TOP THINGS TO DO IN ARMENIA: YOUR GUIDE

 

Are you planning a trip to Armenia and want to know what to do, see and eat? I’ve got tons to say from my recent trip, and third one so far. I am here to share with you the top things to do in Armenia.

 

David of Sassoun/ Sassountzi Tavit Statue in Yerevan.

 

Yes, I’ve been to Armenia three times now. Naturally some of the places I will mention, I’ve visited more than once. But I wanted to go on a more recent trip to get the experience and write a helpful guide for you. Armenia is a country that is very rich in history, arts, culture and cuisine; but also very affordable. I have no idea why more people don’t visit. It is very beautiful, the capital feels very much like a European city; the touristic sites are out of this world; and there are also less known parts of the country that feel untouched.

Armenia is also in a state of constant growth and change. I’ve seen Armenia change quite a bit between my visits. So I’m glad I waited a bit to put this guide up for you, I will tell you the top things to do in Armenia.

 

This blog post is all about the top things to do in Armenia and what to see, eat and do while you’re visiting.

 

I. GETTING TO KNOW ARMENIA

HISTORY

Armenia has a very old and rich history. The first kingdom was established in 860 BC, that was the kingdom of Urartu. Throughout Armenian history, the nation probably reached its peak in terms of power in the region mostly under Tigran the Great in 1st century BC. Some of its important milestones was that Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as an official state religion in 301! Religion has always played a big part in its identity. I say this not from a religious standpoint, but civilization. People came together and agreed on a state religion in 301 is quite impressive. Armenia is known for their classical music, ballet, and stone carving; art is an important part of being Armenian and it has been that way throughout history. If you live in New York City, You can see a carved stone cross at the Metropolitan Museum of Art if you’re interested.

Western Armenia (current day Turkey), was part of the Ottoman empire during WWI, when The Armenian Genocide took place in 1915. The mass killing and deportation of intellectuals and all men to concentration camps; followed by deportation and death marches of women, children, and the elderly to Syria. Which is why there is a huge Armenian diaspora around the world. The events are commemorated every year on April 24th around the world and at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Armenia.

Eastern Armenia (modern day Armenia) was part of the Soviet Union. It gained independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. So Armenia today has a strong Soviet influence. It is also why people speak Russian, and everything is translated in Russian (street signs, etc).

Nagorno Karabakh (aka Artsakh), former Armenian territory completely surrounded by Azerbaijan with a single land link connecting it to Armenia, was also recently in the news. In 2020 and then 2023, Azerbaijan carried a modern-day ethnic cleansing and wiped-out Armenians living in their native lands, while many escaped to Armenia. Nagarno-Gharapagh was taken by Azerbaijan in 2024. These events unfortunately triggered more land requests from Azerbaijan in order to share a border with its neighbor Turkey.

Armenia is completely landlocked in this geo-political environment, and despite all the events continues to grow. Ok, now that you’re up to speed with some of the events in Armenia and the region, let’s move on.

 

LANGUAGE

Armenians living in Armenia speak Armenian, Russian and English. English is more common amongst the younger generation. There is a dialect difference among the diaspora community who speak Western Armenian, vs Eastern Armenian for those living in Armenia and Iran. Many of my taxi drivers were able to speak in English. I hope this doesn’t discourage you as there were many foreign tourists from Asia and Europe on my last trip. There would always be either a staff member who spoke English or someone willing to translate.

 

COST

The currency in Armenia is Armenian Dram (AMD). 100 AMD equals a quarter of USD. I found 100-200 AMD coins to be very useful, as well as 1000 AMD, which equals 2.61 USD. If you buy a pastry like gata, it could be around 300 AMD. A cappuccino is around 1500-1800 AMD. Most of my rides from a little outside the city to my hotel cost me around 1000 AMD. Airport ride is around 3000 AMD from downtown Yerevan.

