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In this article, we’ll explore all the best things to do in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital. We’ll look at some free activities, as well as some of the things you must do in Yerevan.

There are a few places in the world that we have been to that have had a special effect on us. Yerevan is one of those places! Even though Carine has already been here seven times, and that our last time here, we spent over 2 months in the city, and we still want to go back – there are just so many things to do in Yerevan that you can never get bored here.

The vibe in Yerevan is unlike anywhere else, a perfect mix of traditional Armenian culture and European flair. It’s budget-friendly and the perfect place to set up camp if you’re going to be exploring Armenia. To help you make the best of this amazing city, here is our list of the 36 best activities, including some of our favorite free things to do in Yerevan, Armenia.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. We make 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 If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.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!

All about Yerevan, the capital of Armenia

Welcome to the Pink City, aka Yerevan. The city gets this endearing name from the pink and red-hued tuff stones that were used to build most of the city’s buildings, back in Soviet times.

In 2019, Yerevan celebrated its 2,800th anniversary, making the city one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The celebration for the city’s anniversary was some of the craziest we’ve ever seen!

Yerevan is very easy to navigate around. Like most old cities, it’s built around a central point, Republic Square. Just like Paris is built around the Arc de Triomphe.

Over time, Yerevan has seen many changes, but nothing is more encouraging than what has been happening in the last few years. It’s found a unique vibe that combines its old heritage, yet shines brightly to the future, with the emergence of obscure art galleries/cafés, craft beer shops opening up, and a nightlife that rivals some of the best in the world.

There is a ton of things to do in Yerevan, so get ready, because you’re in for quite a ride! If you’re looking to get the most out of your trip to Armenia’s capital, we would recommend staying at least four or five days. If you ask Carine though, she would say to stay here forever!

How to get to Yerevan

There are a ton of different ways to get to Yerevan. It’s no surprise considering how the Pink City is the capital of Armenia. Here are the main ways to get here:

How to get to Yerevan by plane

You can either fly into Yerevan, at the Zvartnots Airport (IATA: EVN, ICAO: UDYZ), about 15 km west of it. It’s also the main international airport in Armenia.

Getting to Yerevan from the airport will set you back about 1,500 AMD (or dram) on the GG app or the Yandex app. If you choose to take a cab from the airport, be ready to negotiate with the driver, as they often try to charge double, if not triple that price. Offer to pay them the same thing GG would charge, plus an extra 100 AMD ($0.25 USD) because you get to avoid the wait. 

How to get to Yerevan by train

Another way into Armenia is to take the train from Georgia. You can take a sleeper train every other night during the winter months (October to May) and daily during summer (June to September). The ride will take about 10h30min, but tickets are affordable, the train is safe and convenient, so really, it’s quite a good way to get to Armenia.

How to get around in Yerevan

There are a ton of ways to get around the city. You can choose to walk, which is our favorite way of getting around. You can get from one place to the next in 15-20 minutes within Kentron, the main area. But walking from one end of the city to the next shouldn’t take more than 30-40 minutes.

If not, you can hire a car off the GG app. It costs about 800-1,000 drams to get to anywhere in the city. You can also take the Yerevan metro to cover longer distances or to avoid being stuck in gridlock. The city gets quite congested at rush hour… and other random points in the day.

There are also marshrutkas, or minibusses, and larger buses and trams that run around the city. If you’re looking for other ways to get around Armenia, make sure you check out our article here. We’ve listed the best ways to get around Armenia and Yerevan like a local.

37 awesome things to do in Yerevan

1. Eat all the food in Yerevan’s best restaurants

Ok, so are you even that surprised?! We love to eat, and the food in Armenia is one of the best in the world. Complex meals, delicious flavors, simple yet tasty and fresh ingredients – what else can you ask for?! You can find our list of the 20 best restaurants in Yerevan here.

And in case you didn’t know, National Geographic actually named Yerevan one of six unexpected cities for food lovers in 2017. So is it a surprise that this is #1 on our list of things to do here!? If you’re not sure what to do in Yerevan, then walk around, pick a random restaurant and have a feast!

Best of all, there are a ton of vegan and vegetarian restaurants popping up in the city. And even better than that is the fact that although Armenians do tend to eat a lot of meat, there are a ton of healthy and nutritious vegan and vegetarian options readily available on menus.

2. Check out the museums, one of the best things to do on a rainy day in Yerevan

There are a ton of museums in Yerevan, and they all have something different to offer, depending on what you’re into. Usually, on national holidays, the museums are free to visit, so if you’re looking to check out the best museums in Yerevan, they offer a great opportunity to do so. Just make sure you get there as early as possible to avoid the crowds.

Here is a small list of all the cool museums in Yerevan, if you’re looking for things to do on a rainy day in Yerevan, or if you’re looking to learn more about this ancient country and its history!

