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Armenia has a ton of things to offer. From quaint little villages to long hikes, local markets, and festivals, and so much more. A good 2 weeks are needed to fully enjoy the beauty of the country, but if you’re tight on time, here are some of the best day trips from Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.

Some might say that the best things to see in Armenia are the churches. There is also a ton to do here that is not limited to churches, so get out there and explore it all! To help you figure out how to make the best of your time, we’ve broken down the day trips from Yerevan from the shortest to the longest. Plus, we’ve indicated how you can group these trips together.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers. Cheers!

How to get around in Armenia

Depending on how many people you are, there are many ways to do these day trips from Yerevan. You can either go through different tour companies and opt for private or group tours. 

You can rent a car and drive yourself. You can grab a GG in town, asking the driver for a set cost before leaving. If you like the driver you hire, you can always ask for their number and coordinate the other day trips with them.

You can grab shared taxis or marshrutkas to the villages. We’ve added the details for all the day trips in the article below.

Finally, you can also hitchhike. We were told it’s easy to get around this way in Armenia, so you can always try that if you’re feeling adventurous! Just be warned, most of the time, your ride will offer you a meal and drinks at their place before dropping you off at your final destination! If you’re looking for other ways to get around this small country, make sure you check out our article here.

8 short day trips from Yerevan

Here are the day trips that will only take you 45 minutes to about two hours to get to.

1. A beach day trip from Yerevan to Lake Sevan

Lake Sevan is Armenia’s largest body of water, and it is beautiful. Head there in the morning to take full advantage of its beauty. The route should take you about 45 minutes to an hour.

Once there, you can climb up the peninsula and visit Sevanavank, the beautiful church at the top of it. Then, head down to the shore and enjoy a walk on the beach. If you love swimming in cold water, jump on in!

You can either prepare your own BBQ khorovats meal on the beach, check out one of the many restaurants on its shores, or head back on the road and stop by Semoi Mot to have the famous fish there.

How to get to Lake Sevan from Yerevan

Located about 60 km from Yerevan, Lake Sevan is easy to get to from the capital using public transportation. But here is how you can get to Lake Sevan from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: From Yerevan, you can easily rent a car and drive up to Lake Sevan. However, renting a car and getting insurance in Armenia is quite expensive. The drive should take about 45-60 minutes. 
• Take a minibus: From Northern Bus station, you can take one of the marshrutkas that leave every 20 minutes. The ticket costs about 500 AMD ($1 USD). The minibus goes into the town of Sevan, but you can ask the driver to take you to the lake. If he doesn’t, just hire a taxi to take you there, for about $2 USD. 
• Hire a taxi: This is the option we chose as we were 7 people traveling together. It’s also a great option if you want to avoid the hassle of renting a car or taking public transport. It should cost between $10-15 USD for the one-way trip. You can ask the driver to stick around for the day and take you around Lake Sevan and to various viewpoints. He’ll probably ask for closer to $30-40 for that, which is what we paid for 7 people. 
• Hitchhike: Armenia is probably one of the safest places to do this. You can grab one of the options above to get to the Lake, then hitchhike back. Or you can try to hitchhike up to Lake Sevan from Yerevan. The best option is to head a bit out of town, in the general direction of the Lake. 
• Take the train: In the summer months, from mid-June to end of September, there is a train that goes from Yerevan to Lake Sevan. It’s the line to Hrazdan that gets extended. The ride will take considerably longer, at 2h30. Make sure you check out the schedule for details.
• Go with a tour company: If you’re looking for an easy option that packs in a lot (a lot of people, a lot of stops and a lot of info), you can always hire a tour company to take you to Lake Sevan (and a few other attractions along the way). This is a pricey option, ranging between $20-60 per person, depending on what is included.

2. A hiker’s day trip from Yerevan to Dilijan

Dilijan is named the Switzerland of Armenia, and rightfully so. Nestled in the mountains, this city is just beautiful! The trip there should take you 1.5 to 2 hours. If you leave early enough and depending on what you want to do, you can fit Lake Sevan and Dilijan in a day trip.

