the Builder ” from 643-652, dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator. Now you can only see the ruins of that Cathedral.

It was built on where the first meeting between the King Trdat III and St.   Gregory the Illuminator took place which resulted to Armenia becoming a Christian country.

It was said that the Cathedral was built following the Arab occupation of Dvin after  intense wars  between the Byzantine and Arab Muslim armies.

Zvartnots stood for 320 years before its collapse in the 10th century; due to the Arab raids.

It was said that the Cathedral was built to withstand thousands of years, which at the time, was the projected date of the second coming of Christ.

Tsitsernakaberd (Armenian Genocide memorial complex)

Tsitsernakaberd, in Armenian, means “Swallow’s fortress”.

Swallow is the bird that symbolizes peace in the bible. It was chosen to symbolize the memorial of the 1.5 million Armenians killed in 1915 genocide and the genocides which followed.

The memorial was completed in November of 1967 (under the Soviet Union rule).

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Tsitsernakaberd (Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex)

Tsitsernakaberd (Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex)

The tall 44-meter (145 feet) stele type monument represents the “rebirth” of Armenia. The twelve tilted slabs to a central space (the short monument) represents the 12 provinces that were lost to Turkey during the Ottoman empire and the subsequent genocide.

In the center of the 12 slabs, is an eternal flame dedicated to the 1.5 million Armenians killed during the 1915 genocide.

There is also a 100-meter wall (330 feet) with the names of all the towns and villages where the massacres happened. There is also an Alley of trees planted to commemorate the genocide victims.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Tsitsernakaberd the Central Eternal Flame

Tsitsernakaberd the Central Eternal Flame

Republic Square, Freedom Square, the Swan Lake, and the Armenian Opera House

In Yerevan, mostly everything starts with the Herabarak (also known as, Republic Square, City Square, the Clocktower and the Dancing Fountain).

That is where many locals and tourists gather especially at night to listen to the music, watch the colorful and dancing waters, eat, drink and enjoy the nice weather during spring, summer and fall..

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of The Herabarak (Clock Tower, Public Square)

The Herabarak (Clock Tower, Public Square)

Few hundred meters (Feet), north of the Public Square crossing Aboyan street and along that road is the Northern Street.

This is a fairly new development of up class stores, residential apartments and businesses, that is famous in Yerevan.

It is called Northern Street, because the development is built around a promenade that is aligned with true north and south. It is a big road and many events are held on this promenade.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of The Northern Street

The Northern Street

At the end of the street from the northern part of that promenade, is the Tumanyan Street.

Across the street, there is a large square called Azatut’yan hraparak which means Freedom Square. It is also called Liberty Square because it is the center of all anti-government demonstrations, and can hold up to 40,000 to 50,000 people.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Yerevan Opera Theater

Yerevan Opera Theater

This is the second biggest and important square after the Public Square (Herabarak).

The square also has a lake called The Swan Lake (in Armenian Karapi Lich). It is a man-made lake with an island in the middle of it and two real Swans swim there at all times (one black and one white).

The Square is also a part of the Yerevan Opera Theater Square. It is located at the north of the park which is why it’s also called the Opera Square or the Theatre Square (too many names for one square).

Beside the Swan Lake and the Opera house, you’ll find many artifacts including the statues of the Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanyan and the Armenian composer Alexander Spendaryan.

Wintertime, the Swan Lake can be transformed to an ice-skating rink. The project was a gift from Moscow to the people of Yerevan in 2005.

Armenians in Yerevan love outdoors and they will be out with families or friends most of the time. The square has also many cafes and restaurants with indoor and outdoor Hookah and cocktail bars.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA)

Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA) – The Cascade Like Building With Actual Water Cascade

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA) – The view from the upper platform

Yerevan Vernisazh

Yerevan Vernisazh is a large open area in Yerevan which lies between Aram and Buzand streets, just opposite Tufenkian Old Hotel.

It was under serious renovation when I was there in 2012. It’s a walking distance from the Public square.

The name comes from the French “Vernissage” (meaning “the opening”). The Yerevan Vernisazh was not always at the same place.

It started in 1981 to 1982 as a small street art show in front of Artist’s Union (Charles Aznavour Square), then moved few times till it ended up in front of the Republic Square Metro Station (where it is today) and became much bigger than it used to be.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Yerevan Vernisazh

This open market transformed from selling art in the 1980s to now selling anything from art, paints, handcrafts, carpets, antiques, sculptures, old and used equipment, musical instruments, coins, stamps, new and pre-owned clothing, souvenirs, food ..etc.

Final Thoughts

Yerevan is one of the best cities I visited and enjoy visiting repeatedly. It is easy to travel too. The visa is very easy and fast to obtain for most nationalities. For Americans and Europeans, it is visa on arrival. For other nationalities, 1 day online e-visa is possible.

The city is full of life from early morning to very late at night. People are easy to deal with. It’s affordable to mostly every income level. It’s clean and with limited English, you can easily find your way around.

Another important thing is the feeling of safety. Of course mugging is everywhere in the world, but in Yerevan I felt safe.

The city has a lot of beautiful places to visit. The weather is great for outdoor activities most of the time, except during winter when it can be very cold.

The food is great. There are lot of bars, tea lounges, great coffee shops, indoor and outdoor cafes. The local wine and cognac is magnificent.

Nature is unbelievably beautiful, and the architecture is unique to the area. It is a place you can lower your guards and just enjoy your vacation.

Leaving Yerevan, there is a final treat that you can enjoy and that is waiting for your plane on a comfortable chair looking at the magnificent Ararat mountain while enjoying an Armenian coffee.

Expat Life Blog Yerevan Travel Guide photo of Yerevan Airport – looking at Mount Ararat

Yerevan Airport – looking at Mount Ararat

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Wander-Lush

The Ultimate Armenia Itinerary for 3-10 Days of Travel

Looking for an easy Armenia itinerary that can be done with public transport? This guide pulls together the best things to do in Armenia for first-time visitors, with recommended routes for 3-10 days of travel. Detailed transportation info, travel tips and up-to-date advice included.

The nation of Armenia in the Caucasus region is the perfect alchemy of flawless scenery, captivating cities, magnificent monasteries , and enchanting small towns.

Off the beaten path but still easy enough for travellers to navigate, Armenia easily offers one of the most rewarding travel experiences you can find in Europe these days.

The Armenian countryside, with yellow wildflowers and Mount Ararat in the distance.

Whether you’re looking for an easy add-on to the end of your Georgia itinerary or something more substantial to insert into a broader Caucasus travel itinerary , this Armenia itinerary showcases the best of the country’s north.

Building on my own experiences travelling in Armenia, I’ve included three recommended routes for 3, 7 or 10 days of travel. Each itinerary includes comprehensive and up-to-date transport information, accommodation advice, and ideas for things to do.

If you have any follow up questions about this itinerary or you need some advice about your own trip, feel free to leave me a note in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help out.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Planning your Armenia itinerary

To help you plan your Armenia visit I want to start with some itinerary planning basics. If you’re all over the logistics, you can skip straight to the first itinerary using this link .

When is the best time to visit Armenia?

Late spring (April/May) and early fall (September/October) are, in my opinion, the nicest times of year to visit Armenia. I recommend avoiding peak summer season (especially July/August) as the cities get very hot and crowded. Temperatures in Yerevan regularly exceed 35 degrees Celsius in the middle of summer.

I first visited Armenia in spring and still think this is probably the most pleasant season. Outdoor cafes start opening up and you’ll see beautiful flower markets overflowing on every sidewalk in Yerevan. Celebrating Easter in the world’s first Christian nation is a special experience, as is marking Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24.

The itineraries presented here are trans-seasonal and can be done at any time of year.

Do you need a visa for Armenia?

Armenia has a generous visa policy that allows passport holders from 35+ countries (including the US, the European Union and Australia) to visit visa-free for up to 180 days within a year .

If you’re not on the visa-free list, you may be eligible to apply for a visa on arrival (available at both air and land borders) or an e-visa. Some nationalities are required to apply for a visa in advance.

Check if you need a tourist visa to travel to Armenia and apply for an expedited visa if you do via my partners at iVisa .

A woman makes lavash bread in a traditional oven, a must-see on any Armenia itinerary.

How many days do you need in Armenia?

I think 3 days is the absolute minimum amount of time you should spend in Armenia. Broadly speaking, you can see the highlights of northern Armenia in about a week, and with 10 days or more you can get a good overview of the country.

This itinerary focuses on northern Armenia and can therefore be added onto the start or end of your Georgia itinerary quite easily. All of Armenia’s major cities are in the north, as is its biggest lake, the wine region, and a good number of its must-see monasteries.

At the end of this guide I’ve included recommendations for more places to visit in southern Armenia.

Where to start your Armenia itinerary

Armenia has two major transport hubs: Yerevan (flights from Georgia , Europe and the Middle East plus overnight trains from Tbilisi ) and Gyumri (flights from Europe). I recommend starting your travels in the capital, Yerevan.

The itineraries outlined here all start in Yerevan and finish in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, located in the north-west corner of the country. From here, you have the option to fly out of Gyumri airport, loop back to Yerevan by bus, or continue overland into southern Georgia via Akhaltsikhe .

Note that Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed and overland travel between these countries is not permitted. If you’re coming from Azerbaijan, you will need to cross through Georgia first. I recommend using the night train to get from Baku to Tbilisi .

A bright yellow Soviet-era bus collects passengers on a street in Armenia.

How to get around Armenia

Armenia is compact with relatively good transport connections. This makes getting around quite quick and easy, even if you’re relying on public transport alone.

Armenia has a railway network, but marshrutka vans (fixed route minivans) are the most popular way to get from place to place. Marshrutka vans are affordable and fast, but schedules are flexible as drivers only tend to depart when their van is sufficiently full (rather than sticking to a set timetable). Shared taxis are a good alternative to marshrutky if you’re willing to pay a bit more. Drivers can usually be found at the bus station.

Minivans are centrally administered under Armenia’s National Transport Authority. Note that Yerevan has several bus stations spread around the city so you’ll need to double-check where your van departs. Use the T-Armenia website to check marshrutka (and train) schedules and fares , then cross-check times locally where possible.

Most drivers take their lunch break from 11am-2pm so there are often no vans running during the middle part of the day. Road safety is something you should be wary of in Armenia so I strongly suggest you only travel by road during daylight hours . 

Organised day trips are very affordable in Armenia and are a good way to make the most of your time, especially if you’re basing yourself in Yerevan. I recommend booking day trips through Get Your Guide or Viator . Vendors on both platforms are vetted and more likely to observe good road safety practices.

It’s possible to hire a car in Armenia and self-drive, but be aware that the driving style takes some getting used to and road conditions vary dramatically throughout the country. If you’re thinking of hiring a car, I recommend using Local Rent to search for a local rental. Prices start from $26 per day.

The itineraries described here use marshrutka vans exclusively, with a couple of organised day trips and one taxi transfer.

Armenia travel itinerary options

Here is a brief outline of the three itinerary options included in this guide.

Under each full itinerary you’ll find a day-by-day breakdown including things to do, where to stay, and detailed transportation instructions for getting from place to place.

3 day Armenia itinerary [Click here to jump to the full itinerary.] Days 1-2: Yerevan Day 3: Day trip of your choosing

5-7 day Armenia itinerary [Click here to jump to the full itinerary.] Days 1-2: Yerevan Day 3: Day trip of your choosing Days 4-5: Vanadzor & Debed Canyon Days 6-7: Gyumri

10 day Armenia itinerary [Click here to jump to the full itinerary.] Days 1-2: Yerevan Day 3: Day trip of your choosing Day 4: Day trip to Tatev Monastery Days 5-6: Dilijan & Lake Sevan Days 7-8: Vanadzor & Debed Canyon Days 9-10: Gyumri

Click here to open an interactive map of my Armenia itinerary in a new tab. Each of the three options is included as a separate layer.

3 days in Armenia: Perfect Yerevan itinerary

If you only have a few days to spend in Armenia, I recommend you focus your attention on the capital city, Yerevan . There are plenty of day trips on offer, making it easy to explore the countryside and other towns and cities while using Yerevan as a base.

Nicknamed ‘the Pink City’ for the rose-coloured tuff stone facades of its oldest buildings, Yerevan has all the elegance and charm of any European capital. Because of its location, quite literally at the crossroads of East and West, multiculturalism is baked into the city’s character.

Yerevan is home to Armenia’s most important cultural and historical institutions, including the Genocide Memorial Complex. A city of parks and fountains, Yerevan is brimming with outdoor cafes and wine bars, an amazing array of restaurants that showcase national and international cuisines, colourful markets, and historic churches .

Where to stay in Yerevan

  • Budget hostel: Highland Hostel (⭐ 9.8), a crowd favourite 10 minutes’ walk from Republic Square.
  • Mid-range hotel: Republica Hotel (⭐ 9.2), decorated with traditional carpets and with views of Ararat.
  • Boutique hotel: Villa Delenda (⭐ 8.8), set in a 100-year-old property with heritage furnishings.
  • Luxury hotel: Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel (⭐ 9.1), 19th-century-style hotel with modern suites and an onsite restaurant and carpet museum.

