Yerevan

Yerevan (Armenian: Երեւան, Երևան) is the capital of the Republic of Armenia, one of the three hubs of the South Caucasus and is home to over a million people (2022) — the largest Armenian community in the world. In Soviet years Yerevan underwent massive reconstruction, following architect Alexander Tamanyan's plan to make a "perfect city" - a Neo-Classical town with wide avenues, resembling Paris, Vienna and Saint Petersburg. As a result, the city is easily accessible by foot and boasts a dense assortment of parks, galleries, museums, and other public institutions.

Central Yerevan is a true jewel of early Soviet architecture. A grid within a circular road, it is also home to many large scale Modern and Post-Modern marvels which are mostly the result of Soviet-Armenian hybridization. In Soviet days Yerevan had already become known as the Pink City as much due to the color of the tufa stone used for building as for the flamboyant spirit of her young population.

Districts
Most of tourist Yerevan is concentrated in the city centre, which very compact and easily walkable, with endless dining and entertainment options. The rest of the city is mostly sleeping or business quarters, so a typical tourist will not have much incentive to leave the centre.
 * Kentron, Centre City, City Centre or Downtown - is central Yerevan, locally known as Kentron or just Kaghak (meaning 'the city'). This is the heart of Yerevan and indeed Armenia. Though Kentron's architecture is diverse, ranging from Belle Epoque to Soviet Panel blocks, the great majority of the centre is in Beaux-Arts tradition. The city centre follows Tamanyan's plan for a circular city with two hubs - grand Republic Square, and the more elegant and soft Opera district (Opera house, Freedom Square and the Swan Lake Park). The two are linked with newly constructed pedestrian-only Northern Avenue. Kentron is also home to the University City, where the campuses of State University, Medical University, Engineering University, Agricultural University, Economics University, Pedagogical and some other universities come together in one big group. Virtually all of the museums, hotels and popular places to eat and drink are in Kentron, so most visitors will probably not venture much past it.
 * Barekamutyun - Meaning friendship, Barekamutyun is the area around the metro stop of the same name. This hub is home to Hayastan Hanrakhanut (department store) which is more of an indoor bazaar than an actual department store. The hub branches off to Kievyan and nearby Komitas streets.
 * Monument - At the top of the Cascade steps rests the towering monument to Soviet victory in WWII. Directly adjacent is the Cafesjian Museum, which houses a large collection of contemporary art, including perhaps the best glass art collection in the world. Beyond the monument is Victory Park, and the neighborhood around it is known as Monument as well.
 * Erebuni - In this district are ruins of fortress of Erebuni, founded in 782 BC by King Argishti. Also hosts the impressive classical Soviet main train station with the famous Sasuntsi David Statue which dominates the train station's square.
 * Bangladesh - Not to be confused with country in Asia! Not much to offer a tourist, the name however is worth an explanation. At the time this was one of the furthest new districts built in Yerevan, and because of the distance, locals quickly began calling it Bangladesh, which has stuck to this day. The biggest outdoor bazaar of Yerevan is located in this district.
 * Nor Nork district is the last Soviet project of residential expansion of Yerevan. It consists entirely of standardised Soviet Panel blocs. However, every tourist crosses this district on the way to 'obligatory' Garni temple and Geghard monastery (as the highway to that direction is connected to the main avenue of this district). The main attraction of this district would be the statue of Gay (or Hayk) Nahapet, the legendary founder of the nation; he's depicted as a muscular half-naked man with a drawn bow, but the name has nothing to do with homosexuality (to avoid this interesting misunderstanding most often the name of the avenue and statue is Romanised as Guy).

Understand
Even though the history of Yerevan dates back to the Erebuni fortress, making it at least 2,800 years old, little remains of what was small settlement saving the excavations at Hrazdan river gorge, Erebuni, Karmir Berd and Avan. These sites have been excavated, and the artifacts found are in museums today. Being on a strategically important place Yerevan was a constant war stage for rival Ottoman, Persian and Russian Empires. It has been repeatedly ruined by those wars or natural disasters (e.g. an earthquake in 17th century almost entirely destroyed the town). Few buildings of the old Erivan survived to the present-day Yerevan.

