Top places to visit in Yerevan

• Garni Temple

  ancient-temple · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hellenistic-style colonnaded temple, the only Greco-Roman temple standing in the former Soviet Union, above the Azat River gorge.

• Geghard Monastery

  monastery · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  UNESCO-listed monastery partially carved into the cliffside, famed for chambers hewn directly out of the mountain rock.

• Khor Virap Monastery

  monastery · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Monastery on a hillock with the closest classic view of Mount Ararat, built over the pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned.

• Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the largest Armenian Apostolic cathedrals in the world, consecrated in 2001 for the 1700th anniversary of Armenian Christianity.

• Erebuni Fortress & Museum

  archaeological-site · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Urartian fortress ruins founded 782 BC on Arin Berd hill, considered the origin point of modern Yerevan, with an adjoining museum.

• Republic Square

  plaza · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central oval plaza ringed by pink-tufa government buildings, the National Gallery and History Museum; nightly musical fountain show in summer.

• Yerevan Opera House (Alexander Spendiaryan Theatre)

  theatre · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Neoclassical opera and ballet theatre and city landmark surrounded by the Swan Lake plaza, a hub of central Yerevan nightlife.

• Cafesjian Center for the Arts

  art-museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Contemporary art museum built into the Cascade complex, with galleries of glass sculpture and rotating exhibitions.

• Vernissage Market

  flea-market · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Sprawling open-air weekend market for Armenian crafts, carpets, carved wood backgammon sets, and Soviet-era antiques.

• History Museum of Armenia

  national-museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  National museum covering Armenian history from prehistoric artifacts through the medieval and modern periods.

• Cascade Complex

  monument-stairway · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Giant limestone stairway of terraces linking Kentron to Monument Park, home to the Cafesjian Center for the Arts and outdoor sculpture garden.

• Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial

  memorial · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hilltop memorial complex with eternal flame monument and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, commemorating the 1915 genocide.

Things to do

• Ararat Brandy Factory Tour Food Drink · 1 h · from AMD 10,000 per person
• Garni & Geghard Day Tour Cultural · 6 h · from AMD 15,000 per person
• Khor Virap & Mount Ararat Views Tour Cultural · 4 h · from AMD 12,000 per person
• Yerevan Old Town Walking & Food Tour Food Drink · 3 h · from AMD 18,000 per person
• Cascade & Cafesjian Art Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from AMD 8,000 per person
• Yerevan Vernissage Market Craft Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from AMD 6,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Khor Virap, Garni & Geghard Day Tour 8 h · from AMD 15,000
• Yerevan City Highlights Walking Tour 4 h · from AMD 6,000

Where to stay in Yerevan

• Kentron (City Center) about AMD 45,000 per night

  Yerevan's central district around Republic Square — the best base for first-time visitors, with walkable access to the Cascade, Opera House, Vernissage Market, and the city's best restaurants and hotels.

• Cascade District about AMD 38,000 per night

  The area around the Cascade Complex and Cafesjian Center — an upscale, walkable neighbourhood popular with art and design travellers, close to Kentron but slightly quieter.

• Arabkir about AMD 20,000 per night

  A quieter, more residential district north of the center — a budget-friendly base with easy access to central Yerevan by taxi or bus, popular with longer-stay and local-style visitors.

Hotels

• Alexander Hotel, Autograph Collection 5-star · AMD 85,000 to AMD 150,000 per night
• Envoy Hostel AMD 3,500 to AMD 15,000 per night
• Golden Tulip Yerevan City Centre 4-star · AMD 40,000 to AMD 65,000 per night
• Ibis Yerevan Center 3-star · AMD 22,000 to AMD 35,000 per night
• Grand Hotel Yerevan 4-star · AMD 35,000 to AMD 55,000 per night

Where to eat

• Lavash Restaurant Armenian, Traditional · about AMD 7,000 per person
• Dolmama Armenian, Fine Dining · about AMD 12,000 per person
• Tavern Yerevan Armenian, BBQ · about AMD 6,500 per person
• The Green Bean Cafe, International · about AMD 3,000 per person
• Sherep Restobar Armenian, Fusion · about AMD 8,000 per person
• Our Village Restaurant Armenian, Homestyle · about AMD 6,000 per person
• Anteb Restaurant Armenian, Middle Eastern, Grill · about AMD 4,500 per person
• Square One Cafe, International · about AMD 3,500 per person