• National Gallery of Armenia & History Museum of Armenia: Both are located in the same building in Republic Square, they are great for learning about the long history of Armenia.
• Matenadaran: Also known as the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. This is a museum, a repository of manuscripts, and a research institute in Yerevan. It’s also the world’s largest repository of Armenian manuscripts.
• The Komitas Museum: To discover the life and significant impact of the composer Komitas. The architecture of this building, as well as the park next to it, are worth the visit alone!
• Avetik Isahakyan House Museum: The house museum of the Armenian great poet Avetik Isahakian.
• Aram Khachaturyan House Museum: Opened in 1982, it’s devoted to the exhibition of the Armenian composer Aram Khatchaturian’s personal artifacts, as well as to the research and study of his creative output.
• Cascade Museum: Also known as the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, this museum is dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia and presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world.
• Erebuni Fortress & Museum: The Museum stands at the foot of the Arin Berd hill, on top of which the Urartian Fortress Erebouni has stood since 782 BCE. The City-Fortress was excavated, some parts of the structure were reinforced and restored, and the fortress was turned into an outdoor Museum.
• Mirzoyan Library: This small cafe/library is the brainchild of award-winning photographer Karen Mirzoyan who wanted to create a space for photographers to immerse themselves in photography or access excellent books on the subject. It’s a great place to hang around, especially on warmer days when their balcony is open!
• Parajanov Museum: The museum collection constitutes 600 works of Parajanov, from assemblages, flat and three-dimensional collages, drawings, dolls and film sketches, furniture, and his own personal things.

3. Catch a show in Yerevan’s famous Opera House, another great thing to do on a rainy day in Yerevan

There is no shortage of shows to see in Yerevan. In fact, beyond the beautiful productions put on by the national opera, the ballet or the philharmonic orchestra, you can find a ton of jazz shows and open mic nights going on all over the city.

If you’re looking for what to do in Yerevan on a weeknight, then a show is a must! And if you can’t find something that fits your mood, many restaurants have local bands and musicians that put on a show. But with so many different options, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect show for you!

4. Watch the stars at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory

We finally got to visit this Observatory, as it’s been high on our list for quite some time now. 

The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (or BAO) was founded in 1946, during the Soviet era and is located on the slope of the mountain Aragatz, Armenia’s highest peak.

They offer visits to the observatory on clear nights, including the drive there and back from Yerevan. It’s quite an experience to see the telescopes, get a sense of how things work and gaze at our beautiful galaxy. 

During our visit (although it was in quite a large group), we were able to see Saturn, Jupiter and a cloud cluster. We also learned more about the history of the observatory, what it used to be used for and how they are still working with NASA and different astronomy entities in the world. 

Just make sure to book this as soon as you arrive in Yerevan. The skies and weather in Armenia are sometimes unpredictable, so the more time you give yourself, the better your chances of making it there on a clear sky!

5. Watch a football match, a fun thing to do in Yerevan

This was one of our favorite things to do, especially since we got to see Armenian superstar football (or soccer) player Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is usually playing for Arsenal or Roma.

This is probably the perfect place to get a sense of what Armenians are all about. The excitement, the letdowns, the dancing (and unfortunately, the smoking), the sharing of food, you get to witness it all!

Tickets can be purchased at the gates on game night (unless they’re playing a popular team), or ahead of time at kiosks set up around the soccer stadium.

Most games are played at the Republican Stadium, located near where Vernissage is held, and by the Vardan Mamikonyan statue.

6. Check out the old Soviet amusement parks, one of the fun things to do in Yerevan with kids

These amusement parks are sprinkled all over Yerevan and even in the rest of the country. In Yerevan, we loved going to the amusement park just down the Kond tunnel, by the Children’s Railway. Another popular one is Zazaland, located in Circular Park. But you will see these parks all over the city.

It’s surprising to see these old machines still working, it’s a true testament to how ingenious Armenians are, and how much they pride themselves on a job well done. Just don’t be surprised if they well at you for bumping the bumper cars. They’re just meant for driving around, as we learned the hard way!

7. Have a blast at the new Yerevan Park amusement park

Yerevan Park is the newest attraction in Yerevan. It’s the largest amusement park in Armenia, with over 25 modern rides. It’s opened in the spring of 2021. 

The founder of the park is Garegin Nushikyan. He wanted to create a classic fairytale-style theme park with characters and attractions with Armenian roots. Yerevan Park will be built across 276,000 square meters, with 196,000 square meters of gardens and more than 20,000 trees and plants. It will boast 4 major roller coasters, as well as a 40m high Ferris wheel. 

If the small Soviet parks are not your thing, and you want to take your thrills to the next level, Yerevan Park is the place for you. 

8. Check out how Armenian rugs are made, a unique thing to do in Yerevan

We loved our time at the Megerian Carpet Company! We were taken around the factory and shown how their beautiful rugs are made. From the way their thread is dyed to the special and unique Armenian double knot, the museum where they keep historical carpets and the store where they sell their beautiful creations, we were left in awe.