 

FOOD & DRINKS

I was so impressed with the food in Armenia. You can find anything from Eastern to Western Armenian cuisines, but also some international cuisines like Russian, Italian, Lebanese and French. You must try the sweet and semi-sweet wines, especially the pomegranate wine (if you ask me, not a wine drinker but really enjoyed this one’s flavor). You should also try the local Ararat brandy which is a world renown brandy – Churchill only drank Ararat brandy. So try it while you’re there, why not. You will see many drinking water fountains in Armenia, especially in landmark locations when you visit. I have never tasted water like in Armenia, it is better than any bottled water you have bought in your life. As I write this, I just want you to try it, as people traveling abroad can be weary of water that isn’t bottled. Just to give you some context, I never bought bottled water during any of my day trips in Armenia.

 

WHEN TO VISIT?

You could go during shoulder season. However, the weather can be tricky, it can rain a lot in May or September. This is one of the few places that I’d recommend going in the summer. It might be hot in the capital Yerevan, but breezy and lovely in the areas you’re going to go to outside the city. Most of the sightseeing places are on a high altitute, so the weather is quite different there.

 

HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY?

It truly depends on how much sightseeing you want to do in Armenia, going to certain parts of the country sometimes requires a night stay in the area, but that’s rare. If this is your first time, anything less than five days can feel too little. There is so much to see and since it is a very affordable place to visit, I’d say go for a week.

 

WHERE TO STAY?

I’d definitely recommend staying anywhere between Amiryan St and Tumanyan St, on the north side of the Republic square towards the Cascade, where the majority of the cafés and restaurants are. This will make your life easier as you can walk around in the city by foot and then take any type of transport to do some sightseeing. There are a number of hotels to stay in, I picked Republica Hotel based on positive reviews I had heard from friends and online. Airbnb is another option you can use, especially if you really want to save on your trip. The only trick is, if you’re not a smoker, make sure that the apartment is a no smoking zone. Smoking is very common in Armenia, just like in Europe and policies are quite relaxed on where and when smoking is allowed.

 

REPUBLICA HOTEL REVIEW

I stayed at Republica Hotel. The location, service and rooms were great. This is a boutique style hotel, in a prime location. Rooms are nicely decorated and always clean. I am very picky about beds in general and I loved the mattress, and bedding. I also really liked their towels, I thought they were very thick and fluffy, something I normally don’t see in hotels. You’ll know what I mean if you stay there. Everything was functional and it felt like they are always renovating and maintaining things. Staff are very nice. Sona was a staff member I had reached out to on several occasions, and there wasn’t a time when she didn’t respond and go out of her way to help me. I never had to carry my luggage in and out of my room. They were brought in when I checked in, and taken out to the taxi that was requested by the hotel at the time of my check out. I even got a call to my room shortly after checking in to make sure everything was as expected.  This review is not sponsored.

 

TRANSPORTATION

You can walk the entire capital, Yerevan, by foot with no issues (if you’re a New Yorker, that is). But most of the places you’re going to want to see are outside of Yerevan. I will let you know each time how to get there.

• Taxis are very affordable, and a solid option. The apps that are used in Armenia to get a cab are GG Taxi and Yandex. Both are very reliable. You can upload your credit card information on the app, or you can pay cash on arrival to your destination.
  When you look up your destination, you might need to use cross streets or a nearby landmark location. I sometimes had issues finding my destination on the app. Double check before ordering a ride if your selected destination is where you intend to go.
• Public transport is an option, however it has not been incorporated into Google maps, so it is difficult to know which bus to take to get somewhere. You have to ask either the taxi drivers themselves, but you can also stop by the information desks in the city (Yerevan) to ask. They will take out a map and show you your options. Buses and shuttles are very cheap (100-200 AMD), but can also feel super packed. Big shout out to T-Armenia, a website that tells you how to get from your location to your destination. It helped me a lot during my visit. I will tell you whenever I used them.

 

WHERE TO BUY SOUVENIRS?

