Best Things To Do In Yerevan (Part 1/2)
Updated: Apr 21
Some time ago I shared with you the results of interviewing our friend Egor about his trip to Iceland (read part 1 and part 2). This time Egor went to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and was ready to share his experience with the broader public.
The main points covered in this post - 1st part of the interview - are as follows:
Marie: Hi Egor, welcome back! You told me that you went to Armenia for a few days. How was it?
Egor: It was an amazing trip! Armenia is such a beautiful charming country, it has a unique ambience, and the local people are super friendly.
Marie: Where did you go? Did you stay in Yerevan or did you travel around a bit?
Egor: So, we spent in Yerevan around 7 days. Most of the time we spent in the capital of Armenia, but we also went on 2 short trips: to Sevan Lake and Tatev Monastery. I highly recommend both places, they are relatively easy to combine with visiting the Armenian capital.
Marie: That’s great, but let’s start from the very beginning: tell us, how did you come to Yerevan from Luxembourg, then how did you manage to arrive at the city centre from the airport?
Egor: I took a flight from Luxembourg to Rome (Wizzair, 2 hours flight), and then - another one, from Rome to Yerevan (also Wizzair, 4 hours flight). For checking the best options, flight aggregators, such as Aviasales, are a great help!
There was one funny moment: on the plane from Rome to Yerevan I saw a guy with a box of Italian pizza on board, and he didn’t even touch it. I think he brought it as a souvenir for his Armenian family.
Marie: That’s funny!
Egor: It was indeed! So, finally, the plane landed at the airport of Yerevan. I changed some euros to the local currency - Armenian Dram - there. Still, the exchange rate was not very favourable: it’s much more beneficial to exchange money in the city itself or to use Revolut.
Marie: Agree, Revolut is a good option, their rates are very favourable, I always use it on my trips abroad, together with e-sim cards, using apps like Airalo. So, how did you go to the centre? Did you take a taxi or used a public transport?
Egor: I took a taxi - it’s rather cheap in Armenia (the airport to the city centre is 2-3k dram which is similar to 5-6 euros). I used GG taxi, as this is a local taxi app (it’s a bit more expensive than Yandex, but the cars are better and the drivers were very friendly).
Alternatively, you can use public transport: there is a bus №201 that goes from the airport to the city centre, but it doesn’t go at night. I wouldn’t recommend renting a car though: the price per day starts from 30 EUR whereas taking 2-3 trips using a taxi would cost you around 10 EUR. The traffic in Armenia is crazy: I wouldn’t risk my life driving there. But of course, it’s a matter of habits and priorities.
Marie: What was the first thing you did in this city? Overall, what are the best things to do in Yerevan?
Egor: I went to bed, as I arrived quite late. I booked a nice apartment - there are plenty of options on Booking.
Then, in the morning I went to a nice restaurant nearby (Sherep Restaurant) for breakfast: a delicious meal (both eggs and pancakes) with a cup of coffee cost around 7 EUR. After that, I met my parents who arrived also at Yerevan Airport and we went to explore the historical centre of Yerevan.
Marie: Where exactly did you go in the centre?
Egor: We went straightaway to Republic Square - the main square of Yerevan, situated in the centre of the city, near Abovyan and Amiryan Street. The area is formed by 5 famous buildings: the National Art Gallery and History Museum, the Government House (on the tower of which they set the main clock of the country), the Central post office, the Marriott Hotel and the building of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
Marie: It sounds exciting!
Egor: Then we continued exploring the city centre: I appreciated how well it is structured. The centre is in the shape of a circle, and divided into sectors: it makes the centre a super convenient place to navigate and it’s hard to get lost.
Marie: Where exactly did you go in the centre?
Egor: The centre is not so big, so we managed to see most of it. We went towards a park nearby and then reached the Saint Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral, the largest Armenian Apostolic cathedral in the world.
Overall I would say there are a lot of nice (and very old) churches in Yerevan, and also - plenty of charming parks, and a green oasis of fresh air in the city packed with cars.
Marie: Nice! What else did you see in Yerevan?
Egor: On the same day we went to see the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and then - the Cascade Complex, one of the major attractions of Yerevan. You need to climb over 550 stairs to be able to enjoy the views of Ararat Mountain.
Also, there is an amazing park with nice sculptures (look at this nice fat cat), and plenty of cosy cafes and restaurants.
Marie: That sounds amazing. What did you do next?
Egor: The next day we went to explore the centre again. Out of other spots that impressed me, I would highlight the Vernissage flea market where you can buy almost anything from carpets to USSR medals. Also, explore the huge Victory Park, where you can find charming alleys, a nice lake Arevik and the stunning Monument Mother Armenia.
In addition, we explore another significant park - Yerevan 2800th Anniversary Park, also known as Vardanyan’s Park, which is full of impressive fountains, huge green areas, and interesting sculptures.
Marie: Anything else that is worth seeing?
Egor: National Gallery and History Museum, explore items representing the culture and history of Armenia.
Marie: Remind me please, how many days did you spend in Yerevan?
Egor: My trip was for 7 days, but out of them we spent 5 days in Yerevan and then went for 2 daily trips to Lake Sevan and Tatev monastery.
Dear reader, we are not done yet - there is a second part of the interview for you to get more useful information and recommendations. You will learn how to combine exploring Yerevan with visiting the Lake Sevan and Tatev monastery, get more valuable tips and hints, as well as the detailed itinerary for a 5-7 day trip to Yerevan.
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