At the time of Armenia's independence in 1918, when Yerevan was made the capital of an independent Armenia, Yerevan was a town of just 20,000. Large scale construction began, which took a more holistic approach under the new city plan laid out by Alexander Tamanyan. The plan involved the demolition of much of what existed, in favor of concentric circles, parks, and taller structures. He planned for Yerevan to become a metropolis of 200,000 people.

People
Yerevan is a very ethnically homogeneous city, though tiny Yezidi and Molokan (Russian) minorities exist. Because the population of the city was only 20,000 a century ago, the vast majority of the Armenians are immigrants themselves, from all over the world. From the villages and towns of Armenia, from Tbilisi which was the centre of Eastern Armenian culture before 1918, from Western Armenia as genocide survivors poured in, and even from the Middle East and Europe in a large, post-World War II wave of immigration. Since independence, the city has become the heart of the entire Armenian world, as the divisive communist governments demise has allowed the Diaspora – larger in number than the population of Armenia itself, to embrace the city as its own.

Religion
Many visitors will be surprised to know that Armenia is not just an outcrop of Christianity in the Caucasus, but it is the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The king declared Christianity the state religion in 301 AD. Christianity has been uninterruptedly practiced in Armenia ever since in its own traditions.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, or just Apostolic Church, is the National Church of Armenia. It is very traditional; in practices (but not history) is similar to Orthodox and Catholic movements, and to the Reformed Churches, e.g. the Church of England. At the same time the Armenian Apostolic Church has some strikingly different practices, like allowing animal sacrifices or celebrating Christmas on January 6 along with Theophany.

The great majority of Armenians identify themselves as Apostolic Christians and have their own Catholicos (religious leader, like the Pope for Catholics). Today, the vast majority of Armenians do not attend church each Sunday, with visits revolving around weddings and baptisms, or occasionally dropping in to light a candle. Soviet restructuring of the city left Yerevan with very few churches: though many new ones have been built, and old ones rehabilitated, since independence.

The Protestant (Evangelical) Armenians are rather few in number and have only one church on Nar-Dos street.

Anglican (Episcopal) Christians congregate at (Armenian Apostolic) Surb Zoravor church for Sunday Eucharist.

Orthodox Christians maintain one church in Kanaker district of Yerevan. A new, large-scale, onion-domed Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross is under construction at Yerevan Lake district, visible from the highway coming from the airport. However, this will have mostly symbolic structure as the Orthodox Christians are very few in number.

Yezidi (a religious and ethnic minority in Armenia) religious rituals, as most of that religion, are kept secret, so their practices cannot be observed by outsiders. The largest Yezidi temple in the world, Quba Mêrê Dîwanê, stands in the Aknalich village outside of Yerevan.

Muslims are steadily growing in numbers since the collapse of the Soviet Union, fueled by Iranian immigration. There is one mosque on Mashtots Avenue.

Many Christian sects are also present in Yerevan, and they congregate in schools, sport clubs, concert halls and the like.

Climate
With a semi-arid climate, Yerevan experiences long hot summers, and cold snowy winters, both with little precipitation. The winter is not a good time to visit Yerevan, due to icy sidewalks and smoky restaurants, any other time of year is worth a visit. Spring offers mild but sometimes wet weather, and lots of green hills and wildflowers. Summer is very hot, but the long, late nights at the cafes, and the fruits and vegetables are amazing. Autumn is the most popular, with perfect weather, and great farm fresh foods.

Tourist office

 * City of Yerevan municipal website
 * City of Yerevan municipal website
 * City of Yerevan municipal website

By plane


Getting there/away:
 * A shuttle bus has regular trips between Zvartnots Airport and Yerevan centre. Buses go every half-hour 07:00-22:00, and every hour 22:30-07:00. The airport's bus stop is located in front of the terminal entrance. A single ticket costs 300 dram. The bus makes few stops on the way where passengers can board or disembark, e.g. France Square, Pak Shuka and Yeritasardakan. On the way back to the airport, the stop at Yeritasardakan is opposite of SAS supermarket or at Republic Square (on Abovyan Street). See also the official airport website FAQ.
 * A taxi costs 5,000 dram. The official provider is "Airport Services" (+374 98 828200, +374 10 595900, +374 60 430000), and they have a booking desk in Arrivals. There are also people who will ask you if you need a taxi as you exit the terminal. They will often offer a better price (about half price) than the official taxi as they have already dropped off a passenger and are looking for any possible fare back&mdash;though you will have to walk a bit further to get to their cab. However, if they try to charge you anything more than the agreed price at the end, claiming a misunderstanding or anything else, absolutely refuse and threaten to call the police. They will accept the agreed price. Also, see the warning at.
 * gg and Yandex.Taxi (ride service apps) offers competitive and honest prices, from about 1,400 dram (Oct 2017).

