What to do in Yerevan. Open left menu Yerevan

Yerevan is a city where you can try crayfish kebab, book a table on a tree, have a heart-to-heart conversation with a taxi driver, drink coffee brewed on the sand, go to the “Lavash Festival”, see a church carved into the rock and much more. Such interesting information about the capital of Armenia was shared with us by people who are in love with it and with Kazakhstan.

Citizens of Kazakhstan do not need a visa to Armenia. You can stay in the country for up to 90 days.

FLIGHT:

— flight with 1 round trip transfer — from 94,959 tenge (Ukraine International).

WHERE TO STAY:

— YerevanHostel is within walking distance from the center, guests are delighted with the interior, staff and cleanliness of the rooms

- hotel MarriottInternational is located in the “heart” of Yerevan, highly qualified personnel work there

- V Erebuni Hotel large rooms and attentive staff. The hotel provides delicious and hearty breakfasts.

SUMMER WEATHER:

Source: @vard_evn

— Yerevan has a very hot climate in summer, the weather reaches +40°C. July and August are the hottest months

— in the evenings a pleasant cool wind rises.

CELLULAR:

- roaming will cost more, it is better to purchase a SIM card

— ArmenTel, VivaCell, UCom are the main mobile operators whose SIM cards can be purchased for $1, but only if you have a passport. You will find cell phone departments while walking along Tigran Mets Avenue leading to the square or in small houses that look like newsstands.

TRANSPORT:

Source: @yerevancity

— taxis in Yerevan are cheaper than in Kazakhstan, and almost all taxis are equipped with meters. You can order a car using mobile applications, but to avoid traffic jams, it is better to use the metro

— the metro is not busy, but the stations do not cover the entire city

— minibus taxis are inconvenient because they are always filled with people

PECULIARITIES:

Source: @a.vigen

- Yerevan - enough democratic city, it is open to guests. Most of the population may not speak, but understand Russian

— bring light clothes and a hat with you, because Not everyone can withstand such a hot summer. You also need to drink more water to avoid dehydration

— mountain water flows straight from the tap and you can drink it. In Yerevan they meet all over the city drinking fountains called “pulpulak”

Source: www.tankasan.livejournal.com

- as evening falls life in Yerevan comes alive, people leave their houses and walk around the city

- usually in Yerevan locals walk because the city is conducive to walking

— Armenians love to hug and kiss, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself in the arms of strangers

- in Armenia people are friendly, here it is customary to communicate with the driver or passengers, you can ask how to get to the desired place where the driver and passenger do not talk to each other

Source: @edgar_harutyunyan_photography

– you should not pay for the ticket to the bus driver at the beginning of the trip

— Guys shouldn’t wear earrings, they don’t like it here.

WHERE TO GO:

Source: @ig_armenia

— Armenian culture is manifested in local churches. Echmiadzin- the spiritual center of Armenia, located near Yerevan. The treasury of Etchmiadzin will amaze you Armenian alphabet made of precious stones

- you can't help but visit Republic Square, it is made of Armenian red tuff in the shape of a circle

— "Matenadaran" is not just a museum, but a research center where ancient books are stored. To this day, the museum's books are studied to study world history. The largest and smallest books in the world are kept in Matenadaran

Source: www.bptrip.ru

- be sure to visit the “Cascade”, which is a huge staircase in 740 steps. It is incredibly beautiful there in the evening when the steps are illuminated.

— the central market “Tashir” is the most national and colorful market of Armenian sweets, including dried fruits

— Kazakhstanis should attend classes Armenian folk dances in the open air which take place once a month. Members of the Karin folk dance group first talk about the dances, their history, and then begin to teach them. In summer, this holiday lasts until almost midnight!

Source: @luvarmenia

- go to Maly Theater on Abovyan Street, knowledge of the language is not required

- take a walk through the new Tumanyan park, it’s beautiful picnic area

— Armenian cognac is known all over the world, so take a tour of cognac factoryARARAT, where you will find out when and how cognac production began in Armenia

Source: @luvarmenia

— not all historical values ​​are located in the city, you need to travel outside Yerevan

— Lake Sevan saves with its cool water, it contains Armenian trout, and on the banks of Sevan they cook kebabs from it. In Sevan you can try another unusual dish - crayfish kebab, it is very salty, but once in your life you need to taste it

Source: www.mouzenidis-travel.ru

— located near Yerevan ancient pagan temple “Garni”, in which a bathhouse built in the 3rd century and the Geghard church have been preserved, carved into the rock. Church guests throw pebbles into holes in the rock, and if you hit the right hole, your wish will come true. Before entering these places you can try Armenian sweet pie “Gata”

— Clear Lake or Lake Parz- this beautiful place, which tourists usually do not get to, is located about 100 kilometers from Yerevan. Here you will enjoy the wild nature of Armenia, and you can see swans on the lake.

WHAT AND WHERE TO EAT:

Current time in Yerevan:
(UTC +4)

Numerous monuments and sculptures, talentedly created in honor of outstanding Armenians, testify to the high culture; they are dedicated to musicians, actors, sailors, naturalists, explorers, heroes who lived all over the world.