Find more Yerevan accommodations here on Booking.com.

The Yerevan Cascade.

Day 1: Best of Yerevan

Tip: If you’re arriving at Yerevan Airport, take the shuttle bus to the city (300 AMD) or pre-book a private transfer to your hotel online here (from $14 per group). Once you’re in the city, I recommend picking up a local sim card so that you can use Google Maps to navigate and most importantly download an app to book taxis. My preferred mobile provider in Armenia is Team Telecom , and the taxi app I use most frequently is GG Taxi .

Spend your first morning in Armenia getting acquainted with Yerevan’s blossoming specialty coffee culture. Start your day with coffee and a croissant at Lumen Coffee 1936 (open from 8.30am daily), a beautiful old-worldly cafe close to the Cascade. The fit out includes many original furnishings, including ornately painted ceilings and old wooden cabinets.

After fueling up, it’s time for my number one favourite Yerevan must-do, climbing the Cascade Complex . This monumental stone ‘staircase’ is embedded in a hillside at the northern end of town and houses the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts inside. At the bottom of the stairs you’ll find a sculpture garden with works by Medellin -born sculptor Fernando Botero.

Take the exterior stairs or head inside to ride the escalators all the way up. The view from the top of the Cascade is breathtaking – not only can you see all of downtown Yerevan stretched out before you, but you also get a glimpse of snow-crested Mount Ararat , Armenia’s spiritual emblem, looming in the distance.

View of Yerevan city and Mount Ararat from the Cascade Complex.

The Cascade links lower Yerevan with the upper museum district. At the top, you’ll find several of the city’s most important institutions, including the Matenadaran (open from 10am Tues-Sat; 1500 AMD). Officially the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, this building is home to the world’s largest collection of Armenian-language manuscripts.

Admire the monumental building from outside, then take a walk through the halls of the institute to admire the various illuminated pages and beautiful examples of the Armenian alphabet.

If your legs can carry you, continue climbing up to Victory Park and the Mother Armenia monument , exploring the abandoned Aragil Restaurant along the way.

Walk through the heart of Yerevan via the Opera Theatre and Freedom Square to Abovyan Street. Along the way, you’ll pass by several important landmarks – including the Holy Mother of God Kathoghike Church (the oldest in Yerevan) and the Soviet-era Moscow Cinema .

There are a number of excellent eateries in this part of town; I recommend having lunch at Dolmama on Pushkin Street (open from 11am; reservations recommended), a Yerevan institution that specialises in traditional Armenian cuisine. The signature dish here is the dolma , stuffed vine leaves served with yogurt.

Yerevan's oldest church, Kathoghike, at sunset.

After lunch, browse some of the gift boutiques around Dolmama, including Ardean (silk scarves and prints), Dalan (ceramics and knickknacks), and Salt Sack (carpet clippings, artworks and a huge range of authentic souvenirs ). Pop into Art Kvartal , a new creative complex on Pushkin Street with contemporary art galleries and design shops.

Continue on foot a few more blocks to reach Republic Square . This tulip-lined plaza with a magnificent water fountain in the centre and stately stone buildings around the perimeter is the nucleus of Yerevan. In the afternoon you’ll find the square crowded with families and groups of friends bathing in the sun and eating ice cream cones.

Spend the rest of the afternoon browsing the Vernissage (open until 6pm daily), Yerevan’s massive outdoor handicraft and artist’s market. Don’t miss ‘carpet row’ where vendors display their collections of Caucasian rugs.

A vendor sells carpets at the Yerevan Vernissage market.

Sherep Restaurant (open daily; reservations recommended) is a good option for dinner not far from the Vernissage on the opposite side of Republic Square. Finish your first night in Yerevan with a drink at Mirzoyan Library (open daily until midnight), a cool bar/creative hangout located inside a heritage courtyard on Mkrtchyan Street.

Day 2: Alternative Yerevan

Grab breakfast at your accommodation or try out another of Yerevan’s cafes. I love The Green Bean (open from 8.30am daily) for good coffee and light meals.

Find the nearest underground station and exchange a 100 AMD coin for a token, then take a spin on the wonderfully retro Yerevan metro . From Republic Square, it’s just one stop to Zoravar Andranik. Admire the massive Soviet-era apartment blocks around the station before continuing to your first destination for the day, the GUM Market .

The GUM Market (from 11am daily) is one of Yerevan’s main produce hubs. Here, you can see giant sheets of lavash , Armenia’s national bread , being prepared and sold alongside vibrant displays of dried and candied fruits, pickles and fresh produce. Set aside at least an hour to wander the aisles, sampling a few fruit and nut delicacies as you go.

A woman sells brightly coloured pickles at the GUM Market in Yerevan.

After browsing the market, take a taxi to the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex , located on a hill on the city’s western side. Walk through the sombre outdoor memorial to the victims before visiting the adjacent Armenian Genocide Museum (Tues-Sun from 11am; free entry but donations welcome).

If you don’t know a lot about the events of April 1915, this museum will leave you reeling. It’s a difficult visit at times but an essential part of your Yerevan itinerary in my mind – especially if you want to better understand the events that have shaped Armenia into the nation it is today. Displays are beautifully curated with lots of information in English. You need up to 2 hours to see and read everything.

Take a taxi back into town for lunch. I recommend either Anoush (from 7am daily; try the apricot beer and the baklava) or Tavern Yerevan (from 9.30am daily; budget friendly Armenian fare), both off Amiryan Street.

From there, it’s a 2-minute walk down Mashtots Avenue to the Blue Mosque (open daily but closed from 1-3pm; free entry). The only functioning mosque in Armenia, this is a beautiful complex of mosaic facades and manicured gardens. It’s an oasis in the city and the perfect place for a post-lunch wander. Don’t miss seeing the facade of the old market opposite the mosque entrance.

Pay a visit to the quirky Sergei Parajanov Museum (from 10.30am daily; 1000 AMD) to learn about one of the 20th century’s most underrated avant-garde filmmakers. Armenia has lots of house museums (small institutions dedicated to famous artists and political figures), and this is my favourite of them all.

The museum is a vibrant hodgepodge of Parajanov’s collages, artworks and personal possessions. It’s a window onto his eclectic personality and career – even if you know nothing about his films, it’s still a very enjoyable visit. The museum is located on Dzoragyugh 1st Street, a 15-minute walk from the mosque.

After the museum, it’s time to get lost in Kond, Yerevan’s oldest neighbourhood . Located on a hill, this area is a maze of winding streets and tumbledown facades. Wander through the Kond Pedestrian Tunnel that runs beneath the streets to find Hrazdan Gorge , an unexpected green space. Here you’ll find several cool Soviet-style sculptures, an amusement park and the Children’s Railway .

A man stands at the window of his house in Yerevan's Kond district.

One of my favourite places for dinner in Yerevan is Twelve Tables (open Mon-Sat), a petite restaurant serving local wines and healthy, fresh meals. The pomegranate salad is divine.

End your evening with an Armenian wine degustation at In Vino (open until midnight daily), Yerevan’s leading wine bar. Formal tastings feature 4-6 local wines paired with Armenian snacks. Reservations are recommended for a tasting – or you can just opt for wine by the glass from the restaurant’s ‘library’ of 25-plus local labels.

Recommended reading for Yerevan: – 30 excellent things to do in Yerevan – Where to go shopping in Yerevan for Armenian souvenirs – Full guide to visiting the GUM Market

Geghard Monastery, a medieval monastery built inside a rocky gorge.

Day 3: Day trip from Yerevan

After two full days in Yerevan it’s time to head out of the city. A good number of Armenia’s most important monasteries and some seriously impressive landscapes can be visited within a day from the capital, so you’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to day trips.

It’s possible to do some day trips independently using public transport, but to get the most out of it, I highly recommend joining a tour. My favourite company in Yerevan for organised day trips is Hyur Service . I’ve used them several times and have always found guides professional and drivers safe. They have guaranteed daily departures (tours vary depending on the day of the week and the season) and there’s no supplementary charge for solo travellers.

I love that the itineraries pair multiple stops so you really get a bang for your buck (prices are very affordable, too). Just be prepared for a long day – and bring some snacks with you.

Here are my top recommendations for a Yerevan day trip.

For culture seekers: Day trip to Geghard & Garni

The 1st-century Garni Temple and medieval UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery are within a 15-minute drive of each other. This is my top choice for an easy day trip – both landmarks are wonderful to see in person, and it only requires around 2 hours of driving in total.

This full-day itinerary with Hyur Service combines Garni and Geghard with a visit to Lake Sevan and a lavash-baking workshop. I did this trip last time I visited Armenia and I really enjoyed it – the photo of lavash at the top of the post was taken on this tour.

→ Book online via Viator.

For history buffs: Day trip to Echmiadzin & Zvartnots

Echmiadzin (also known as Vagharshapat) is home to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. On the way from Yerevan, you can stop off at the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, the much-photographed ring of columns that frames views of Mount Ararat. Total driving time is around 90 minutes.

→ Book this tour with Hyur Service online via Viator.

Carahunge, a mystical rock formation in Armenia.

For adventurers: Day trip to Tatev Monastery & Noravank

Tatev is one of Armenia’s most spectacular monasteries, not least of all because you sail in by cable car. It’s located in the country’s far-south and can be visited in a day – but be warned that it requires a lot of driving (around 4.5 hours each way). Along the way, you can stop at Noravank Monastery and Carahunge (the ‘Armenian Stonehenge’ ).

I did this day trip with Hyur Service on my first visit to Armenia and loved it. Read more about my experience here .

→ Book the same tour I did online via Viator.

For wine lovers: Day trip to Khor Virap & Areni wine region

Khor Virap monastery is located roughly an hour from Yerevan, very close to the Turkish border. If you want spectacular views of Mount Ararat, this is the place to go. This trip to Khor Virap with Hyur also includes a wine tasting in Areni, Armenia’s up-and-coming wine region .

If your time in Armenia ends here, you could consider an additional day trip to one of the other locations mentioned in the longer itineraries below: Haghpat and Sanahin, Gyumri, or Lake Sevan and Dilijan.

Day trip to Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries

Visiting Haghpat and Sanahin, the two UNESCO-listed monasteries in Armenia’s far-north, requires a lot of driving from Yerevan – 6 hours on the road at a minimum. If you don’t mind being in the car for that long, it’s a real treat to drive through this part of the country. Debed Canyon, where the monasteries are located, is nothing short of incredible.

Ideally you would visit the monasteries as a day trip from Vanadzor instead (see the next itinerary for details) or even from Tbilisi .

→ Book this day trip with Hyur Service online via Viator.

Day trip to Gyumri

Armenia’s second-largest city is a two-hour drive from Yerevan. Gyumri is a fascinating place with plenty to do, which is why I highly recommend spending at least one night there (see the next itinerary for details). If you’re time-poor, a day trip is still an option.

→ Book a private tour to Gyumri with Hyur via Viator.

Day trip to Lake Sevan and Dilijan

Armenia’s largest lake and Sevanavank Monastery are under 90-minutes drive from Yerevan. This tour offered by Hyur visits Dilijan, Armenia’s ‘little Switzerland’, after Lake Sevan.

One week in Armenia itinerary

As you can see, there is plenty to see and do within a few hours’ drive of Yerevan. With one week in Armenia you can experience the best of the capital, fit in a day trip or two, then explore two more regions in the north that are among my favourite places in the country – Gyumri (Armenia’s second city) and Debed Canyon.

You could easily shorten this into a 5-day Armenia itinerary by making a choice between the final two destinations.

Yerevan – [day trip] – Vanadzor & Debed Canyon – Gyumri

Days 1-2: Yerevan

See the previous itinerary for details.

A Soviet-style statue made from grey and pink stone in the city of Vanadzor, Armenia.

Days 4-5: Vanadzor & Debed Canyon

Vanadzor has a population of just over 85,000 people, making it Armenia’s third-largest city. If you enjoy Soviet throwbacks, interesting architecture and the industrial aesthetic , then you should definitely include it on your itinerary.

Vanadzor is better known for being the gateway to Lori Region and Debed Canyon, a splendid slice of Armenia in the far-far north, close to the border with Georgia. This is one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the entire country and it’s also where you’ll find several significant monasteries, including Haghpat and Sanahin, Armenia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site .

I recommend travelling up from Yerevan in the mid-morning then spending a full afternoon in Vanadzor, starting with a home-cooked lunch at Home Restaurant . Go for a walk around the city and see how many Soviet-style sculptures and vintage cars you can spot. Don’t forget to bring your camera.

Stop by the indoor market hall , which features an interesting Soviet-style mosaic/mural on the back wall.