By train


Yerevan is the hub of Armenia's small domestic rail system, with services once a day to Armavir (1 hr), Ararat (70 mins) and Gyumri (3 hr, plus a faster train F-Su). These, plus the Tbilisi train, also serve intermediate stations such as Echmiadzin and Vanadzor, but are seldom a good way of getting there. Passenger trains to Sevan operate in the summer, but Dilijan does not have train service at this time. See the online timetable - timetables at stations are only in Armenian script.

An international overnight sleeper train runs between Tbilisi and Yerevan, taking 11-12 hr&mdash;see Tbilisi for all the details.

By bus or marshrutka
Marshrutkas (aka minibus aka converted delivery van) are the chief mode of transport within Armenia and internationally. As of 2022, not all land border crossings allow for visa on arrival. You may be denied entry and turned around at the border, which, if you've come by marshrutka/minibus, means that you will be stranded until you are able to find a new bus or hitchhike back to Tbilisi. If in any doubt, get the E-visa in advance. Failing to do so can result in a very expensive surprise.

Specific destinations:
 * Dilijan – From Dilijan at 08:00, 09:15, 11:00, 13:00, and 16:00.
 * Tbilisi, Georgia – Some five or six marshrutkas run daily, taking 5-6 hr (via Vanadzor & Debed Canyon) and costing 6,500 dram or 35 lari. They depart in the morning to a very approximate timetable, setting off when full or when the driver so pleases, with the last departure around 13:00. Change in Tbilisi for destinations across Georgia, Turkey and (if you're sure of your welcome) Azerbaijan&mdash;these no longer have any direct services to Yerevan.
 * Iran – There are regular buses. You can get dropped off in Tabriz or Tehran. Tickets can be purchased at Tatev Travel, and other places.

By car
The usual approach by road is from Tbilisi, Georgia. Follow Highway 6 / 7 south for an hour to Sadakhlo / Bagratashen border post, then continue on M6 winding up the beautiful Debed Canyon (great hiking and fantastic string of monasteries, a couple of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites) to Vanadzor then over the plateau to Yerevan. Reckon 5 hours: the canyon road is being completely rebuilt and widened. It's a much better road after Alaverdi. (Just beyond Bagratashen, another road branches east, close to the Azerbaijan border. Seek local advice before attempting this road, as there are occasional exchanges of gunfire across that border.)

You can also cross between Georgia and Armenia at Gogavan / Guguti and Bavra / Ninotsminda: these routes are trouble-free.

The other approach is from Iran, crossing at Nordooz / Agarak. From there it's a six hour drive to Yerevan: interesting places along the way are Meghri, Kapan, Goris, and Sisian.

Do not even think of trying to cross into Armenia by road direct from Turkey or from Azerbaijan. The borders are closed.

On foot
The center of Yerevan is compact and easy to get around by foot. Watch your step, however, as construction sites, potholes and aggressive drivers abound. Cross the street only at designated spots and be careful of distracted or aggressive drivers who do not yield the right of way to pedestrians.

By metro
The metro system in Yerevan is quite reliable and modern, having been built in the early 1980s. It is the quickest way around town, and at 100 dram, the cheapest aside from walking. Tickets are not issued, you buy plastic tokens and use these to operate the entry turnstiles. But it's underused, as most citizens find buses more convenient.



The metro is a single J-shaped line covering 12 km. Trains run every five minutes from 06:30 until 23:00: platform indicators count up, from 00:00 when the previous train departed. Due to Yerevan's uneven landscape, the stations are mostly very deep, but sometimes the line runs overground. As with other ex-Soviet metro systems, stations are elaborately decorated, blending Armenian national motifs with late-Soviet architecture. Photography is not allowed. Plans to build two further lines (forming a triangle, like Budapest) have so far come to nothing.

