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We’re huge fans of Armenia. We’ve written countless articles about the country. It’s a beautiful place, its history is so rich, the food is amazing, and best of all, it’s one of the most underrated and under-visited parts of the world. We can list a thousand reasons to visit Armenia, but no one would read that, so instead, our Armenian friend Vera created this amazing article to show you the 20 best reasons you have have to visit Armenia for!

Collaboration with Vera Mirzoyan

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The 20 best reasons to visit Armenia

Armenia is an interesting country to visit for people from all walks of life, with different interests and preferences. In this historic land, you will surely find so much that you love and that will make your vacation memorable. The reasons to visit Armenia are numerous. With only 20 of the many reasons listed, you’re sure to find something that will pique your interest. So, if you’re ready, let’s start!  

1. Armenia’s kind and generous people

Armenian people are known for their hospitality. They’re very kind and ready to help anyone. If you have any Armenian friends, you probably share my opinion.

If you happen to visit Armenia, make sure to talk with the locals. Surely they will help you find your way if you’re lost, or they’ll be ready to answer any other questions you have (sometimes, even before you know you have a question).

If you make Armenian friends during your time in the country, rest assured that they will keep in touch with you, invite you to their homes and lay rich tables full of delicious foods.

A great way to live the hospitality of the Armenian people is by trying Couchsurfing. You will discover that you have a new-found family in Armenia.

2. The amazing weather in Armenia

In Armenia, you can experience all four seasons, which makes this a perfect place to travel. Winter, spring, summer, and autumn all show off their best characteristics. Although every season has its advantages and disadvantages… You won’t find any complaints about it here. 

Winters in Armenia are never extremely cold. This is the season when the country is covered with pure snow. Temperatures range from 2 to -10°C.

In spring, when the snow melts, green areas pop up all around Armenia. You can find flowers and blossomed trees everywhere. Expect temperatures to warm up to 10 to 15°C.

Summers aren’t so hot in Armenia, but they are quite dry. Some regions are even very cool. Therefore, in some regions, people complain of hot weather and go on a vacation in the Lake Sevan (we’ll learn more about this lake later). In the summer, you can expect temperatures of 25-30°C.

When autumn comes the weather gradually becomes cooler. You may see leaves of thousands of colors: Autumn is magic in Armenia… especially when it’s not raining. You can expect temperatures of 10 to 15°C.

3. The beautiful scenery and landscape in Armenia

The Armenian landscape is breathtaking, to say the least. In this small land, you will experience highlands and lowlands, deep gorges and high mountains, fields and valleys, forests, raw nature, and even more.

Armenia is famous for its rich nature, thick forests where you can breathe the freshest and cleanest air far away from large urban cities. In these places, you can break away from reality and enjoy your rest at the heart of Mother Nature.

The view of Mount Ararat is one of the favorites for Armenians. Although the mountain is no longer in the territory of the country, it is considered to be one of the symbols of Armenia. In clear weather, Ararat is seen from Yerevan and other regions around it.

4. The epic mountains in Armenia

Armenia is known as a mountainous country. If you’re fond of hiking trails then the Armenian mountains are a perfect place for you. You can find different levels of difficulty for hiking.

One of the most famous mountains in Armenia is Mount Aragats. It’s also the highest peak in Armenia at 4,090 meters. This famous mountain is popular for its four summits. They say that each summit is a unique challenge for hikers.

There are many tour agencies in Armenia that offer hiking tours to Aragats and many other mountains as well. If you happen to arrive at the peak of Mount Aragats, take a deep breath and try to see the symbolic mountain that is Ararat.

5. Discover Armenia’s capital of Yerevan

Have you ever heard about the Armenian rosy capital? Yerevan is the largest city in Armenia. It’s known for its pink color because the majority of the buildings are built with Armenian tufa stone. As a result, the city itself looks rosy. In Armenia, the majority of industries are centralized in Yerevan. All the essential educational institutions are also located here.

There are many attractive buildings and places to discover in Yerevan, including the Republic Square with its unique and influential architecture, the Opera house, Cascade, various parks, etc.

In my opinion, you’ll enjoy Cascade most of all. This is a huge stairway that was built on limestone. There are interesting sculptures and various figures at every level of this staircase. You have two ways to arrive at the top, either walk upstairs or take an escalator. In any case, in the end, the breathtaking view of the city awaits you, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot Mount Ararat.