Spend your second day visiting the monasteries and driving through Debed Canyon. Marshrutka vans are available from Vanadzor to Alaverdi but schedules are ad-hoc and it can be difficult to get the timing right. I therefore suggest hiring a driver for the day. Taxis wait outside the bus station in Vanadzor; we paid 12,000 AMD for a full day on the road. Find my detailed guide to visiting the monasteries here .

The front of Sanahin Monastery, an ancient stone monastery in Armenia.

Where to stay in Vanadzor

  • Mid-range hotel: DownTown B&B (⭐ 9.3), spacious and clean apartments with ensuite bathrooms and a small kitchenette.
  • Guesthouse: MagHay B&B (⭐ 9.4), family run guesthouse with outstanding hospitality and homemade meals.
  • Luxury hotel: Tufenkian Avan Dzoraget Hotel (⭐ 9.1), 5-star heritage hotel on the Debed River 30 minutes from Vanadzor.

Find more Vanadzor accommodations here on Booking.com.

How to get to Vanadzor from Yerevan

Direct marshrutka vans to Vanadzor depart from Yerevan’s Kilikia Bus Station approximately every 30 minutes between 8.45am and 6.30pm daily. There does not appear to be a pause in the schedule for lunch hours. The journey time is 2.5 hours and the fare is 1200 AMD .

Old architecture in the historic part o Gyumri.

Days 6-7: Gyumri

Gyumri is Armenia’s second city and a total contrast to Yerevan. In 1988, the Spitak earthquake devastated Gyumri, rewriting the city’s history. The rebuilding process is still underway – both literally (many of the buildings and churches in downtown Gyumri are still awaiting repair), and figuratively.

I adore Gyumri ; I actually prefer it to Yerevan in many respects. The architecture is magnificent (as a contrast to ‘pink’ Yerevan, the buildings here are fashioned from black and gold tuff). There is a wonderful fortress and a Mother Armenia monument nearby, a great local market in town, and a bunch of interesting social enterprises, including a ceramics workshop and a cafe.

A man sells spices at the market in Gyumri, Armenia.

As Gyumri’s recovery continues I only expect it will become a more popular destination. The introduction of budget flights to Gyumri’s airport from Western Europe in 2019 certainly helped push things along.

This itinerary allows for 1.5 days in Gyumri after the bus ride from Vanadzor. I spent almost a full week in the city and never got bored.

Where to stay in Gyumri

  • Budget-friendly guesthouse: Guest House in Gyumri (⭐ 9.8), modern rooms in a family home with outstanding hospitality, home-cooked meals and a beautiful outdoor terrace (my top choice in Gyumri!).
  • Boutique hotel: Villa Kars (⭐ 9.1), gorgeous heritage-style boutique rooms set in a stone building in the centre of the city.
  • Social enterprise hotel: Berlin Art Hotel (⭐ 9.0), tidy rooms, a beautiful garden and friendly service – founded by the German Red Cross.

Find more Gyumri accommodations here on Booking.com.

How to get to Gyumri from Vanadzor

Direct marshrutka vans to Gyumri depart from Vanadzor’s Bus Station at least four times daily between 9.30am and 4.30pm. The journey time is 1.5 hours and the fare is 800 AMD . The morning van tends to fill up (we almost missed out) so if possible, ask your host in Gyumri to call ahead and save you a seat. If you’re staying at Guest House in Gyumri, the owner will happily drive you to the station and ensure you get a seat.

Recommended reading for Gyumri: – My complete Gyumri city guide

10 days in Armenia itinerary

Ten days is the perfect amount of time to get a good overview of Armenia’s north. This itinerary builds on the previous one, with an extra stop at Dilijan and Lake Sevan.

If you’re interested in hiking in Armenia, Dilijan is a must-visit. If you’d prefer to spend more time in the cities, you could easily skip it and add a few extra days in Yerevan/Gyumri instead.

Yerevan – [day trip] – Tatev Monastery – Vanadzor & Debed Canyon – Dilijan & Lake Sevan – Gyumri

Tatev Monastery, a beautiful stone monastery surrounded by a wall in southern Armenia.

Day 4: Day trip to Tatev Monastery

It would be a shame to spend 10 days in Armenia and not see the south, so for this itinerary I suggest setting aside an extra day for a side trip to Tatev Monastery.

As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot of driving required (around 4.5 hours each way) to get to Tatev, but in my experience it’s not too draining provided you choose a tour itinerary with lots of stops along the way. I did this day trip with Hyur Service on my first visit to Armenia and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hyur Service now offers four different options for Tatev:

  • The highlights: Group Tour to Khor Virap, Noravank, Devil’s Bridge & Tatev Monastery (from $45 per person) – book here on Viator
  • For wine lovers: Group Tour to Hin Areni Winery, Tatev Monastery & Khndzoresk Caves (from $45 per person) – book here on Viator
  • For nature: Group Tour to Shaki Waterfall, Devil’s Bridge, Tatev Monastery & Hin Areni Winery (from $45 per person) – book here on Viator
  • Private tour: Full-Day Trip to Khor Virap, Noravank & Tatev Monastery (from $210 per group) – book here on Viator

Recommended reading: – What to expect on a day trip to Tatev from Yerevan

A concrete bridge stretches over a lake in Dilijan, Armenia.

Days 5-6: Dilijan & Lake Sevan

Dubbed ‘Armenia’s Little Switzerland’, Dilijan is a popular destination for hikers because of its proximity to marked trails in Dilijan National Park , including an 80km section of the Transcaucasian Trail .

Dilijan is not my favourite place in Armenia – personally I found it quite underwhelming. The beautiful stone architecture you see in photos is limited to a small (privately owned) corner of the town. I also found restaurant and accommodation prices here off-the-charts expensive when I visited in summer. (My guess is that because it’s so close to Yerevan, people flock here for fresh air and prices go up significantly in the warmer months.)

I know other people who feel the same, and I also know people who really enjoyed their time in Dilijan. I’ll let you make up your own mind.

Just be aware that if you’re not much of a hiker, you’ll run out of things to do in Dilijan pretty quickly. I spent most of my time at Cafe #2 (daily from 9am) on the lake drinking coffee and eating pancakes! (In all seriousness this is a wonderful social enterprise cafe that you should visit at least once.)

If you are a hiker, the trails to Parz Lich lake and Haghartsin Monastery are supposed to be among the best.

A trail marker in Dilijan National Park for the Transcaucasian hiking Trail.

My favourite part of Dilijan was this spectacular mineral water spring , which I had to stop to photograph every time I walked past. I guess I’m not the only one – I later found a tote bag illustrated with the same spring at the little shop inside Cafe #2. Needless to say it came home with me!

A decorative fountain in Dilijan, Armenia, with a retro blue car parke out front.

From Dilijan, you can easily take a side trip to Lake Sevan , the biggest lake in the Caucasus. It takes around 40 minutes to reach the peninsular where Sevanavank Monastery and the Sevan Writers’ House are located.

It only takes an hour or so to visit the peninsula – there’s not much else to do except visit the monastery, photograph the Writers’ House, and watch the maniacal jet skiers criss-cross the lake. See my Lake Sevan guide for more suggestions.

A Soviet Viewing Platform on the edge of Lake Sevan.

If you’re up for a bit of Soviet adventurising, you can spend a night on the peninsula, staying at the Sevan Writers’ House which nowadays contains a basic but atmospheric hotel . Not only is the hotel a whacky and fun experience, but it’s much more pleasurable to explore the monastery and peninsula in the early morning before the crowds arrive.

Reservations for the Writers’ House can be made here on Booking.com .

The Sevan Writers' House on Lake Sevan in Armenia.

Where to stay in Dilijan

  • Mid-range hotel: Popock Dilijan 1 (⭐ 8.8), small but comfortable rooms set on the hill above town.
  • Cottage: Old Dili (⭐ 9.3), cute self-contained wooden cabin walking distance from the centre of Dilijan.
  • Luxury hotel: Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex (⭐ 8.9), stylish rooms and beautiful common spaces set in a series of old stone buildings.

Find more Dilijan accommodations here on Booking.com.

How to get to Dilijan from Yerevan

Direct marshrutka vans to Dilijan depart from Yerevan’s Northern Bus Station every 30-60 minutes between 9am and 4pm daily. The journey time is 1.75 hours and the fare is 1000 AMD .

How to travel between Lake Sevan and Dilijan

Yerevan-bound vans all pass by Lake Sevan so to get to the lake, we simply took a van from Dilijan bus station and jumped off early. Drivers will only drop you on the highway so you need to walk the rest of the way to the lake (around 15 minutes on foot). Tickets must be purchased in advance from the cashier inside the Dilijan bus station. We paid 500 AMD to get to Sevan from Dilijan.

To get back to Dilijan, we simply flagged down a passing van on the main road (opposite to where the first driver let us off). We ended up paying double to get back, but a big storm was rolling in and we were just thankful to find a ride!

Recommended reading: – 10 things to do at Lake Sevan

Days 7-8: Vanadzor & Debed Canyon

How to get to vanadzor from dilijan.

Direct marshrutka vans to Vanadzor depart from Dilijan Bus Station at least six times daily between 8.30am and 5.30pm. The journey time is 45 minutes and the fare is 800 AMD . Note that there are no vans on this route between midday and 4pm.

Remember that paper tickets must be purchased from the cashier inside the Dilijan bus station. If travelling in summer, it’s recommended to buy your tickets at least a couple of hours in advance or the day before.

Days 9-10: Gyumri

Direct marshrutka vans to Vanadzor depart from the bus station in Gyumri three times daily between 9.30am and 4.30pm. The journey time is 1.5 hours and the fare is 800 AMD .

More time? Other places to visit in Armenia

If you have more time in Armenia, I suggest heading south, adding Jermuk – Goris – Khndzoresk to make this into a 2-week Armenia itinerary. Or you could head north into Georgia to continue your travels.

Momik Wine Cube (Areni)

Armenia’s Areni wine region isn’t as developed as Georgia’s Kakheti , but there are some great wineries that have opened to visitors in recent years. I’m itching to visit Momik WineCube in Vayots Dzor.

A number of important archaeological sites – including the Areni-1 Cave where the world’s oldest leather shoe was found – are located in the wine region around Areni.

Jermuk is an old Soviet-era spa town with a similar vibe to Borjomi in Georgia . As well as a stately Water Gallery building and several working sanatoria there are hiking trails and waterfalls nearby.

Direct marshrutka vans to Jermuk depart from Yerevan’s Kilikia Bus Station. At the time of writing, there are only three vans in the afternoon between 1pm and 4pm. The journey time is 4-4.5 hours and the fare is 2000 AMD . From Jermuk, you can find onward transport to Goris and Khndzoresk locally.

Further south, the town of Goris is known for being the gateway to Tatev Monastery . If you plan on visiting the monastery and ropeway independently, this is where you should set out from.

There are hiking trails around Goris that lead you through unique pinnacle rock formation, some with medieval cave dwellings cut from the rock. The town itself – the first in Armenia to be built in a grid pattern – looks quite pretty.

Khndzoresk village is just outside Goris and has a similar landscape of canyons, rocky spires and man-made caves . From the photos I’ve seen, it looks quite spectacular.

Are you planning a trip to Armenia? If there’s anything I might be able to help with please feel free to leave your questions or comments below!

Armenia Travel Guide

Discover insider tips, itinerary inspiration, and all the best things to see, do and experience in Armenia!

Armenia Essentials

My favourite resources and tools for planning a trip to Armenia.

Find affordable flights to Armenia

Yerevan Airport transfer

Save on museums & transport

Hire a car in Armenia

Get an e-visa for Armenia

Find the perfect accommodation

Book city tours & day trips

Order the latest Lonely Planet

More from Armenia

  • The Ultimate Armenia Itinerary
  • Things to do in Yerevan , 25 must-sees and alternative spots
  • Where to find authentic and meaningful Armenian souvenirs in Yerevan
  • Don’t miss the GUM Market , Yerevan’s colourful produce hall
  • Tips for being a responsible tourist in Armenia
  • The best day trip from Yerevan
  • Guide to Gyumri , Armenia’s second city
  • Guide to visiting the UNESCO monasteries, Haghpat and Sanahin
  • How to travel between Armenia and Georgia by overnight train
  • 12 things you should know before travelling to the Caucasus

A blue car parked in front of a water fountain in Dilijan, Armenia.

15 Comments

Hi Emily! Thanks for your beautiful blog! We visited Georgia for 9 full days and I planned most of our trip according to yours itineraries and suggestions. It was our last backpackers trip as I got lucky in Georgia and now we have a nice little addition in the family. Now we are planning 8 days in Armenia during second week of April being the first leisure trip for our 11-month old. We are looking forward to have a more relaxed vacation amidst greenery, mountains and forests, waterfalls and some nice resorts or hotels. Kindly suggest, appreciate your thoughts.

How wonderful, Java! Big congratulations. Some version of this itinerary could work well, or you might head south to Jermuk, I hear it is quite beautiful and relaxing. This website is a terrific resource for Armenia travel planning: https://absolutearmenia.com/blog/

Safe travels and I hope the three of you have a wonderful trip!

