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If you’re here, you’re probably planning a trip to Armenia, which is amazing, because you’re in for quite a ride! Armenia is still relatively unknown to most, so don’t worry about being stuck with large crowds. But because it’s somewhat new to tourism, getting around, although easy, can get some getting used to. So we put together the ultimate guide to travel in Armenia, so you can get around the country more easily, even if you don’t speak Armenian or Russian!

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 If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.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!

Getting to Armenia

Armenia is located in the Caucasus and is a land-locked country. There aren’t a ton of ways of getting here, mainly because the borders with many neighboring countries are closed.

Flying into Armenia

Currently, there is one international airport in Armenia. It’s the Zvartnots Airport (IATA: EVN, ICAO: UDYZ) located near the capital of Yerevan, about 15 km west of it. Your best bet is to fly into Zvartnots if you’re not already in the Caucasus.

Getting to Yerevan from the airport will set you back about 2,500 dram ($5 USD) on the GG 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 that price. Offer to pay them the same thing GG would charge, plus an extra 100 AMD (or dram) ($0.21 USD) because you get to avoid the wait. 

There is a second airport that is set to make its international debut in 2020. It’s the Shirak Airport (IATA: LWN, ICAO: UDSG) which is near the city of Gyumri, just 5 km from the city center. At the moment, commercial flights there are quite rare.

Getting to Armenia by train from Georgia

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.

At the moment, the borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed, so you have to go through Georgia to go to-and-from Armenia.

Getting to Armenia from Iran

You can also get to Armenia from friendly neighbor Iran. You can either take a flight or a 24-hour bus ride from Tehran to Yerevan. The bus leaves daily from Tehran’s West Bus Terminal.

How to travel in Armenia, the best ways to get around

The best (and safest) way to get around Armenia is to use local transportation. Although renting a car is possible, city driving is quite dangerous in Yerevan, and the cost of the rental is too expensive to justify, especially for such a budget-friendly country! Here are the best ways to travel in Armenia:

City-to-city transportation in Armenia

Hitchhiking in Armenia – the cheapest and friendliest way to travel

Ask any local, and they will recommend hitchhiking to get around in Armenia. Here, they call it avtostop, from the Russian word for hitchhiking, and it works best when you’re outside of Yerevan. However, it’s not the most time-conscious way to travel. Mainly because Armenians, who are very friendly and generous, will insist you come over for drinks and food before they drop you off at your desired destination. You can try and tip the driver, but chances are, they’ll kindly refuse. 

To make sure your trip is successful, we recommend you look clean, travel in groups of two or three people, and have a mixed-sex group. Also, women shouldn’t be offended if the driver (likely a male) only speaks to the men in the group! Armenia is still a very traditional country.

Take a local bus to get from city to city in Armenia

Like we mentioned earlier, tourism infrastructure is slowly being built in Armenia. But it’s still quite easy to get around the country.

To get from city to city, we recommend you take the larger buses (marshrutkas). Most will be to and from Yerevan, but you can find them to other close-by cities as well. The cost of the trip will vary between $0.50 to $5.00 USD depending on where you’re heading. Someone will collect your fare before the marshrutka leaves. 

If you’re wondering what the bus schedule is, so is everyone else! Although there’s no actual schedule, buses usually leave either when they’re full or on the hour.

During your trip, they may need to refill the marshrutka with gas. Because there are still vehicles in Armenia that run on compressed natural gas and propane. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to get out of the bus as they fill up. It’s only a safety precaution… one of the rare ones that are still upheld in Armenia. And if you’re curious about what we mean, go ahead and try to find a taxi with a functional seat belt!

If you’re in a rush, take a shared taxi to get from city to city

Another easy way to get from city-to-city is to take a shared taxi. The fare will be split amongst passengers, and there’s no schedule for departures. Again, they wait until the car is full before they head out, so if you’re 3-4 people in the group, it may be a faster option to get to where you’re going. Depending on where you’re going, expect to pay between $5 and $10 USD per person.

You can usually catch these shared taxis from Yerevan’s main bus station. The drivers will often approach you as you’re searching for your bus and offer you a ride in their taxi.

Take the train in Armenia to cover longer distances between cities

Yerevan’s train station is Sasuntsi Davit Station, located by the statue of this famous Armenian hero. Although most trains are old Soviet trains, you can also take the new train to Gyumri. The train gets you to Araks, Yeraskh, Gyumri, Ararat, and as we mentioned earlier, you can even go to Georgia (Tiblisi and Batumi). In the summer, there’s even a line that goes to Lake Sevan. 

On the old Soviet trains, there are two classes of seating. First-class has plush seats, while the second class has wooden ones. Depending on how long your ride is, the second class tends to get more lively, so give it a try. 

Ticket prices are quite low for either class, so don’t stress too much about it. Although you can book your tickets online, the trains usually have enough room on them. If anything, get to the station 15 minutes before the train leaves and you should be good. 