Dilijan has many beautiful things to do. If you love hiking, you have many routes there, including the TransCaucausus Trail, the Dilijan National Park and many more. There is a beautiful hike that will take you to the quaint Parz Lake.

You can also visit the Tufenkian hotel, where they have recreated a beautiful village with 19th-century architecture. They have even included intricately carved balconies, displaying the region’s historical love for fine woodwork.

For your meal, we recommend Kchuch, a delightful restaurant where you can have an array of wood-oven cooked meals. Everything we had was delicious, but the mushroom pizza/flatbread took the cake for us. For your coffee fix, we recommend Caffeine, a beautiful little micro-roastery.

How to get from Yerevan to Dilijan

Dilijan is about 100 km from Yerevan, and just a little north of Lake Sevan. You can always merge these two day trips together and make them an overnight trip from Yerevan. Here are a few ways you can get to Dilijan from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: From Yerevan, you can easily rent a car and drive up to Dilijan, stopping in Lake Sevan on the way. The drive, without stops, should take about an hour and a half. 
• Take a minibus: From Northern Bus station, you can take one of the marshrutkas that run from 9 am to 6 pm and takes 1h30min. You can either take the express bus to Dilijan, or the bus heading to Ijevan and stopping in Dilijan on the way. The ticket costs about 1,500 AMD ($3 USD). If you can, try to grab the earliest bus so you have ample time to visit Dilijan. 
• Hire a taxi: We chose this option as we were 4 people traveling together, and spending a night in Dilijan. You can ask the driver to stick around for the day and take you around Lake Sevan and other places along the way. This will set you back $40-70 depending on how many stops you make and if you stay overnight or not. If you do stay overnight, you will have to pay for your driver’s accommodations. 
• Hitchhike: Again, this is a very viable option in Armenia.  
• Go with a tour company: As always, there are a ton of tour companies that will take you to Dilijan on a day trip from Yerevan. This option will range between $20-85 per person, depending on what is included, as some are 4-5 hours long vs 12-hour trips

3. A history buff’s day trip to Garni, Geghard, Tsaghgazor

This trip is an awesome one. This day trip is one of our favorites. Garni is about 30 minutes away from Yerevan, Geghard, another 30 from there, and Tsaghgazor is another 30 from there.

Garni is home to an old pagan temple. It was thought to be built in the first century AD, as a temple dedicated to the sun god Mihr. It’s really a unique site in Armenia, not only because of its structure but also because of its beautiful setting at the top of a cliff, surrounded by mountains.

Geghard is one of the most spectacular monasteries in Armenia. It’s a true architectural beauty! The name “Geghard” means “spear”, as it is thought that the spear, which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, was allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, and stored here amongst many other relics. What makes Geghard even more special is the fact that it is partially carved out of the adjacent mountain and its surrounded by cliffs.

Finally, make sure you stop by Tsaghkadzor, a spa town and one of the most popular health resorts in Armenia. You can either indulge in one of the many different spas there or make your way up the mountain on the ski lift. Up there, you have beautiful views of the mountains and valleys. A gorgeous spot!

How to get to Garni from Yerevan

Garni is about 25 km from Yerevan, taking just a little over 30 minutes to get to. Here are a few ways you can get to Garni from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: This may be the best option if you want to go from Garni, to Geghard, to Tsghadzor and back to Yerevan. Just rent your car for the day in Yerevan, and explore freely. 
• Take a minibus: From Masiv Market bus station, you can take one of the marshrutkas that run from 10 am to 8:30 pm and takes 50 minutes to get to Garni. They leave every 30 minutes or so (basically, when they’re full). The ticket costs about 300 AMD ($0.75 USD). Once you get to the town of Garni, you can take a cab to the temple, or you can walk, if you’re up for it.
• Hire a taxi: Again, we chose this option as we were 7 people traveling together. The driver took us to all 3 stops on the same day. This will set you back $30 depending on how many stops you make. 
• Hitchhike: Again, this is a very viable option in Armenia. It’s especially easy to do between Garni and Geghard as most people will merge these two attractions together. 
• Go with a tour company: As always, there are a ton of tour companies that will take you to Garni, Geghard and Tsaghgadzor on a day trip from Yerevan. This option will range between $15-70 per person, depending on what is included, as some are 4-5 hours long vs 12-hour trips and include quite a few more stops (like Lake Sevan).

