Yerevan — 3-Day Guide | ThreeDayGuides

One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities (founded 782 BCE as Erebuni fortress by the Urartu king Argishti I — older than Rome) and the "Pink City" (built in rose-coloured volcanic tuff) where the Armenian Genocide Memorial (Tsitsernakaberd, 1967: the eternal flame and 12 basalt slabs for 1.5 million dead) and the Matenadaran (23,000 manuscripts including the 405 CE Armenian alphabet creation by Mesrop Mashtots, the most precisely dated alphabet creation in history) stand 3 km apart, and where Mount Ararat — the snow-capped national symbol visible across the Ararat plain from 120 days per year — is in Turkey since the 1921 Treaty of Kars.

Also explore Yerevan for:

📋 General guide ⭐ Highlights

The Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Where the Eternal Flame Burns in the Circle of 12 Basalt Slabs (One for Each of the 12 Armenian Provinces Devastated in 1915) for the 1.5 Million Armenians Killed by the Ottoman Government — and Turkey Officially Denies the Genocide Designation as of 2024

The Matenadaran's 23,000 Armenian Manuscripts Including the "Book of Lamentations" (Grigor Narekatsi, 1002 CE — Declared a Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope Francis in 2015, the First Non-European Doctor in 500 Years) and the History Museum's Areni-1 Shoe (3,500 BCE Cowhide, Oldest Leather Shoe in the World, Found in the Same Cave as the Oldest Known Winery)

Geghard Monastery (UNESCO 2000) Where the Rock-Carved Cave Chambers (1225-1283) Were Cut from the Basalt Cliff Face of the Azat Gorge with the Muqarnas Stalactite Vaulting (Adopted from Islamic Architecture by Armenian Builders Working for Both Armenian Princes and Seljuk Turkish Lords) and the Holy Lance That Pierced Christ's Side Was Kept for Centuries