We highly recommend taking a tour here, and finishing it all off at their restaurant where you can enjoy their homemade bread and treats! If you’re not sure what to do in Yerevan, add this to your list! It’s a really unique and eye-opening experience!

9. See how Armenian natural cosmetics are made

For those who love natural and organic cosmetic products, you can tour the beautiful Nairian lab and production facility. They will even come to pick you up and drive you back to Yerevan.

As we were guided through their beautiful garden, we were told about all the plants, flowers and herbs were used to make their natural products. We were shown their laboratory where everything gets made and assembled. They even have a shop where you can try their products and buy them on location. At the end of the tour, we were treated to some delicious homemade juice and cake.

Not only did we love the fact that all the products were made using natural ingredients, but Nairian goes the extra mile and even has a program in Armenia where they reuse and refill your bottles when you finish using their product. A great initiative to be more eco-friendly by reducing waste. All you have to do is bring your empty Nairian container back to their stores in the city. They will clean it up for you and refill it. You can pick it right back up after a few days.

10. Take a sip of Armenia’s famous brandy

Many people may not know this but during the Soviet times, Armenia was the premier producer of brandy in the nation. That tradition has stayed, and today, you can taste a variety of delicious brandy throughout the country. If you’re looking to see how this delicious drink is made, we recommend heading to the Ararat Brandy factory.

You’ll be able to tour the facilities and see how the legendary brandy is made. To book your tour, you can visit their website and fill out their online form, or call to reserve.

If you don’t make it to the brandy museum, don’t worry, because you can also try the various moonshine varieties of wine, vodka and spirits that are sold on the side of the highways in Armenia. Just make sure you are able to taste test them before!

11. Shop for souvenirs at Vernissage, Yerevan’s unique open-air market

One of our favorite things to do in Yerevan on Sundays was to visit the Vernissage market. Although the market runs all week at a reduced capacity, the Sunday Vernissage market is the best.

The market is located near Republic Square, along Aram and Buzand streets, connecting Hanrapetutyun Street with Khanjyan Street.

The vendors fill their stalls with homemade, hand-crafted goods, ranging from the kitschy souvenirs with Armenian flags and Mount Ararat adorning them, to the intricate and beautiful rugs and carpets. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it in the market!

As for the pricing, you can always haggle a little bit with the vendors, just remember to be fair with them. A good negotiation is when both parties walk away happy!

12. Shop for art at the painters’ market, another unique thing to do in Yerevan

Although there are many painters who sell their art at Vernissage on Sundays, you can find a ton more at the Painter’s Market located at Martiros Saryan Park, near the Concert Hall and Opera.

On all days of the week, but mainly in the warmer months, you will find painters selling their frames here. You’ll see a ton of paintings of Mount Ararat, pomegranates, Lake Sevan, and the various churches of Armenia. You’ll find them in all styles and genres.

Again, when it comes to negotiating pricing, you can haggle a bit with the artists, but they are quite often very firm on their final price.

13. Shop for local souvenirs while you’re visiting Yerevan

Yerevan is probably the best place to shop for local souvenirs. Yes, we mentioned Vernissage, which is the best place to get them, but there are a ton of other stores that sell goods from Armenian and Yervantsi artists. 

Here is a quick list of shops to check out to support your favorite Armenian artists:

• Dalan, or Abovyan 12, is a cute café and gift shop that sells all sorts of things from Armenian artists, from pots, plates, statues, and jewelry.
• 5concept is a unique store located on Sayat-Nova street where they sell clothes from your favorite Armenian designers, including Petoor, Z Geist, Loom Weaving and so many more.
• Sharan is a cute little store where they sell the cutest woven clothes and goods for children. This including pillows, dolls, headbands and so much more. 
• Homeland Fair Trade Shop is a social enterprise where they sell goods made by Armenians all over the country, as well as in the US, Canada and Australia. They work with artists and co-ops, helping them out with product development and market access to help them make a sustainable income. You can find such cute trinkets here, from pillows to wooden letters, to handmade toys for children. It’s a bit out of the city center, at Impact Hub, but well worth the detour.  
• Spitak Ceramics, located inside Hotel Villa Delenda, sells earthenware pottery. This is another social enterprise, so you know your purchase is supporting a great cause. All their items are handmade and hand-painted at the Spitak Art School in Gyumri. This shop was established with the Family Care Foundation and was created after the devastating earthquake in 1988. 
• Megerian Carpet Factory is the place to go if you’re looking to buy an Armenian Carpet. As we mentioned, we had the pleasure of visiting their factory, located just outside the Yerevan city center, and learned so much about this family-run business. We highly recommend you go for a tour here, but also, buy yourself the best souvenir you can. 
• Nairian, for all the best Armenian cosmetics. Nairian has a shop on Tumanyan where you can find their sustainable and socially responsible cosmetics. Their products are made locally using USDA Certified Organic ingredients, including herbs and plants with aromatherapy benefits. As we mentioned, you can also visit their production facility in Aragyugh. And, best of all, if you want to get these cosmetics when you’re back home, you can order from their website!