How to get there

Considering the geopolitical situation that has developed around Armenia today, besides the plane, Yerevan can only be reached through Georgia. A passenger train runs regularly from Georgia to Armenia and back, and it is also possible to get there by car or bus.

Yerevan station is similar to Russian Railways stations. A spacious building in the spirit of Stalinist classicism, renovated and put in order. Everywhere there are posters in Russian “South Caucasus Railway”, Yerevan residents say that this transport infrastructure of Armenia belongs to JSC Russian Railways and is a subsidiary. With all this, only one passenger train departs from Yerevan. In winter, it departs to Tbilisi on odd days and back on even days. In the summer, the same train goes to Batumi (a resort on the Black Sea coast). He travels all night, so you can sleep peacefully, waking up only twice to go through customs control.

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Photos of Yerevan

Districts

In modern Yerevan, there is a division into 12 districts (Ajapnyak, Arabkir, Avan, Davtashen, Erebuni, Kanaker-Zeytun, Kentron, Malatia-Sebastia, Nork-Marash, Nork-Nork, Nubarashen, Shengavit), which in turn are divided into quarters.

Tourists will be interested in certain places that are different from an aesthetic point of view.

Quarter Cond. Among others, this quarter is published more often than others on the glossy pages of fashion magazines, and more than others attracts tourists from all countries, promising to show “old Yerevan” without embellishment and ceremonial splendor. Historically, this is an area inhabited by Armenians. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Yerevan was divided according to nationality into approximately equal shares of Armenians and Azerbaijanis (47% each) and 16% of all others. But at the beginning of the 21st century, most educated Yerevan residents would prefer not to notice this quarter. It survived the reconstruction of the center without changes. Its inhabitants, like many centuries ago, organize the living space around themselves, without coordinating this process with regulatory requirements and urban planning plans.

These are essentially slums, but very ancient and alive. Walking through the crooked streets, you can see stone-paved pavements, or the rickety walls of an ancient mosque, converted into residential apartments. It is easy to lose the line between public and private. Turning at the next corner, you find yourself in a courtyard where neighbors have gathered and are discussing the latest news.

Northern Avenue. This is a modern pedestrian street, originating from Abovyan Street, not far from Republic Square. At its core, Northern Avenue is the opposite of the Cond quarter. Here you can find numerous cafes, shops with inflated price tags, behind which rise high-rise modern buildings. This quarter was planned as an elite one. The cost of apartments in these buildings is not inferior to other world capitals. It’s not difficult to notice while walking in the evening that most of the windows do not have lights on. The high-rise buildings, lined with tuff and travertine, turn into dark silhouettes reminiscent of mountain peaks. Locals say that the apartments were still sold, but to Armenians living not in the country, but to representatives of wealthy Armenian diasporas around the world. Therefore, they appear here only when there is free time to relax in their historical homeland, or when business brings them to Yerevan.

Republic Square - the main square of Yerevan, one of the symbols of the city. It was created in 1926 according to the design of the architect A. I. Tamanyan during the reconstruction of the city. For a long time until 1991 it bore the name of Lenin. Along the perimeter of the square there are five buildings that create an architectural ensemble: the Government House (with the city clock), opposite it is the House of Ministries of Armenia, then the building of the Marriott Armenia hotel, the House of Communications and the building of the Museum complex (where the Art Gallery and the Museum of the History of Armenia are located) . All buildings are faced with pink tuff and decorated with fine carvings with national ornaments. In front of the Museum there are fountains, beautiful street lamps and benches. On the opposite side of the Museum there is an alley where there are summer cafes and a small artificial pond with 2,750 fountains, which were installed in 1968 and reflected the age of Yerevan.

During the daytime, the square is a center of business activity: every now and then you meet people in formal suits and driving expensive cars. In the evening, in the light of the lanterns, this place is transformed, becoming cozy and attractive.

Victory Park (Akhtanak) easy to find, guided by the statue of a woman with a sword in her hands. From different points of the city this monument can be seen far above - this is the image of “Mother Armenia”, a symbol of the Motherland. It is located on a high pedestal, inside of which there is a museum of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. Below it there is an eternal flame and a memorial to the fallen Armenians who defended their homeland during the Second World War. Around there is a park with alleys, a pond, attractions, and various cafes. Victory Park is a favorite place for walking among local residents because it offers an excellent view of the center of Yerevan.

The entrances to the courtyards and the courtyards themselves in the central part of the city can also be considered a landmark of Yerevan. When you first find yourself in an ordinary courtyard, you pay attention to the cleanliness and order. The doors to the entrances, as a rule, do not close, and at the same time the entrances are neat and renovated. Even here you can find Tamanyan’s legacy, when an ordinary electrical substation booth is decorated with tuff, decorated with arches and columns. It is also worth paying attention to the contradictory nature of the buildings in Yerevan. From the front facade, from the street side, they are strict, made in neoclassicism, and from the courtyard side, their facades are organized independently by the townspeople themselves, and pursue purely practical goals. Balconies and loggias are built on top of each other without any permission. Some of them hang very dangerously over the street. Numerous clotheslines stretch like rays from windows and balconies to most lampposts. On some days, the entire yard is covered with washed sheets and clothes. Another distinctive feature of Yerevan courtyards is graffiti, or more precisely, naive artistic creativity on the walls of the arches at the entrance. These pictures and drawings are made in an organized manner. They give the city a certain openness, honesty, and friendliness.

