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Yerevan
Armenia’s capital of pink-stone buildings, cafés and museums, with Mount Ararat on the horizon
Armenia’s capital of pink-stone buildings, cafés and museums, with Mount Ararat on the horizon
The city’s main square is surrounded by grand tuff buildings, including the Government House and the History Museum of Armenia. In summer, fountains play to music in the evenings.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
A huge stairway of terraces and modern sculptures climbs the hill north of the centre. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts inside has escalators to the top, which has views over the city to Ararat.
Go at sunset on a clear day.
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts holds one of the world’s largest collections of medieval manuscripts, with more than 20,000 items, and has illuminated Armenian books on display.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
On Tsitsernakaberd hill, the memorial to the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide has an eternal flame and a museum. Thousands walk here each year on 24 April, the day of remembrance.
Photo: Aleksey Chalabyan, CC BY-SA 4.0
An open-air market near Republic Square selling carpets, woodcarvings, paintings, jewellery and Soviet-era objects. It is busiest at weekends.
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try khorovats (barbecue), dolma, lavash flatbread (on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list), khash in winter and apricots in summer. Armenian brandy and local wines are worth tasting.
Yerevan has many cafés, wine bars and restaurants around Saryan Street, Northern Avenue and the Cascade.
Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) is about 12km west of the centre, with flights from Europe, the Middle East and Russia. Taxis booked through apps are cheap. Trains run to Gyumri and, in season, to Tbilisi in Georgia.
The city has a small metro line, buses and many marshrutkas (minibuses). Citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, Australia and many other countries can visit Armenia visa-free for up to 180 days a year; most others can apply for an e-visa. Check current rules before you travel.
Armenia uses the dram (AMD). Cards are accepted widely in Yerevan, but carry cash for markets, marshrutkas and smaller towns.
Prices are approximate.
City sights and a day trip.
Start at Republic Square and the History Museum, browse the Vernissage, then climb the Cascade for sunset.
Visit the Matenadaran in the morning and the Genocide Memorial and museum in the afternoon.
Visit Etchmiadzin and the ruins of Zvartnots, or Garni temple and Geghard monastery.
Use ride-hailing apps such as Yandex Go or GG for fair fares.
July and August are hot and dry; sightsee early.
The mountain is clearest in the morning and in autumn.
Carry drams for markets and minibuses.
Quick answers for planning time in Yerevan.
About 12km, roughly 20 minutes by taxi.
Yes, on clear days, especially in the morning.
EU, UK, US and many other citizens can visit visa-free for up to 180 days a year.
A museum and research institute of ancient Armenian manuscripts.
April to June and September to October.
Offline maps help outside Yerevan; Yandex Maps covers the region well.
Free
Armenian script is unfamiliar; Russian is widely understood.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Armenia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.