Dear Emily, wanted to take the opportunity and say thank you for all the great information you have incorporated into your blog. It was super helpful for us when planning our time in Armenia and Georgia. Just coming back from Armenia, I wanted to share two additional highlights. One is the swinging bridge in KHNDZORESK as well as the old romantic monastery at the bottom of the canyon (where the bridge goes over). Another thing is the abandond Radio-Optical Telescope in Orgov. Blew us completely away. Seems to become quite popular, just the guy at the entrance one need to deal with :). Thanks again for all your valuable tips, often the locals have even confirmed your tips! All the best for you

Thanks so much for the tips Konstanze! Sounds amazing. I really have to explore more of Armenia. Glad you enjoyed your trip!

Hi Emily! first of all, thanks for your beautiful blog! We are just back from Georgia and I planned most of our trip according to yours itineraries and suggestions. Now we are planning 10 days in Armenia at the very end of October/first week of November. In Georgia we have rented a car and we had nearly no problems (ok, they are crazy drivers but we are from Italy and probably we are a bit used to anarchy!). What about roads in Armenia? Normally we love taking trains and marshrutkas, but there are so many things I would like to see and we are really tempted about this option… I think it would save us so much time, but on the other side we would miss so much of the local life experience… Any personal experience? Loretta

Hello Loretta, so happy to hear that! And awesome to hear that you’ll be back in the region again so soon! I think you will find driving in Armenia fairly similar. If anything the driving style is a bit less aggressive in my experience. Most of the major roads are in good condition, we only came across a few potholed areas on our latest expedition. I say go for it!

Thank you so much for such details info about your trip. I am planning to visit Armenia in mid- March for a few days. Would love your advice if it is a good time to go. Thank you.

Hi Allie, I think we spoke on Instagram. March is still a little chilly but it’s a nice quiet time to travel. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Hi, I enjoyed reading your posts from Georgia and now here to Armenia. I am curious to know if you did tour around the country on wintertime version. While it might be better to visit the country in Summer to witness the real beauty of it, we set it to celebrate New Year’s (supposedly Christmas as well) holiday by going out of the country and we decided to go in Armenia this time. I want to know if you have any insights that we might possibly make it a memorable one in wintertime? We will be staying for 10 days and our first 3 days, we planned to stay in Tsaghkhadzor to enjoy the snow probably take easy activities that my parents can take part at the same time have fun. The remaining days will be staying in the city and do some tours in some other days.

Hi! I did visit Northern Armenia last year in February – Debed Canyon was very beautiful in the snow. If you get a chance, I would recommend going there too. Yerevan is an all-year city and I’m sure it will be great fun in winter. Enjoy!

Hi. Thank you so much! We will include it on our trip. We are finally here in Armenia and in the hotel in Tsagkhadzor. It’s quite a crazy cold but feels nice. it’s our last day tomorrow but experiencing taking a few days here is great! But we will plan a trip to Debed Canyon when we get to Yerevan. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year~

Wonderful to hear! Have an amazing time! Enjoy, and stay warm! Happy holidays.

Hi, I’m planning to stay around 10 days in Armenia, but I’m arriving to and then flying back home from Yerevan. Do you think it makes sense (logistics-wise) to stay in Yerevan the whole trip or is it worth it to spend a night (or few) in some other towns/villages? I saw that most of the sights in Armenia seem to be easily reachable from the capital (maybe except from the south?). I will rely mostly on public transport and would like to visit the main touristic destinations in the country.

Hi M – I think that’s very possible. As you say, most places are within a few hours’ drive of Yerevan so you can visit most major tourist destinations as part of a day trip. I did a day trip to Tatev Monastery in the south and it was great, but a very long drive. If you wanted to spend a night or two outside of Yerevan I would recommend staying there!

Thank you Emily!

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Armenia Itinerary – what to see in Armenia in 3-14 days

Are you thinking about visiting Armenia but don’t know how to plan your days there? Or maybe you’ve already booked your tickets but need help with figuring out your Armenia itinerary. I’m here to help!

I’ve been to Armenia some ten times by now and every trip to Armenia is a pure joy to me. The country is fascinating with its amazing monuments, beautiful landscape, and vibrant and cosmopolitan capital – Yerevan . I bet you will not regret your decision to travel to Armenia!

Armenia essentials

Planning a trip to Armenia? Here are the services I always use and personally recommend:

  • Accommodation : I always book a place to stay on Booking.com
  • Tours: when I decide to go on a tour I either use Viator
  • Get insured for your trip to Armenia with SafetyWing

Armenia itinerary

Table of Contents

How many days should you spend in Armenia?

I personally think that 3 or 4 days is the absolute minimum for Armenia. But sometimes that’s all you have and even in those few days you can see a variety of sights in Armenia.

You can spend two weeks in Armenia and you will still leave the country feeling there are still places to visit in Armenia you missed.

The Armenia itinerary I present below is a suggestion for 3 to 14 days in Armenia and you can adjust it to your needs.

Armenia itinerary

I personally think the best time to visit Armenia is either in spring or in early autumn. Days are still long enough to use them to the maximum but it’s not so hot.

In the summertime, the temperatures can be even over 40C which makes sightseeing a bit of a challenge. Winters are not THAT cold, usually around and a bit below 0C degrees, but days are short and you won’t be able to see as much as you would like to.

The New Year and Christmas period (in Armenia Christmas is celebrated on January 6th) are a bit tough as the majority of things (museums, cafes, restaurants, shops) are closed for the holidays.

Armenia itinerary

Is Armenia safe?

Yes! Most of my trips to Armenia were solo and I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable (but things do happen, of course). Just use the general rule and don’t do stupid things you wouldn’t do at home.

The biggest challenge might be roads and crazy drivers, however, if you are familiar with driving in this part of the world Armenia is nothing worse than that. Armenia also might have the issue with corruption and bribery but this is getting better too.

The recent war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh shook Armenia but didn’t really worsen the safety in the country. But before planning the trip to Armenia better check the news as the peace in the region is rather fragile these days.

As always I recommend getting travel insurance as you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can get a quote here.

Armenia itinerary

How to get around Armenia?

Unfortunately, public transport in Armenia is a bit nonexistent, except for bigger cities, and most of the best places to visit in Armenia are located in remote areas. You can rent a car to drive around but it can be rough, especially in the southern part of the country when the roads are not in the best condition.

Fortunately, it is possible to visit Armenia without renting a car and see all the best sights – there are good and affordable tours available, in some places you can also rent a car with the driver. I will mention all the details in the Armenian itinerary below so you will know how to plan your trip to Armenia properly.

The good thing about visiting Armenia is that you can actually base yourself in Yerevan and go for day trips from the capital. You can see a lot of great places this way and you won’t need to bother with packing and unpacking every second day.

Armenia itinerary

Armenia travel tips

While Armenia isn’t a very difficult country to visit from a cultural and practical point of view, there are a few things worth knowing before you travel to Armenia. I wrote the whole article with Armenia travel tips – click here to read it (the link will open in the new window).

Armenia itinerary

Armenia itinerary

Day 1 – yerevan.

Most likely you will start your trip to Armenia in Yerevan – the capital city. You can easily get here overland from Tbilisi (Georgia) and Teheran (Iran) or fly from many other destinations in Europe and the Middle East.

There are not too many major sights in Yerevan and if you are hoping to see a cute old town with beautiful houses you might be disappointed. But the city has so much to offer and the list of things to do in Yerevan is pretty long.

On your first day take it easy, relax, and enjoy the amazing vibrant atmosphere Yerevan is known for. Visit the Cascade – the impressive staircase, one of the main attractions of the city. Inside it, you can find Cafesjian Museum of Art but even if you don’t decide to visit the museum you will still be able to see a lot of art as the whole area of Cascade is full of numerous modern art works.

If you are too lazy to climb the stairs you can find the escalator that will take you to the top of the Cascade – it’s free of charge and when riding it up (or down) you can still admire some nice art. From the Cascade, you can see the best view of Yerevan and, if you are lucky, the iconic Mount Ararat – the holy mountain of Armenians that is located in Turkey.

From the Cascade, it’s a short walk to Matendaran – the amazing museum of Armenian manuscripts, the largest one of that kind in the world with 13 thousand manuscripts, the oldest one from the 5th century. This is one of the most precious treasures of the Armenian culture.

Head towards the Freedom Square with the Opera House. It was opened in 1933 and is one of the main cultural institutions in the city. If you wish to get tickets for the show, you can do it in the ticket office outside of the Opera, at Sayat Nova Avenue. The area around the Opera is full of small cafes and you might want to sit here for a coffee break.

Continue your Yerevan sightseeing through Northern Avenue -the main pedestrian street of the city and a real showcase of modern Yerevan, with some fancy shops, restaurants, and more. At the end of Northern Avenue, you will arrive at Abovyan street with its old houses – one of the reminders of how old Yerevan used to look like.

Only a few more steps and you are on the Republic Square – the main square of the city, with the History Museum of Armenia, government buildings, bank headquarters, and fancy Marriott Hotel.

If you would like to do some souvenirs shopping head to the nearby Vernissage – the open-air market with a wide selection of Armenian souvenirs.

Near the Vernissage, you will find Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. It is pretty new, finished in 2001, but it surely is an impressive building, even if a bit raw at the edges. This is actually the largest cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the world.

In the evening return to the Republic Square for the kitschy yet cool dancing fountains show. Be sure to walk along Northern Avenue again to see how the city is alive until the late-night hours.

Armenia itinerary

Where to stay in Yerevan

Here are some of the recommended places to stay in Yerevan:

  • Budget: Highland Hostel (9.8/10) / Duck Hostel (9.6/10) / Loft Host (9.5/10)
  • Mid-range: R&R Hotel (9.2/10) / Nova Hotel Yerevan (9.2/10) / Teryan Pushkin Apart Hotel (9.5/10)
  • Luxury: Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel (9.2/10) / Grand Hotel Yerevan (9.2/10) / Golden Palace Hotel Yerevan (9.2/10)

Yerevan tours

If you would like to join a tour to get to know Yerevan better here are some of the recommended ones:

  • The Magic and Secrets of Yerevan Walking Tour
  • Private Yerevan City Tour: Erebuni, Matenadaran & Tsitsernakaberd Museums
  • Photo tour in Yerevan

Yerevan travel resources

Here are some articles you might find useful when planning your time in Yerevan (all links open in new windows):

  • Yerevan travel tips – all you need to know about visiting Yerevan, Armenia
  • 31 Amazing Things to Do in Yerevan, Armenia
  • Guide to the Cascade in Yerevan – City’s Biggest Attraction
  • Guide to Yerevan Soviet architecture
  • Reasons to visit Yerevan, Armenia – one of my favorite cities

You might also start your trip to Armenia in Gyumri, since the city has direct bus connections with Georgia ( Tbilisi and Akhaltsikhe). Soon there might be low-cost flights to Gyumri too, they were supposed to start operating in 2020 but 2020 happened.

If you arrive there first use the “day 5” of this Armenia itinerary as your first one and then continue your trip to Yerevan.

Day 2 – Yerevan

On your second day in Yerevan head to Tsitsernakaberd – the Armenian Genocide Memorial to visit the museum, learn more about the awful genocide, and pay the respect to 1,5 million victims. It’s not an easy place to visit but I believe everyone visiting Yerevan should learn about this part of the Armenian history to better understand the country.

Tsitsernakaberd is located a bit away from the center, the best way to get here is by taxi (Yandex Taxi is the best app to travel around Yerevan).

Armenia is known for its brandy and you can take the tour in the brandy factory to learn more about the drink and to taste it.

Not far from the Ararat brandy factory you can visit the Museum of Sergei Parajanov – the famous Soviet movie director of Armenian origins. Even if you are not familiar with his works it’s still a fun place to see!

Nearby you can also stop at the Blue Mosque – the only working mosque in Armenia. It is a beautiful building from the 18th century and its surrounding is a perfect green oasis from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

In the afternoon you might take the taxi to Victory Park to see the statue of Mother Armenia, enjoy the fairground and see some spectacular views of the city.

Armenia itinerary

Day 3 – Day trip to Geghard and Garni

It’s time to go for some day trips from Yerevan.

The most famous Armenia attractions and easy day trips from Yerevan are Lake Sevan, Garni Temple, and Geghard Monastery. You can see them all in one day (however, if you are spending more time in Armenia leave Lake Sevan for later – you can find it again at the end of this itinerary).

Lake Sevan is one of the highest located lakes in the world with an altitude of 1.900 meters above sea level. It is such a beautiful place but that’s not the only reason to go there. At the shore of the lake you can visit Noratus – the cemetery with beautiful khachkars (Armenian tombstones, some of them are from the 9th century), monasteries Sevanavank and Hayravank, and Writer’s House – one of the most famous examples of Soviet architecture in Armenia.