What to see in Yerevan

Yerevan, as the capital of Armenia, simply cannot but have a solid list of interesting places to visit. In terms of studying the history of the country, the formation of its modern statehood, and objects of pride, you cannot find a better city than Yerevan.

Guests of the capital of Armenia can also purchase a Yerevan Card, which gives the right to free travel in the metro and taxi. In addition, the price of the card includes a discount in restaurants, hotels, shops, free entry to many attractions in Yerevan, a mobile application, a SIM card with Internet and telephone support. Cards are available for 24, 48, 72 hours and without time limits. You can read more at

1. Hotel “Nairi” (Armenakyan Street, 121/7). A good three-star hotel located in the Nork-Marash area, very close to the center of Yerevan. There are three categories of rooms: “standard”, “deluxe” and “junior suite”, designed for tourists with different budget options. But no matter which accommodation option you choose, each room will have a TV with cable channels (Russian available) and air conditioning. In high category rooms this set will be complemented by a kettle and a pleasant view of the city from the room windows. Wi-fi will be available to you free of charge, regardless of the room category. This hotel offers free parking for travelers who rent a car. Additional entertainment the hotel offers is a sauna with a swimming pool. They are open to hotel guests from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For an additional fee, you can order a transfer to the city airport, which is 20 km away. from hotel. In addition, the reception desk offers currency exchange for local money. There is also an ATM in the lobby where, if necessary, you can withdraw cash from your plastic card. Don't forget that there is a fee for converting funds. Breakfast at this hotel is included in all room rates and is served in the restaurant on the ground floor. Also here you can have lunch or dinner with dishes of national cuisine. The cost of accommodation in this hotel in a double standard room starts from 3,500 rubles if booked in advance. The cost of a “junior suite” starts from 5,000 rubles. However, children under six years old are accommodated with their parents free of charge. Please note that it is not possible to add extra beds to standard double rooms, even at an additional cost. Check-in at the hotel is from 14:00. Check-out is up to 12 o'clock.

2. Hotel “Ani Plaza” (Sayat-Nova Avenue, 19). This hotel has a four-star category and is one of the most popular among guests of Yerevan. It is located at some distance from the central part of the capital of Armenia, in the business and entertainment district of the city. But you can get to the city's railway station in less than 10 minutes by taxi or public transport, which has a stop nearby. This hotel has more than 200 rooms, and therefore it is always lively. Among the vacationers there are a lot of guests from Russia and CIS countries. The rooms are quite spacious. The highlight of their decor here is rightfully considered to be the soft carpet on the floor. This creates additional coziness and comfort for tourists living here. Air conditioning and TV are in each room. Junior suites have an additional minibar. And some rooms also offer panoramic views of the city and Mount Ararat. This hotel also features a year-round indoor pool, a small gym and a cozy sauna. There is also a solarium, open by appointment and only during the daytime. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel free of charge. The local restaurant Ani, where breakfast is served every morning, is famous throughout the city for its national cuisine. You will certainly enjoy lunch or dinner here. On the ground floor of the hotel there is a small store where you can buy what you might need while traveling, and there is also a limited selection of food products. The hotel staff is quite friendly and speaks excellent Russian. You won't notice any communication problems here. The cost of accommodation in this hotel starts from 4,000 rubles. Children under six years of age can stay with their parents free of charge. If your baby is not yet two years old, then he is provided with a special crib free of charge. Check-in at the hotel is from 14:00. Check-out is up to 12 o'clock.

3. “Paris Hotel Yerevan” (Amiryan Street, 4/6). This four-star hotel, perhaps better than others, connects the capital of France with the “Paris of the East”. There is an undisguised pomp in the design of its interior, and given the fact that it was opened not so long ago, you will be offered the highest level of service and comfort. The hotel has only 65 rooms and all the staff: from reception managers to porters speak Russian. The location of the hotel is simply ideal - in the very center of Yerevan. Literally a stone's throw from Republic Square. There are several large supermarkets nearby, as well as a shopping street with numerous restaurants and cafes of national and international cuisine. The room stock is presented in the following categories: “standard”, “superior” and “junior suite”. The difference is primarily in the area of ​​the rooms. It is 25, 35 and 75 square meters, respectively. But even in a standard room you have a smart TV, air conditioning, a minibar and an electric kettle. Wi-fi is available in all rooms free of charge using an access code that will be given to you upon check-in at the reception. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer, a variety of toiletries and soft slippers free of charge. In the “junior suite” you can count on two rooms: a living room and a bedroom, as well as a balcony with panoramic views of the surrounding area. The cost of accommodation in a “standard” room of this hotel starts from 5,500 rubles, in a “superior” room - from 7,000 rubles and in a “junior suite” - from 12 thousand rubles per day. Children under six years old stay with their parents in rooms for free. For a child under 12 years of age you will have to pay an additional 50% of the room rate. Check-in at the hotel is from 15:00. Check-out is up to 12 o'clock.