How to get to Geghard from Garni or Yerevan

Geghard is about 35 km from Yerevan, taking just a little over 45 minutes to get to. Here are a few ways you can get to Geghard from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: As we mentioned, this may be the best option if you want to go from Garni, to Geghard, to Tsghadzor and back to Yerevan. Just rent your car for the day in Yerevan, and explore freely. 
• Take a minibus from Yerevan: From Masiv Market bus station, you can take one of the marshrutkas that are going to Goght. They run from 10 am to 8:30 pm and takes 1 hour to get you to Goght. The ticket costs about 300 AMD ($0.75 USD). Once you get to the town of Goght, you can take a cab to the monastery, or you can walk the 4 km if you’re up for it.
• Hire a taxi: Again, we chose this option as we were 7 people traveling together. The driver took us to all 3 stops on the same day. This will set you back $30 depending on how many stops you make. 
• Hitchhike: Again, this is a very viable option in Armenia. It’s especially easy to do between Garni and Geghard as most people will merge these two attractions together. 
• Go with a tour company: As always, there are a ton of tour companies that will take you to Garni, Geghard and Tsaghgadzor on a day trip from Yerevan. This option will range between $15-70 per person, depending on what is included, as some are 4-5 hours long vs 12-hour trips and include quite a few more stops (like Lake Sevan).

4. An off-the-beaten-path day trip to Letters Monument, Amberd & Byurakan Observatory

This little trip will only take you a few hours, but it’s well worth it. If you can, try doing it later in the afternoon so you can finish at the Observatory to see some stars.

The first stop is the Letters Monument that was built in 2005 when the Armenian alphabet celebrated its 1600th birthday. To commemorate the important date, a gift of 39 giant Armenian letters carved out of stone was erected near the final resting place of Mesrop Mashtots, who created the alphabet.

The Letters Monument is set against the beautiful backdrop of Mt. Aragats, the highest peak in Armenia. This is a fun little stop to make, that shouldn’t take too long. Make sure you find the letters of your name!

Next, make your way to Amberd, the “cloud fortress” or fortress in the clouds. This is a beautiful 7th-century fortress overlooking a gorge on the cliffside of the mountains. There, you will also find the 11th-century Vahramashen Church, and a bathhouse dating between the 10th and 11th centuries.

This whole complex is located on the slopes of Mount Aragats, right where the Arkashen and Amberd rivers run. The setting here is just beautiful, especially in the fall when the leaves start changing colors.

Finally, check out Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (or BAO) on a clear night. The observatory was founded in 1946, and located on the slope of the mountain Aragatz. The BAO focused its studies mainly on the instability phenomena taking place in the Universe. You can contact the Observatory and set up a tour. Entrance is just 1,000 dram (roughly $2USD). But make sure you call before to confirm your tour because it does depend on the weather.

How to get to Amberd from Yerevan

Amberd is about 50 km from Yerevan, taking just a little over 60 minutes to get to. Here are a few ways you can get to all these places from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: To be quite honest, this is probably the best option if you’re tight on time and want to get around freely. 
• Take a minibus: From Kilikia bus station in Yerevan, you can take one of the marshrutkas going to Byurakan. They run from 10:30, 12:40, 3:50, 5:30 and 7:45. They leave Byurakan to head back to Yerevan at 7:30, 9:00 am, 12 pm and 4 pm. From Byurakan, if you want to get to Amberd, you can take a taxi in Ashtarak, or walk to the fortress. There aren’t really any taxis in Byurakan. 
• Hire a taxi: You can choose to take a taxi to all these places. It will cost you about $25.  
• Hitchhike: Again, this is a very viable option in Armenia. It’s especially if you get to one place and want to get to the others. 
• Go with a tour company: As always, there are a ton of tour companies that will take you to these places on a day trip from Yerevan. The cheapest one we found was $20 per person and included stops in Saghmosavank, a beautiful Armenian church by a deep gorge. If none of the tours offered work for you, you can always negotiate with the companies to get exactly what you’re looking for.  