14. Take the metro to get around Yerevan

Yerevan’s metro is the pride of many locals. It opened its doors in March 1981, being the eighth metro line to be built in the USSR. Fun fact: The city told a white lie (saying there were over 1 million people in the city) to get the green light to build the metro. At the time, in the Societ Union, only cities with over a million people were allowed to get a subway system.

The Yerevan metro is 13km long and has 10 stations. Riding it only costs 100 drams, and it’s by far the ‘coolest’ way to get around the city in the hot summer heat. The metro runs daily from 6:30 am to 11 pm and trains come every 5 minutes during rush hour, and every 10 minutes at off-peak hours.

You may be wondering why we recommend taking the metro as an activity. Not only is it super cheap if you want to get around the city, but the stations are simply beautiful! The architectural design of the Yerevan metro is just stunning. Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures inside, so you have to go see for yourself.

The great news is that as of 2024, they are extending the metro line to go into the newly developed areas, and are also adding new wagons to the lines.

15. Take a day trip from Yerevan

If you’re going to be staying in Armenia for a longer time than just visiting Yerevan, we recommend you use the capital as a base to go on day trips around the city.

Even if you drive for 30-45 minutes out of Yerevan, there are a ton of gorgeous places to visit like Lake Sevan, Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, and so much more! Make sure you check out our article about the 11 amazing day trips you can take from Yerevan.

16. Connect with locals, a unique thing to do in Yerevan and all of Armenia

One of the best ways to learn about a place and its history is by connecting with locals. But that’s not always easy to do when you’re in town for a limited time, or if you get shy, or if you just don’t want to be that person stopping locals in the street asking to share a meal together (though, if you want to try this anywhere in the world, Armenia is the place to do it. 

Enter LikeLocal.io

Like Local allows you to live unique experiences and share them with locals. From meals to art projects and everything in between. This is a great way to see how locals live, talk to them and learn more about their reality. 

While we were touring Kond, the oldest neighborhood in Yerevan, we got to share a meal with a local family. We absolutely adored having lunch with Lusine and her husband Armen. We sat with their son Nikolay who is a renowned actor of the State Dramatic Theater and his wife Karina, a well-respected journalist in Armenia. 

Not only did we share a delicious meal, but we got to do it in their 300-year-old home. We learned about the history of the home, the previous owners (the mullah of the nearby mosque) and we even got to talk about what life is like for the future generation of this beautiful country. 

We highly recommend booking an experience to share a meal with this family in Kond. You can book this directly through LikeLocal.io. 

LikeLocal.io also offer other experiences throughout Armenia, and they’re present not only in Armenia, but also in Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Greece, Georgia and Namibia.

Free things to do in Yerevan

We’ve mentioned it before, but we’ll say it again. Yerevan (and Armenia in general) is pretty budget-friendly, but if you want to pinch your pennies a little more (so you can bring home a special bottle of Armenian brandy), here are 12 free things to do in Yerevan.

17. Take a free walking tour of Yerevan

If you want to see the highlights of the city in three hours, we recommend taking the free walking tour. During the summer, we recommend you reserve your spot online as they tend to fill up. In the low season, they may cancel the tour for lack of attendees, so make sure you call or check before. If not, you can meet the guide every day at 4 pm by the entrance to the History Museum in Republic Square. Just look for the tour guide with the orange logo badge.

All the tours are in English and last about 3 hours, spanning over a 4 km walk. Although the tour is free, we do recommend you tip the guide. Also, to make sure you fully enjoy the tour, make sure you wear comfy shoes, and bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up at pulpulaks (free water fountains).

There are also others who offer walking tours. We had the pleasure of exploring the Soviet side of Yerevan by going on a walking tour with Gevorg, the founder and owner of LikeLocal. We learned about the history of these buildings, the architecture and certain places. We also got to visit the Communist party’s headquarters in Yerevan. Quite a different experience!

18. Check out the Shushi Carpet collection, one of the best free things to do in Yerevan

Located in a government building right across the street from Vernissage, at the Alexander Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture, is the new showing of the Shushi Carpet collection. This exposition was initially put on in Shushi, but during the war, the private collection was moved to Yerevan. 

The collection belongs to Vardan Astsatryan. For 20 years, he bought carpets from families living in different villages of Artsakh and Artsakhis living in Europe. The current collection has 71 samples of unique carpets. The exhibition is unprecedented, mainly because each carpet can be traced back to its original family and village. 

These carpets have been on display at the Shushi Carpet Museum since 2011. They were taken out of there during the war. Out of 300 exhibits, only 160 could be moved. All other remaining pieces, from carpets to Bronze and Stone Age pottery, and the ancient household items had to be left behind. 

The exhibition is free to visit (although donations are welcome). It’s truly beautiful to see all these works of art in one place. Especially seeing the oldest carpet there, which is 350 years old. 

