🇦🇲 Yerevan for beginners: everything a tourist needs to know
Welcome to Armenia, or as the Armenians themselves will say, Bari Galust Hayastan! And before the start of the journey, we will share interesting facts about the capital. Yerevan is 29 years older than Rome. Just imagine, a 2,700-year-old city still honors its history, preserving its culture, customs, and at the same time continues to look for something new and modern. Relatively small in its territory, Yerevan has an amazing ability to combine the incongruous: unique relics of the ancient Urartians coexist here with modern art spaces, and medieval churches with “Stalinist” houses. Full fusion.
Yerevan has gathered all the best, being under the rule of different states for hundreds of years. And yet, first of all, this is the Middle Eastern mood, colorful markets, noisy and smiling locals. There is Soviet architecture, avenues, and a European-style system of serving tourists with conceptual bars and restaurants. Monasteries in the vicinity of Yerevan are of considerable importance not only for the country itself, but also for world culture.
Ahead of you awaits an eventful journey through the capital of Armenia, where you can plunge into history, contemporary art, and nature. And, of course, let’s not leave aside the excellent local cuisine. We will walk a lot, contemplate, feel a lot and enjoy ourselves! Go!
Some tips before your trip:
- Armenia is the first Christian state in the world. The Armenian Church is a separate branch of Christianity. Although, in accordance with the Constitution, Armenia is a secular state, we should not forget that the church still has a strong influence on the spiritual and moral life of society. The rules are simple: do not forget to follow the dress code when visiting religious institutions. For women, excessively revealing outfits are excluded; for men, shorts are undesirable.
- The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan remain a pressing issue for the state. We advise you to be aware of this topic and not to spread further.
- You will be surprised, but stray street dogs in Yerevan are sterilized and marked with special marks. There are quite a lot of them, but they are all accustomed to people and very friendly.
- The traffic rules here are sad: don’t expect polite drivers and excellent road markings. They drive here aggressively in an oriental manner, they do not allow pedestrians to pass through, the sound of car horns is everywhere and everywhere. When renting a car, do not be surprised and be extremely attentive.
- Also, the public transport system may seem difficult for the first time, as it really is a bit chaotic. Taxi prices in Yerevan are low, so, in general, you can choose this method of transportation for traveling around the city .
- Keep special service numbers handy: 101—emergency service; 102 – police; 103 – ambulance.
- Currency exchange rates vary from bank to bank. You can find the exchangers and ATMs closest to you on rates.am. It’s better to go to the provinces with cash, or even better, immediately with drams, so as not to look for exchange offices and banks in small towns. “MIR” cards work in the country. But Armenians love cash, remember that.
- Cool life hack for Armenia: bargain always and everywhere! If an Armenian names a price, then never agree with it right away. This almost always works: discounts are given with a smile in response to a direct request. It is also worth remembering that the price tag is higher at the very entrance to the markets. Go ahead and haggle.
- Armenia is known throughout the world for its sun and fruits. Please note that the most delicious Armenian peaches, apricots and grapes are sold not in supermarkets, but in markets. Farmers here sell fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables, generously sharing the fruits of their labor before your purchase.
- On your trip, we recommend taking thick and comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes for the season and a hat, a Power bank, and a personal first aid kit. Outside the capital there will be serpentine roads – it makes sense to take pills for motion sickness. Also, do not forget the documents: a valid or foreign passport and insurance.
- All Covid restrictions have been lifted in Armenia.
How to get there and when to fly
Be prepared for the fact that it may snow in March, but by April the weather calms down and remains magnificent until October.
Where to live
Tourism is an important component of the Armenian economy. Almost all well-known hotel chains are represented in the capital: there are five-star luxury hotels, cheap hostels, and inexpensive apartments. Booking, Airbnb operate here and couch surfing is practiced. The main thing is to choose housing in the very center: after all, this is where the main attractions are concentrated – these are Republic Square, Freedom Square and all the streets inside the Ring Boulevard.
