Top Places To Visit In Armenia
Armenia is one of our favorite countries to visit, and revisit. I of course love it because it’s my family’s homeland, and being completely surrounded by the language and culture I grew up with, is such a beautiful feeling. Even if you are “odar” (non-Armenian) there is so much to admire about this charming country. We have been to Armenia three times (2014, 2018, 2020) and each trip was so different from the other. A lot of that had to do with a great amount of growth in tourism, and part of it had to do with the time of year that we visited.
Our 2014 summer visit was a road trip. We saw a lot of Armenia including the further out places such as Tatev, and the independent country of Nagorno-Karabakh. If you have the time, a road trip would be the best way to see all this beautiful country has to offer.
We’ve put together a top 10 list of places to see in Armenia which can mostly be done as day trips from Yerevan. Some sites are further away, but they can be done in a day if you don’t have the option to road trip.
Armenia: 11 Must See Places
temple of garni
The Temple of Garni (Գառնիի տաճար) is a scenic 40 minute drive from Yerevan. On your way there, be sure to stop at the lookout point, Charent’s Arch, which gives a dreamy panoramic view of the countryside. The town of Garni is about 20 minutes after lookout point, and is a quaint area to walk around either before or after your temple visit. There are street sellers and cafes just outside the temple as well. The Temple of Garni is located on a cliff overlooking the Azat River and breath-taking Gegham Mountains. The grounds are so peaceful and the perfect place to take a break from the drive, and admire your surroundings.
2. Geghard Monastery
Geghard (Գեղարդ), meaning “spear”, is a 4th century ancient monastery in the Kotayk region of Armenia. The monastery itself was partially carved out of the surrounding mountains, and its main chapel was built in 1215. The grounds are easy to find as it is literally at the of the road you take to get there. Locals are usually set up near the parking lot selling delicious sweet “sujukh” (walnuts dipped in different fruit syrup concoctions), dried fruits, and Armenia’s infamous “gata”.
It’s such an enchanting place to visit and the perfect day excursion when combined with Charent’s Arch and Temple of Garni.
3. Armenian Alphabet Monuments
The Armenian Alphabet Monuments are a 50 minute drive from Yerevan located in the village of Artashavan. The 39 letters were put up in 2005, on the 1600th anniversary of the creation of Armenian alphabet which was in 405 AD by Saint Mesrop Mashtots. There isn’t a lot to do around the monument, but there is plenty of opportunity for walks and hikes in the area. The main road often has fruit sellers, and if the season is right, some even sell giant, I mean GIANT, sunflowers with the seeds in the center ready to be eaten!
4. Khor Virap
Khor Virap (Խոր Վիրապ) is an Armenian monastery and has the most beautiful backdrop imaginable. It is located in Armenia’s Ararat province - about 45 minutes from Yerevan and 100 meters from the closed Turkish-Armenian border. There are some steps to reach the monastery and once you reach it, the view of Mount Ararat is the first thing you see. Mount Ararat is a sacred symbol to Armenians, and is the mythical resting place of Noah’s Ark after the Great Flood.
5. Lake Sevan
Sevanavank Monastery on Lake Sevan.
Lake Sevan (Սևանա լիճ) is an hour drive from Yerevan and is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucus region. It is well known for it’s fish and a must eat if you like seafood! We stayed at the Best Western at the northern end of the lake. It is located within walking distance of Sevanavank Monastery, pictured above. The Monastery offers great views of the lake and surrounding area. Sevan is known to be a getaway location from Yerevan with many family run resorts in the area that offer swimming, fishing, and other lake activities. This particular area of Lake Sevan is definitely recommended for a visit. From here you can easily get to Dilijan for a day trip, as it is only about a 45 minute drive through picturesque mountain roads and a National Park by the same name.
6. Gyumri
Gyumri (Գյումրի) is the second largest city in Armenia. In 1988, Gyumri was greatly effected by an earthquake, killing 25,000 people. Ruined buildings are still seen today throughout the downtown and surrounding areas. A reminder of the devastation caused by the earthquake. The city has come a long way since the disaster, and offers a little something for tourists coming to visit the city. There are historical sites to explore, cafes and breweries to unwind at, and more than a handful of museums to visit. You can even visit the historic Gyumri brewery which is one of the biggest breweries in the country.
7. Dilijan
Dilijan (Դիլիջան) is a forest filled spa town situated within Dilijan National Park. It is known as an artsy town and it’s common to find locals on street corners playing an instrument or working on a painting. This is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors, with hikes of different intensity levels, cycling, and of course - picknicking - a popular local activity. There is an “old town” in the center of town that has small shops and offers a view of everyday life in the area. Just outside of the town, by short hike, is Matosavank Monastery. This monastery was built in the 13th century but lies in ruin today. You can visit the monastery after a short hike, but remember to look on the trees in the area. There are small red arrows pointing the way and there is no clear cut path to Matosavank.
8. Tatev
The Tatev Monastery is a 9th-century Armenian Apostolic monastery located on a large basalt plateau in southeastern Armenia. Tatev is a relatively far drive from Yerevan as Google driving time will not exactly match your driving time. Parts of the roads to Tatev are smooth and winding and most other parts are bumpy, breaking, and full of potholes curving up and around mountains. Leave yourself a lot of extra driving time, or break up the trip and stay somewhere along the way. We stayed overnight in Jermuk and headed out the next morning to Tatev and then on to Karabakh. Tatev’s cable car called “Wings of Tatev” is one of the longest continuous double-way cable cars in the world and was completed in 2010. Before this, access to Tatev Monastery was by foot. On your ride to Tatev you will see how dense the forest is around the monastery. If you look carefully you can see a hidden part of the monastery in the valley below that allowed secret access for the monks who wanted to visit and stay there. There is an underground tunnel that leads up the mountain to Tatev. The monestary itself boasts great views of the surrounding area and shows just how isolated these monastery’s were when they were built. Interestingly, Tatev Monastery was in operation during the Mongol’s rule of the area and was allowed some autonomy to function as it had been intended, being a refuge for hundreds of monks and avoided Mongol taxes.
9. Jermuk
Jermuk (Ջերմուկ) is a quaint mountain town in the south of Armenia. It is known for its spas, nature, and hot springs. You’ll see Jermuk water, both flat and sparkling, sold throughout the country as well as in Gulf countries. It is so peaceful there - quiet, calm, and surrounded by mountains. It was a nice stop during our road trip to just unwind, and let Jamie do s0me preparation for his little surprise (he proposed the morning after we left Jermuk).
10. Nagorno-Karabakh (also known as Artsakh)
Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus. Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory being situated in the land of Azerbaijan, however is inhabited by native Armenians and governed by the Republic of Artsakh. Karabakh is filled with warm, friendly Armenians, delicious food, and beautiful scenery - just as the rest of Armenia.
During our 3rd visit to Armenia (and when I started this post), the ongoing war between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated into something much bigger. Since the war advanced on September 27, 2020, there have been 2 cease-fires, but those ended just hours after the agreements. We hope that there is some resolution to this soon, and that Armenians can finally live in peace in Artsakh.
11. Etchmiadzin
Etchmiadzin is a half hour drive from Yerevan, and is one of the most visited places in all of Armenia. The main attraction in the town is Etchmiadzin Cathedral. It is the mother church to Armenian Christians worldwide and is often considered to be the oldest cathedral in the world. The cathedral is located in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), and the town itself offers things to do for history buffs, foodies, and art lovers, so one can definitely plan to spend an entire day there.