Armenia
Asia · Yerevan · AM
Landlocked Armenia sits in the mountains of the South Caucasus, a small nation crossed by deep gorges, high passes and the great valleys that gave it its name, with the snows of Mount Ararat standing just beyond its western border. Yerevan, the rose-stone capital, runs on cafes, fountains and a warm evening culture around the Republic Square, where the singing fountains and the stone facades hold the city's calm heart. The medieval monasteries carry the country's soul, Geghard carved straight into the cliffs, Khor Virap with its long view of Ararat, and Haghpat and Sanahin rising from the meadows of the north. The churches, the brandy cellars, the chess tables and the folk song give the place its identity, while the roads to Lake Sevan and the forested highlands hold the walking and the mountain life. Armenia is small, dramatic, devout and wonderfully welcoming.
Overview
Armenia is a country in Asia. Its capital is Yerevan and the international dialling code is +374. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Armenian. Local currency is the Armenian Dram (AMD). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Zvartnots International Airport. We also list 1 city in Armenia: Yerevan.
The Rose-Stone Cafes and the Evenings of the Republic Square
Yerevan is a capital built from the warm rose and cream stone of the local tuff, and its heart is the grand Republic Square, ringed by the singing fountains, the History Museum and the stone facades of the state buildings. In the evening the square fills with families, couples and chess players, and the fountains dance to music while the light lingers long over the city. The surrounding streets run with cafes, brandy houses and the walkers of the northern avenue, and the whole place keeps a pace that feels relaxed for a capital. The Cascade, the giant staircase of terraces and fountains that climbs the hillside, gives the best views over the rooftops to the great mountain of the horizon. Yerevan is a city to wander, to sit and to listen, and its evenings are among the most social in the Caucasus.
Khor Virap, Geghard and the Monasteries of the Cliffs
The monasteries of Armenia are its most powerful sights, carved into improbable rock and set in valleys of stone and grass. Khor Virap stands on a low hill above the plain, its chapel famous for the sweeping view of Mount Ararat rising across the border, and the climb down into the dark pit where the first saint was held is part of the pilgrimage. Geghard, a little deeper in the mountains, is cut directly into the living cliff, with its main hall and its carved stone droning with the chant of the visitors. The road between the two runs past stone crosses, the khatchkars carved with the ancient knots, and the grazing land of the high valleys. Each monastery keeps its own quiet, its own incense and its own long view of the Armenian plateau.
Lake Sevan and the High Passes of the Dilijan Road
Lake Sevan, the great blue lake of the high plateau, spreads more than a thousand square kilometres at the altitude of the mountains, ringed by bare hills and the cool air of the altitude. The peninsula at its northern shore carries the old monasteries of Sevanavank, their churches perched above the water, and the beaches and the picnic grounds fill with families in the summer months. The road north to the spa town of Dilijan climbs through forested passes that offer some of the greenest driving in the country. In the town the workshops of the timber carvers and the painters keep the crafts of the hill towns alive, and the trails of the surrounding national park run under the beeches, the pines and the watch of the birds of prey. The lake, the forest and the quiet passes make a perfect day out of the capital.
The Vernissage and the Craft of the Carpet Makers
The Vernissage market of Yerevan is the open-air craft fair of the capital, a long stretch of stalls under the trees where the folk art of the whole country gathers. The carpets and the kilims hang in layered walls, woven with the swirling medallions and the reds and the greens of the traditional patterns, and the woodcarvers sell the chess sets, the flutes and the carved horns that decorate the tables of the old houses. The market also carries the Soviet-era enamel and the lamps, the leather, the jewellery and the paintings of the local artists who line the pavements with their easels. Haggling is gentle and the conversation is part of the trade. It is the best place in the country to see how much craft and patience still run through Armenian life.
Stuffed Grape Leaves, Lavash and the Table of the Caucasus
The Armenian table is one of the great feasts of the Caucasus, and the meal is built around the flat, blistered lavash bread that bakes in a clay tomb on the walls of the village ovens. The spread comes in waves: stuffed vine leaves, roasted vegetables, the herby cheese and the herbs, the grilled meats and the skewers of the open fire, and the dolma of the grape leaves and the peppers. The wines of the valley and the brandy of the cellars join the table, and the toasts of the host, the health and the friendship of the guests, are part of the ritual. Every region brings its own bread, its own cheese and its own style of the feast. Eating in an Armenian home is an education in the generosity of the country.
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- Capital
- Yerevan
- Currency
- Armenian Dram (AMD)
- Languages
- Armenian
- Calling code
- +374
- Internet TLD
- am
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Armenia.
Which nationalities can enter Armenia?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Armenia?
For the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore currently enter Armenia visa-free for tourism, and 3 more origins are visa-free too. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Armenia?
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Armenia?
You pay with Armenian Dram (AMD) in Armenia. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Armenia?
The languages we list for Armenia are Armenian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Armenia?
The dialling code for Armenia is +374 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Armenia?
Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) in Yerevan is the airport we cover for Armenia.
Which cities in Armenia do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Armenia: Yerevan (capital).