The metro stations from north to south are:



By marshrutka
More than a hundred marshrutkas routes criss-cross the city and travel to the suburbs and beyond (such as to Georgia). At 100 dram a ride in Yerevan, they are a bargain. The marshrutkas are often overcrowded, and you may find yourself standing, crouched without a seat during rush hour. The route number is displayed prominently in the window, along with Armenian text listing the major landmarks and streets of the route. The Opera (ՕՊԵՐԱ) is an easy Armenian word to recognize on these signs, and is the main crossing point of many of the lines. When you want to get off, you should say “kangnek” or “ijnokh ka” for the driver to hear, or else, just say “stop” in English. The numbers of the marshrutkas are written on the bus stations though and the webpage of the tourist information has the whole list with destinations. Pay when leaving a marshrutka.



By bus or trolleybus
Yerevan also has trolley and regular bus lines, operated by "Yergortrans." The fare is very inexpensive (50 dram for trolley and 100 dram for regular bus) and the vehicles are not too crowded. Pay when leaving a bus.

Checkout the Transport for Armenia journey planner, as described above. Also, there is Yerevan Routes for iPhone, which does not give you exact bus schedule but has all the bus, trolley, and marshrutka routes: app.

By taxi


Abundant throughout the city, a taxi anywhere within the center should not cost more than 600-1,000 dram. Almost all taxis with company names on the sides have meters, and prices tend to be competitive among taxi companies. To flag an empty one down on the street, just hold your arm out and pat your hand in the air, if they’re free they’ll stop. Taxis without a logo on the side tend to charge more, and may to try to get more out of foreigners. To avoid being ripped off, either call a taxi from a big company or head for the most modern looking ones which usually have a meter. Make sure that the driver switches it on when you start and politely remind him to do so if he has "forgotten" it. If taxi has meter and the driver hasn't turned it on, in most cases passenger can not pay for the trip. Carry some coins to prevent the drivers from telling you that they have no change on them. Standard price is a minimum of 500 dram for the first 5 km and 100 dram for every further km. A car and driver can easily be rented for day trip outside of Yerevan, for as little as US$20 plus fuel.

The ride services gg and Yandex.Taxi (the official partner of Uber in Russia and several neighboring countries since 2018) offer competitive and honest prices. gg has a flat rate of 600 dram within the center, but you'll require an Armenian or Georgian SIM card to register. Lyft is not available, but Bolt is. Yandex can use a foreign phone number, but install and register in your home country, because the text verification does not always work for US phones in Armenia.

See the Stay safe section below for taxi-related scams you need to be aware of.

By car
Possible, but largely pointless - taxis being so cheap. If, however, you are renting for side trips to the countryside, but are based in the city, take note of the local driving habits. The residents are not aggressive (if you don't count black Mercedes SUVs with Russian plates - these are downright crazy), but not accommodating either. You'll be calmly cut off or overtaken; prepare for turns and lane changes in advance. Police are very thorough; they patrol the center constantly, with flashing lights but no sirens, and pounce when they see a violation (such as crossing a solid line). Traffic jams occur because everyone rushes onto the intersection on green, are then stuck there as the light turns, and then the crossing traffic repeats the same exercise. Parking in the center is mostly paid (except nights and weekends), but not particularly tight; there are clear instructions in English on the parking columns, but do yourself a favor and buy a weekly pass at the rental agency - at only 1,000 dram, it's a ridiculous bargain (your plate number is then entered into the database and the meter maids check against it). The curbside parking may be at a premium in some places and at certain times; nearby establishments then commandeer the portions of the road out front, and a semi-official-looking "assistant" in a reflective vest might be waving you into a spot if he sees you intending to park there. Accept the offer; the payment for the services is not expected until you depart, and then for the 200 dram coin he will venture out into the traffic and stop it, allowing you to safely back up and drive away.

Churches
Churches in Yerevan are open from early morning till very late evening. There is no entrance fee ever charged. If you manage to find the priest you can ask him to bless you and any object (of non-violent usage) that belongs to you (including friendship and other relationships).

