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12 Things To Do In Yerevan, Armenia

The view from the Yerevan Cascade, a great thing to do in Armenia

More and more people are starting to visit Armenia. It’s a little difficult to fly into, but I can’t imagine that this Caucasus region is going to stay “hidden” for long. It is such a peaceful part of the world. If you are considering going, here are 12 things to do in Yerevan, Armenia

12 THINGS TO DO IN YEREVAN, ARMENIA
  1. Geghard Monastery — UNESCO heritage site carved into a mountain
  2. See Mount Ararat — the most sacred symbol in Armenian culture
  3. Garni Temple — the only Hellenistic structure in Armenia
  4. Climb the Cascade — 572 steps and the best view in the city
  5. Eat Lahmajun — Armenian flatbread pizza, do not skip this
  6. See the Moscow Theater — stunning Soviet era architecture
  7. Shop at the Vernissage — open air market with incredible local art
  8. Hang out at Republic Square — fountains, locals, and the iconic Marriott
  9. Pay respects at the Genocide Memorial — important and powerful
  10. Drink from a Pulpulak — Armenia's unique public water fountains
  11. Explore the Gum Market — dried fruit, nuts, and local produce
  12. Get lost and explore — the Soviet architecture alone is worth wandering for

Geghard Monastery

After a beautiful drive through the Armenian countryside you’re going to come across something mysterious built into the mountain. Geghard Monastery is a UNESCO heritage site first built in the 4th century. Honestly, I don’t even want to go into detail and spoil anything for you. GO HERE ASAP, it feels like you are teleported back to medieval times. Vendors line the hill with fruits and other local snacks so bring some cash!

I took a Geghard Monastery tour that included the first three things on this list. Why? Because English is very minimal in Armenia and I wanted to make sure I knew what I was seeing. I would highly recommend this half day tour, the guides were awesome. My review of it is here. The driving in Armenia is crazy, so be safe if you choose to rent a car and drive to all these places.

This is one of the best things to see in Yerevan.

A Tour of geghard monastery by Hyur Service

See Mount Ararat

Mount Ararat is very sacred to the Armenian people. Many believe this was the landing place for Noah’s Ark as well. Everything you see will be Ararat. Water brands, alcohol brands, souvenirs, etc. Once again, for these first 3 things, I don’t want to speak on them much. The history and lore regarding this mountain is something for a local to share with you, not me. 

Go To Garni Temple

Garni Temple is the only remaining Hellenistic/Greco-Roman structure in Armenia It truly makes no sense at all, I was not expecting to see something like this in a post Soviet country. It is extremely cool. An earthquake destroyed it in the 1700s, and they pieced most of it back together. Alongside it, you will find incredible views and ancient bathhouses.

It’s truly one of the most beautiful places in Yerevan.

Climb The Cascade

To get the best view in the city, you have to climb 572 steps. Fortunately, it doubles an art museum. Everything is walkable in Yerevan…so you don’t have to stress figuring out how to get to this one. Cool off with a beer or coffee at the bottom and check out the statues. BRING WATER if you are traveling to Armenia in the summer.  

There’s also an escalator that brings you up a substantial amount, which is very helpful for people unable to do the steps. Leave that part out when telling your friends you went to the top.

This is free by the way.

The cascade complex is the most known landmark in Yerevan, Armenia

Eat Lahmajun

Lahmajun, Lahmajo, Lahmacun, and probably more names. But it’s ARMENIAN PIZZA. Absolutely fantastic. They are known for their lavash (bread), and this is basically a flatbread with meat on it. Is there e vegan version? I have no idea.

 

Nobody around me was using utensils, you are supposed to tear and eat away at it. Some rolled it into a little fruit roll-up type bite. Sorry it was so good I forgot to take my photo immediately. I highly recommend checking out the restaurant Tun Lahmajo which is near the Courtyard Marriot in Yerevan.

Lahmajun in Yerevan, Armenia

See The Moscow Theater

For me, this was a breathtaking building to see due to my unfamiliarity with soviet architecture. As one of the oldest cinemas in Yerevan, you’re going to want a picture in front of this, and I imagine it will be in close walking distance from whatever hotel you choose. Yes you can see a film at the Moscow Theater, or just have it on you Yerevan sightseeing agenda. 