Garni temple was built in the 1st century AD and is the pagan temple dedicated to the sun god Mihr. This is the best example of the pre-Christian Armenia monuments and the only building in the Classical style in the country and the former Soviet Union.

Garni Temple was destroyed during the earthquake in the 17th century but the original stones were used when rebuilding. Around the temple, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Armenian countryside.

Some 10 kilometers further you will visit Geghard Monastery – the UNESCO listed complex from the 4th century. What makes it special is the fact that many of the churches and tombs were cut into the rock, showing the Armenian medieval architecture at its best.

Since the 12th century, when the relicts of Apostles Andrew and John were donated to the monastery, the place became a popular pilgrim destination.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to visit all these places by public transport. Your best option is the tour from Yerevan. Here are some of the recommended tours that cover these places (and a few more):

  • Day Trip to Garni, Gegard and Lake Sevan
  • Day Tour to Garni Geghard Armenia
  • Private tour to Garni – Geghard – Tsaghkadzor (Kecharis)

Armenia itinerary

Day 4 – Monasteries Noravank and Khor Virap

These two monasteries are some of the most beautiful places you will see in Armenia.

If you’ve seen Armenia pictures showing the small monastery with the impressive Mount Ararat in the background – that’s Khor Virap. If you are lucky with the weather this is a truly spectacular view.

Khor Virap is also a popular pilgrimage site due to the fact that Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned here by King Tiridates III of Armenia. Today you can go down the ladder to the dungeons where the Saint spent 14 years.

Noravank Monastery is located at the end of a deep canyon with moon-like orange and red rocks. The monastery complex dates back to the 13th century and today you can visit twelve different objects there, including two-floors Surb Astvatsatsin Church, Surb Karapet Church, and Surb Grigor Chapel as well as numerous khachkars. This is a truly spectacular site and you don’t want to miss it!

Besides monasteries, you can also visit Areni village, only a few kilometers away from the Noravank monastery. That’s where the oldest wine in the world comes from – the wine tradition here is over 6.000 years old! Besides the traditional wine, you can also try the one made from pomegranate, apricot, cherries, or blackberries.

Again, public transport doesn’t cover these places so the tour is your best option. Here are some of the tours that include Noravank, Khor Virap and Areni:

  • Private Tour: Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank
  • Privat Tour in Khor Virap church, Areni winery free tasting, Noravank church

Armenia itinerary

Day 5 – Gyumri

After visiting monasteries and natural wonders it’s time for the city again. Gyumri – the second largest city in Armenia – is located in the north-east part of the country, some 120 kilometers away from Yerevan, and it makes such an easy day trip from the capital.

In 1988 Gyumri was hit by a massive earthquake – the loss was enormous – around 40.000 people lost lives and most of the city was badly destroyed. Still today you can see remnants of these tragic events all over the city but Gyumri is recovering.

The city is different than Yerevan but such an interesting place to visit. You can see here another Mother Armenia statue (besides the one in Yerevan) as well as other interesting places: museums, churches, a bazaar, and some cool Soviet sculptures. Click here to learn more about things to do in Gyumri.

Gyumri is such a pleasant city to visit you might want to stay there overnight. If you do, here are some recommended accommodation options:

  • Armine’s B&B (9.8/10)
  • Guest House in Gumri (9.8/10)
  • Berlin Art Hotel (9.2/10)
  • Tomu’s Hotel (9.2/10)

You can use public transport to get from Yerevan to Gyumri. There are both, trains and minibusses connecting the cities. Here you can find a detailed guide on how to travel from Yerevan to Gyumri.

Armenia itinerary

Day 6 – Monasteries Sanahin and Haghpat

These two monasteries are located in the north part of the country, in Lori Region , and are the real gems of Armenia. Both are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and both are simply incredible.

Haghpat Monastery was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and in the Middle Ages, it used to play an important role as the religious, spiritual, educational, cultural, and scientific center. The monastery complex is surrounded by medieval walls. Inside you can find four churches, the library, the bell tower, the tomb, and numerous khachkars.

The nearby Sanahin Monastery was built at a similar time and for a similar purpose as Haghpat. In the monastery complex, there are 16 buildings and objects, including St. Gregory and St. Harutyun chapels as well as numerous khachkars decorated mostly in plants’ motives.

On the way to the monasteries, you can see the Monument of the Armenian Alphabet, located randomly on the side of the road. The Armenian alphabet is unique (and very beautiful) and used only in Armenia. 39 giant Armenian letters carved of the stone and decorated in the local motifs are strewn around and are such fun things to see and admire. The monument was created in 2005, to commemorate the 1600th birthday of the Armenian alphabet.

Again, public transport is not available to get to the monasteries but you can go for a tour from Yerevan (some of them include the stop at the Monument of Armenian Alphabet). Here are the tours that cover these places:

  • Armenia: Discover Odzun, Akhtala and UNESCO Heritage listed Haghpat & Sanahin
  • Private tour to Haghpat, Sanahin, Odzun, Dsegh

Armenia itinerary

Day 7 – Goris and Tatev Monastery

Today you will leave Yerevan to explore the southern part of the country. Take the minibus to Goris to see the city and its surroundings. Aim for the earlier departure to have enough time when you arrive in Goris, some 4-5 hours away from Yerevan

After arriving and leaving your stuff at your accommodation try to arrange the car that would take you to Tatev Monastery (or maybe ask your accommodation to help you with it?). It is located around 35 kilometers away from Goris and you should expect to pay around 2.500-3.000 AMD one way for a trip from the city to the cable car station.

The cable-car trip is already an interesting experience – it is listed on the Guinness World Records as the longest non-stop double track cable car in the world (it covers the distance of 5.752 meters from Halidzor village to Tatev monastery).

Tatev Monastery is one of the most picturesque places in Armenia. The monastery from the early 9th century was built at the edge of the deep gorge and it looks simply breathtaking. Tatev Monastery used to be the seat of a bishop, that’s also where at the end of the 14th century the biggest university in Southern Caucasus was established, teaching students numerous sciences.

In the monastery complex, you can visit three churches (Saints Paul and Peter, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and Holy Mother of God), a library, refectory, bell tower, mausoleum.

If you still have time head to Carahunge – the prehistoric archaeological site, often called “the Armenian Stonehenge”. It consists of 223 massive stones (84 of them have a circle hole drilled in the upper part) and is one of the most mysterious places in the country. Carahunge is located around 35 km away from both Halidzor village and Goris.

How to get from Yerevan to Goris

There are two daily minibuses from Yerevan to Goris, departing from the Southern Bus Station, at 09:00 and 16:00. They tend to fill up quickly so better ask your accommodation to reserve a seat for you a day before.

Where to stay in Goris

Here are the recommended places to stay in Goris:

  • Hayi Tun Guest House (9.7/10)
  • Lara Hotel (9.3/10)
  • Narek B&B (9.5/10)

If you are running out of time in Armenia you might go to Tatev monastery as a day trip from Yerevan. It will be a long tour but Tatev is one of a kind place that you can’t miss. You can combine it with other places too.

Here are some tours you might want to take:

  • Private Tour to Areni winery, Tatev (ropeway), Khndzoresk (cave city)
  • Tatev,Shaki(waterfall),Noravank,Wine tasting,Khor Virap
  • Tatev Ropeway and Monastery, Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni Winery – private tour

Armenia itinerary

Day 8 – Goris and Khndzoresk

Even if the main reason to stay in Goris is the surrounding nature, the city itself also has a few attractions, such as St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Aksel Bakunts House-Museum or the Geological Museum. But places you absolutely can’t miss in and around Goris are Medieval Cave Dwellings and the village Khndzoresk with the shaking bridge leading to it.

Click here to read more about Goris and its surrounding.

Armenia itinerary

Day 9 – Jermuk

On the way back to Yerevan you might want to do a small detour to the mountain spa town Jermuk, famous for its mineral waters. This is a perfect place to relax a bit in the beautiful scenery.

While there don’t miss the stunning Jermuk waterfall and Gndevank Monastery, be sure to ride a cable car and simply enjoy the vibe of the spa town and all it has to offer.

Unfortunately, reaching Jermuk from Goris is almost impossible so, unless you are not driving yourself, you might need to find a driver to take you there. There are a few marshrutkas per day that will take you back to Yerevan.

Armenia itinerary

Day 10 – Return to Yerevan

After returning from Jermuk to Yerevan you can still go to nearby Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots.

Etchmiadzin (or Vagharshapat as that’s the official name of the city) is the spiritual capital of Armenia where you can visit the Ethcmiadzin Cathedral – one of the oldest churches in the world, built between 301-303 (it was rebuilt and expanded in future centuries but the church still stands in the very same place). Echmiadzin with its numerous churches was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

On the way from Yerevan to Echmiadzin, you should stop at Zvartnots archeological site (also on UNESCO list). The cathedral was built here in the 7th century but its remnants were discovered only at the very beginning of the 20th century. Besides excavated ruins, on a sunny day you can also enjoy stunning views of Mount Ararat in the background.

Here are some of the tours that cover Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots:

  • Private tour to Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots
  • Private tour to UNESCO heritage Echmiadzin churches, Zvartnots and Sardarapat

If you don’t feel like visiting new places on that day you can just take it easy, stay in Yerevan and enjoy the capital with its vibrant cafe scene and some cool bars – there are so many great spots to choose from.

Armenia itinerary

Days 11-13 Lake Sevan and Dilijan National Park

The last places you should visit in Armenia are Lake Sevan and Dilijan National Park, located north of Yerevan, not too far from the city. You can actually visit both as (separate) day trips but if you have the extra time it’s worth staying there a bit longer to enjoy the area.

Lake Sevan, the biggest lake in the Caucasus, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country and part of the Sevan National Park. It is known for the variety of flora and fauna, including the most famous Sevan trout. There are also a few monuments you can visit (you can find them on day three of this itinerary).

If you are traveling in the summertime you might want to spend the whole day at Lake Sevan, not only visiting the interesting sights but also relaxing at one of the beaches.

From Lake Sevan, it’s a short drive to Dilijan – a charming town often called “the little Switzerland of Armenia”. There are plenty of things to see and do in and near the town, including impressive monasteries (like Haghartsin and Goshavank) and hiking in the stunning Dilijan National Park with numerous trails and beautiful and diverse nature.

How to get there from Yerevan

Minibusses to both Sevan and Dilijan depart from the Northern Bus station in Yerevan frequently, when they fill up. Just keep in mind that the town of Sevan is located a few kilometers from the lake itself and you will have to take a taxi to get there. You might also get a taxi to Lake Sevan directly from Yerevan.

Where to stay in Dilijan

Here are the recommended accommodation options in Dilijan:

  • Ariana Family Hotel (9.5/10)
  • Casanova Inn – Boutique Hotel (9.4/10)
  • Verin Tun (9.6/10)

You might also go for a day trip only from Yerevan to Dilijan. Here are the options:

  • Private tour to Sevan (Sevanavank), Dilijan (Goshavank, Haghartsin)
  • Private tour to Dilijan (Goshavank, Parz (Crystal) Lake, Haghartsin)

Armenia itinerary

Day 14 – Yerevan

On your last day in Armenia, you can visit Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots Cathedral, if you haven’t done that yet.

Or you can just hang out in Yerevan, relax in the Lovers’ Park, do some shopping at GUM or Vernissage, look at Mount Ararat from the Cascade complex yet again and enjoy some amazing Armenian food for the last time during your stay in the country!

Armenia itinerary

Other versions of Armenia itinerary

Even if you don’t have two weeks in Armenia you can see a lot of the country. Here is how you can plan your Armenia itinerary with fewer days available:

  • if you have only 3-4 days in Armenia you can spend 1-2 days in Yerevan, one day on a day trip to Lake Sevan+Gerhard+Garni, and one day on a day trip to Khor Virap and Noravank
  • if you have a week in Armenia you can add to the suggestion above a day trip to Gyumri and two days in the southern part of the country (Goris and surrounding area), or a day trip to Tatev monastery and a day trip to Haghpat and Sanahin
  • if you have 10 days in Armenia you can use the detailed itinerary above but skip Jermuk, go to Dilijan only for one day, visit Lake Sevan together with Geghard and Garni and cut the last day in Yerevan from the plan

Armenia itinerary

Final thoughts on visiting Armeneia

As you can see there is plenty to do and see in Armenia and no matter how many days you will have there you are in for a treat. The country is simply amazing with its history, culture, stunning landscape, friendly people, and vibrant capital.

I believe Armenia is one of the most underrated countries in the world. I bet after visiting Armenia you will want to return there over and over again – that’s what happened to me and now, some ten trips later, I don’t regret a single day I spent in Armenia. I’m sure you will enjoy it too!

Armenia itinerary

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Armenia

Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Armenia here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here .

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

  • Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
  • Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
  • I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Armenia too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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another amazing places: Vanadzor, Hayravanq, Haghartsin, Noratus Cemetery, Shaqui waterfall, Smbataberd, Parz lich, goshavanq, mayramavanq, St. Nicholas Church, Garni Gorge and Rock Symphony, Lori Canyon, Lake arpi, trchkan.