Do

 * Football: the national men's soccer team play at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium (capacity 14,400) southeast corner of the city.
 * Yerevan is home to seven of the ten teams in the Premier League, Armenia's top tier, so there's sure to be a game in town during the Aug-May playing season. The likeliest to be involved in European fixtures is FC Alashkert. They play at the 6850-capacity Alashkert Stadium, 3 km west of the centre off the road to the airport.
 * The city's other top-tier clubs are FC Ararat Yerevan (who play at Republican Stadium), FC Ararat Armenia, Pyunik, FC Urartu, FC Noah (formerly FC Artsakh), and BKMA Yerevan.
 * Football: the national men's soccer team play at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium (capacity 14,400) southeast corner of the city.
 * Yerevan is home to seven of the ten teams in the Premier League, Armenia's top tier, so there's sure to be a game in town during the Aug-May playing season. The likeliest to be involved in European fixtures is FC Alashkert. They play at the 6850-capacity Alashkert Stadium, 3 km west of the centre off the road to the airport.
 * The city's other top-tier clubs are FC Ararat Yerevan (who play at Republican Stadium), FC Ararat Armenia, Pyunik, FC Urartu, FC Noah (formerly FC Artsakh), and BKMA Yerevan.
 * Yerevan is home to seven of the ten teams in the Premier League, Armenia's top tier, so there's sure to be a game in town during the Aug-May playing season. The likeliest to be involved in European fixtures is FC Alashkert. They play at the 6850-capacity Alashkert Stadium, 3 km west of the centre off the road to the airport.
 * The city's other top-tier clubs are FC Ararat Yerevan (who play at Republican Stadium), FC Ararat Armenia, Pyunik, FC Urartu, FC Noah (formerly FC Artsakh), and BKMA Yerevan.


 * Medical procedures. Yerevan offers some world-class medical treatments for fraction of the price in the west. The most common are heart surgeries, fertility treatments, nose jobs, hair removal and laser eye surgery.
 * Medical procedures. Yerevan offers some world-class medical treatments for fraction of the price in the west. The most common are heart surgeries, fertility treatments, nose jobs, hair removal and laser eye surgery.

Events

 * Vardavar is the pagan holiday of water (now a church holiday). It is a summertime movable feast that is mostly enjoyed by virtually everyone, grown and child alike: litres of water is poured on everyone by everyone. Some parks have administered events.
 * Trndez is the pagan holiday of fire (a church holiday). It is observed on the February 13. Huge bonfire can be observed in each courtyard with people merrily singing around, youngsters jumping over and the like.

Itineraries
Most of the sights in Yerevan are concentrated in the centre, which is very walkable. Spending a few days visiting the major sights should be enough time, and try to get in a trip to Vernissage flea market on the weekend. Also there are a number of day trips can be done from Yerevan.

Work
Diaspora Armenians may obtain a residency permit to live and work in Armenia without a problem. A 10-year visa/permit for US$350 is available, or for those with the right paperwork, citizenship can be had for free. Non-Armenians should have an invitation, or establish a business to get a work/business visa.

Volunteering in Armenia may be a suitable for those wanting the experience. Armenian Volunteer Corps can organize a volunteer placement and visa for you.

For those of ethnic Armenian descent, there are programs such as Birthright Armenia, which will pay for your trip if you participate in their program.

Tutoring in English is always an option for native English speakers. Demand to learn, and practice, English conversation is high.


 * Impact Hub - A coworking space in central Yerevan. A number of organizations are also based out of this space.
 * The Loft Coworking- Upstairs from The Loft Anti-Cafe.