Getting to Yerevan

Airport: Yerevan (EVN)

How visitors arrive in Yerevan

• Flight to Zvartnots Airport By air from Europe, CIS, Middle East · most visitors

  Called the main gateway to Armenia; no domestic flights. Source: armenpress.am

• Marshrutka or road from Tbilisi By road from Tbilisi · common

  Minibuses are the chief mode of transport within and beyond Armenia; the usual road route is via Debed Canyon. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Overnight train from Tbilisi By train from Tbilisi · possible

  Limited rail; described as seldom a good way to get there. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport shuttle buses 201 and 100

  Shuttle buses 201 (Elite) and 100 run from Zvartnots to the centre, with other stops at France Square and Yeritasardakan. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Official airport taxi desk

  The official Airport Services taxi desk is in Arrivals. Drivers outside may offer lower fares, so agree the price beforehand and hold to it. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• gg and Yandex taxi apps

  The guide names the gg and Yandex taxi apps as reliable ways to book a car from the airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Choose company taxis with meters, make sure the driver turns the meter on, and keep small change handy. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Metro to Sasuntsi David station

  Yerevan railway station on Tigran Mets Avenue is reached by metro at Sasuntsi David. The single metro line accepts contactless card payment. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Choose company taxis with meters, make sure the driver turns the meter on, and keep small change handy. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro

  Yerevan has a single metro line running through the centre and out to the suburbs.

  Yerevan Metro

• Minibus

  Marshrutkas are shared minibuses on numbered routes across Yerevan and its suburbs; you can ask the driver to stop when you want to get off.

• Ride Hail

  Ride-hailing apps work in Yerevan for ordering a car to your exact location without negotiating with a driver.

  Get gg ride-hailing

• Taxi

  Taxis are available across Yerevan, including company-branded cabs with meters, and can also be ordered through ride-hailing apps.

• Walking

Paying

• You can tap a bank card on city transport or buy a transport card at Telcell offices, tourist offices or metro stations. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial Taxi Overcharging

  Zvartnots Airport arrivals hall and Republic Square

  Unlicensed drivers approach arriving tourists offering rides at several times the normal fare, often quoting a flat price with no meter and no app. Some also claim card payment is unavailable to push cash payment at an even higher rate.

  How to avoid it: Book through GG (Yandex Go equivalent used in Armenia) or Yandex Go app for a metered, tracked fare, or use the official airport taxi counter. Agree on price before entering an unmetered cab.

• Unofficial Currency Exchange Shortchange

  Street changers near Republic Square and Vernissage Market

  Individuals offering better-than-bank exchange rates on the street count out cash quickly or use sleight-of-hand to shortchange tourists, and the notes cannot be reversed once the exchange is done.

  How to avoid it: Exchange only at licensed bank branches or official exchange kiosks (widely available in central Yerevan) which post official rates and give receipts. Count cash before walking away.

Best time to visit Yerevan

• Jan 2°C
• Feb 6°C
• Mar 14°C
• Apr 20°C
• May 25°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 35°C
• Aug 34°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 22°C
• Nov 13°C
• Dec 4°C

More in Armenia

• Sevan
• Dilijan
• Gyumri
• Vagharshapat
• Goris
• Jermuk

Frequently asked questions about Yerevan

How many days do you need in Yerevan?

A typical trip to Yerevan is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Yerevan?

The highest-rated places in our Yerevan guide are Geghard Monastery, Khor Virap Monastery, Republic Square, Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, Garni Temple.

Where should I stay in Yerevan?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Yerevan: Kentron (City Center), Cascade District, Arabkir.

How do I get around Yerevan?

Ways to get around Yerevan covered in our guide: Metro, Minibus, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in Yerevan?

Scams reported to us for Yerevan include Unofficial Taxi Overcharging; Unofficial Currency Exchange Shortchange. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Yerevan?

Average daytime highs in Yerevan run from 2°C in Jan to 35°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Yerevan?

The nearest airport to Yerevan has the code EVN.