The options are endless. There are many souvenir shops across the capital and every tourist spot you go to. (1) Vernissage has plenty of options, I talk about this market in more depth below. (2) Ardēan Shop on Hanrapetuyan Street, has a unique selection of scarves and table runners. The scarves are made of silk, wool and cashmere and they are priced very fairly. I highly recommend them, you can also order from them online as they ship internationally. (3) Gift shop at Cafesjian Center for the Arts was a great place to shop at. They had some really high-quality handmade pieces, and a great selection from Michael Aram. (4) Narinée is another option, especially if you have already left Armenia and forgot to buy someone a gift (or something for yourself). Narinée is a contemporary jewelry collection inspired by Armenian architectural and cultural heritage, in the designer’s words. If you check out the collection, each piece is reminiscent of the architectural pattern and design of a church, town or timeframe in Armenia’s history. Shipping is worldwide, you can also see the stockists online if they are close to you.

 

II. THINGS TO SEE IN YEREVAN

#1 REPUBLIC SQUARE

I recommend starting off at Republic Square as it is a central location. There are numerous buildings in this square such as the History Museum of Armenia, the post office, a singing fountain, and a massive drinking water fountain that’s beautiful. Most of the buildings are made with a naturally pink colored volcanic rock, giving Yerevan the nickname ‘pink city’. This is in sharp contrast with Gyumri, another city worth visiting (more on that in another post).

 

#2 ARMENIAN NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE

As you walk towards the next landmark location, the Opera, you can do so through many ways but I recommend walking on the Northern Avenue. Walk around the Opera, it is a beautiful building, the architecture is phenomenal, and the surrounding area is just as nice. But more so, I recommend getting tickets and watching a ballet performance, if you can, you won’t be disappointed.

 

#3 EXPLORE THE STATUES IN THE CITY

There are many important statues to stop by and check out. These are so well made; you shouldn’t skip them in my opinion. It’s sort of an introduction to Armenian culture and the love for sculpting locals have.
I marked these on my map and whenever I was in the area, I made it a point to stop for a few minutes and check them out.

• Arno Babajanian: an Armenian maestro, famous in the 70’s while Armenia was part of the Soviet Union. His status is located at the Swan Lake on your way to the Opera, you won’t miss it.
• Aram Khatchaturian: as you make your stop in front of the Opera, you will see his statue. Khatchaturian is one of leading Soviet composers. He was famous for composing ballet music. He is very highly regarded in Armenia. I’m sure you will be familiar with his music, if you heard it.
• Komitas: Right in front of the Komitas Yerevan Conservatory you will find the Komitas’ Park and in the middle is his statue. Komitas was a priest, composer and singer. He has composed so many pieces that have shaped Armenian culture. Komitas lived and survived the Armenian Genocide but suffered tremendously in the years following The Genocide with psychiatric problems.
• William Saroyan, who perhaps needs no introduction to the American public was also Armenian. A novelist and short story writer. He is the author of The Time of Your Life, My Name is Aram and My Heart’s in the Highlands. His statue looked very realistic to me.
• Sayat Nova was Armenian poet and musician. His monument isn’t marked on google maps, it is right across from William Saroyan’s. The movie The Color of Pomegranates depicts the life of Sayat Nova. The Movie is highly regarded in the industry and was restored by Martin Scorsese’s production company Film Foundation in 2014. It is available for free on YouTube.
• Alexander Tamanian is the architect and urban designer of the city of Yerevan. His statue is right beneath the Cascade Complex.
• David of Sassoun/ Sassountzi Tavit: While this statue is in a completely different neighborhood, I wanted to make sure you save it on your map. You don’t have to make a trip just to see this statue, you can knock it off your list when you take the train to Gyumri. It is right in front of the train station. David of Sassoun is a legendary hero who defended Armenia against attackers. The monument is out of this world, a beautiful site to see as you go in and out of the train station. His sword happens to be pointing in Turkey’s direction (west), creating unnecessary controversy at the time of unveiling. Photo is that of the blog post.

Starting at top left clockwise: Statues of William Saroyan, Aram Khatchaturian, Alexander Tamanian, and Komitas.