Its cultural, economic and political center. The number of residents has long exceeded a million (a third of the country’s population), and it seems that none of them are in any hurry: just calmly stroll along the wide boulevards, occasionally stopping in for a glass of juice at their favorite coffee shops.

Yerevan is also literally a pink city: most of the buildings in the center are faced with stone of this color. Here you can taste delicious barbecue at a roadside diner under the sensitive management of a colorful old man, wander through the Botanical Garden in the intoxicating aroma of 300 varieties of roses, buy a carpet at the Vernissage and find out what Churchill’s favorite drink tastes like - Yerevan cognac.

How to get to Yerevan

By plane

Direct flights connect Moscow and Yerevan. Flights from Domodedovo are operated by Es Seven and Ural Airlines; from Sheremetyevo only Aeroflot flies, and UTair flies from Vnukovo. The flight takes about 3 hours, ticket price starts from 110 USD. There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg to Yerevan - you will have to fly with a transfer at Moscow Domodedovo. The ticket price is approximately 3 times higher.

Aircraft on Yerevan soil are accepted by Zvartnots International Passenger Airport (website), located 12 km from the city. From here you can get to the center of the capital of Armenia by bus or minibus in half an hour or in 15 minutes by taxi. A public transport stop is located next to the terminal. Minibuses No. 107, 108 and bus No. 201 go to the center. The price of travel by minibus or bus is 250 AMD, by taxi - 2500-3500 AMD. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.

By bus

Buses run regularly from many Russian cities to Yerevan. In Moscow they depart from the Domodedovskaya, Ploshchad Ilyich and Yugo-Zapadnaya metro stations. The distance is approximately 3000 km, travel time is about 48 hours. The average ticket price is 40 USD. The road from Russia to Armenia passes through the territory of Georgia. From the Russian border to the Armenian capital is approximately 120 km.

By car

You can only enter Armenia from Georgia and Iran, since the Azerbaijani and Turkish borders are closed to entry into the country. To enter Armenian territory, it is necessary to obtain temporary import of a vehicle and compulsory motor liability insurance; this costs 16,000 ADM and 4,500 ADM, respectively. On the way back, an additional 2,500 ADM will be charged upon departure.

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Districts of Yerevan

The cultural life of the capital and its main attractions are concentrated in the center and Abakir. These areas make up the Central District, which you should definitely walk through - see Republic Square with singing fountains, the beautiful Matenadaran building, the House of Chess Players, the Opera and Ballet Theater. Spendiarova and other iconic buildings. The northwestern district of Kanaker-Zeytun became famous thanks to the Victory Park and the famous “Mother Armenia” monument.

The highest point of Yerevan is located in the Nor-Nork district.

Those who want to live within walking distance of interesting places should look for housing on Tumanyan, Abovyan, Moskovyan, Khajyan streets and Mesrop Mashtots Avenue. Inexpensive and good hotels in Nork-Marash - this part of the city also has historical and cultural monuments. In the areas of Kanaker-Zeytun, Avan and Malatia-Sebastia close to the center, you can count on lower prices for accommodation. The Kentron area is also considered attractive for tourists.

Transport

Yerevan's urban transport is represented by the metro, trolleybuses, buses and minibuses. The metro connects the northwestern and southern regions and consists of one line with 10 stations. A ride on it costs 100 AMD. The announcer pronounces the names of the stations only in Armenian, and in the inscriptions they are duplicated in Russian. Subway operating hours: 6:00-11:00. The cheapest option for moving around the city is a trolleybus, the ticket price is only 50 AMD. Such a trip can be considered an excursion - thanks to the leisurely ride, you can clearly see the surroundings from the window.

Almost all public transport stops have a map of the city, and some have signs warning about an approaching bus.

Yerevan residents prefer buses and minibuses - this is the most popular mode of transport connecting all city districts. The fare for them is the same - 100 AMD. Payment to the driver upon exit. Buses are more comfortable than minibuses, and some even have Wi-Fi. There are many taxi companies in the city - you can hail or call a taxi without any problems. Taxi services are quite cheap. The calculation is carried out according to the meter. The minimum cost of a trip is 500 AMD, the price per kilometer is 100-200 AMD. A trip within the city, as a rule, does not cost more than 1000 AMD.

You can rent a bicycle at the Mybike specialized store (website) on Mashtots Avenue or on the square in front of the Opera House. Rental price per hour - from 1500 AMD, per day - from 4500 AMD.

Maps of Yerevan

Rent a Car

Friendly Yerevan, a city that is often awarded the epithet “open-air museum,” can be easily explored on foot. But if you want to go on an unforgettable trip around the outskirts of the Armenian capital, in order to enjoy the views of ancient monasteries or the biblical Ararat, your iron horse will come in handy.