Here are some recommendations:
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Budget option – ENVOY HOSTEL | YEREVAN
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You can also book accommodation with the cool guys from travelhub.by
It's time to take a walk around the city
Let's start with the Big Cascade (Moskovyan St. 10). This is one of the key symbols of the city. A unique staircase with fountains, under the stairs there is an arts center. If you reach the top, then from the observation deck you can see Ararat and the hills.
Along the way to the stairs there are several sculptures by one of the most expensive sculptors in the world. The creations of Colombian Fernando Botero were presented to Yerevan by Armenian-American Gerard Cafesjian.
Next we move towards Northern Avenue – rightfully considered the main pedestrian street of the city. The history of this place is interesting, because in order to create the avenue, the local government bought and demolished several blocks of private houses. Northern Avenue connects the two main squares of Yerevan: Republic Square and Freedom Square. The Europeanized city center now brings together expensive real estate, luxury buildings, luxury hotels, brand stores and stylish cafes.
Next stop is Republic Square (location on google map). The main square of the city in the shape of a trapezoid is the heart and symbol of Yerevan. Very graceful and with a unique architectural structure, the square always attracts tourists. It's always crowded here, especially at night. In the light of the night lights, the square is revealed to its fullest and delights. The main architect of Republic Square was the outstanding Soviet architect, academician Alexander Tamanyan.
We go southeast from Republic Square and find ourselves at the flea market. An interesting place, you can spend some time on it. On weekdays there are fewer sellers, the main movement is on weekends from 10 to 16.
We move further along the Vernissage park, we go out to the amusement park and the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. This is the largest church in Armenia. Built in 2001 in honor of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia.
Special attention should be paid to the most famous and authentic district of the city – the Cond district. The labyrinth of local architecture, in which every step allows you to plunge into an authentic atmosphere, is truly amazing. At every step you get colorful shots here. We recommend taking a walk here and experiencing the moment.
We also recommend visiting the memorial complex to the victims of the Armenian genocide – Tsi tsern akaberd (Tsitsernakaberd highway, 8/8)
The first impressions of Yerevan have been received, the central part of the city has been explored. Well, now we offer a short immersion into the flavor of the country through contemporary art.
It’s worth visiting the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art ( Pavstos Buzand St., ⅓) for at least an hour and get acquainted with the works of Armenian contemporary and avant-garde artists.
As an alternative – the Yerevan Modern Art Museum ( Mashtots Ave., 7). The collection represents one of the richest collections of Armenian sculpture and painting of the 20th-21st centuries.
What can be understood by the term art? Is it literature, music, painting or architecture? In Armenia, when talking about art, they do not forget about the traditions of making world-famous Armenian cognac. Cognac here is national pride, a noble drink.
Who hasn't heard of Armenian cognac? “Ararat” has become a real calling card, a legend of Armenia, one of its symbols, which is known far beyond its borders. We invite you to get to know this page of Armenian culture better.
The ancient Ararat factory will tell you everything about the history of the production of Armenian cognac. You will learn about local grape varieties and the first winemakers of the region, the rules for storing and aging the drink. See the famous cellars and learn the basics of tasting (pre-booking is required, last tour at 17.00).
Shall we try local cuisine?
Food in Armenia is one of its calling cards. Here you can experience a real gastronomic delight by trying local cuisine in a modest restaurant or cafe. In the city center, at every step you can find a place for lunch, a snack or dinner for every budget and every taste.
Common ingredients in Armenian dishes include lamb, eggplant, yogurt, cottage cheese, grape leaves and a variety of aromatic spices. Many meat and vegetable dishes are prepared on the grill or barbecue. The delicious smell of barbecue will be everywhere, but you quickly and happily get used to it.
A selection of colorful restaurants and cafes with traditional Armenian dishes:
“ Lavash ” (21 Tumanyan St.) is one of the most colorful restaurants that offers its guests traditional Armenian dishes.
” Tavern Yerevan ” (Amiryan St., 21) – national, Georgian and European cuisine, Armenian landscapes in the photo, calm and relaxed atmosphere.