5. Go back in time with a day trip to Khor Virap, Areni Caves and Noravank

Get ready to step back in time on this tour. The furthest point of this trip is about 2.5 hours away from Yerevan, so with long stops, this will be a full day of exploration.

Khor Virap is probably the most famous monastery in Armenia. Not only does it offer beautiful views of Mount Ararat, but it’s also the birthplace of Christianity in Armenia. They say that Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in a pit here for 13 years by King Tiridates III of Armenia.

You can actually visit the pit where he was said to spent these years, surrounded by snakes and rats. He is said to have survived by the grace of God and the help of the king’s sister. When he got out, he became the religious advisor to the king, and in 301, Armenia was the first country in the world to be declared a Christian nation. This is why Khor Virap is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia. This is why Khor Virap is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia.

Next, make your way to Areni, in Vayots Dzor. This region is known for the production of wine, not only today but centuries ago as well. In 2007, the earliest known winery in the world was said to be found at the Areni-1 cave complex. It was estimated to be 6100-years-old. In 2008, the world’s oldest leather shoe was found. Then in 2011, that the discovery of a straw skirt dating to 3,900 years BCE was reported. It’s quite an impressive sight to see.

In the same region, you can go do some wine tastings. We recommend you skip the Areni winery, where the lines are long and the wine is not so great. Instead, head to Momik’s WineCube for some amazing wine in a lovely setting. You can also opt to stop here after you’ve visited all the sites, all depending on what time it is, and how hungry you are… if you’re like us, that’s all the time!

Another awesome monastery to see that’s a few kilometers from the Areni-1 cave is Noravank. This is a 13th-century monastery is known for its two-story Surb Astvatsatsin church. You can climb up to the second level by the narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of the building. Luckily, there is a rope to help you up. The setting of this monastery is gorgeous! It’s in a narrow gorge forged by the Amaghu River. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs. It’s a beautiful place.

How to get to Khor Virap from Yerevan

Khor Virap Monastery is about 40 km from Yerevan, taking just about 40 minutes to get to. Here are a few ways you can get to Khor Virap from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: To be quite honest, this is probably the best option if you’re tight on time and want to get around freely. 
• Take a minibus: From Sansuntsi Davit Bus Station in Yerevan, you can take one of the marshrutkas there. They run at 9 and 11 am, and 2 pm every day. One-way tickets cost $0.80 and the ride is about an hour long. Just let the driver know you’re going to the monastery and they will drop you on the side of the road so you can walk there. If you want to get back to Yerevan, you can grab the bus back, or hitchhike. 
• Hire a taxi: You can choose to take a taxi to all these places, not just Khor Virap. It will cost you about $25.  
• Hitchhike: This is a very popular destination, so hitchhiking here will be quite easy. 
• Go with a tour company: Tour companies will take you to Khor Virap, Areni, and Noravank for about $20 per person. Just know that you will be on a tour bus with many other people, so you won’t be free to explore as you want. But you will get a lot more info than if you go yourself.

How to get to Noravank from Yerevan

Noravank Monastery is about 115 km from Yerevan, taking just about two hours to get to. Here are a few ways you can get to Noravank from Yerevan: 

• Rent a car: Again, this is probably the best option if you’re tight on time and want to get around freely. 
• Take a minibus: From Arshakunyats Bus Station in Yerevan, you can take one of the marshrutkas going to Yeghednadzor. They run 8 am to 7 pm every day. One-way tickets cost $2 and the ride is about two hours long. Just let the driver know you’re going to the monastery and they will drop you on the side of the road so you can walk the 6km there. Or, you can grab a cab or hitchhike. If you want to get back to Yerevan, you can grab the bus back, or hitchhike again. 
• Hire a taxi: You can choose to take a taxi to all these places, not just Khor Virap. It will cost you about $25-30.  
• Hitchhike: This is a very popular destination, so hitchhiking here will be quite easy. 
• Go with a tour company: Tour companies will take you to Khor Virap, Areni, and Noravank for about $20 per person. Just know that you will be on a tour bus with many other people, so you won’t be free to explore as you want. But you will get a lot more info than if you go yourself. Again, pricing on tours vary quite a bit as each company offers a different route and stops along the way.