It is best to book your car in advance via the Internet, but at the airport the choice of rental offices is no less impressive. The rental cost is approximately the same as around the world - from 18,000 AMD per day you can rent a comfortable car to suit your taste. World-class companies, such as Hertz, and local rental offices, for example, Naniko, offer their services in Yerevan. The traffic jam situation in the capital of Armenia is acceptable; parking in the city center is paid, and on the outskirts you can park for free. More details about all the nuances are described on the page: “Car rental in Yerevan”.

Communications and Wi-Fi

Mobile communications in Armenia are supported by 3 mobile operators - “ArmenTel”, “VivaCell” and “Orange Armenia”. They also provide Internet services for mobile devices. You can top up your phone balance quickly and without commissions not only at branded points of sale, but also at newsstands. To do this, just call the seller or write the number on paper. A SIM card costs about 1000 AMD and is sold at operator service points, including at the airport. A passport is required to obtain it.

Free Wi-Fi is available at all metro stations and on some trains. Buses with free Internet travel with “Free Wi-Fi” stickers. Most popular restaurant establishments provide their customers with access to the World Wide Web, just like shopping and entertainment centers. Public Wi-Fi can be found in parks, Yerevan Zoo and Republic Square.

"Yerevan map"

The “Yerevan Card” allows you to visit more than 40 museums in the city for free (including the National Gallery of Armenia and the Ararat Museum of the cognac factory of the same name), ride the metro 5 times and once from the airport by taxi, go on popular excursions (sightseeing, city tour) for free Yerevan at night, etc.), and the package also includes a SIM card with a local number, a city map and a guidebook. In addition, more than 150 establishments in Yerevan (hotels, shops, art galleries, museums, restaurants and clubs) provide discounts of up to 40% upon presentation of the Yerevan Card.

A card for 24 hours costs 29 USD, for 48 hours - 37 USD, for 72 hours - 43 USD and unlimited - 52 USD. You can purchase it online on the website, order it with delivery throughout Yerevan (delivery is free) or buy it at sales offices or at the box office of program partners (museums, etc.).

Beaches of Yerevan

In the southwestern part of the Armenian capital there is a reservoir, the so-called Yerevan Lake. It used to be a popular beach holiday destination for city residents. Now most people prefer to go to Sevan - a high-mountain lake with clear water 60 km from the city. Sevan beaches are mostly small-pebble, but there are also sandy ones. The resort infrastructure is poorly developed - there is only the most necessary. Entertainment includes scooters and motorcycles. There are numerous eateries around the lake where hungry swimmers can try ishkhan, a local variety of trout, cooked on the grill.

The most favorable time for swimming lasts from July to the end of August.

To travel to Sevan, it is most comfortable to use a car - it is about an hour's drive. Minibus No. 317 runs from the Northern Bus Station. It does not reach the shore - you will have to walk 15 minutes from the stop. The ticket costs 600 AMD, but friendly drivers sometimes agree to take tourists directly to the lake for an additional 200 AMD. During the beach season, an electric train runs on the route Yerevan - Hrazdan - Sevan - Shorja - Sotk. It lasts about 3 hours, ticket price is 600 AM. It’s better to go out to Shorja - the local beach is considered the best. A taxi ride to Sevan will cost 8,000 AMD.

Yerevan Hotels

Yerevan offers its guests different accommodation options - from modest to luxury. The most expensive accommodation will be in the center of the capital - in modern high-class hotels of the world brands Marriott, Best Western, Hyatt, Golden Tulip. In the historical center there are small authentic hotels with a courtyard and garden - you can rent accommodation there for a day.

For those who plan to spend a minimum of time at the hotel, hostels are suitable. Their prices are very affordable. Fans of budget holidays and those who want to feel the local flavor are better off staying in a private sector on the outskirts.

Shopping

Penny trinkets and expensive works of art can be purchased at the famous Vernissage market, which takes place every weekend on Republic Square, in the very center of Yerevan. At the art market of the same name around the monument to Martiros Saryan (next to the Opera House Square), they sell paintings by local artists, and you can come across some truly wonderful paintings here. Read more about Yerevan markets.

For Armenian carpets “for the home, for the family,” go to Mergeryan’s factory, and for more outstanding examples you should look for the “Tufenkian Carpets” store on Tumanyan Street. Here they can embroider your initials or your favorite saying on a finished carpet, or weave a soft masterpiece entirely according to your sketch. Old carpets can be purchased in antique shops in the city.

When purchasing a new carpet, be sure to keep the store receipt and the product tag - this will serve as confirmation that it was made recently and is not of historical value. When purchasing antiques, you must take a certificate authorizing the export of the carpet from the country.

Don’t forget to take with you a couple of bottles of aromatic Armenian cognac, which is sold in abundance in the city’s supermarkets and enotecas.

What to try

You should definitely try the “Khorovats” kebab, garnished with fresh herbs and vegetables, “Kufta” meatballs, “Khinkali” dumplings and dolma made from grape leaves.

For your meal, it makes sense to order Armenian wine - “Old Yerevan” is considered one of the best varieties - or fruit vodka made from mulberry, cherry, pear, peach, apricot, etc. Well, you must digest it with the famous cognac.

You can have a snack with Yerevan pizza “lahmejun” - a thin flatbread baked in the oven, covered with meat puree, sauce and finely chopped herbs. And quench your thirst with “tan” - a light, slightly salted fermented milk drink.