19. Visit the Cascade Museum and steps, a Yerevan landmark

Cascade is one of the premier spots in Yerevan. It’s a place where arts, culture, and food meet. Around Cascade, you’ll find a ton of delicious restaurants. And lining the steps, both at the bottom and inside the structure, you will find the impressive Cascade Museum or the Cafesjian Center for the Arts.

The CCA is dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia, all while presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world. The Center offers a variety of exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, as well as lectures, films, concerts, and many educational initiatives for adults and children. It’s no surprise that since its opening in 2009, over one million people have visited the Center annually.

20. Watch a sunset at Cascade, a beautiful and free activity in Yerevan

While at Cascade, make sure you head there for sunset. It’s one of the best places to see the sunset over the city. On clear days, you can also get a beautiful view of Mount Ararat.

The higher up you get, the better the view!

21. Take in the view at Victory Park, with Mother Armenia, a free thing to do in Yerevan

Located at the very top of Yerevan, you will see the imposing figure of Mother Armenia watching over the city. This is Victory Park.

We highly recommend taking a stroll up to the statue. There, you will find a typical Soviet Park, with amusement rides, but you will also find the statue of Mother Armenia, a MIG jet, some tanks, and much more. Getting to Victory Park is quite easy from Cascade, as you’ll have already gained some elevation.

They began construction of the park in the late 1930s as the “Arabkir city park”, during the development of the Nor Arabkir neighbourhood at the north of Yerevan; the capital of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. But after the Great Patriotic War, the park was renamed “Victory Park” to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany at the Eastern Front of World War II.

After the war, Victory Park was opened in 1950, at the 30th anniversary of the Sovietization of Armenia, but the park looked quite different. There was a 17-meter-high copper statue of Stalin in the park.

However, in 1962, the statue of Stalin was dismantled, and replaced by the monumental statue of Mother Armenia in 1967. The statue was designed by architect Ara Harutyunyan. In 1970, a museum dedicated to Armenia’s role in the Great Patriotic War was opened within the pedestal of the statue. In 1995, it was turned into the Military Museum of Armenia governed by the Ministry of Defence.

Getting up to Victory Park, you’ll get an amazing view of the city, and as usual, on a clear day, you can see Mount Ararat in the distance.

22. Honor the past at Tsitsernakaberd

Armenia has quite a tragic and bloody past, and even if it’s trying to move past it, it’s still important to recognize what happened over 100 years ago. That’s why, no visit to Armenia would be complete without visiting Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide memorial complex.

Outside, you’ll see the monument, made of two structures. First, there is a 44-meter stele symbolizing the national rebirth of Armenians. You also have 12 slabs placed in a circle to represent the 12 provinces lost in present-day Turkey. At the center of this circle, there is an eternal flame dedicated to the 1.5 million people killed during the Armenian Genocide.

Inside, down a set of stairs, you’ll find Armenia’s official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The museum is free to visit.

The trip here is quite moving and sad as they document the history and the atrocities that the Ottoman Turks subjected Armenians to. You’ll also find relics of survivors and hear the stories they tell. The genocide museum is a stark reminder of the cruelty humans are capable of, and moreover, it’s a warning to ensure no such atrocities are ever committed again.

On April 24 of every year, there is a pilgrimage to Tsitsernakaberd, to honor those who lost their lives during the genocide of 1915.

23. Pay respect to the fallen soldiers at Yerablur

Yerablur is an almost mythical place. It is the Armenian military cemetery. And for nearly 30 years, it was an almost forgotten place. 

However, after the deadly 44-day war of 2020, and the ethnic cleansing of September 2023 perpetuated by Azerbaijan and Turkey, the cemetery has seen more action than anyone ever wanted it to. However, it’s a harrowing reminder of what we will lose if we don’t build a stronger nation together.

Yerablur is not a touristic location by any means, and the only reason we’ve added it to the list is because it serves as a wake-up call to those who forget what is at stake, living within such unfriendly neighbors. So we invite you to go to Yerablur and take a stark look at the generation that was lost during the most recent Artsakh war. Use your time here to pay your respects to the young soldiers who selflessly gave their lives to protect this land.

24. Visit the Tumo Center to discover Armenia’s bright future

After learning about Armenia’s dark past, it’s uplifting to see how the future is becoming brighter. The TUMO Center for Creative Arts is a constant reminder of the ingenuity, creativity, and passion Armenians have.

The TUMO Center offers free tours so you can see the facilities, meet the people working and studying there and see the cool projects they’re working on. This is a free program for Armenia’s youth (over 19,000 people have already attended), offering courses in 14 different programs, ranging from photography, new media, programming, robotics and much more.

The tour lasts about 1-1.5 hours, and it’s super interesting to see and learn about what is happening there.