 

#4 CASCADE COMPLEX

The Cascade Complex is an easily recognizable landmark with a series of stairs, landscaped gardens, fountains and sculptures. Right in front of the Cascade is the Alexander Tamanian Park with many pieces of art. The park itself is lovely to sit and spend time in. As you hike up the cascade, with each set of stairs you will come across an open-air art collection and water fountains. It is so beautiful. You can see the gorgeous views of Yerevan. At the very top, the view gets even better. But as you walk away from the cascade into the city streets, you will see the residence of the late Charles Aznavour, Armenian-French singer, where I am told his son stays at during his visits. You can also enter the cascade through the Cafesjian Center for the Arts and take the escalator up, in case you don’t want to hike up the stairs. There is a gift store at the lobby, which is great for gifts and souvenirs.

The view of Yerevan from the top of the Cascade Complex.

 

#5 MATENADARAN

Come back towards the cascade and go down the stairs until you are mid-way, you will notice a bridge on your left-hand side. This will take you to Sarmen Street, and then you can easily walk to the Matenadaran. I don’t recommend trying to walk to the Metenadaran from the top of the cascade, which may seem like a great idea when you look at the map, as it is mainly all highways with no sidewalk.
The Matenadaran is an institute and museum for some of the most ancient manuscripts. It showcases many manuscripts from different cultures and the first manuscript of the translated bible into Armenian, in Armenian alphabet that is. Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian Alphabet in 405, which is why his statue is in front of the Matenadaran.

Entrance is 1500 AMD. Tickets are bought on site.

 

#6 MOTHER ARMENIA

If you look at the map, it might seem like it’s within a walkable distance from the Matenadaran. But that is not the case. Mother Armenia is on a hill, and the way up is a highway with no sidewalk. So wherever you are in the city, you can take a taxi, or a bus – as it’s really not that far, I took a bus to test things out. I was in the central part of the city, I think on Teryan Street and stood where the buses regularly stopped and asked the drivers if they would be heading towards Mother Armenia. I did the same on my return, asked them if they would be stopping in the center of Yerevan somewhere. It was easy and very cheap 100-200 AMD each way.
Mother Armenia a gigantic monument that is so beautiful and powerful. The monument itself is 22 meters tall.  It looks even better at night when all the lights are on. A bit of history: during the Soviet Union, in the place of this statue was a monument of Stalin, taken down in 1962 almost a decade after his passing. Six years later, Mother Armenia was placed, designed by sculptur Ara Harutyunyan. It symbolizes, peace through strength (the sword). It is also said to symbolize Armenian Women who were not afraid to stand by their husbands and fight throughout history.

 

#7 MOTHER ARMENIA MUSEUM

This is a museum dedicated to all those who served Armenia during WWII and lost their lives. Although at the moment it is heavily focused on the events in Nagorno Karabakh (if you skipped the history section, you can go back to it for some reference). You will see photos of all those were served and perished during the many attempts to save Nagorno Karabakh throughout history on the first floor. The basement level has photos of those who served in the military in general, as well as personal belongings of more prominent heroes. The museum makes a personal effort to reach out to families to collect a few personal belongings to honor them in this museum, it’s quite touching. Entrance is free, you can make a donation inside if you wish.

 

#8 HISTORY MUSEUM OF ARMENIA

This museum is situated right at the Republic Square. It features some of the oldest items such as bronze objects, and jewelry from the Stone Age. They have a dedicated a floor to exhibit rugs from different historical periods, which was quite interesting. The second floor was under renovation when I visited, I believe renovations are to complete by mid-summer 2024.

Entrance is 2500 AMD, tickets are purchased on site.

 

#9 VEGETABLES AND FRUITS MARKET

The Vegetables and Fruits Market is on Movses Khorenatsi Street. Not too far from center city Yerevan, I paid about 800 AMD for a taxi ride. It’s a great place to stop by and buy some local produce. Fruits and vegetables taste so good in Armenia, even the most basic things you buy are so aromatic. Depending on the season, mulberries, sour plums, apricots and plums would be great to try. You must try the Gata here. This is a typical Armenian pastry that can be filled with a variety of things including nuts, most commonly sugar. It is so unique in its flavor and shape; you must try it here as this one stood out to me. The booth is dedicated to Gata (no produce is sold there), it was on my left hand side when I went in. It was 300 AMD.

