3 days in Armenia
Day One
Morning: Bad news for you if you’re an early bird, not much opens in Yerevan until 10am, and definitely nothing before 8!
If you’re looking for a good early morning coffee, try Lumen Coffee (from 8:30am) or mart Coffee (from 8am) and enjoy a wander through the quiet streets as Armenians slowly wake and get themselves ready for the day ahead.
For your first morning in Armenia, get to know Yerevan’s city centre with a walk around ‘Kentron’! Make sure you make it to:
Republic Square (Hraparak): An architectural beauty of buildings built from a pink stone that is actually made of volcanic ash (how Yerevan got its nickname of The Pink City).
Take a stroll up Northern Avenue, where street performers will be busking every 100 metres, and if you’re looking for another coffee (or maybe a drink) pop into Afrolab just off the main path for a break
Walk up to Yerevan’s Opera Theatre, where families will be out with their kids at all hours of the day! Check the schedule to see if you can catch a show, or just pop in and have a look at the stunning interior…
Just a short walk from the Opera and you’ve reached Cascade, a massive staircase and outdoor art museum with amazing views of the city. You can either climb all 572 steps or go through the museum and take the escalators up to the top!
For lunch, here’s my list of some of my favourite Western Armenian restaurants in the city (I’m a bit biased). You can’t go wrong with any one of them! Otherwise, if you’re looking for something more traditional you can try Sherep, Ktoor, or Vostan!
Afternoon: Visit the Khor Virap Monastery, located just outside of Yerevan. This 17th-century monastery is located at the foot of Mount Ararat and offers stunning views of the mountain and the surrounding landscape. You can see my tips for getting a taxi here.
Evening: To best experience Yerevan nights I would start on Saryan St at In Vino for a pre-dinner glass of wine, charcuterie and people watching. I would call ahead though as it can get pretty busy, especially in Summer!
From here you have so many dinner options close by. Not only are you already on a street full of restaurants, but you’re 5 minutes away from Cascade, another restaurant hub. If you’re looking for traditional Armenian cuisine head down the street to Ktoor, looking for Western Armenian, Rehan is only a 5-minute walk in the opposite direction! Looking for Italian? Limone at Cascade. Whatever you’re in the mood for you’ll find on Saryan.
After dinner (if you still have the energy), it’s time to check out Yerevan’s bars. Each bar has something different to offer and there’s something for everyone! Here’s my list of my favourite cocktail bars, but there are so many other great places around…
Morning: Grab a coffee and breakfast if you’re in the mood and then get ready to explore…
Let’s start the day with a trip to one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world! There are so many reasons to visit Lake Sevan, from the stunning blue waters to the surrounding mountains, churches, food, and activities. Depending on which season you are there, there’s so much to do. My recommendation is to start the day with a trip to Sevanavank Monastery, located on the peninsula of the shores of the lake.
Lunch: From there, my next stop would be to head to Tsaghkunk, a small town located close to the lake, and also the name of one of my favourite restaurants in the country. Local & authentic Armenian cuisine with a twist, everything on the menu is amazing!
After lunch, head back to Yerevan for the rest of your day.
Day Two
Afternoon: After a trip to the lake and some lunch, head to the Armenian Genocide Memorial (Tsitsernakaberd). Here not only will you get to see the beautiful memorial complex, but a visit to the museum will give you all the history about the Armenian Genocide of 1915, an event ingrained in the lives of every Armenian. If you want to understand more about Armenian culture & history, this stop is a must.
Depending on how much energy you have after the lake and memorial visit, you can head to one more museum before the end of the day. I would recommend the Martiros Saryan Art Gallery on Saryan St to see some of Armenia’s most celebrated artists' works.
Evening: My recommendation for night two is to head to Cascade for the sunset with a couple of drinks and enjoy. If you aren’t in the mood to climb the stairs, you can get to the top with the escalators inside the gallery! Then, repeat instructions from night 1… find a restaurant & head out to enjoy the nightlife
Day Three
For your last day in Armenia, there are a couple more must-see tourist destinations. Start your day with a trip out to Garni temple. Built in the 1st century AD this pagan temple was built to worship the sun god, Mihr. It’s amazingly well preserved and set across an incredible backdrop of mountains.
From Garni, go straight to Geghard Monastery. A UNESCO World Heritage Site carved out of a cliffside. Not only is it a beautiful place to visit, but you can also buy some of the best Gata in Armenia outside this monastery. Gata is an Armenian pastry (kind of like a sweet bread) usually with different kinds of fillings, but the most basic is just butter, sugar, and flour! Be sure to take some cash with you to Geghard and buy a few different wheels off the local women selling…
Head back to Yerevan for lunch!
After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring Vernissage markets, a huge outdoor market filled with traditional arts and souvenirs. From there, continue browsing the shops throughout Yerevan. I would recommend popping into Made or 5 Concept for some beautiful Armenian-made clothing.
For dinner, I would have one last meal at somewhere on this list you haven’t been yet, or somewhere here!
Finally, head to Minas for a cocktail and enjoy your last night in Yerevan