25. Visit Kond, the oldest neighborhood in Yerevan

Walking around Yerevan is probably one of the most fun things to do, and Kond is no exception. Kond is the oldest part of Yerevan and is historically where the Armenian populations lived as a majority ethnicity during the Persian rule. Kond is located between Proshyan, Saryan, Paronyan, and Leo streets.

Kond means ‘long hill’ in Armenian. It’s located within the boundaries of the Kentron District of Yerevan. Kond was one of Yerevan’s three original quarters since the 17th century: Shahar (The Old City), Demir-Bulagh (Karahank), and Kond (Tepebash). 

Kond is a mainly residential area of the city. Although it is very old, they tried to infuse some new life into the quarter. In 2019, there was a desire to renew the area. Many street artists took to the streets and put up various murals in the area. 

Today, walking around the 3 streets that make up Kond, you can see these murals and art installations. There is also St Hovhannes church that sits imposingly in the area.

26. Stop for coffee at Kondi Hayat Café, a unique thing to do in Yerevan

Ok, so this isn’t free, but it’s quite close to it! While you are exploring Yerevan’s oldest neighborhood Kond, we recommend you stop by for coffee at Kondi Hayat, a beautiful café, home and restaurant owned and operated by a lovely family. 

Lusine and her husband Armen, as well as their son Nikolay, a renowned actor of the State Dramatic Theater and his wife Karina, a well-respected journalist in Armenia, will welcome you with open arms. 

Kondi Hayat, which means Kond’s Café in Persian, has a delicious choice of coffee, tea and sweets available. Don’t forget to try their world-famous Gata too. Lusine’s is coveted by all those who try it. Sit in their backyard and enjoy the view. Here, you can admire the stark contrast between the booming city of Yerevan and the historic look of Kond. 

If the family is around, ask them to sit with you and enjoy chatting with them! This is an experience you won’t forget anytime soon.

27. Walk around the city to discover hidden treasures, one of the best things to do in Yerevan

There are a ton of beautiful things to see in Yerevan, from Soviet architecture to street art to little hidden areas. So take an afternoon and stroll around the city. You’ll discover a part of Yerevan many don’t get to see.

This tunnel, for example, is the Kond pedestrian tunnel. It’s located between Aram and Pavots Buzand Street, just before you get to Martiros Saryan Street. You have to walk through a sketchy parking lot to get here, but it’s a pretty cool tunnel.

It connects the downtown Kentron core to Hrazdan Gorge. Built back in Soviet times, it hasn’t changed since then. It makes for some really cool pictures, and it even leads you to the next free must-see in Yerevan.

28. Visit the Children’s Railroad Park, a unique activity in Yerevan

Whether you have children or not, or whether you are a child or not, this railroad is pretty cool. After crossing the Kond tunnel, you will find this pathway that takes you down some stairs, toward an amusement park, and then, a fairytale castle. With beautiful tinted windows, this place looks totally out of place. Yet, it’s a favorite hangout for many local couples and photographers who come here for leisurely strolls or photo sessions.

Once you get through the castle, you will find these old Soviet trains hanging around. We were told that these trains run once in a while, though we have yet to see it!

The setting of this railway is gorgeous – nestled in the forest with a small river running through it, the arched trees provide enough shade to keep you cool in the warm summer days, yet, the light comes in perfectly through the leaves, dancing around on the railroad.

Weekends tend to get quite busy here, but on weekdays, you can have this place all to yourself.

29. Visit the largest church in Armenia, a landmark in Yerevan

Churches play a huge role in Armenia. Being the first nation to accept Christianity, it’s not surprising to know that there are over 4,000 churches in this tiny country. The largest of these is in Yerevan’s Kentron, it’s Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Located near the General Andranik metro station, this church is impressive to see.

The entrance is beautiful, especially at night when it’s all lit up! Inside, you will be greeted by a minimalistic decor that is typical of Armenian churches. This church is free to discover. If you’re into Armenian architecture, it’s a must-see!

30. Check out the oldest church in the city, Katoghike

Located on the corner of Sayat Nova and Abovyan streets, you will find Yerevan’s oldest church, Katoghike. Katoghike Holy Mother of God Church is a small medieval church. According to the scripts carved on one of the walls of Katoghike Church, the surviving structure dates back to 1264. This makes it one of the oldest churches in Yerevan. 

In 1936, the basilica of the church was demolished to make way for residential buildings and a linguistic institute, but during the destruction, the 13th-century church of Katoghike was discovered encased within the structure of the large basilica. They decided to keep the structure and build more around it.

In 2009, a ground blessing service was conducted for the construction of Saint Anna Church and the associated complex. It was only in 2015 that the Saint Anna Church was consecrated.

You can read more about the church, and more of them in our Armenian churches article.

31. Visit the only active mosque in Armenia

Despite being a very Christian country, Armenia has very good relations with the neighboring country of Iran. In fact, the Blue Mosque, the only active mosque in Armenia, is an 18th-century Shia mosque, commissioned by Huseyn Ali Khan, the khan of Erivan. It’s one of the oldest extant structures in Yerevan and the most significant structure of the Iranian period.