Souvenirs

 * Armenian brandy (locally called Cognac as well) is considered one of the world's finest brandies and is accordingly a popular gift to take home for tourists. It was actually Winston Churchill's brandy of choice. There are many stores within central Yerevan centre devoted solely to brandy from the Ararat Cognac Factory; the airport is also a good place to stock up at duty free. As a rule, the more aged the brandy, the more refined the taste and the more expensive. But regardless the series of brandy, in Yerevan it will be an excellent value.
 * Armenian rugs, new and old are popular. New carpets can be purchased at the Mergeryan Rug Factory for a good price. More upscale is the international brand “Tufenkian Carpets”, with a shop on Tumanyan near Abovyan. Both will add your name or inscription request into an existing rug, or do a custom rug for you. There is no problem with exporting these. Old rugs are found in stores all over town, or in Vernissage. Be sure the seller obtains an export certificate from the ministry of culture for you – or you’re taking a chance that it may be confiscated. Negotiate to have the certificate delivered to you as part of the purchase price, and buy your rug a week before you go to give them time to obtain this certificate. New rugs do not require certification, but keep your factory certificate as proof that it is new.
 * More fragile, but maybe worth the effort are some of the more exotic jams and preserves made in Armenia. From walnut preserves, to “Sea Buckthorne” (Chichkhan), virtually everything that grows in Armenia is canned!

Currency
Exchange kiosks at Zvartnots Airport have only a 3% spread between "buy" and "sell" for major currencies, so these are very good value, and downtown is similar. (Western high-street exchanges have about 15% spread, and airports 30% or worse.) However, for less common currencies e.g. Turkish lira the spread is much wider: exchange only the minimum at the airport then shop around for better rates downtown. Stores and restaurants will frequently accept US dollars, euros or western credit cards.

Cash in Armenian dram can be withdrawn from numerous ATMs in the city, but you may have to try several machines before getting money. You can also withdraw money from your card at a bank, but it may take visits to several before you find one that will let you do so.

Budget
Stands selling Armenian-style "pizzas" called "lamehjun" or "lahmajoun" are prevalent throughout Yerevan. This cheap snack consists of a thin layer of dough topped with an herb and meat paste.

Mid-range




Drink
Cafés, bars, restaurants, clubs and the countryside on a picnic are all popular places for vodka, the usual drink of choice, with wine, beer, champagne and brandy all popular as well. Most restaurants only sell pilsner-style beers, of middling quality, but some brew pubs and craft beer outlets can be found. Restaurant wine is usually very good.

Drinking in public may be legal, but doing so as a foreigner will get you stopped by the police (and earn you plenty of dirty looks from the locals). You can drink in a car, as long as you’re not driving. Drivers cannot have a drop of alcohol in them, with zero being the legal threshold – and the penalties for violating this are stiff.

Places for a drink
The most popular places to drink in the summer tend to be outdoor cafés and café/restaurants. The cafés by Cascade and the wine bars along Saryan are always packed.

The following bars are popular spots with visitors.

Drinks to try

 * Cognac – see the buy section above.
 * Homemade fruit vodkas – these are not flavoured from fruit like most of the western vodkas but made from pure fruit. The most popular is the Tutti Oghi (Mulberry Vodka), but just as impressive if you can find them are the Cornelian Cherry (Hon), Pear, Apricot and Peach.
 * Wine – Areni grapes are only grown in Armenia, which is in the oldest grape and wine producing part of the world. Old Yerevan is the best brand.
 * Compote – if you can get it, this usually home made fruit juice is fantastic. Ask locals, and if some of them have it at home, they will drag you in to try.
 * Tan – blended plain yoghurt with water and a dash of salt, this drink is often an acquired taste, and very refreshing. You can sometimes find bottled fizzy tan, which is an even more acquired taste.

Cafés
Yerevan has a serious café culture, and it can be hard to tell where one outdoor café ends and the next begins as they run into each other.

Nightclubs
In Yerevan there are plenty of nightclubs, pubs, karaoke and strip clubs. Popular nightclubs are mainly in the centre, with longtime standbys usually full on the weekends.



Sleep
Yerevan has a wide variety of accommodations but for the most part they are overpriced. If you're staying for an extended period of time, rent an apartment. Check the AUA (American University of Armenia), local travel agents (Menua tours, Hyur Service) or real estate brokers for rental listings.

Budget
There is a good selection of hostels and homestays in Yerevan to choose from for budget travellers.



Stay safe
Yerevan is a very safe city at all times of day and night for people of all genders and ages - especially in the central neighborhoods where most visitors will stay. Street crime and street violence are almost non-existent: people regularly leave belongings unattended in the street without fear of theft. Nevertheless, as in the most cities of its size, in crowded places and transport beware of pickpockets. There are no scams but you may be need to bargain at stores that do not have fixed price tags, though bargaining seems to be uncommon.