6. Armenia’s rich history

This small country has a long history that dates back centuries. They say the country originated in 3500 BC. Since then the Armenian land housed several dynasties, including the Artashisian dynasty (the first Armenian kingdom), the Arshakunian dynasty, the Bagratunian dynasty, and the Rubinian dynasty.

In 1918, the First Republic of Armenia was founded and it lasted for two years. From 1922 up to 1991 Armenia was a member of the Soviet Union. Currently, Armenia is an independent country that celebrates its independence day every year on September 21st.

7. Armenia’s amazing culture

Armenia is a very culturally rich country with its architectural monuments, customs, and traditions. The official language and religion are inseparable parts of the national culture.

The Armenian language is beautiful yet complex, especially for foreigners. There are some sounds that are very difficult to pronounce. As for the religion, Armenia is the first country that adopted Christianity as a state religion, in 301. It’s no surprise then, that most attractions in Armenia are its beautiful churches.

8. Armenia’s impressive monuments

There are a ton of monuments in Armenia, and each one is more impressive than the last. One of the most popular monuments is Mother Armenia. This monument is situated in a park, in the capital city of Yerevan. The park is known as Victory Park, but natives call it Monument Park because of the Mother Armenia monument. This huge statue looks towards the city and expresses the power, willingness, and wisdom of the Armenian nation.

Other famous monuments are the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and Nor Arabkir Memorial Complex Yerevan.

9. Armenia’s famous sculptures

Some people think that memorials are the same as sculptures. I agree that both are somehow confusing but I differentiate them: monuments are memorial complexes, while sculptures are statues of famous people.

Armenia is full of sculptures. You may see them in every corner of the capital, as well as in many other cities and even on the highways. If you walk around the capital Yerevan, you will see many statues of Armenian as well as foreign famous writers, artists, scientists, actors, singers, etc. 

You may be surprised about the presence of statues on highways, but that’s how they are in Armenia! The statue of Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan is located near the city of Ijevan, right on the highway.

10. The amazing food and cuisine in Armenia

Armenian cuisine is the most delicious. Here you may find tasty dishes made of fresh vegetables, meat, and other ingredients. Armenians like to eat tastily. Maybe this is the reason for having such a unique and delicious cuisine that includes dishes like Barbeque, Dolma, Harissa, Spas, Ghapama, etc. If you visit Armenia, make sure you taste these dishes.

It’s also good to know that there is a difference between Eastern and Western Armenian cuisines. Each of them has their own unique meals. For example, the lamb is replaced with pork and beef, the wine is bested by vodka and cognac. The Eastern Armenian cuisine is famous for Kiev, borscht, and okroshka. As for Western Armenian cuisine, the most common dishes are mante, dolma, gata, baklava, choereg, Armenian lula kebab, cheese borek, etc. You can find both types of Armenian cuisine in Armenia.

If you’re looking to enjoy amazing food in Armenia’s capital, be sure to check out our guide to the 20 best restaurants in Yerevan.

11. The pure water in Armenia

Water is a special element in Armenia. It’s fresh, clean, and tasty. Everybody wonders what makes this water fresher and better than anywhere else. The answer is obvious. The water in Armenia comes from the highest mountains, making it natural and fresh. 

There is an interesting tradition in Armenia about building water fountains. It is the norm to build fountains and name them after dead people. They say these people won’t be forgotten if the water flows through the fountain.

Also, one of the fun things is that you can find freshwater fountains everywhere in Yerevan and in Armenia, called Pulpulaks. This means you have a chance to get free freshwater. So be sure to be as eco-friendly as possible and bring along your reusable water bottle so you can fill it up everywhere! 

12. The famous Armenian cognac

Armenian cognac (brandy) is world-renown. There are many brandy making factories that produce Armenian brandy that is enjoyed not only in the country but it’s also exported to other countries.

They say that if the word Armenia is seen on a bottle of brandy, then it is naturally perfect! Be sure to try a bottle yourself when you are visiting. You can even tour the famous Ararat brandy factory to see how this liquid gold is made.

13. Wine is an Armenian specialty

Besides cognac, Armenian wines are also very popular. Since ancient times, Armenian people have cultivated grapes and made various types of wines. A few years ago, the oldest winery in the world “Areni” was discovered in Armenia. You can visit the site while you are traveling in Armenia, either as a day trip or on your journey to Noravank or Goris.

There are various types of Armenian wines made of different sorts of grapes. The most popular wines are produced by brands like Armenian Wine, Areni, Vernashen, Ijevan, etc. A few years ago, the oldest winery in the world “Areni-1” was discovered in Armenia. 