Following Armenia’s independence in 1991, the mosque was renovated with the support of the Iranian government and started operating again as a mosque, serving the many Iranians residing in Yerevan. It’s a beautiful place to visit and a welcome change from all the churches you’ll find in the city and country.

There is also a very old and run-down mosque in Kond that you can admire from the outside. Truth is, during Soviet times, celebrating any religion was banned. This is why many of the mosques (and churches) were either town down or shut down.

32. Go food tasting at GUM market, a great free thing to do in Yerevan

This market is probably one of our favorite places in the city. The GUM market (or Gum shuka, pronounced Goom) is where locals come to sell their fresh produce, homemade goods, spices, and treats.

We highly recommend you come here on an empty stomach and ask to try things before buying them. The generosity of Armenians shines in places like this, where they will gladly cut off a piece of whatever they are selling for you to try.

Make sure you try the Armenian Snickers, or sujukh, a delicious treat made of walnuts dipped in grape jelly. So tasty! And if that’s not your thing, well you’re in luck, because this place has the best dried and candied fruits, nuts, spices, produce, herbs… If you’re looking for something to eat, chances are, this is where you’ll find it!

33. Have a picnic in a park in Yerevan

After heading to the GUM market, take whatever you have purchased and make your way to a nearby park. Take a seat there, and enjoy a picnic.

Yerevan has a ton of parks around the city. At all hours of the day, you will see families, couples, and the elderly walking around the parks. It’s a great place to chill out and watch daily life unfold.

34. Catch the light show at Republic Square

Every night, there is a fountain and light show that is put on in Republic Square, right in front of the National Museum. The musical selection changes once in a while, but expect to hear some Charles Aznavour or some Aram Khachaturian, staples of the Armenian music scene.

If this is your type of thing, make sure you head there early to grab a good seat, because the show is quite popular and it can get quite crowded.

35. Check out the thousands of statues in the city

Ok, we’re maybe exaggerating with the thousands of statues, but barely! While you’re strolling around the city, don’t forget to take a minute to look at all the different statues. It may seem silly, but it’s a great way to learn about notable Armenians throughout history. 

The statues are sprinkled all over the city, from the squares and roundabouts to street corners and parks. There are a ton of them all over. Most are great Armenian artists, composers, writers, poets, and architects. But you will find some military heroes and others as well.

36. Marvel at the old Soviet architecture in Yerevan, a fun free thing to do in Yerevan

Walking around Yerevan, it’s amazing to see the mish-mash of architectural styles that make the city so interesting. 

One of the coolest things is seeing the old Soviet buildings that still make up the skyline. From sharp angles and jarring design, Yerevan is one of the best places to take a glimpse at what the city looked like back in the Soviet days. 

Some of the most notable buildings are the Chess school, and the Yertasartagan metro station. However, there are a ton of other examples all around the city. So grab your camera, take a stroll around the city, and take all the sights in. 

37. Check out the street art, a great free activity in Yerevan

Although the street art in Yerevan is not as prevalent as in other parts of the world, it’s still fun to walk around the city and take it all in. 

One of the most notable pieces of street art in the city are the different arches. Between large groups of residential buildings, you will find archways or ‘dalan’ in Armenian. Each archway in the city is painted and decorated differently, a project that was started by a city mayor who wanted to give the city a facelift. 

Headed by chief designer of Yerevan, Gaga Amatuni, many artists and designers began to paint the arches. Today, walking around the city, you can admire the different archways that have been painted in a unique design. There are about 150 in total that were a part of the renovation project.

There are also many pieces by prominent street artist Robert Nikoghosyan that are sprinkled around the city. You can find his unique graffiti murals decorating the walls of buildings in Yerevan. 

Graffiti is not very popular and widespread in Armenia, which is why Robert’s work really stands out. It also has to do with the fact that he always paints prominent and well-known Armenians, introducing tourists to his Armenian heritage. You can find most of his works of art by the streets around Vernissage.

If not, there are plenty of streets in Kond where you can find a ton of street art in Yerevan. This was a project that started in 2019 and that continues to this day. Every year, artists take to the streets and decorate the old buildings with street art.

Getting lost in Kond and walking around to find these pieces of art are a great way to spend some time while in Yerevan.

Sustainable travel and ecotourism in Yerevan & Armenia

As always, we want to be sure everyone practices sustainable travel in Armenia, and all over the world. That’s why we always share these tips to help you travel in the most eco-friendly way possible! Ecotourism is so important because it helps lower our carbon footprint. It also helps travel become less of a burden on the environment and allows communities to preserve our beautiful planet, so future generations can explore the beauty of the world.