Shop At The Vernissage

This open air market is open every day. You will find INCREDIBLE items here, Armenia has very talented artists. There are tons of hand crafted sculptures, dolls, etc. I personally grabbed some very cool wooden magnets. I’m sure you are familiar with a market, so no more detail is needed. This will be on every single “things to do in Armenia” post you research.

You could spend a lot of time here depending on your curiosity about Armenian culture.

Hang Out At Republic Square

Here you will find government buildings, the national gallery, an amazing fountain, and the iconic Marriot. During the day, it’s quiet. At night…VERY busy. The locals love spending time with their friends and family, you’ll notice that everywhere in Yerevan. Grab an ice cream (they love ice cream) and enjoy the sights. It’s very close to the next activity as well.

Sure, the nightlife in Yerevan is very active…but sometimes you can just chill out and people watch.

Republic Square in a great thing to do in Yerevan

Pay Respects At The Genocide Memorial

If you are traveling to Armenia, you should know what this is. Visit the external flame and learn about Armenian history at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

Drink Out Of A Pulpulak

When my guide first told me to take a sip of out the unique water fountains, I was a little skeptical. I enjoy my bottled waters in countries I’m not familiar with. But it turns out Armenia has delicious, clean water. I took a sip every time I passed one.

Not only is it good, it’s very different, you have to press your finger and direct the spray into your mouth/into your bottle. Obviously this isn’t a place to see in Yerevan, but you’ll be thanking me once you see one of these every 3 minutes and you have knowledge what they are. 

 

This is one of the very few places that I actively drank out of public water fountains.

Experiment At The Gum Market

Armenia is known for their delicious fruit. Well not really, but it probably would be if people found out what they actually have. Locals had me sampling a bunch of unique dried fruits, I’m honestly not even sure what they were. If you watch youtube, you know this is one of the popular tourist attractions in Armenia.

If you like PEACHES or NUTS, this is the place for you. If that’s not for you, you could still go and just spectate and interact as a free thing to do in Yerevan.

Explore And Get Lost

You’re in a completely new country….just check it out and see how things are different. Once I found a local 7/11 type store, I browsed it for 15 minutes. It’s part of the experience seeing a local beer that’s completely in Russian and you have no idea what it is. Not just Russian, but Armenian is one of the most unique languages in the world. 

 

Enjoy the post Soviet architecture. Check out apartment buildings and other buildings you have only seen in the movies. Observe how the locals act as they roam the streets. You don’t always have to be “on the move” to soak in a country. Don’t just stick to your Yerevan itinerary…leave some free time.

How To Get Around Yerevan

Yerevan is an extremely walkable city, you will be able to get to most things you want to on foot to be honest.

But if not, they have their own version of Uber called Yandex. He is my guide how to use it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Yerevan worth visiting? +
Absolutely. Yerevan is one of the most underrated cities in the world. It is modern, walkable, affordable, and packed with history that most visitors know nothing about before they arrive. The food is excellent, the locals are some of the friendliest you will meet, and you will almost certainly be one of the very few people in your life who has actually been there.
How many days do you need in Yerevan? +
Three days is a solid amount of time to see all 12 things on this list at a relaxed pace. Two days is doable if you are efficient. Four or five days lets you do a day trip to Geghard, Garni, and Mount Ararat without rushing, plus explore the city properly.
Is Yerevan safe for tourists? +
Yes. Yerevan is a very safe city for tourists. Petty crime is rare, locals are welcoming to foreigners, and the city is easy to navigate. The main thing to be aware of is aggressive driving, so use Yandex Go for getting around rather than walking long distances on busy roads.
What is Yerevan known for? +
Yerevan is known for its Soviet era architecture, incredible history including the Armenian Genocide Memorial, the Cascade complex, Republic Square, and being the gateway to sites like Geghard Monastery and Garni Temple. It is also known for its food, its peaches, and a surprisingly vibrant cafe and nightlife scene.
Is English spoken in Yerevan? +
English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants but it is not widely spoken on the street. Russian is the second most common language after Armenian. Having Google Translate downloaded before you arrive is essential. Booking a guide for day trips outside the city is strongly recommended as English drops off significantly once you leave Yerevan.
What is the best time to visit Yerevan? +
April to June and September to October are the best months. The weather is mild and pleasant, the countryside is green, and the city is at its most enjoyable. July and August are very hot. Winter is cold but Yerevan stays active and prices drop significantly if you do not mind the chill.

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