14. The amazing lavash bread

Do you know that Armenians adore bread? Armenians never sit around the table to eat something without bread. If different nations have such sayings as “to have breakfast, lunch, dinner”, Armenians say “let’s eat bread”.

Lavash is a type of flatbread that is made in a tonir which is an underground oven. You can use Armenian Lavash bread to make tasty sandwiches wrapping greens, veggies, and cheese inside.

It is possible to buy Armenian lavash in any kind of food store and supermarket. However, there are also some special bakeries where they make and sell Armenian lavash on the spot. These are the best places to find freshly baked bread.

15. Delicious sweets to taste in Armenia

Armenian sweets are very sweet. Here you can eat the tastiest fruits such as apricots, pomegranates, figs, grapes, apples, and more. The best seasons to try these fresh fruits are summer and autumn. At the beginning of the summer, the best things to eat are berries: strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, raspberries, etc. Then, the Armenian symbolic apricot comes later in the summer, and the rest of the fruits follow after that. The best time to taste the sweetest Armenian grapes is autumn. This is the time of harvest.

Armenians also make very tasty dried fruits. When no fresh fruits are available, you can taste the most delicious dried fruits. Armenian dry many kinds of fruits under the natural sunlight, giving them an even more delicious flavor.

There are also chocolate companies in Armenia, that produce very tasty chocolate. All of these companies use only high-quality products and natural ingredients, including cocoa and dairy products, nuts and different fillings. You may even eat chocolate that has dried fruits inside.

16. The beautiful Lake Sevan

Have you ever heard about the Armenian sea? Well, it’s actually Lake Sevan! To Armenians, it’s considered to be the Armenian sea.

It is the largest body of water in the country and is known as the “blue-eyed beauty” of Armenia. The lake is especially popular in summer. During this season, it is full of people who escape from the heat of the cities and enjoy their time at the beaches of Lake Sevan.

17. Armenia’s markets

You can find thousands of local markets in Armenia. The most interesting ones are those where people sell homemade food, fruits, and vegetables that they have cultivated, homemade beverages (wine, vodka, juice, etc.).

There is an open-air souvenir market in Yerevan called “Vernissage”. At this market, you may find various souvenirs with national symbols, silver jewelry, Armenian rugs, and more. If you come to Armenia and want to take presents back to your relatives, then surely visit Vernissage.

18. Armenia is budget-friendly

Armenia is a budget-friendly country. It’s a great choice for people who want to travel on a budget. Want to know how? This country offers a wide choice of accommodations for people. Here, you’ll find both 5-star hotels and ordinary guest houses. If you travel on a budget, you can stay in guesthouses that will cost up to $15.00 USD daily.

As for food, you can find luxury restaurants, and cafes, as well as simple places right on the road where you can eat a shawarma or something similar. The cost of a cup of coffee is up to $0.50, and a shawarma is about $2.00.

19. The impressive Wings of Tatev 

The longest reversible aerial tramway in the world is actually in Armenia. It’s called the Wings of Tatev. It’s a 5.7 km long cableway that connects the village of Halidzor with the 9th century monastery of Tatev.

Starting from the Halidzor village, you should be ready to enjoy the breathtaking view of the wild nature, forests, and gorges from the ropeway. Arriving at the destination, you’ll see the 9th century monastery of Tatev with its unique architecture.

20. Celebrate during one of Armenia’s famous festivals

Armenians love celebrations! Here you can experience various events and festivals. I recommend taking part in “Vardavar”, the Armenian celebration when people drench each other with water.

Vardava is celebrated in summer and is a perfect solution for the sweltering heat. It’s the celebration of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. However, they say that the tradition of celebrating Vardavar comes from pagan times. It was devoted to one of the goddesses, Astghik. She was the goddess of water, love, beauty, and fertility. Vardavar doesn’t have a fixed date, but is usually celebrated 98 days after Easter (which is a whole other festival).

Other interesting festivals are devoted to Armenian wines (Wine Days, Areni Wine Festival, etc.), dishes (Dolma festival, Barbeque festival, etc). These festivals are accompanied by national songs and dances. In case you are interested in such events, you may search the Armenian festival calendar on the internet.

Vera Mirzoyan is a travel blogger. She adores traveling and finds herself constantly writing about any magic under the sun. She believes it’s important to focus not only on creating great content but also on optimizing this content. She knows trustworthy content that doesn’t reach its target audience doesn’t have any worth. You can connect with Vera on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

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