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Hello Jetlag

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // An Essential Break Down

 In an era where a single Google search will pull up thousands of blog posts and magazine worthy photos for any given destination, I was surprised at how few Armenia travel tips and guides I could find online. This posed a unique situation where we actually had to jump in feet first and really explore for ourselves. We divided the country in thirds, rented a car, and just drove. Of course, there was some trial and error, but this was one of the most exciting trips I’ve taken in a while.

In this complete Armenia travel guide, pick up some of the helpful tips we learned along our journey, discover the best time to visit, get an idea of how much things cost, what foods you have to try, plus much more.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

BASIC ARMENIA TRAVEL INFORMATION

The ideal time for Armenia travel is late May to early June, or late September to early October.

RAINFALL November is the wettest month. March and April historically have a good amount of rain but the weather was beautiful (with no rain) when we were there in late March. HOTTEST/COLDEST MONTHS The hottest months are July and August, with highs in the 90’sF (around 35C). The coldest months are December to February, with highs in January topping 2F ( 35C) and lows dipping down to 19F (-7C). DAYLIGHT HOURS June and July have the longest amount daylight (around 13 hours), with December through February offering up only 7 hours of daylight each day.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

Whether or not you need a visa to enter Armenia will depend on your passport.

  • All European Union citizens as well as citizens of the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom do not need a visa prior to arrival.
  • Canadian citizens do require a visa but can obtain it upon arrival for 15,000AMD ($30CAD).
  • Citizens of Africa (except South Africa) cannot obtain a visa upon arrival . They can only apply at an Armenian diplomatic or consular post, and only with an invitation.

To view the visa requirements for all countries, click here. 

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

CURRENCY Armenia operates on the Armenian Dram. Credit cards are widely accepted in the city and ATMs are relatively easy to find.

$1 USD = 487AMD $1 AUD = 367AMD $1 CAD = 381AMD £1 = 580AMD €1 = 658 AMD For current exchange rates, or if your country is not listed above click here.

RESTAURANTS  I had a difficult time finding an accurate Armenia travel guide regarding tipping. From what I understand, tipping is common in Yerevan restaurants. My Armenian friend Val (who I’m so grateful to for all of her tips) says that there is no minimum and no expectation, however it’s “greatly appreciated regardless of the percentage.” So anywhere from 5% (on small bills) to 10-20% for restaurants with great service. TAXIS  When taking a taxi, you can round up on the fare. HOTELS  Nick was in Armenia for business so we were lucky to get the opportunity to stay at the Multi Grand Hotel. When ordering room service, we attempted to tip several times and our efforts were denied.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

ELECTRICITY

220V / 50 Hz

POWER SOCKETS

The most comment power socket in Armenia is Type C – Non Grounded. You might also run into Type F – Grounded. (We brought only a Type C converter and had no issues).

WiFi is readily available (fast and free!) in Yerevan, and you’ll find it in every restaurant, hotel and coffee shop. Outside of the city, WiFi is a little harder to come by, but we didn’t have a problem finding some when we really needed it.

WHAT THINGS COST

One of the best things about Armenia is how inexpensive it is. Typically, things will cost more in Yerevan and much less in the rest of the country. During our road trip to the North, we stopped by a market to pick up some snacks. We bought homemade bread bigger than both of our faces combined, 2 beers, 2 baklava desserts and some sheep’s cheese for a grand total of less than $6 USD. Here are some approximate Armenia travel expenses to give you an idea of how to budget your trip.

FOOD Inexpensive meal: 1,500 to 3,000AMD ($3-6USD) Dinner for 2 (appetizers, meals + drinks): 10,000-15,000AMD ($20-30)

HOTELS  Hostels 4,800-9,700AMD ($10-20USD) Mid-Range 25,000-60,000 ($50-$120USD) Luxury: 85,000-150,000AMD ($175-300 USD)

DRINKS Cappuccino 600-1,400AMD ($1.20-2.75USD) Domestic Beer -Restaurant: 1,058AMD ($2) Domestic Beer – Grocery Store: 380AMD ($0.76USD) Wine – Restaurant: 700-800AMD ($1.5-$2USD) Bottle of Wine – Grocery Store: 1450AMD ($3USD) Cocktails: 2,432 ($5USD)

TRANSPORTATION Taxis meters start at 600AMD ($1.20USD) and cost 160.93 per mile ($0.33USD). Bus Tickets are 100AMD ($0.20USD)

Northern Armenia // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK

Armenia’s food won me over.. big time. Just about every traditional restaurant has a massive menu with tons of options, so it can get a little overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the cuisine. Here is a list of some of the most popular and traditional Armenian dishes that you have to try.

BASTURMA is a highly seasoned, air-dried cured beef, and it’s a common appetizer in Armenia. We were served basturma as part of the cold plate during several of our breakfasts. My friend Val recommends trying it in an omelet. KHOROVADZ  is Armenian barbecue, and it’s one of the most typical foods you’ll find in Armenia. Pork is the most common meat, but you can also order chicken, lamb, beef and fish BBQ. If you don’t eat meat, there are tons of vegetable barbecue options. I fell in love with the the mushroom BBQ and ordered it at every meal. DOLMA  is a traditional Armenian dish made of grape leaves, ground beef, rice, plus herbs and spices.  Dolma can also be ordered without meat.

 Food You Have to Try in Armenia // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

BUREG (also known as Borek or Borag) is a staple in Armenian food. It’s a baked pastry made with thin flakey dough and filled with cheese. LAVASH is a thin unleavened flatbread.. and you cannot leave Armenia without trying it. Not to worry though because if you forget to order it, the waiter will always remind you. At Lavash and Sherep restaurants in Yerevan, you can watch the lavash making process which only adds to the level of appreciation you will have for it once it hits your table. BRANDY (COGNAC) Armenian Brandy is considered to be some of the best in the world and for a short period of time, they were even allowed the prestigious honor of calling their product “cognac.” Armenian brandy was most famously known as the drink of choice for Winston Churchill and they boast gold medals in spirits competitions around the world.

RELATED POST : THE BEST YEREVAN RESTAURANTS // WHERE TO EAT IN ARMENIA’S CAPITAL

10 ARMENIA TRAVEL TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VACATION

ASK TAXIS TO USE THEIR METER  During our time in Yerevan, the only taxi drivers who voluntarily turned on their meter without us having to ask were the ones who were called by our hotel. If the meter does not get not turned on, the driver will quote you his own price at the end of the ride. A few times we forgot to ask about the meter, and the fare was triple what it normally was. We didn’t argue about it as it was only a few dollars difference, but I still hate getting up-charged for being a tourist.

TAXI DRIVERS  Speaking of taxi drivers.. very few spoke English. I recommend having the name of your destination written in Armenian so that they understand where you want to go (you can ask your hotel to help you). When we wanted to go to the Ararat Brandy Factory, our driver thought we asked him to take us to Mt. Ararat… in Turkey. Another time, on the the way back to our hotel, we had to pull up our Google Maps and navigate for him using hand signals. Luckily, they were all very sweet and willing to work with our lack of knowledge about the local language.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

PAY ATTENTION TO SPEED LIMITS  If you will be renting a car in Armenia, make sure to follow the speed limits! There are speed camera everywhere and we not only got pulled over, but we saw dozens of others fall prey to the cameras each day.

  • In towns, villages and cities– 60 km/h
  • Outside of towns, villages and cities – 90 km/h
  • On highways– 110 km/h
  • Residential areas – 20 km/h

For a huge list of tips about driving in Armenia, including what to expect if you get pulled over, check out my post below:

RELATED POST: ARMENIAN TRAVEL TIPS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENTING A CAR 

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

CREDIT CARDS  In the US, our credit cards don’t usually have pin codes. Apparently this is not the norm and we inadvertently caused extreme confusion when we didn’t have a pin to enter during credit card purchases. A few people assured us that they wouldn’t steal our money ( they must’ve though that didn’t want to give them the code for security reasons haha). To their surprise, the sale did eventually go through, but it took about 30 seconds.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

FREE PHONE CHARGING IN YEREVAN  If you find yourself running out of phone battery in Yerevan, head towards the Cascade Complex. There’s an open air bus/tourist information center parked out front with free phone charing.

CHECK OUT THE GROCERY STORE Walking through foreign grocery stores is one of my favorite things to do when I travel, and it was even more fun in Armenia because everything is cheap. While beer in your hotel mini bar might seem inexpensive ($2-3USD), you can find it in the grocery store for less than $1USD! Also stock up on fresh bread, homemade cheese and Armenian snacks.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

HOW TO TIP Unlike in the US, you tip when paying your bill. If you are paying by card,  let the server know how much extra to add to the bill. If you’re paying with cash, hand the tip over with your total.

SAFETY & SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL  Armenia is extremely safe and I would definitely feel comfortable returning here as a solo (female) traveler. They have a very low crime rate even in their biggest city, Yerevan.

If you don’t know anything about Armenia, you might look at where it’s located on a map, and group it in with high-risk countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. However, Armenia is rated “low-risk” on the Global Terrorism Index  at #75 (for reference, the US sits much higher at #32). Also, the United States Government rates Armenia as “Level 1” – the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk.

Even though Armenia is safe, it’s advised to stay clear of the Azerbaijan border as relations between the two countries remains hostile. And as with any place you travel, always stay conscious of your surroundings.

Mt. Ararat from Khor Virap Monastery // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

TALK TO THE PEOPLE  I’ve never been looked at as strangely as I have in Armenia. We would drive through these tiny towns on our road trip throughout the country and people would not drop their gaze. At first I was a little uncomfortable but then I realized, they just don’t see that many tourists.

We started initiating contact first, and quickly discovered that the Armenian people are SO friendly. One of our taxi drivers called his daughter on speakerphone because she spoke better English than him, and he wanted us to talk to her. If we had a problem, people would go out of their way to help us.. like the time we got lost and a very nice man drew directions for us in the dirt. If you find yourself traveling in Armenia, I highly recommend trying to make a connection with the people. They played a big role in my fondness for this country.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

ARMENIA TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS // WHERE TO GO

Northern armenia.

DILIJAN A town in Northern Armenia also known as “Little Switzerland” because of it’s dense forests and snowcapped mountains. Dilijan is a good jumping off point for Haghartsin and Goshavank Monasteries.

HAGHARTSIN MONASTERY A 13th century monastery located in the Tavush province. Haghartsin is one of the most visited monasteries in Armenia and is known for it’s incredible location tucked amongst the trees, on the top of a hill.

RELATED POST: HAGHARTSTIN MONASTERY // ARMENIA’S HIDDEN MOUNTAIN GEM

Lori Province in Northern Armenia // // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

LORI PROVINCE One of the most beautiful provinces in Armenia. It includes towns such as Stepanavan, Alaverdi and Spitak. In Lori Province you can visit the Lori Berd Fortress, Haghpat Monastery and Sanahin Monastery.

RELATED POST: AVAN DZORAGET HOTEL // A PEACEFUL RETREAT IN LORI PROVINCE

LAKE SEVAN   The largest body of water in Armenia and one of the highest altitude lakes in the world. Lake Sevan is a popular Armenia travel getaway for those looking to escape the Summer heat and relax on some sandy beaches. Also be sure to visit Sevanavank Monastery, located right on the shore of the Lake.

Savanavank Monastery // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

GOSHAVANK  Located 15km from Dilijan, Goshavank is a 12th century monastery that used to be one of the leading spiritual and educational-cultural centers of medieval Armenia.

SOUTHERN ARMENIA

JERMUK  A mountain spa town located in the Vayots Dzor Province of Southern Armenia. Most of the country’s mineral water comes from here and it’s a popular destination for those seeking out mineral spa treatments and hot springs.

ARENI  Armenia’s wine region which was said to have been founded by Noah and his sons (from the Christian Bible). The world’s oldest winery was discovered here in the Areni-1 cave, which you can tour.

Areni Wine Country in Southern Armenia // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

As you drive through the village, you’ll pass dozens of stands with vendors selling homemade wine out of old water jugs and coke bottles. Or you can visit Hin Areni winery for a tour and tasting. We ended up buying 4 bottles of Hin Areni wine (including their reserve) and it cost less than $30USD.

NORAVANK MONASTERY A 13th century monastery located within a deep gorge created by the Amaghu River. Noravank is definitely worth visiting because the scenery is breathtaking. You can combine your visit with a stop in Areni as it’s only 10km (6 miles) apart.

RELATED POST: NORAVANK MONASTERY // A MUST VISIT SITE IN SOUTHERN ARMENIA

Noravank Monastery // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

TATEV MONASTERY I highly regret not   making it to this monastery. It was a little too far away to turn into a day trip, and we just ran out of time. Tatev Monastery’s location looks breathtakingly gorgeous, situated on a basalt plateau in the Syunik Province. To reach the monastery, you have to travel on the world’s longest cable car, the Wings of Tatev.