If you’re heading to Gyumri from Yerevan on the weekend, we recommend you take the new electric train. It runs from Friday to Sunday, leaving Yerevan at 10 a.m. and getting to Gyumri around noon. Tickets cost $5 USD. You can find the schedule here. This train gets a little more full (it was a novelty when we were there), so it tends to be quite full when it leaves. Give yourself a bit more time for this one (20 minutes should be fine)

Rent a car in Armenia to travel freely

We didn’t rent a car when we were in Armenia. We found it was quite easy to get around without one. Although renting a car is possible (they have the usual car rental companies you find internationally) car rental and insurance are quite expensive here. However, renting a car will allow you to get around more freely, without having to worry about schedules or missed connections.

Transportation within the city in Armenia

Walking around is the cheapest way to get around

Armenian cities are very walkable, easy to navigate and well marked. For example, you can walk from one end of Yerevan to the other in 30-40 minutes. Walking is the cheapest and healthiest way to get around. So bring comfy shoes — you’ll get good use out of them! 

Although Google Maps work well in cities, if you get lost, just ask the locals. They’re so helpful and love showing their city off. Don’t be surprised if they end up walking with you to your destination and inviting you over for coffee and cake as well!

While you’re walking around in Yerevan, make sure you check out the best restaurants in the city. All the walking is sure to get you hungry!

Use the GG or Yandex Apps instead of taxis

Just like in most cities where Uber has made a debut, the taxi scene is changing in Armenia. Although there are taxis around, the cheapest and fastest way to get around is using the GG or Yandex apps. Just like Uber, they call on various drivers in your area that can take you from one place to the next. GG only works in larger cities at the moment. 

If you want to call on a taxi, make sure you agree on the price before accepting to get in, especially at the airport. On average, rides in the city of Yerevan will cost you around $3-4 USD, depending on where you’re going. Rides to the airport will set you back about $6. 

And we mentioned this before, but we’ll say it again. The taxis or GGs in Armenia just don’t have functional seatbelts. They probably had them at one point in time, but now, they’re not really used. So don’t be surprised if there’s no buckle or seatbelt at all! 

Hop on a marshrutka to get around the city

Ok! So if you want a real taste of life in Armenia, hope on a marshrutka, those small old-school Soviet vans you see whizzing around! These vans are one of the cheapest ways to get around the larger cities. If you want to know where a specific van is going, you can either ask a local waiting in line, or you can use the A2B Transport app on Android, or if you speak Armenian, check out http://marshrut.info/. 

A ride on a marshrutka will set you back 100 drams. You’ll be asked to pay before getting off, or when the driver asks you. To get off at your stop, just say “Kangnek” (kang-nek) to the driver. The bus will pull over at the next stop to let you off.

And here are a few more tips to make the ride a little more fun.

• If you want to be comfier, sit in the front, with the driver.
• Don’t slam the door too hard when you get in, or you’ll get it from the driver.
• If seating is tight, you’ll need to stand. Is it safe? … maybe not so much.
• Don’t be surprised if ladies ask you to hold on to their purses, groceries, or babies if you have a seat. Though we would recommend you offer them your seat.

Take the metro in Yerevan

Even if it’s displayed on Google Maps, Yerevan’s metro system is little known to visitors. It’s one of the best ways to get around the city, especially if you have to cover long distances.

The metro is also one of the things residents of Yerevan are very proud of. The Karen Demirchyan Yerevan Metro covers 13 km and has about 10 stops, and tickets only cost 100 AMD (or $0.20 USD). In the summer months, it’s also the coolest mode of transportation – the city tends to get really hot. 

If you’re expecting a fancy metro card or metro system, you’re in for quite a ride! There’s no actual metro card in Yerevan. To get through the gates, go to the counter and exchange your money for an orange token, and voilà! Also for some unknown reason, you’re not allowed to take pictures in the metro, even though most stations are beautifully built and are quite photogenic.

Here’s a little more info about transportation in Armenia:

• Cars drive on the right side of the road. Though don’t be surprised to see some cars that have the steering wheel on the right side.
• The roads are not that great in Armenia, though it does depend on where you are. In larger cities, the roads are all paved and actually in good condition. In smaller cities, they tend to be unpaved or full of bumps and holes.
• The speed limit in Armenia ranges from 20 km/h in residential areas to 60 km/h within the city. When on larger routes outside city limits, the speed limit goes up to 90 km/h or 110 km/h. Although on the highway, you’ll come across 70 or 80 km/h. The signage is usually pretty clear, so make sure you stay within the established limits.
• Also, you should be careful when driving because there are speed detector cameras widely spread within Armenia. They automatically fine you for going 10 km/h or more over the speed limit.

Where to stay in Armenia

If you’re ready to crash after all these things to do in Armenia, 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.

We’ve said a bunch of times, but we’ll say it again. Armenia is one of our favorite places on earth. Hopefully, this guide will help you get around more easily so you can enjoy everything this beautiful and underrated country has to offer.

Let us know in the comments if this was helpful, and if you have any other questions about how to get around in Armenia.

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