Here are our tips to help you practice sustainable travel in Armenia:

1. Bring reusable water bottles and coffee mugs: Tap water in Armenia is safe to drink, and it’s one of the cleanest in the world. So make sure you bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up. You will also find freshwater fountains (called pulpulaks) all over Yerevan. You can drink from there, or refill your bottle. And if you love to drink coffee, make sure you bring your reusable coffee mug too! This is the best way to reduce your plastic consumption and to sustainably travel all over the world!
2. Eat as local and vegan as you can: This is the easiest way to reduce your environmental footprint. Eat as much local produce and food as possible. And especially, eat all the vegan options you can! It’s a delicious and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. If eating vegan is hard for you, aim to have a vegetarian meal.
3. Support small local restaurants and eateries: If you eat out, make sure you go to locally-owned restaurants. Avoid big chains or restaurants owned by conglomerates. Go off the beaten path with your restaurant choice by asking locals for their best recommendations. If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Yerevan, check out our article here.
4. Bring your own bags and refuse plastic bags: Like most places, they still offer plastic bags in grocery stores, at the local markets, and at various shops. So bring your own bag and do your little step to promote ecotourism in Armenia and to save our beautiful planet!
5. Walk around: Yerevan is a highly walkable city. In fact, you can get from one end of the city to the next in 30-40 minutes of walking. So do yourself a favor, wear some comfy shoes and walk around as much as possible!
6. Use public transportation to get around Yerevan: The subway in Yerevan is great, and the bus system is chaotic but in an organized way. It’s very easy to get around Yerevan using public transportation. We have a handy guide here.
7. Stay in eco-hotels or small locally-owned hotels in Armenia: Another great way to promote ecotourism in Armenia is to stay in smaller, locally-owned hotels, or better yet, to stay in eco-hotels. There are a ton of great options available, so make sure you check these options first!
8. Pick up trash and speak out: Unfortunately, littering is still alive and thriving in Armenia. When you can, bring yourself an adventure bag and pick up the trash you see, especially in parks around the city. And when you see people littering, don’t be shy to nicely tell them to pick up after themselves.

The best time to visit Yerevan

Armenia has four distinct seasons, so depending on what you want to do, there’s a season for every type of traveler. Most people go to Armenia (or Yerevan) in the summer, when the weather is hot. Expect larger crowds, higher prices and less availability from June to mid-September. However, the fruits are ripe at this time of year, so go crazy on the local peaches & apricots! 

The weather starts to cool down towards the end of September but is still warm and sunny until mid-November. The crowds start to thin as well, making this our favorite season to explore Yerevan. If you’re here for the hiking, just know that most trails will close around mid-October, depending on the conditions, as mountain peaks become snow-covered. 

Winters tend to be surprisingly cold in Yerevan, and people tend to stay inside. It’s not the best season to visit the country as you won’t get the full experience. The weather is still warmer than what we’re used to here in Canada, and exploring Armenia in the winter is quite special, but the experience isn’t what it is in warmer months! 

Where to stay in Yerevan, Armenia

From budget-friendly options to high-end luxury, you can find everything you need in Yerevan. Recently, there has been an increase in rental apartments as well. So you’re really well-covered when it comes to finding a great place to stay in Yerevan.

Our recommendation would be to stay in Kentron, which is the main central area of Yerevan. You’ll be a stone’s throw away from all major sights, restaurants, and events.

To recap, here are the 37 best things to do in Yerevan

1. Eat all the food in Yerevan’s best restaurants
2. Check out the museums
3. Catch a show in Yerevan
4. Watch the stars in Byurakan Observatory
5. Watch a football match
6. Check out the old Soviet amusement parks
7. Visit the new Yerevan Park amusement park
8. Check out how Armenian rugs are made
9. See how local cosmetics are made
10. Take a sip of brandy
11. Shop for souvenirs at Vernissage
12. Shop for art at the painters’ market in Yerevan
13. Find the best local souvenirs to bring home
14. Connect with locals
15. Take the metro to get around Yerevan
16. Take a day trip from Yerevan
17. Take a free walking tour of Yerevan
18. Visit the free Shushi Carpet Museum exhibition
19. Visit the Cascade museum
20. Watch a sunset at Cascade
21. Take it all in at Victory Park
22. Honor the past at Tsitsernakaberd
23. Pay respect to fallen soldiers at Yerablur military cemetery
24. Visit the Tumo Center to discover Armenia’s bright future
25. Visit Kond, Yerevan’s oldest neighborhood
26. Enjoy a coffee in a historic home in Kond
27. Walk around the city to discover hidden treasures
28. Visit the Children’s railroad
29. Visit the largest church in Armenia
30. Visit the oldest church in Yerevan
31. Visit the only active mosque in Armenia
32. Go food tasting at GUM market
33. Have a picnic in the park
34. Catch the light show at Republic Square
35. Check out the statues all around the city
36. Discover the relics of the past through old Soviet architecture
37. Discover the street art in Yerevan

Every time we’re in Yerevan, we have such a great time, and we discover so many new things to do. We hope this guide will help you figure out what you want to do with your time in Yerevan. Let us know in the comments what you’re most excited to discover!

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