6. A quick day trip to Gyumri

Gyumri is a beautiful city that is just building itself back after the 1988 earthquake. It used to be the cultural center of the country and strives to regain that title today. Here, you can walk around Vartanants square, explore the beautiful Holy Saviour’s Church and the black fort. There is also a market street by the church where you can buy delicious local fare.

Right off the main square, there are a few beautiful pedestrian streets to stroll on. Lined with bakeries, restaurants, and shops, they are perfect to explore on a day trip. And, if you have time to spare, check out Central Park, and the old soviet amusement park. It’s a real trip back in time!

If music or technology are your thing, then you can also check out the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies. It offers free after-school education to local youth in areas such as music, robotics, computer programming, and a variety of other non-classical educational subjects.

How to get to Gyumri from Yerevan

There are many ways to get to Gyumri, but the most enjoyable and easy one is to take the new electric train. This train only runs on weekends for now (including Friday). From the main station in Yerevan, grab the 10 am train to Gyumri. Tickets cost 2,500 dram, or about $5 USD. You’ll get there around noon.

Make sure you make it back to the train station before 5 pm, to grab the train back to Yerevan. You can also spend a night in Gyumri and take more time to explore the city.

7. A mountain hiker’s day trip to Mount Aragats

Mount Aragats is Armenia’s highest peak, at 4,090 m. It’s actually a four-peaked volcano massif that you can climb with the help of a tour guide. The best time to hike this peak is between June and October, as the peak gets snowy and difficult.

If hiking is not your thing, you can drive up to Kari Lake and relax at the hotel and restaurant there. During colder months, the restaurant is known for its khash soup. This is a traditional Armenian soup made of cow hoof. It’s eaten with copious amounts of garlic, lemon, lavash bread, and vodka!

How to get to Aragats from Yerevan

If you plan on hiking Mount Aragats, we highly recommend you go with a tour guide as the terrain can get tricky, and the weather can quickly shift. You’ll be happy you’re with an experienced team!

8. A religious day trip to Etchmiadzin & Zvartnots temple

The route to Etchmiadzin is about 30-45 minutes away from Yerevan. You can stop at Zvartnots on the way there or back.

It’s considered the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to many scholars, it’s the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia, in the early 4th century. It’s considered to be the oldest cathedral in the world as well. In 2000, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zvartnots Cathedral, on the other hand, is a 7th-century cathedral. Although it is now in ruins, it is a beautiful site to see. It was only at the start of the 20th century that the ruins of Zvartnots were uncovered. They discovered the foundations of the cathedral as well as the remains of the Catholicos palace and a winery. After more excavations, it was revealed that Zvartnots stood on structures that dated back to 680 BC.

Both sites are quite close by and really beautiful to visit. Make sure you head out on a sunny day.

How to get to Etchmiadzin from Yerevan

Etchmiadzin Monastery is about 20 km from Yerevan, taking just about 25 minutes to get to. Zvartnots is on the way to the Holy See. Here are a few ways you can get here from Yerevan: 

• Take a minibus: Marshrutkas (line 203) to Echmiadzin leave from the Kilikiya bus station in Yerevan. They depart, at least every 30 mins, but more often in busy periods. The ride takes 20-30 minutes and costs about $0.75 one-way, even if you get off early at the Zvartnots ruins. The end of the line in Echmiadzin is on the corner of Movses Khorenatsi street and Baghramyan street, near the Cathedral complex. You can get off early to go to Zvartnots first, then hop back on (or hitchhike) to get to Etchmiadzin. If you want to get back to Yerevan, you can grab the bus back, or hitchhike again. 
• Hire a taxi: You can choose to take a taxi to Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots, asking the driver to wait for you. It will set you back about $10 USD.  
• Hitchhike: These are also very popular destinations, so hitchhiking will be quite easy. 
• Go with a tour company: Tour companies will take you to both these places for about $15 per person. 

