YerevanCapital
Armenia · Country profile
Yerevan is the warm, volcanic-stone capital of Armenia, the historic city of the Ararat valley that spreads its apricot-coloured neoclassical blocks, its grand opera, its museums and its tree-lined boulevards across the plain at the foot of the great mountain of the Biblical legend, whose snow-crowned summit the city faces with the symbol of the nation. One of the oldest cities of the Caucasus, founded as a fortress on the ancient trade route nearly three millennia ago, it is a city of the profound history and the modern design, its pink and gold Tufa stone buildings, its cascades and its memorial parks, its churches and its museums staging the long, rich story of the Armenian people. The cascade of the city, the genocide memorial and the museum, the great markets of the town, the opera and the historic churches anchor the essential visits, while the ancient temples, the monasteries and the vineyards of the surrounding valley fill the days beyond the capital. Golden, dignified and endlessly monumental, Yerevan is the proud heart of the Armenian highland.
About Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia. The city's documented population is around 1,090,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Armenian Dram (AMD) and Armenian is spoken; the dialling code is +374. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Zvartnots International Airport.
The Cascade of the Steps and the Galleries of the Art
Yerevan is a walkable, stone-elegant capital where the essential circuit moves between the great cascade of the hill, the opera and the central boulevards, with the markets, the churches and the memorials distributing the layered days. The cascade with its musical gallery and its starry viewpoints, the national gallery and the opera of the centre, the enormous market and the souvenir district of the old quarter and the churches of the town anchor the essential visits, while the genocide memorial on its hill, with its museum and its eternal flame, frames the profound national story. The temple of the ancient sun god, the monasteries and the wine cellars of the surrounding valley, and the ruins of the volcanic mountain of the region fill the day trips beyond the town, and the whole capital runs the dignified, cafe-rich rhythm of the old highland city.
The Memorial of the Genocide and the Flame of the Eternal
The climate of the city is the crisp continental of the high valley, with the hot, dry summers, the cold, snowy winters, the long, golden spring and the monumental autumn light of the Ararat, with the giant snow pyramid of the mountain visible through the clear air of the year. The dram is the currency, with the Armenian the language of the city, the Russian widely spoken and the English growing among the young. The centre, the cascade and the memorials make the core visits, and the temples, the monasteries and the wine country of the valley lie within an easy drive of the capital. Layered clothing for the seasons and comfortable walking shoes for the long boulevards complete the preparation for the golden capital.
The Opera of the Town and the Peak of the Ararat
The cascade of the capital, the extraordinary stepped monument of the limestone and the glass that climbs the hillside behind the opera, with its cascading fountains, its modern sculptures and its escalators through the galleries of the art, is the great architectural landmark of modern Yerevan, its summit terrace giving the iconic panorama of the city and the enormous snow pyramid of the great biblical mountain of the Ararat that dominates the horizon of the valley. The memorial of the genocide, the sombre monument of the twin towers and the eternal flame that rises on its hill above the city, with its museum of the terrible story of the nation, is the sacred commemorative heart of the capital, while the opera house of the city, the great neoclassical horseshoe of the opera and the ballet, anchors the cultural life of the town. The churches of the city, from the oldest church of the union of the early centuries to the cathedral of the Great, the vast covered market of the town with its merchants and its dried fruits, and the ancient temple of the fire and the monasteries of the surrounding valley, complete the essential, golden, deeply monumental circuit of the Armenian capital.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Armenia
- Population
- 1,090,000
- Coordinates
- 40.1473, 44.3959
- Capital
- Yerevan
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Armenian Dram (AMD)
- Languages
- Armenian
- Calling code
- +374
- Country code
- AM
Entry requirements for Armenia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Armenia for tourism.
Getting to Yerevan
Airports we list for Yerevan:
Frequently asked questions
Is Yerevan the capital of Armenia?
Yes — Yerevan is the capital of Armenia.
What currency do I need in Yerevan?
The local currency is the Armenian Dram (AMD). Languages spoken in Armenia include Armenian.
What is the dialling code for Armenia?
The international dialling code for Armenia is +374.
Which airport should I fly into for Yerevan?
Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) is the airport we list for Yerevan.
Do I need a visa to visit Armenia?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore currently enter Armenia visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Yerevan? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.