📋 General 3-day guide ⭐ Highlights

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Language	Armenian (Հայerën — the Armenian language (an Indo-European language forming its own branch of the family, not grouped with any other language); written in the Armenian alphabet (created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 CE — one of the most precisely dated alphabet creations in history); English is widely spoken by the younger generation (under 40) in Yerevan (the high level of English proficiency reflects the Armenian diaspora connections and the significant US- and French-educated Armenian community in the city); Russian is widely understood by the older generation (the Soviet legacy); French is understood by the significant Francophone Armenian diaspora community (the French Armenian community is the most established Western diaspora outside of the US); key Armenian: "Barev dzez" (Բarbecue dzez — hello); "Shnorhakalutyun" (Շনnairakalutyun — thank you)
Currency	Armenian Dram (AMD; €1 = approximately AMD 385); Yerevan costs: Republic Square dancing fountains free; Cascade free (Cafesjian Museum AMD 1,000 (€2.60)); Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial free; Matenadaran AMD 1,500 (€3.90); History Museum AMD 1,200 (€3.12); Mother Armenia / Victory Park free; Garni Temple AMD 1,500 (€3.90); Geghard Monastery AMD 1,000 (€2.60); Lake Sevan AMD 500 (€1.30) + transport; brandy tasting at Ararat factory AMD 3,000-8,000 (€7.80-20.80); dinner AMD 3,000-8,000 (€7.80-20.80); budget hostel AMD 7,000-15,000 (€18-39)/night; mid-range hotel AMD 25,000-60,000 (€65-156)/night; Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in hotels and restaurants; ATMs everywhere
Transport	Zvartnots International Airport (EVN — 12 km west of central Yerevan; Metro (Line 1, Sassuntsi David station + taxi: total 30-40 min, AMD 700 (€1.82)); taxi from airport AMD 3,000-5,000 (€7.80-13); Yandex Go or GG taxi apps; international routes: from Moscow (2h20; multiple daily; Aeroflot, Armenia, S7); from Dubai (3h; Flydubai); from Paris (4h30; Air France, Air Armenia); from Vienna (4h; Austrian Airlines); from Amsterdam (5h; KLM); from Frankfurt (4h; Lufthansa); within Yerevan (the Yerevan Metro (2 lines; AMD 100 (€0.26) per journey; the most useful Metro stations for tourists: Republic Square (Line 1), Yeritasardakan (for the Cascade and Opera House)); taxi (Yandex Go or GG: AMD 800-2,000 (€2.08-5.20) for most city journeys); the Garni-Geghard trip is best done by taxi (AMD 8,000-12,000 (€20.80-31.20) return) or organised tour (AMD 5,000-8,000 (€13-20.80) per person in minibus)
Best time	Apr–Jun (the Yerevan spring — the most beautiful season (the almond blossom in March-April, the apricot blossom in April-May (the apricot is the Armenian national fruit — the word "apricot" derives from the Armenian "tsiran" via the Latin "malum armeniacum" ("Armenian apple"))); the most comfortable temperatures (20-25°C); the clearest Mount Ararat views of the year (the spring atmosphere transparency is the highest before the summer heat haze); the Vardavar water festival (the ancient Armenian festival of water, celebrated 98 days after Easter (July-August): the most joyful street festival in Yerevan — everyone throws water on everyone else)); Sep–Oct (the golden season: the Ararat valley grapes harvesting, the Armenian wine harvest festivals, the most comfortable temperatures (20-25°C), the clear autumn light for photography; the Yerevan International Film Festival (Golden Apricot) in July; the peak tourist season Aug–Sep with warmest temperatures
Getting in	By plane (Zvartnots International Airport (EVN): from Moscow (Aeroflot, Armenia, S7; 2h20); from Dubai (Flydubai; 3h); from Paris (Air France; 4h30); from Vienna (Austrian Airlines; 4h); from Amsterdam (KLM; 5h); from Frankfurt (Lufthansa; 4h); from London Heathrow (British Airways; 5h); from Kyiv (Ukraine International; 2h); from Tbilisi, Georgia (40 min — the fastest international route from Yerevan)); by land (from Tbilisi, Georgia (272 km; 5-6h by minibus or taxi via the Georgian-Armenian Bagratashen-Sadakhlo border crossing): the most popular overland route; from Iran (Norduz-Agarak border crossing; from Tabriz 400 km; 6-7h))
Tipping	10% at restaurants (the Armenian restaurant tipping norm (10% for standard service; 15% for excellent service; the Yerevan restaurant scene has fully adopted the Western European tipping norm — in the 2010s the Yerevan hospitality industry explicitly trained staff to expect tips); the khorovats restaurants (the outdoor terrace restaurants with the wood-fire barbecue): 10% of the bill; the taxi drivers (Yandex Go or GG): round up to the nearest AMD 500 or add 10% in the app; the Matenadaran guides (English-speaking guided tour available (AMD 3,000 (€7.80) per group): AMD 1,000-2,000 (€2.60-5.20) tip for a 90-minute tour; the Garni-Geghard taxi driver who waits during the site visits: AMD 1,000-2,000 (€2.60-5.20) gratuity for a full day of waiting
Budget tips	Republic Square (dancing fountains) free; Cascade stairway free (Cafesjian Museum AMD 1,000 (€2.60)); Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial free; Vernissage market free; Matenadaran AMD 1,500 (€3.90); History Museum AMD 1,200 (€3.12); Mother Armenia / Victory Park free; Victory Park Ararat view free; all walking in central Yerevan free; Garni Temple AMD 1,500 (€3.90); Geghard Monastery AMD 1,000 (€2.60); Sevanavank Monastery AMD 500 (€1.30); Metro AMD 100 (€0.26)/journey; lavash bread AMD 150-300 (€0.39-0.78); lahmacun (the thin Armenian pizza with minced meat) AMD 300-600 (€0.78-1.56) — the cheapest filling meal in Yerevan; hostel bed AMD 7,000-15,000 (€18-39)/night