Google it. Trust me.

CENTRAL ARMENIA

KHOR VIRAP Armenia’s most visited pilgrimage site. Khor Virap is said to have been the site where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before successfully converting King Trdat to Christianity, thus making Armenia the world’s first Christian nation. In addition to it’s religious significance, Khor Virap also offers one of the best views of Mount Ararat (granted that it’s not covered by the clouds … like when we visited 🙁 ).

Khor Virap Monastery in Central Armenia // The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide: Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

GEGHARD MONASTERY Located in the Kotayak Province, Geghard Monastery was founded in the 4th century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator. It’s partially carved out of the mountain stone and is named after the spear that wounded Jesus during his crucifixion. The spear is said to have been housed here until it was moved to Armenia’s Ejmiatsin Cathedral.

TSAKHKADZOR  Located in the Kotayak Province, Tsakhkadzor is a popular ski resort town only only one hour from Yerevan. Kecharis Monastery and Makravank Monastery are nearby.

YEREVAN Armenia’s capital and the largest city in the country. Yerevan is also known as The Pink City because it’s buildings are made out of pink lava stone.

RELATED POST: 6 THINGS TO DO IN YEREVAN, ARMENIA 

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

 ARMENIA TRAVEL GUIDE  // WHAT TO WEAR

Despite being sandwiched between Muslim countries, Armenia is a Christian nation so there is no specific dress code to adhere to. Still, it appeared to be somewhat conservative as far as clothing goes, so airing on the side of modesty will help you fit in.

The women in Yerevan had great style; I’d describe it as casual chic with some funky touches here and there. I noticed a lot of blacks and neutrals, with subtle pops of color, cool shoes and of course, designer bags.

The climate changes throughout the country, so packing Armenia travel outfits with a few different layers is recommended. Even in the hot Summer, nights can get a little chilly.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // A Packing Guide to Help You Plan What Clothes to Wear in Yerevan, Armenia

BISHOP + YOUNG TANK | JUNK FOOD GRAPHIC TEE | TOPSHOP STRIPED TEE | FRAME HIGH RISE SKINNY JEANS | TOPSHOP DENIM SKIRT | J.CREW CROP PANTS | TOPSHOP CROPPED STRIPED JUMPSUIT  | T ORY BURCH FLATS | SAM EDELMAN MULE | GUCCI PURSE | FRANK & EILEEN CARDIGAN

Did I miss anything? Leave any of your Armenia travel tips in the comments!

Pin it // the ultimate armenia travel guide.

The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // Discover where to go and what to eat, plus the best time to visit, travel tips and more.

5 thoughts on “The Ultimate Armenia Travel Guide // An Essential Break Down”

What a great post! I totally agree with you, I very rarely see posts about Armenia and think you’ve done a great job of introducing me to the country, it sounds lovely 🙂

Hi Helena, Thank you so much!! Armenia was such a cool country, I hope you make it over there soon 🙂

We are 4 pax planning to visit armenia in mid october (total 7 days travel plan for ) from dubai. travel date oct 14 .

Request to provide a rough itinerary so that we could cover important tourist spots in important towns.

We are nature lovers..then we wish to experience fall season,snow & a daytime .We have to book accommodations at various places as per the itinerary.

please help.

Minju shikin

Hi Minji! I’ve written several posts about Armenia which can hopefully give you some ideas for your trip. https://hellojetlag.com/category/armenia/

I recommend consulting with a travel agent for a more personalized itinerary as they will be able to give you more suggestions beyond what I saw during my trip.

Hope this helps! Lindsey

I have been dreaming on traveling Armenia from long time back. Great sharing of the needed information.

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Armenia Travel Guide

Last Updated: May 4, 2023

Mount Ararat and the Yerevan skyline in Armenia

Straddling the divide between Asia and Europe , Armenia might be one of the final travel frontiers left on the planet for adventurous backpackers. Visiting Armenia isn’t often on a traveler’s to-do list, despite its beautiful snowy mountain peaks and many perfectly preserved medieval monasteries.

But their loss is your gain as the country is virtually untouched by mass tourism.

Armenia’s history is complicated and often tragic, marked with countless years of warfare and the infamous Armenian Genocide in which the Ottoman government murdered 1.5 million Armenians in the early 1900s.

Learn more about the country’s past by visiting the many historical monuments and religious structures scattered around the country, including the 4th-century Etchmiadzin Cathedral and the Greco-Roman Temple of Garni.

Armenia’s dramatic landscape of jagged mountains and deep, rugged valleys — especially in the Geghama mountain range — is perfect for trekking, biking, and off-roading.

Moreover, Armenians love chatting with visitors. You don’t have to try hard to meet the locals here as they’re going to want to know why you are visiting since so few people do!

This travel guide to Armenia will help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this underrated gem!

Table of Contents

  • Things to See and Do
  • Typical Costs
  • Suggested Budget
  • Money-Saving Tips
  • Where to Stay
  • How to Get Around
  • How to Stay Safe
  • Best Places to Book Your Trip
  • Related Blogs on Armenia

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Armenia

Republic Square, a central square with a large fountain, surrounded by historic buildings, in Yerevan, Armenia

1. See Mount Ararat

This dormant volcano is technically a part of Turkish territory and is believed to be the final resting spot of Noah’s Ark. While you can’t hike the mountain from Armenia, you can certainly admire it up close from the Khor Virap monastery, located just 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Yerevan!

2. Visit Yerevan

Known as Armenia’s “Pink City” for the rose-colored volcanic material used for much of the city’s buildings, Yerevan is home to wide tree-lined boulevards, busy town squares, and a thriving cafe culture. Try the city’s famous dark coffee; it’s rich, sweet, and packed with caffeine.

3. Go Skiing in Tsaghkadzor

Thanks to its mountainous terrain, Armenia has become a hit with extreme sports lovers. During the winter, Armenia is transformed into a ski and snowboarding haven. Tsaghkadzor ski resort in the Marmarik river valley is the most popular place to go. A day ticket costs 12,000 AMD.

4. Visit Dilijan National Park

Dilijan National Park is easily one of the most scenic destinations to visit in Armenia, boasting wide swatches of forested hills and green meadows home to thousands of plant species. Hike the well-marked trails to springs and monasteries or spend some time at scenic Parz Lake.

5. Visit the Genocide Museum

The Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum stands as a powerful reminder of the genocide that took place in Armenia between 1915-1922 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Inside is a collection of photographs, documents, newspaper reports, and films curated to tell the story of this tragic event in Armenian history. Admission is free but donations are welcomed.

Other Things to See and Do in Armenia

1. take the cable car to tatev monastery.

This medieval monastery was built between the 9th-13th centuries and is unique thanks to its position on the edge of a deep gorge. The inside is covered in 10th-century frescoes and vaulted stone ceilings, while the exterior has many pointed domes and is surrounded by tall stone fortress walls that drop off immediately into the gorge below. There are stunning views and photography spots all around the complex as well. The only way to visit the monastery is by taking the cable car across a 5,752-meter cableway (the longest in the world) suspended 320 meters (1,049 feet) above the River Vorotan. The cable car ride takes around 15 minutes, and a round-trip ticket is 5,000 AMD. Tatev is about 3.5 hours from Yerevan.

2. Visit Shikahogh State Reserve

Shikahogh State Reserve is the second largest forest in Armenia and is home to some diverse wildlife including leopards, bears, wild goats, and vipers. There are lush mountain hiking trails (although they are not always well maintained) that lead you to Iron Age tombs, medieval churches and monasteries, waterfalls, crystal-clear springs, and even abandoned towns. The 11-kilometer (7-mile) route from Mount Khustup to Shishkert village is tough but incredibly scenic.

3. Swim in Lake Sevan

Also known as the “Armenian Sea,” Lake Sevan is a massive lake (it covers 5% of the country) located high in the Caucasus mountains. Known for its incredible biodiversity and stunningly stark landscapes, Lake Sevan is a popular destination for domestic and foreign travelers alike. Come here to relax in one of the lakeside villages, visit medieval monasteries, and swim in the lake (if it’s warm enough or you’re brave enough!). The lake is so high in altitude (1,900 meters above sea level) that if you sit on the riverbank, it almost looks like the river is running into the sky. You can wild camp here for free as well. Lake Sevan is around 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Yerevan. The most common way to get here is by marshrutka (minibus), which takes around an hour.

4. See Geghard Monastery

Geghard Monastery is a World Heritage-listed complex named from the lance that pierced Christ’s side at the crucifixion. The buildings are partially carved out of the mountains and surrounded by cliffs along the Azat River Gorge. Inside the 13th-century Avazan Chapel is a sacred spring that runs through the monastery, and the original reason for the founding of the area as a religious site back in the 4th century. Today, visitors fill up bottles to take the holy water home. Admission is free.

5. Visit the Echmiadzin Cathedral

Located only 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Yerevan, no visit to Armenia would be complete without seeing the Echmiadzin Cathedral. The cathedral was built following the country’s adoption of Christianity in 301 CE, making it the first country in the world to do so. The cathedral is the oldest in Armenia and is often cited as the oldest cathedral in the world. The cathedral’s museum has some fascinating artifacts, including a supposed piece of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, the spear that pierced Jesus’ side, and a piece of Noah’s Ark. Admission to the museum is 1,500 AMD.

6. Explore Gyumri

The city of Gyumri is one of Armenia’s most ancient settlements, dating back nearly 3,000 years. Starting from the busy Vardanants Square at the center of town, walk to the Kumayri Historic District, a sort of open-air museum filled with historic buildings like the Sev Ghul fortress and the Paris Hotel (used as a maternity hospital during Soviet times). Be sure to visit the Dzitoghtsyan Museum of Social Life (1,000 AMD entry), which showcases life in the area from the 19th century to the 1920s, or the Aslamazyan Sisters House-Museum (300 AMD entry), with works from two sisters who helped bring equality to Armenian women through their art.

7. Experience the healing waters of Jermuk

With over 40 natural thermal springs, Jermuk is the most popular spa town in Armenia, with a variety of resort hotels and spas (rooms start at 15,000 AMD). Get a free sample of healing mineral water from the Gallery of Water, where natural mineral water flows into 5 different stone urns, each with different healing properties and temperatures (be careful as some are very hot). While you’re there, make sure you venture to the Jermuk waterfall, which, at 70 meters tall (230 feet), is Armenia’s second-largest waterfall. Jermuk is about 3 hours from Yerevan.

8. Visit the Army of Stones

Karahunj, otherwise known as Zorats Karer (or Army of Stones in English), is Armenia’s oldest and most popular megalithic site. Located at an altitude of 1,770 meters (5,800 feet) on a rocky plateau, no one knows how these 200 stones got here. Even stranger is the fact that each stone has 5-centimeter holes in it. There are many different theories on how and why the stones are here, but the most popular theory is that the site was constructed in the 6th century BCE for stargazing.

9. Take a wine tasting tour

With over 500 unique and native varieties almost unknown to the world outside Armenia, taking a wine tour is a must for any wine lover. In fact, the oldest wine cave in the world (it’s 6,000 years old!) is near Areni. Sadly, during Soviet rule, many of the wineries were shut down. It is only in the last decade that Armenia has begun to reconnect with its winemaking roots. Wine tours from Yerevan start from 37,000 AMD for a tour of one winery and go up to around 75,000 AMD for a full-day tour.

10. Go to the Erebuni Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve

This archaeological site encapsulates the ancient Erebuni Fortress, which dates to 782 BCE, a whole three decades before Rome was even established, and after which the city of Yerevan was named. The entire complex is now an outdoor museum, with an indoor component as well. The museum contains more than 12,000 artifacts offering insights into Armenia’s ancient history and the establishment of the city of Yerevan. You’ll also learn about what daily life was like in the palace of Argishti I, one of the greatest kings of ancient Urartu. Admission is 1,000 AMD or 2,500 AMD with a guide.

11. See Noravank

Built in the 13th century, legend has it that when the Mongols conquered Armenia hundreds of years ago, it was God himself that saved the Noravank monastery. Delicately carved stonework and religious reliefs (including depictions of God) decorate the three churches here. Unlike the many other Armenian monasteries that are located on top of mountains and gorges, Noravank is set on the floor of a deep valley, with towering red cliffs rising up on either side of the complex. Visiting the site is free, though the museum is 500 AMD. The monastery is around 122 kilometers (76 miles) from Yerevan.

Armenia Travel Costs

Tatev hilltop monastery blanked in snow in Armenia

Accommodation – There are a limited number of hostels in Armenia and most of them are in the capital, Yerevan. A bed in a 4-6-bed dorm costs 5,000-7,500 AMD, while a bed in an 8-bed-dorm costs 3,000-4,000 AMD. A private double room in a hostel is around 10,000-15,000 AMD with a shared bathroom. Standard amenities include Wi-Fi and bedding. Free breakfast and shared kitchens are common as well (though not all hostels have them).

