The relatively undiscovered country ofArmenia is as interesting as vacation destinations come. It has a fascinatinghistory peppered with tragedy and fortune. To help you see the best it has tooffer, here’s our pick of the top things to do in Armenia:
1. Matenadaran
The Matenadaran (which means book in Armenian) is one the country’s most important cultural offerings and by far one of the most popular places to visit in Armenia. It houses around 23,000 pieces including the pièce de résistance of a collection of 1,800 illustrated manuscripts from the country’s original matenadaran built in the 5th century. The works are well labelled and we recommend you keep an eye out for the Arabic manuscripts which are especially beautiful.
Address: Mashtots Avenue 53, Yerevan, 0009
Opening times: Tuesday through Saturday 10am – 5pm
Entry: Adult tickets cost 1,000 AMD (Dh8)
2. Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum (Tsitsernakaberd)
The Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum is the country’s most important memorial to those who died in the Armenian Genocide. Around 1.5million people were killed between 1915 and 1922 and this museum has everything you need to know to understand how the atrocities came about. It uses newspaper clippings, film archives and personal documents to tell the story of the genocide and make sure the victims are never forgotten. It’s located on Tsitsernakaberd Hill across Hrazdan Gorge, an easy car or bus ride from Yerevan city.
Address: Tsitsernakaberd Highway, Yerevan, Armenia
Opening times: Tuesday through Sunday 11am – 4pm. Closed Mondays and major public holidays. Extended opening hours on April 24 (Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day)
Entry: Admission is free but donations are welcome
3. Geghard Monastery
Built from the 4th century onwards, Armenia’s monastery of Geghard consists of an impressive number of tombs and churches cut into the rock at the Azat River Gorge. The oldest part of the Unesco World Heritage Site is the Monastery itself which, as the story goes, was founded by St Gregory the Illuminator when the country became a Christian state at the start of the 4th century. The first church on the site was built some time before 1250 right into the rock face, and the remaining tombs, cathedral and chapels completed in the same century. It’s an incredible site and not surprisingly one of the best things to do in Armenia. To reach it from Yerevan, take a bus to Goght and then a taxi onwards to the monastery – don’t forget to ask the driver to return for you at a set time!
Address: Goght, Armenia
4. Mother Armenia
You shouldn’t visit Armenia and not pop by to pay your respects to Mother Armenia! The huge 22 meter-high statue stands in the famous Yerevan Victory Park. She’s carrying a large sword and standing to attention, sending a very clear message that she is her country’s protector and will perform her role at all costs. Check out the Mother Armenia Military Museum in the pedestal under the statue which explains Armenia’s role in WW2 and other conflicts.
Address: Haghtanak Park (Victory Park), Yerevan, Armenia
Opening times: Tuesday through Friday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm. Closed Saturdays
Entry: Free
5. Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery
Sandy beaches are hard to come by in landlocked Armenia but Lake Sevan is the next best thing. The beautiful freshwater lake sits almost 2,000 meters above sea level and is a popular summer vacation destination for Armenians who want to escape the cities. It is a huge body of water – taking up around 5 per cent of Armenia’s total footprint – and is situated in the stunning Sevanavank Peninsula. There are lots of public beaches around the lake, as well as watersports, delicious fish restaurants and swimming spots. The nearby 9th century Sevanavank Monastery is also one of the most popular places to visit in Armenia and offers spectacular views over the lake on a clear day. You can reach Lake Sevan in around an hour by bus from Yerevan.
6. Khor Virap Monastery
The views of Mount Ararat from Khor Virap monastery are one of the most iconic images of Armenia. The monastery is one of the country’s most significant historical sites and was where King Trdat III imprisoned St Gregory the Illuminator for more than a decade. The legend goes that he remained a prisoner for 13 years until he cured the king’s ailments. Snow-capped Mount Ararat in the distance is also incredibly important to Armenians as it was mentioned in the Bible as being the place where Noah’s ark stopped before he settled to live in the Ararat Valley. The views of it from Khor Virap are second to none and it’s only around 45 minutes from Yerevan city.
7. Cafesjian Center for the Arts (Yerevan Cascade)
This arts center is one of Yerevan’s most popular places to visit. It’s housed in a huge staircase structure and is named after Armenian-American philanthropist Gerard Cafesjian who was one of the key figures behind its creation. There are two main garden galleries and five indoor exhibition rooms within the staircase structure. Cafesjian installed some of his own collection of sculptures into the galleries and gardens and the number of works has grown significantly over the years. There’s also a well-stocked library and gift store on site.
Address: 10 Tamanyan Street, Yerevan 0009, Armenia
Opening times: Exhibition galleries, visitor center and museum store Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 8pm. Escalator gallery 8am – 10pm. The sculpture garden is always open
Entry: Tickets cost 1,000 AMD (Dh8) for adults and 750 AMD (Dh6) for children aged 13 through 17
8. Temple of Garni
The history of this Roman looking building isn’t totally clear and its usage changed over the years depending on who ruled Armenia. It’s believed to have been built in around the first century AD as a temple for a sun god, but later converted to a summer house for the royal Khosrovidukht household. Some experts argue, however, that it was never a temple at all and that it was actually built as a burial tomb. It survived various rulers until Mother Nature destroyed it in 1679 in a powerful earthquake. It was rebuilt in the late 1960s and early 1970s and is now one of the most popular places to visit in Armenia, and the main shrine for Armenian neopaganism.
Address: Garni 2215, Armenia
9. Yerevan Republic Square
The main square in the capital was originally named Lenin Square after leader Vladimir Lenin but became Republic Square in 1990 and its large Lenin statue was taken down a year later. It’s worth visiting if you’re in Yerevan and a great place to people spot. Some of the five large yellow and pink buildings surrounding the square are also of interest – one of them houses the National Gallery, which is the biggest art museum in Armenia, and another is the History Museum of Armenia. In the summer months the fountains in the square perform to set music every night from sunset to around 10pm.
Address: Kentron, Yerevan, Armenia
10. Dilijan National Park
This national park in north west Armenia is home to a gorgeous 85km stretch of the Transcaucasion Trail and is the place to go if you enjoy walking in nature. The town of Dilijan and surrounding area is also a beautiful spa destination with lots of mineral spa fountains, forests, lakes, bike trails, camping spots and wildlife. You can find all the Dilijan National Park trail details here.
*Content published in June 2018. Information correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change and/or availability.
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