Cafes and restaurants in Yerevan

Armenia has a cult of food, which is why a trip to Yerevan will be like a gastronomic tour. There are a huge number of restaurants, snack bars and fast food outlets, which serve amazingly delicious Armenian, Caucasian and European dishes. The secret to the success of local catering is natural and fresh products.

The Grand Candy donut shop got into the Guinness Book of Records for making the largest chocolate bar in the world.

Tourists are better off starting the day with a hearty breakfast at the Grand Candy donut shop, which the townspeople call “ponchikanets.” Their famous custard donuts can be purchased for just 100 AMD. Authentic Armenian home cooking is served in family restaurants. It’s easy to recognize them - Armenians, like the French, like to give their establishments their names. You can have dinner and drink wine together for 6,500 AMD. It is customary to place an order and pay at the table, and leave a tip at your own discretion.

In Yerevan, it is impossible to predict when you will find yourself at a generously laid table. Even buying souvenirs at the market or in a store can turn into a feast. Hospitable hosts do not miss the opportunity to introduce tourists to their delicious food, full of bright spices.

The Armenian fast food chain "Karas" offers a wide variety of dishes at incredibly attractive prices - from barbecue to fast food. A full business lunch here will cost 950 AMD, and a hot dog costs 200 AMD. Dolmama is considered an expensive and prestigious restaurant - the local “khashlama”, “dolma” and “tzhvzhik” were approved by Charles Aznavour himself. The average price for dinner at this legendary place is about 40,000 AMD, excluding alcoholic drinks.

Guides in Yerevan

Entertainment and attractions

It is better to start getting acquainted with the city by visiting the Erebuni fortress - the place where the history of Yerevan begins. This most important landmark is 2800 years old and is considered a symbol of Armenian statehood. Returning from the south-eastern outskirts to the center, you find yourself in the heart of the capital - Republic Square. The decoration of this place is the singing fountains in front of the History Museum (website). In addition to the sound, they change color in the dark. Another impressive structure is the Cascade complex. A system of stepped passages decorated with flower beds and fountains connects the center with Victory Park. Each of the five levels is decorated with original sculptures, and on the top tier there is the House-Museum of the national hero and legend of world chanson Charles Aznavour. From here, from a 100-meter height, an extraordinary view of the city opens. The building is crowned by the 54-meter-high “Mother Armenia” monument, which is visible from anywhere.

An impressive view of Ararat opens from the Geghard Monastery, which is literally carved into the rock near Yerevan. The ancient structure, founded in the 4th century, is shrouded in legends and secrets. There is a belief that you can attract good luck by hitting one of the niches on its wall with a pebble.

The world's largest collection of written monuments is located in the Yerevan Matenadaran repository of ancient manuscripts. Here, on Mashtots Avenue not far from the Blue Mosque, there is another iconic place, without which it is impossible to get a true picture of the city - the Central Covered Market.

Elegant Belle Epoque buildings line Abovyan Street: here you can see Art Nouveau, Art Nouveau and graceful neo-Moorish style.

A unique feature of Yerevan is a gorge within the city. This picturesque corner is named Radzyansky in honor of the river flowing through it. In addition to its natural beauty, it is famous for its restaurants and cafes, where life is in full swing in the evenings. Above the gorge stands the Yerevan Brandy Factory, where you can get acquainted with the history of the creation of the soul-warming drink, the Armenian “Ararat”.

Near the Moscow cinema, tourists take pictures with their favorite actor Frunzik Mkrtchyan, sitting down next to him on a bench.

Yerevan boasts the first Museum of Contemporary Art (website), opened in the USSR back in 1972. The house-museum of the brilliant director Sergei Parajanov in the Dzoragyugh Ethnographic Center is not inferior in originality to the Salvador Dali Theater-Museum in Figueres. At the Museum of the History of Armenia you can see what Yerevan was like many centuries ago - three-dimensional panoramas recreated from ancient drawings and maps, as well as artifacts of the past are exhibited there. The Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex tells about the sad pages of Armenian history - the Armenian Genocide Museum is located on its territory (website).

5 things to do in Yerevan

1. Step into the holy of holies of Yerevan - the citadel of the Erebuni fortress.
2. Take a photo in front of the magnificent five buildings on Republic Square.
3. Visit the Matenadaran Museum of Manuscripts - one of the world's largest collections of ancient texts.
4. Try the khorovats kebab and wash down your meal with homemade wine.
5. Buy an excellent carpet with meaning from the legendary Tufenkian Carpets.

Yerevan for children

Little tourists will love the Yerevan Zoo. It contains about 3,000 animals, and the territory is divided into two parts - a recreation area and enclosures for residents. Lots of water activities await the kids at the Water World open-air water park. The Children's Railway of the natural park in the gorge of the Hrazdan River is very popular among children. A steam locomotive with two carriages passes through a tunnel, travels 2 km, stopping at two stations.