Camping is available around the country. For those not traveling with a tent, you can often rent them at the Tourist Information Centers. Wild camping is free, but if you prefer camping on a campsite, prices start at around 4,000 AMD per night for two people and a tent.

Budget hotels average around 8,000-9,850 AMD per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard and free breakfast is usually included.

Airbnb is available though the options are limited. Private rooms start around 10,000 AMD per night while entire homes/apartments average closer to 25,000 AMD.

Food – Armenia is a landlocked country with a long history of trade, meaning that Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European countries have all left their mark on the country’s cuisine.

Fresh and dried herbs create flavorful dishes, and common spices include black pepper, sumac, cumin, mint, and cinnamon. Staple vegetables include eggplant, cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, and onion. Legumes, especially chickpeas and lentils, are also used as central ingredients in many dishes. Pork, lamb, and beef are the most common meats. Though meat is predominant in the cuisine, because of the fasting periods in the Armenian Apostolic religion, there are many traditional dishes that are entirely plant-based as well.

Common dishes include a variety of cold salads, yogurt soups, boereg (filled pastry pies), bozbash (lamb stew), khorovats (grilled meat skewers), tolma (stuffed grape leaves), kyufta (a type of meatball), and harissa (a porridge that’s considered Armenia’s national dish). Traditional lavash bread, a flatbread made from wheat and baked in a clay oven, is integral to Armenian cuisine and is served with most meals.

Street food like shawarma or lahmajun (Armenian pizza) costs less than 1,000 AMD, and a glass of tan (a salty yogurt drink) shouldn’t be more than 300 AMD.

For an inexpensive meal at an Armenian restaurant, expect to pay around 1,250-2,750 AMD for traditional food like spa (an extra creamy soup), kyufta (meatballs), or Armenian cheese with basturma (dried meat with spices) wrapped in a piece of Armenian pita bread.

Higher-end or Western restaurants cost about 6,000-8,500 AMD per meal. Even Chinese takeout restaurants, normally a mainstay of the budget traveler, are more expensive than Armenian meals, costing at least 3,800 AMD for a dish.

In terms of drinks, expect to pay 600 AMD for a beer, 700 AMD for a glass of Armenian wine, 1,000-1,500 AMD for a cocktail, 800 AMD for a cup of Armenian coffee, and 1,200 AMD for a cappuccino.

If you plan on cooking your own meals, a week’s worth of groceries should cost around 12,000-16,000 AMD but, with food prices being so low, it’s better to eat street food and enjoy the food the country has to offer!

Backpacking Armenia Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of about 17,500 AMD per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm (or camp), eat street food or at inexpensive restaurants, cook some of your meals, use local transportation (including some intercity buses), limit your drinking, and stick to mostly free or cheap activities like hiking and museum visits.

On a mid-range budget of about 43,000 AMD, you can stay in a private hostel or Airbnb, eat any budget restaurant meal you want, enjoy a few drinks, take some taxis to get around, take intercity trains, and do more paid activities like ride the cable car to Tatev Monastery and do a winery tour.

On a “luxury” budget of about 77,000 AMD per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat anywhere you want, drink more, rent a car to get around, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might pay less every day). We want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in AMD.

Armenia Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Armenia isn’t going to break your bank. There are so many free activities here, especially if you’re enjoying the outdoors, that it’s hard to spend a lot. Throw in cheap food, beer, and accommodation, and you can really stretch your budget here. However, if you’re looking to lower your expenses even more, here are some ways to save money in Armenia:

  • Take a free walking tour – Yerevan Free Walking Tour is a great way to get familiar with the city and the culture. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
  • Hitchhike and wild camp – If you really want to save money in Armenia, it is one of the easiest countries in the world to hitchhike. You will likely never wait long. Wild camping is also legal, and it is very common for friendly Armenians to invite you to their home for food so bring a tent when you visit.
  • Cook your own meals – Some hostels here don’t include kitchen facilities, so if you want to save money, make sure you book accommodation that does so you can buy cheap groceries and cook some meals.
  • Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host that can provide free accommodation and share their insider tips with you. It’s the best way to save money and meet locals.
  • Enjoy the free spaces – There are plenty of free parks as well as many free hiking trails around the country. Save your budget and enjoy the outdoors!
  • Pack a water bottle – The tap water here isn’t really safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle with a filter to save money and reduce your reliance on plastic bottles. My preferred bottle is LifeStraw because it has a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Armenia

There are very few hostels in Armenia, and the few they have are in Yerevan and Tsaghkadzor. My suggested places to stay are:

  • Envoy Hostel (Yerevan)
  • MGA Hostel and Tours (Yerevan)
  • Kantar Hostel (Yerevan)
  • Hostel Tsaghkadzor (Tsaghkadzor)

How to Get Around Armenia

Sweeping landscape with vineyards, a monastery, and mountain in the background in Armenia

Public transportation – Public transportation isn’t the best in Armenia. The public transport websites aren’t translated into English, so it is much better to ask at your hostels for guidance to help you use the local and intercity buses. In the cities, it is easy to walk from place to place.

Yerevan has five trolley bus routes with a ride costing around 50 AMD. There’s also a subway with one line and ten stations, and public buses. A one-way fare on the bus and subway is around 100 AMD.

If you’re flying into Zvartnots International Airport, you can reach the center of Yerevan by bus or taxi. Aerotaxi is the official airport taxi but be aware drivers often won’t turn on the meter, so you need to negotiate a price, which should be around 3,000 AMD. A bus is around 300 AMD.

Bus – Intercity transport in Armenia is best done by bus and minibus (marshrutka). Intercity buses are relatively inexpensive but navigating the bus stations can be tricky as English isn’t widely spoken. Ask in your hostel the day before for someone to help you work out which bus you need and then you will just have to look for that bus when you arrive at the station.

Bus fares average about 716 AMD per hour of travel, but even a short route can end up taking quite a while with lots of stops.

Trains – There are daily trains connecting Yerevan to Gyumri (3 hours), Yeraskh (1.5 hours), Araks (1 hour), Ararat (1 hour), and Hrazdan (1.5 hours). In the summer months, the Hrazdan line gets extended to Lake Sevan. One-way tickets cost between 3,500-12,500 AMD.

Train tickets to nearby cities outside of Armenia, such as Tbilisi, cost around 9,800-12,000 AMD for a one-way ticket. You can purchase tickets online at the official railway website, Railway.am .

The trains that run most regularly are slow trains that are Soviet-era relics, meaning they are uncomfortable and lack the usual amenities you might expect from trains. The express trains, however, are modern and air-conditioned. Unfortunately, these cost more and run less frequently.

Flying – There are only two international airports in Armenia so although air travel is possible, it is far from cost-effective. Often you don’t save much time due to layovers. A flight from Gyumri to Yerevan starts at 95,000 AMD. Only fly if you are short on time and flush with cash.

Car Rental – Driving is definitely the most convenient way to get around Armenia. Car rentals can sometimes be as low as 12,000 AMD per day, and the more days you book, the better the price. If you’re driving, make sure to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in advance as you’ll need one for any vehicle rental.

When to Go to Armenia

The best time to visit Armenia is at the beginning or end of summer (May-June or September-October). During these months, the weather is mild, making it perfect for outdoor explorations. The temperature hovers around 20°C (68°F) but be aware that it can be very rainy throughout May and thunderstorms are common.

Summers are hot, with temperatures soaring as high as 35°C (95°F). Things tend to cool down in the evenings, however, with a gentle mountain breeze providing some welcomed relief after a long, hot day.

If you are visiting for skiing, December is the best winter month for hitting the slopes. Temperatures drop below freezing, and the northern regions receive a lot of snowfall. Cities like Yerevan get a lot quieter during these months as everyone hides from the cold.

You don’t have to worry about inflated prices or crowds even during the summer peak season. Armenia isn’t a very touristy destination, and you often have whole sites all to yourself.

How to Stay Safe in Armenia

Armenia is a very safe country to travel around — even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. Violent crime here is rare.

There aren’t any specific scams to look out for either, though sometimes taxi drivers will try to overcharge you. You can avoid this by agreeing on a price before entering the taxi (ask your hotel/hostel staff for a price estimate if you’re not sure what to pay).

If you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Petty theft and pickpocketing are rare but can occur so always keep your valuables (specifically your wallet and phone) secure and out of reach. This is especially important in crowds or on busy public transportation.

Solo female travelers should feel safe here, though the standard precautions apply (never accept drinks from strangers, don’t leave your drink unattended at the bar, don’t walk around intoxicated at night, etc.).

If you rent a vehicle, don’t leave any valuables in it overnight. Break-ins are rare, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

There’s often political turmoil with neighbors so keep an eye out on that and avoid protests or demonstrations while in Armenia. Avoid the Nagorno-Karabakh region on the border with Azerbaijan due to armed conflict.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Armenia Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

  • Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
  • Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
  • Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
  • HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
  • Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
  • The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
  • Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
  • FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
  • SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
  • LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
  • Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
  • Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Armenia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Armenia and continue planning your trip:

19 Easy Ways to Save Money in Armenia

19 Easy Ways to Save Money in Armenia

Get my best stuff sent straight to you, pin it on pinterest.

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Anna’s Yerevan

Anna Khachatryan   is a   native of   Yerevan   through and through.

When she moved to Geneva for a   six-month   stint in 2013, her appreciation for Armenia’s capital city   only grew.   “I love Yerevan because it is extremely hospitable,” Anna says. “It’s hard to find a city nowadays that   is modern, but at the same time keeps its culture so   well preserved.”

These days she shares her hometown pride   with the world on the   Wandelion   website while maintaining her own blog,   Streets of Yerevan ,   on the side. Here are a few of Anna’s favorite things about one of the oldest cities in the world.

Follow Anna’s story on Facebook , Twitter , and   Instagram .

Yerevan Is My City

When someone comes to visit me, the first place I take them is   on a walk to the Yerevan Cascade , a giant stairway that links downtown with the upper neighborhoods of the city. When one goes up the stairs, a spectacular view of Mount Ararat and central Yerevan opens up.

The end of April until the end of October is the best time to visit my city because you can enjoy open-air cafés, meet interesting people, and walk all day long to discover Yerevan’s secrets.

You can see my city best from   the Yerevan Cascade.

Locals know to skip   smoke-filled   restaurants and bars   and check out nonsmoking ones instead . They’re limited in number, but this   nonsmoking map can help you find   your way to smoke-free scenes.

Vernissage , an open-air   flea market near Republic Square ,   is the place to buy authentic, local souvenirs.  

In the past, notable people like   painter Martiros Saryan , singer   Charles Aznavour , and composer Serj Tankian have called my city home.

My city’s best museum is the   History Museum of Armenia because you can learn about our national heritage   in three hours by taking a guided tour that’s available in various languages.

If there’s one thing you should know about getting around my city, it’s   to be careful if   you’re riding   a   bicycle. Though there are marked bike paths in some parts of Yerevan, few drivers seem to be aware of bikers. Walking is my preferred mode of exploring the city, but if   public transportation is more your style, take note   that you pay at the end of the trip (when you’re getting off).

My city really knows how to celebrate each day because Armenians are known for their joie de vivre . The city is so full of life that sometimes one can wonder if the locals work at all. You can always see people in the cafés.

For a fancy night out, I go to Panorama .

Just outside my city, you can visit Lake Sevan , which is less than an hour’s drive northeast of Yerevan. Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasus region and, at more than 6,000 feet   above sea level, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world.

Brioche is my favorite place to grab breakfast, and   Proshyan Street is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what’s going on at night and on the weekends, read   the   Wandelion   blog.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to anti-cafés (places that will let you bring in outside food and drinks and just chill), such as the Loft .

To escape the crowds, I go to English Park or take a morning walk in Boghossian Gardens .

Malkhas Jazz Club is the best place to see live music, but if you’re in the mood to dance, check out Argentine tango at Lazio Cafe-Bar .

SkyBall , an event centered around hot-air balloons, could only happen in my city.

In the spring you should   head to   Abovyan Street to see the apricot and peach trees in bloom.

In the summer you should experience the singing fountains at Republic Square in the heart of Yerevan. Late in the evening, the streams of water come to life in a colorful,   synchronized “dance” that’s set to classical music.

In the fall you should   take part in the   festivities leading up to Yerevan’s birthday in October. In 2015, we’ll be celebrating year number 2,977.  

In the winter you should go skiing in the spa town of   Tsaghkadzor , which is only 30 minutes away.

If you have kids (or are a kid at heart), you won’t want to miss   the holiday of Vardavar , which is celebrated 14   weeks after Easter and involves people throwing water on each other. Kids will love taking part in this ancient ritual—and taking a break from the   baking heat. The Yerevan Zoo   is also a winner.

> Related:

  • Nat Geo Travel’s Guide to Armenia

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IMAGES

  1. 8 reason for a city trip to Yerevan, Armenia

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  3. 6 Things to do in Yerevan // Exploring Armenia's Pink City

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