” Dolmama ” (Pushkin St., 10) is the most popular restaurant in Yerevan among tourists with a rich interior and a cozy green veranda. Be sure to try dolma (minced meat with rice, wrapped in grape leaves) and khashlama.
” Vostan ” (Abovyan St., 8) is a restaurant of Armenian cuisine with an unusual serving of dishes. It’s worth coming here not only because of the food, but also because of the colorful Yerevan courtyard in which the establishment is located.
Tourists are loved and valued here, which means that they do everything to make their stay here comfortable. You will also find familiar European cuisine in Yerevan. A couple of places for a beautiful breakfast or lunch: Sweet Coast, The Green Bean Cascade, Seasons Sweetland, Lumen coffee, Jazzve coffee, Afrolab Roastery. Let's note some of them:
Stylish and delicious Sweet Coast – huge panoramic windows, cozy furniture, wonderful service and excellent breakfasts.
Lumen coffee is a meeting place for fans of third wave coffee. There is a minimalist interior, the best varieties of coffee roasted in-house, and various alternative brewing methods. And also delicious desserts and parties with vinyl music.
Jazzve coffee. Coffee shop in the very center of the city. Jazzve is the largest cafe chain in Armenia. Jazzve promises you comfort, personalized design and interiors, a relaxed atmosphere and jazzy tunes.
Nightlife in Yerevan
Partygoers, you're in luck, because Yerevan's nightlife is worthy of appreciation. There are bars and clubs here to suit almost every taste. You can get into luxurious club terraces on the roofs of buildings, cool dance floors, themed parties, there are places with live music, from jazz to rock, in short, there’s just so much to see here!
Its jazz clubs can rightfully be considered the pride of Yerevan. “Jazz is life itself,” said the main jazzman of Armenia, Levon Malkhasyan. You can listen to his performances in person at the main jazz club of the city – Malkhas Jazz Club (Pushkin St., 52).
Another place for jazz lovers is Ulikhanyan Club (Sayat-Nova Ave., 7). Local virtuoso musicians stage improvisations here, from which it is impossible not to be impressed.
Montmartre Cocktail Bar ( Amiryan St. 4/6). The cocktail bar and restaurant Montmartre is located on the roof of the Paris Hotel in the very center of Yerevan. There are beautiful views of Ararat. There is live music every day.
For a mixture of the flavor of the old city and the vibe of modern culture, we recommend checking out The Kond House bar (46 Leo Street).
Bar Phoenīx (Abovyan St., 10). Marble, wood, silver, vintage items – Phoenīx resembles the bar of a luxury European hotel. Here you can try unique cocktails based on Armenian cognac.
Pahest 33 (Moskovyan St., 29/4). Pahest 33 is one of the largest and most fashionable nightclubs in Yerevan․ One of the features of the bar-restaurant is its interior, which combines different styles and design trends. The bar is also famous for its large assortment of alcohol․
What to see in the vicinity of Yerevan?
You didn’t think that only Yerevan was interesting in Armenia, did you? The country is small, but this is its advantage. By seeing just the capital, you cannot get an impression of the whole of Armenia as a whole. Culturally interesting places, monasteries and natural sites are scattered around Yerevan. Just 30-40 minutes by taxi or public transport and you get a completely new picture in a big puzzle.
We recommend seeing the Arch of Ararat (Arch of Ararat). This monument by architect Rafael Israelian attracts all travelers exploring the outskirts of Yerevan. It offers stunning views of the majestic Ararat, so get ready to soak up this beauty and take pictures for memory!
Another place to visit is the Garni Temple (Temple of Garni). Garni Temple is a symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. You will explore a pagan structure and feel the charm of the ancient era.
The route includes not only the pagan temple, but also the 4th century Christian monastery complex Geghard (Geghard). It is a cave structure with incredible energy; you can also look into its cells.
Let’s not ignore the Symphony of Stones ( Symphony of Stones) – this rare attraction will amaze you with its scale and uniqueness. At their core, these are basalt pillars that are located perpendicular to the surface and seem to hang above the ground at a height of 50 m. The spectacle is mesmerizing.
Happy travels and we wish you to meet the Armenian mouflon!