Neither kids nor adults will be indifferent to the attractions of Victory Park and Lunapark. "Captain Kid's Treasure Island" awaits budding pirates in the Yerevan Mall shopping center (website), and active recreation lovers will find entertainment to their taste in the Playcity gaming center (website).

Weather

Winter in Yerevan is moderately cold and with little snow, and the arrival of spring coincides with the calendar date - from March nature begins to transform. At this time the weather is unstable, but it quickly gives way to summer heat. The rainiest month is May. Summer lasts more than 4 months - this is the season of dry and hot weather. Autumn is usually warm and sunny. The best time to visit the capital of Armenia is from April to November.

If you have 2-4 free days, I suggest going to Armenia. During this time, you will have time to recharge yourself with new impressions, experience all the charm of Armenian hospitality, taste the local cuisine and leave a piece of your heart here.

How to get there and where to live

You need to get to Armenia by plane. Tickets – from 4400 rubles depending on the airline. From the airport to the city - on one of the minibuses for 40-50 rubles (200 drams) 20 minutes ride. Armenia is a cheap country; there are many different budget hotels and hostels for every budget.

It is best to have 3-4 days left - then you will be able to see half of the country. But two days is enough for you to soak in the local culture. We were lucky: friends recommended a guide with a car. We wrote to him our wishes for places, and he already suggested the optimal route. They even almost decided to go to Georgia, which is only a three-hour drive from Yerevan.

Yerevan

Armenian hospitality begins right in the minibus: “Dear guests, your stop!” - the driver announces loudly.

Legends say that Yerevan got its name from Noah’s cry “Yerevats!” (which means “She appeared!”) when he saw Ararat. A fragment of Noah's Ark can be seen in the local museum.

The heart of Yerevan is Republic Square with singing fountains. In the evening, a musical show begins here: tourists, locals and children admire, dance and take selfies against the backdrop of colorful splashes. On the other side is Northern Avenue, which is somewhat reminiscent of Arbat. There are brand stores, European-style restaurants, musicians and other local talent.

A little further there is another central place - the opera house. 7 minutes straight and, perhaps, the main attraction of Yerevan, which offers views of the entire city surrounded by mountains - the Cascade. Be sure to go up there at sunset to see the pink-stone Yerevan in the rays of the setting sun. The cascade is surrounded by funny monuments: a blue penguin, a man made of letters, a magnificent lady and more.

Now it is much warmer in Yerevan than in Moscow. It’s real spring there: the sun is shining with might and main, greenery is blooming, grass is growing, the aroma of cherries is in the air. Walking is a pleasure.

A whole day is enough to get around the entire city. Many attractions are located among residential areas (Maps.me to help). But walking through the courtyards, you look at unofficial places. What impressed me the most were the clothes lines, the graffiti on the walls and the painted arches of the houses. There are tents with bright fragrant flowers right on the streets.

Unlike Russia, people here walk and sit in public gardens near churches. For example, in Etchmiadzin, where there is a religious museum with shrines and the main Armenian church, there are a lot of parents with children, pensioners - they sit on benches or walk around the large square.

Traveling around the country

Armenia is a very beautiful country. Everything surprised me there: the ideal triangular mountain ridges, the age, wisdom and architecture of ancient monasteries, the air, the hospitality and openness of the people, the aroma of cherries and honey in the gardens, the sound of mountain streams and mineral water. It’s strange that with such cheapness and beauty there are few tourists in Armenia.

Lake Sevan is located an hour's drive from Yerevan on a picturesque peninsula. A magnet for tourists (and locals) is the ancient monastery. Armenian churches are very modest and monumental: most of them have retained their appearance, but restoration is needed. Inside them are several icons or even faded images of Jesus, ancient sacred patterned crosses - khachkars. By the way, you will not find two identical khachkars - the pattern is similar, but different everywhere. It’s a mystery to me how they did it in ancient times, when there was a small selection of tools. Our guide said that carving patterns on stone has not only a sacred meaning. It was very difficult to work on it - it tested the strength of faith.

A piercing wind was blowing on the lake, but in the end we were lucky: the sun came out and turned the steel surface of the lake blue. The season here begins in August-July. Here they swim, fish, ride scooters. It's also worth the trip for the breathtaking views that open from the hill at the top of the peninsula.

The second most popular place is Tatev. To get there, we left at 6 am. But we met the dawn and saw how the peaks of Ararat turned red in the rays of the sun. The spectacle is unforgettable!

Four hours' drive and you will find yourself in the mountains, where the longest cable car in the world runs - Wings of Tatev. In 12 minutes and 3500 drams, the cabin will take you over the gorges straight to the ancient monastery. All profits from tickets go towards its restoration. Once there were 500 monks living there, now there are only four. There is a monk in the monastery whose face is illuminated with kindness. He is often filmed by visiting television crews, for example, he is in “Heads and Tails.” He happily communicates with tourists. If you go down from the monastery by car, you can stop near a spring with mineral water. A little further there will be a small pool with a warm spring and a mountain river (you can take a swimsuit and towel).

