It is nearly impossible to visit Armenia without spending some time in the capital city, Yerevan. Famous for its spectacular mountain backdrop and rich, storied history, Yerevan is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travellers looking to expand their horizons beyond the usual tourist trail in Western Europe.
Whilst one day is enough to see Yerevan’s main sights, we recommend staying for at least three or four days. With dozens of museums, hundreds of bars and countless surprises, Yerevan is a city that is worth your time. Here are our suggestions for 10 of the best things to do in Yerevan, the buzzing capital of Armenia.
1: Walk up the steps of the Yerevan Cascade
Best for: Amazing views over Mount Ararat.
No visit to Yerevan is complete without making the pilgrimage up the long, steep steps of the Yerevan Cascade complex. A favourite among early risers and sunset lovers, the epic Soviet-era stairway comprises a sweat-inducing 572 steps that stretch nearly 1000ft into the city’s Monument district.
A pilgrimage up the cascade steps offers the best views of Mount Ararat and an unforgettable atmosphere. Grab a coffee and join the locals as you soak in the spectacle.
Top tip: There is an interesting museum inside the complex. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is open from 8am to 8pm. The museum features an escalator – a great shortcut if you want to avoid walking all the way up.
2: Hit some of Yerevan’s excellent shops
Best for: Grabbing yourself a bargain
Whilst Yerevan may not have the same pull as the shopping meccas of Paris or New York, Armenia’s capital still has plenty to offer anyone looking for some retail therapy.
From Burberry to Ralph Lauren, there are enough high-end stores to ensure that discerning shoppers will not leave Yerevan empty-handed. The city’s main shopping boulevard is Northern Avenue. This is a pedestrian boulevard where popular retail stores stand side-by-side with busy cafes and a plethora of street performers vying for your attention.
3: Visit one of Yerevan’s fascinating museums
Best for: Bringing Armenia’s storied history to life
Whether you are looking to swot up on your Armenian alphabet at the Museum of Manuscripts or explore Armenian art at the National Gallery, Yerevan is packed full of enough museums to keep you going for days.
The most hard-hitting museum in Yerevan is located in the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex. Set on a hill overlooking the city, the memorial is dedicated to the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Entrance to this important site is free, with guided tours available for 5000 AMD.
4: Enjoy some traditional Armenian food
Best for: A taste of authentic Armenia
Armenian food is some of the best around, and Yerevan is packed to the brim with eateries bringing this ancient cuisine to life. Traditional Armenian food ranges from grilled lamb bursting with flavour to classic Caucasus-style dumplings like manti.
Perhaps Armenia’s most famous culinary export is its national bread, lavash. Officially recognised by UNESCO, lavash is a delicately thin bread whose complex preparation belies its humble appearance. The eponymous restaurant on Tumanyan Street is a favourite among both locals and tourists alike. It even features an open bakery room where you can watch a small team of artisans prepare the bread.
5: Take a day trip to one of Armenia’s incredible historical sites
Best for: Embracing ancient history and spectacular scenery
If you have made the effort to visit Yerevan, you cannot leave without exploring some of Armenia’s best historical sites.
You do not have to travel far. Just a stone’s throw from Yerevan is Zvarnots Cathedral, which dates back to the seventh century and stands proud against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Ararat. A little further is Etchmiadzin, the cradle of the ancient Armenian church and the world’s first Christian cathedral. Consecrated in 303 AD, it stands today as one of Armenia’s most important cultural sites.
Other fantastic day trips from Yerevan include Khor Virap monastery and the mysterious pagan temple at Garni.
6: Sample the nightlife at one of Yerevan’s buzzing bars
Best for: Making the most of your evenings in Armenia
Yerevan is a city that comes to life at night, particularly during the warm summer months when nighttime temperatures rarely drop below 15 degrees Celcius.
Head to Freedom Square, where dozens of outdoor bars will be packed to the rafters with groups of friends enjoying an evening drink. Soak in the atmosphere as a cacophony of music blares out, whilst families wander down the wide streets, pausing briefly to stock up on ice cream, popcorn or street food.
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7: Stroll through Yerevan’s parks
Best for: Green space and epic views
Yerevan has no shortage of parks to explore. The Circular Park is an almost continuous ring of green space that hugs the city centre, ensuring that Yerevan is a supremely walkable city. A complete circumnavigation of the park will see you cover the best of Yerevan, with plenty of rest stops and points of interest along the way.
For those looking to combine a leisurely stroll with a view of Yerevan, Victory Park is the perfect choice. From the impressive Mother Armenia monument to a family-favourite theme park, this area is buzzing with activity from dawn to dusk.
8: Take a tour of the Ararat brandy museum
Best for: Tasting a world-class spirit
Famously the favoured drink of Winston Churchill – often referred to as Britain’s greatest Prime Minister – Ararat Brandy has a pedigree stretching back to 1887. It didn’t take long for the world to recognise its quality.
Such was the brandy’s success, it was even granted special dispensation to market itself as cognac. Typically, “cognac” only refers to brandy produced in the French regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime. For over forty years, Ararat brandy was sold throughout the Soviet Union as a cognac, and many people still refer to it as such today.
Whilst this is not a distillery tour, the museum offers a fascinating insight into one of Armenia’s most famous exports.
Read next: A day trip to Lake Sevan, Armenia’s beautiful waterfront destination
9: Explore Yerevan’s metro system
Best for: A nostalgic way to discover Yerevan
It is an undeniable fact that the Soviets knew how to build a metro system. Whilst Yerevan’s underground stations do not compete with the grandeur of those found in Moscow, St Petersburg or Tashkent, a trip on the metro is nonetheless an experience worth having whilst visiting Yerevan.
If you set a goal to visit 5 or 10 stations, it’s a great way to tour Yerevan while having some fun. A single ticket, or token, on Yerevan’s metro costs 100 AMD (0.2 GBP / 0.25 USD). You will need to buy a new token each time you leave a station. Otherwise, you can ride the metro for as long as you like.
10: Bag a souvenir at Vernissage Market
Best for: Picking up gifts for friends and family
Vernissage Market is often touted as an authentic flea market, with all manner of weird and wonderful curiosities. This is, frankly, no longer the case. These days, Vernissage is primarily filled with souvenir stalls aimed squarely at the myriad of tourists who stream through the market each day.
However, it is still worth a visit. With a little time and curiosity, you can still secure a bargain. You might just need to wade through a few plastic flags and novelty t-shirts before you strike gold…