Gata in the Market.

 

#10 VERNISSAGE

This is not too far from the Vegetables and Fruits Market, I walked from there. Vernissage used to be primarily a market for second-hand jewelry and goods. That is not so much the case over the past several years now. It is very heavy on souvenirs, and you will see less second-hand items. Nevertheless, it has its charm. There are some great artists who sell their paintings here. Make sure to stop by this gentleman’s booth halfway into the market, after you pass the café, his last name is Samuelian (I hope I remember that correctly).

 

#11 OTHER PLACES TO VISIT

The Modern Art Museum, NOY Factory and Megerian Carpet Factory were all places I wanted to go. The NOY Factory gives a tour of the factory and has a brandy tasting at the end, so I’ve heard. At the Megerian Carpet Factory, you can sign up for a tour of the factory and see how they wove the carpets and rugs by hand.

 

III. THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE OF YEREVAN

There are many places to see outside of Yerevan. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, rather just the places that you probably need to prioritize.

 

#1 MOUNT ARARAT

Mount Ararat, objectively, is a snow capped and twin-peaked mountain. It is where Noah’s arch landed after the flood. Historically, it was part of Armenian territory, much like all of Western Armenia which is currently part of Turkey, as part of the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide. Mount Ararat has great significance to the Armenian people and it is often referred to as the symbol of the nation. Armenians and Armenian expats often love to find a good view of Mount Ararat. You can spot it well from Khor Virap (mentioned below) as it is very close to the Turkish border; Charents’ Arch and the Armenian Genocide Memorial and many other places in the city (but these come to mind).

Mount Ararat seen from the Armenian Genocide Memorial.

 

#2 GYUMRI

You must go to Gyumri! I loved it so much I decided to make a separate blog post on Gyumri. Plus, there was so much to do and see that I couldn’t add more to this extensive post. Here is the link – make sure to come back for the rest of this blog post:)

 

#3 GARNI & GEGHART

I made a single trip out of Garni, Geghart, Sevan Lake and Sevanavank. I used Hyur Service to book a private trip to take me to these places plus an initial stop at Charents’ Arch where you can see Mount Ararat, if you’re lucky and the sky is clear. The trip cost me $103.99 (all tickets included) and it was so great that I could take this trip. I was not going to leave Armenia without seeing these historical landmarks and taking a cab in between was going to be too stressful. My driver spoke English and I felt so safe the entire time, this is obviously very important especially if you’re a single woman. You can get a guide to join you on your trip, which will cost you more. But I don’t think you need one. You pay a downpayment at first to reserve your trip, and then pay the rest. I was able to chat with staff over WhatsApp and have my questions answered within seconds. I highly recommend this company, and no this isn’t sponsored.

Charents’ Arch

 

GARNI

Garni is a temple that was built in 77 AD during the pre-Christian era in Armenia. It is the only pagan structure that was kept as all pagan places of worship were destroyed when Armenia chose Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. It collapsed in an earthquake in 1679, and was rebuilt between 1969 and 1975. It is so magnificent and truly feels like a piece of history. Garni is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area around the temple is very beautiful, you’re going to want to spend some time here. On your way in and out, there are many booths set up where you can grab a bite to eat.

Entrance was included in my fee, but if you had to purchase a ticket it’s 1500 AMD.

 

GEGHART

This is probably my favorite stop and the most magical location. I visited on a rainy day (unfortunately). Geghart is a Medieval monastery carved within the mountain itself, built in 4^th century AD. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is very easy to hike up and walk around. There is a bathroom for 100 AMD if you need to use one. There are many shops at the entrance or on your way out, mostly selling souvenirs and Gata. The Gata sold here is large, think cake size. This is another way of making Gata, and it was delicious.