Longer day trips from Yerevan

Some people may include these stops as part of a day trip, but they are quite far, so it makes for a really long day. We’re talking about 12-14 hours. You can do these separately or together, it’s totally up to you. Just know that it is quite a journey!

How to get to these places from Yerevan

There are a few options to get from Yerevan to all three of these places.

• Hire a car: Again, if you want freedom, this is the way to go. This way, you can explore each place freely.
• Go with a tour company: For a hassle-free option, go with a tour company. You can go as a group on a private tour, or you can join one of the day trips, but expect it to be a long day (usually, between 12-14 hours). For the private tour, you can cater it to your liking with stops where you want.
• Hitchhike: Although a very viable option, you may need to get picked up and dropped off a few times, and the 4-5 hours trip to Tatev, the furthest point, may take a lot longer than that!
• Take a marchrutka: You can take a minibus to Goris, but there is only one that leaves per day. It’s a 6-hour bus ride that will cost about $8-10 USD one way. Once in Goris, you can hire a taxi to the cable car in Halidzor village, to Karahunj (which is much further), or to Khnzdoresk.

9. A day trip from Yerevan to Karahunj

Located on the route to Tatev, Karahunj, or Zorats Karer, is said to be the oldest astronomical observatory in the world! This place is really magic. Unlike Stonehenge which is blocked off, you can explore Karahunj freely.

The site is made of six different parts, and a total of 223 stones of which 80 have a circular holes. Studies showed that 17 of the stones were for observing sunrises or sunsets at the solstices and equinoxes, and 14 for the lunar extremes.

This place is one of the coolest we’ve seen and you can really feel the energy when you’re there. It’s a magical spot that is well worth the visit.

10. A day trip to the impressive Tatev Monastery

The route to Tatev will take about 3-4 hours from Yerevan. Not only is Tatev a beautiful monastery, but it has a really cool mode of transportation to get there. The Wings of Tatev! This is the World’s longest reversible ropeway, measuring a whopping 5,752 m. The views from the tramway are just epic!

The monastery, although under construction, is still a beautiful sight to behold. Set on the edge of a cliff, it’s breathtaking. And if you don’t want to see the church, that’s ok too! You can go hiking in the area, do some wine-tasting, or even go paragliding!

11. A surprising day trip to Kndzoresk

Past Goris, Kndzoresk will take you 4-4.5 hours to get to. Access to this site is not for the faint. The swinging bridge to get here swings and bounces quite a lot. But it’s quite awesome to see what’s on the other side.

Khndzoresk is a village and rural community in the South-East of Armenia, right by Goris. It’s an old village built into the side of the mountains. With caves and ruins for you to explore, it’s such a cool place. Especially since it was inhabited until the 1950’s.

Yerevan is a great place to do these day trips from. If you want to, you can also visit these spots on a continuous route as part of a 2-week Armenia road trip. The possibilities are really endless.

If you’re ready to crash after all these amazing day trips from Yerevan, you can head to one of the many hotels available. There’s something for every budget and preference. You can also find homestays or try Couchsurfing. Whatever you choose, you’ll find a comfy place to get some rest.

To recap, here are the 11 best day trips from Yerevan:

1. Lake Sevan
2. Dilijan
3. Garni, Geghard, Tsaghgazor
4. Letters Monument, Amberd & Byurakan Observatory
5. Khor Virap, Areni Caves and Noravank
6. Gyumri
7. Mount Aragats
8. Etchmiadzin & Zvartnots temple
9. Karahunj
10. Tatev Monastery
11. Kndzoresk

What do you prefer? Long road trips or day trips from a home-base? We like to have the option of doing either, mainly because we love road trips!

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