Geghard(aka Ivirank, aka Geghard) is an ancient monastery complex where at one time the spear with which Jesus was killed was kept. The complex is located among the cliffs and is included in the UNESCO heritage list. The monastery was founded in the fourth century AD. Like other Armenian churches, it is characterized by ornate patterns on the stone along the entire perimeter, both outside and inside. From the inside, the church is even more striking: the monumental huge vaults, the coldness of the stones, the sunlight through the narrow windows, the patterned ceiling - was it really all created by man?

Khor Virap located at the foot of Ararat. From the walls of this monastery you can see the border with Turkey. According to legend, St. sat in the dungeon of the monastery for 13 years. Gregory the Illuminator is one of the first Armenian saints. The dungeon is large, deep and cold - tourists can go down there and feel all the horror. At one time, the spiritual center of the Armenian religion was located in Khor Virap.

Noravank– another monastery complex 122 km from Yerevan. It is located in a warm gorge among orange mountains. And it was built in the 13th century! Eight centuries later, the stone church is well preserved, although its interior decoration is laconic: stone and several large icons. Several ancient khachkars have been preserved in the complex, one of which dates back to 1308. It’s very easy to get lost in time here – there is a feeling that boundaries are being erased.

Zvargnotz– The Temple of the “Watching Angels” near Yerevan is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Unfortunately, now there are only ruins left in the middle of blooming greenery. Newlyweds love to take photos here.

Another place that was very impressive - Etchmiadzin Monastery, where the main Armenian church is located and the patriarch lives. The main church is not like all those we have seen: it is richly decorated with icons, flowers and paintings. Right there is a museum with holy relics: under glass there are ancient handmade books from the 15th-16th centuries, particles of the relics of saints, staffs and clothes of clergy and two amazing exhibits - the God-slaying spear and part of Noah's Ark. You can see all the exhibits yourself and then ask questions to the guide. During your tour, don’t forget to look up at the amazingly beautiful painted ceiling.

Garni- a pagan temple, which was built according to all the rules of geometry. Built in the likeness of Roman temples: columns, triangular roof. This is the only completely preserved pagan monument on the territory of Armenia. Nine steps rise to the top (three times three), and 24 columns around the perimeter symbolize the ether or the firmament. If you look at the drawing, you can see equilateral triangles (again the sacred number 3), a circle in which 6 circles are inscribed (6 is perfection) and in some proportions the numbers 8 (infinity) and 5 (in some cultures the number of creation). It is no coincidence that Garni is called a reflection of the Cosmos.

Food and drink

Armenia is a paradise of fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, dried fruits, herbs and, of course, meat. The advantage of the country is that you can get a large portion of food for 200-300 rubles. A full dinner for two will cost 800 rubles: pizza, soup, appetizer, side dish. Unlike Moscow, here you can go to almost any cafe - the prices are not high. The most famous are the Tashir Pizza chain, the Old Yerevan and Yerevan taverns (opposite the Opera House on the corner of Northern Avenue and Revolution Square), and the Karas chain.

The city is full of shops and bakeries where you can buy fresh baked goods: crispy khachapuri with cheese, pies, meat in pita bread or greens in dough (zhengyalov-khats). The most delicious baked goods near Sevan: there is a huge workshop equipped there, there are different ovens (including fire-heated ones), where everything is cooked right in front of you. We were impressed by the huge crispy khachapuri, similar to a baguette. They are taken straight from the oven, carefully wrapped in parchment and handed over to hungry tourists. Mmm!
Another national pride of Armenia is coffee. There are many cafes in the city center where they will cook it for you according to all the rules.

I couldn’t pass by grilled vegetables, shish kebab and Adjarian-style khachapuri. I also advise you to definitely try dried fruits that have absorbed all the sun, churchkhela, pastila (or pastila filled with ground nuts and honey), layer cake with sweet gata filling.

Drinks include wine, cognac and apricot vodka. There are a lot of cognac and wine production facilities in Yerevan and its surroundings, where they will not only tell you the secrets of making drinks, but will also treat you to them. We tried pomegranate wine, which turned out to be mild in taste, and apricot vodka (64 degrees! But a glass saves you from a cold).

“How do you like our service?” - one Armenian asked me already in Moscow. “Your little pies are not small at all...” And that's it.

• Take a warm sweater and hat to Lake Sevan. Better yet, a coat and scarf. Don't look at how hot it is in Yerevan. A piercing wind blows in Sevan. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable. A hat and a second sweater would have saved me from a terrible cold.
• Find an experienced guide by car (you can also take the car yourself). We were recommended by friends. Very pleased - three days in a comfortable car with a cool person. We wouldn't have been able to see so much on our own.
• Choose local sweets (churchkhela, pastila, gata), Armenian coffee, pomegranate wine or pomegranate (symbolizes fertility, love, success) as souvenirs.
• Don’t pass by the grandmother in Garni, who prepares the most delicious jam (from berries, fruits, pine cones), honey, marshmallow, gata, etc. Her tray is on the far left if you stand with your back to the gate. Grandma is unique: she was even included in guidebooks to Armenia.
• From the airport it is quite easy and cheap to get to the center. Exit from the first floor and go right to the stop. There are minibuses there that will take you to the center much cheaper than the drivers ask.

Photo by Ekaterina Garanina

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