The traffic can be quite rough during morning and evening rush hour, so pay close attention when crossing the street, especially in non-designated areas. Most locals obey street signs and there may be fines for jaywalking.

Taxi-related scams
The most dangerous thing you will encounter here are the taxi drivers, ripping off tourists and even locals. They may take detours instead of going directly&mdash;have a map or navigation ready and tell them the correct way. Never ever believe a taxi driver who wants to convince you that there is no bus or marshrutka to the destination you are heading to&mdash;this is mostly a lie. Any story that will get them to the point where you decide to take a taxi is probably a hoax.

Also, do not settle for largely increased flat fees or the argument that their meter is not working. Sometimes just pushing the main button on the meter once does the trick&mdash; but only one, twice will not display a fare. If there is still the need for payment, calculate the distance in kilometer times 100 dram plus a little extra to settle the mood and head off. In either case, if you feel in a dodgy and awkward situation, you are better off leaving fast and making sure the taxi driver does or can not follow you. But you can always refer to the help of the police, which the taxi drivers won't be happy to deal with. Even the locals know that the taxi drivers are lying, so they might be of help in case of an argument. Just make sure you do not have this argument in the middle of the night with a bunch of other taxi drivers around.

Note, do not settle to anything widely beyond the regular 100 dram/km, because "it is just a few dollars" or so&mdash;this just makes it worse for locals and other tourists. This applies especially if you have never agreed on any price to begin with. Also, beware of moonlighting "taxi" drivers at the airport who will try to charge you ridiculous amounts (20,000 dram or more) to get to the city. A taxi to or from the airport to the city centre should cost around 1,600 dram, for comparison. Rumours are, some Iranians once got charged US$150 for a trip from the airport to the city.

Stay healthy
Smoking may appear to be the national pastime, and indeed, Armenia has one of the highest rates of smoking in all of Europe. To avoid the smoke, stick to restaurants with outdoor seating, let your taxi driver know it is not okay to smoke (they're not supposed to). There are a number of good non-smoking options, many of which can be found on this map of non-smoking places in Yerevan. The government has announced that smoking will be banned in restaurants and cafes beginning in November 2018, though legislation still has not passed.

Connect



 * Internet – Stores offering internet access with PCs are called Internet Club in Armenia. One of them is "CyberStars" located at 18 Avetik Isahakyan Street.

Embassies

 * Nagorno-Karabakh
 * 🇧🇾 Belarus
 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Easy day trips

Many of Armenia's top sights are clustered close to Yerevan and are easy day trips, though you'll need your own transport for several:
 * Garni, 15 km east of Yerevan, has a Hellenistic temple and religious / royal complex, perched atop a canyon.
 * Geghard Monastery, 5 km further, is carved into the canyon side.
 * Khosrov Forest State Reserve is in the mountains above Geghard. Several monasteries, caves, and Kakavaberd ancient hill fortress.
 * Echmiadzin (now called Vagharshapat), 15 km west of Yerevan, is the Canterbury of Armenia, with a monastery and cathedral compound. 3 km east are the ruins of Zvartnots cathedral.
 * Ashtarak 15 km northwest has St Hovhannes Karapet Cathedral perched over the Kasagh gorge.
 * Artashat 20 km south has Khor Virap Monastery. Take bus 452, 467, 468 from the Southern Bus Station for Khor Virap; 300-400 dram.
 * Armash, 60 km south east, has fish lagoons that have become an important bird habitat. It's up against the closed borders with Turkey and Nakhchivan, so expect official suspicion. Photo ID is mandatory for entry.

Further out, more suited to overnight trips (lots of tours available):


 * Around Mount Aragats are Amberd castle and Church.
 * Noravank Monastery, Noravank Canyon and Areni Wine Country are 80 km south-east.
 * To the north around Lake Sevan are Tsakhkadzor, Sevanavank and Hayravank Monasteries, Noratus Khachkar Cemetery, and Dilijan old town.
 * Jermuk, Sisian and Tatev monastery are further down the road southeast.

Beyond Armenia
 * The obvious next destination is Tbilisi. On the way, try to see the canyon and monasteries around Alaverdi.