 

#4 LAKE SEVAN AND SEVANAVANK

For transportation details refer to Garni & Geghart section, in case you skipped it.
Within the town of Sevan, there are a few stops to make. Sevanavank, which are two churches, quite similar to each other in appearance, built in 874 AD, together they form the Sevanavank Monastery. There is a special dress code to enter the churches, the rules are posted outside the churches. They are both very beautiful to visit, the view of the churches with the background and water is unreal.

Lake Sevan is a beautiful lake to see and walk around. I hope you visit on a beautiful day and experience the blue water and the blue skies. For a landlocked nation, this lake serves as a beach in the summer. Historically, Stalin drained this lake by 40% to use the water for irrigation. The water level rose and leveled around 2017. This is on a high-altitude location at 6234 ft above sea level. Sevan trout is an endemic species of the lake, but endangered at the moment due to other competitors in the lake (so I was told). Because of that, the price of the trout is quite high at restaurants around Lake Sevan.

Don’t forget to stop by Semoyi Mot/ Collette Restaurant, a beautifully decorated space with views of Lake Sevan. The food was unexpectedly really good and very affordable. I would really recommend it over any tourist trap. Many of the tour companies have relationships with restaurants, and will make a recommendation. After I returned to the city, I was told that this is one of the finest restaurants to eat at Lake Sevan. So don’t just take my word for it.

 

#5 THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL & MUSEUM

You can walk to this location, you can also take a taxi, which cost me 900 AMD.
Tzitzernagapert is the official Armenian Genocide Memorial to commemorate the loss of 1.5 million Armenians. Hard to describe a place that makes you profoundly sad, for an unrecognized Genocide as we live in the 21^st century. It is also so beautiful, clean and serene with background music playing from Gomitas. The monument itself with the eternal flame is so properly constructed, the architecture really translates emotionally, it is so powerful. The walk towards the monument is surrounded by the names of the towns that bore witness to the Genocide and are currently occupied territory, part of Turkey. Many diaspora Armenians take photos of their ancestors’ town names here.

The views are unreal including that of Mount Ararat, which I finally got to see. If you happen to be in Yerevan in April, and hopefully around the 24^th, you can witness the commemoration of the Genocide as Armenians come to drop flowers around the eternal flame and pay their respects.

You’ve come this far, do not skip the Museum. The Armenian Genocide Museum is so well constructed and put together, it is very educational with translations in multiple languages. Entrance is free. The goal is to get as many people educated about the Armenian Genocide as possible. It isn’t something that is taught in schools, also Turkey is a great alley to the US, so it is often used as a political tool. There are many personal stories about Armenians during this tragic time, that the museum showcases. I was in awe during my visit. This is not to be missed. If you know nothing about the Armenian Genocide, this is the place to learn.

 

#6 ETCHMYADZIN

I took a taxi to Ethmyadzin from the Armenian Genocide Memorial, I paid around 5000 AMD and around 3300 AMD on my way back to my hotel.

This is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church; it is also the world’s oldest cathedral on earth. It was built between 301 and 303 over a Pagan temple, by Armenia’s patron saint Gregory the Illuminator, after Armenia adopted Christianity as a state religion. The cathedral is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The cathedral is undergoing renovation until September 22^nd 2024, I was told during my visit. This information is not reflected on google maps. So if it is important for you to enter the cathedral, you might want to visit another time. I would still visit and check out the architecture and the area surrounding the cathedral.

 

#7 KHOR VIRAP

I had been to Khor Virap on another trip, so I skipped it. But you can take a taxi from Yerevan.

This is located south west to Yerevan and only 330 ft away from the Turkish-Armenian border.

Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor Lusavorich) was imprisoned here for 13 years until he was saved. King Tiridates III of Armenia, a follower of Pagan religion wasn’t impressed with Grigor Lusavorich preaching the Christian religion, he put him in the pit, that is Khor Virap, with the intention that he would starve to death and die. Grigor Lusavorich was apparently offered a loaf of bread by a woman who visited him everyday. He was saved by the King’s sister when he appeared in her dreams as a savior, at a time when her brother, the King had gotten mad. Now you know the story. The pit is underneath the St Gevorg Chapel. There is a metal ladder to climb down, it is quite humid down there and can be triggering if you’re claustrophobic. But overall millions of people visit this place as part of a pilgrimage every year.

 

#8 GORIS

I skipped Goris due to the tensions at the border with Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabagh was just taken by Azerbaijan when I visited, and the next request was Goris and part of the South in an attempt for Azerbaijan to share borders with Turkey without Armenian intrusion.
My plan was to stay at Red Rood Guesthouse and spend some time in Goris. Then head to Wings of Tatev (mountain cable car), get off Tatev, discover the city and visit the Tatev Monastery. Maybe next time!

 

IV. SOME THING TO DRINK & SOMETHING TO EAT

WHERE TO HAVE COFFEE

Of course, options are endless, there are two Paul Cafés in the central part of Yerevan. I went to both but I found myself enjoying Coffee at Caffé Vergnano more than anywhere else. Prices for good coffee are between 1500-1800 AMD. Cappuccino cost me 1800 AMD.

 

GROCERY SHOPPING

If you need to visit a supermarket to buy goods or check out some local items, head to the Yerevan City Supermarket next to Zeituna Restaurant, it is an underground location, you can spot the escalators easily.

 

WHERE TO EAT

#1 ZEITUNA

The menu is focused on Syrian-Armenian cuisines, which may sound quite distinct or particular. But think about the Armenian diaspora that has returned back to their homeland. They grew up eating Armenian and Syrian food, and there you go. This was by far the cleanest and the best food I had in Yerevan. Service was outstanding, it was fun to sit both outside and inside. Prices are very affordable. I had several meals here during my visit. They are also well known for their brunches.

 

#2 MAYRIG

This is the second restaurant for Mayrig, the first is in Lebanon. As you might have guessed the cuisine here is Lebanese Armenian. Food was great, prices a little higher than the usual restaurants in Yerevan, but still very affordable. Very few restaurants put the time and effort to serve as Mayrig does. I have an Instagram reel on how they served Manté here. It’s an experience, it is also a different way of making Manté as a red sauce is used.

 

#3 DERIAN

This is a Middle Eastern restaurant facing Vernissage. So mark your map and try to hit this spot when you visit the market. The food is so fresh and everything comes to the table nicely presented in beautiful dishes. Service is outstanding and the prices are very affordable.

 

#4 ANTEB

Anteb is a Western Armenian restaurant. I saw an old couple making Manté on one of the tables in the restaurant, it was adorable. The food was really good and the prices were probably the most affordable amongst the restaurants I visited in Yerevan. Service was just as good.

 

#5 TAVERN YEREVAN

Is an Armenian restaurant with Russian influence and some international dishes. Everything was top-notch, fresh and the service was outstanding. They are well known for their pelmeni and eggplant rolls.

 

#6 LAVASH

This is more of an Eastern Armenian restaurant with Russian influence in the menu. Their red meat bbq (tikka), was unmatched. They are also known for their pelmeni style dumplings, if that’s your jam. Prices were very affordable.

Another very similar place to Lavash is Sherep Restaurant. If the menu speaks to you, you can try that place too.

 

#7 CAFÉ ROBERTO

If you’re looking to switch things up a bit, I’ve had friends (that I trust) tell me that this restaurant is really good. I wasn’t sick of eating at Armenian restaurants, so I didn’t get to try this place out.

 

This blog post is all about the top things to do in Armenia and what to see, eat and do while you’re visiting.

 

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this content interested you, you might want to follow my Instagram account @girlontheues

 

See you next week,

Girl on the Upper East Side

Xx

 

If this topic interested you. You might want to read my itineraries for Prague, Paris, French Riviera, London and Ottawa. I also share with you my ultimate packing list and how to pack light.