Looking for an easy Armenia itinerary that maximises a first-time visit to the country? This guide details how to travel overland from Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia with an epic 7-day Armenia itinerary.
- About Armenia
- Travel to Armenia
- Best time to visit?
- Getting there
- Getting around
- How long do you need?
- ARMENIA ITINERARY
- Places to visit in Armenia
Vanazdor
Dilijan
Sevan
Yerevan
Garni - Food in Armenia
- Where to eat
- Where to stay
- More about travel in West Asia
About Armenia
Armenia is a very historic country in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. It is situated quite literally at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Albeit Armenia is the smallest of the three Trans-Caucasus nations. Though the good news considering your Armenia itinerary? It absolutely holds its own in terms of history, hiking, food and wine.
Travel to Armenia
For travellers, this part of West Asia is a unique blend of culture and influence with history that dates to the times of the Silk Road and beyond.
The landscape of Armenia is diverse with destinations within the country ranging from snow-capped mountains to tranquil lakes and back to the cityscape of Yerevan.
There are monasteries galore, hiking to be done and wineries and food to be tasted!
What is the best time to year to visit Armenia?
The months of spring (April – June) and autumn (September – October) have the most comfortable temperatures and fewer tourists.
In the summer holiday months of July and August the lakeside and hill resorts of Armenia are popular with domestic and Caucasus tourism.
We enjoyed the week of our Armenia itinerary in June with beautiful weather.
Getting there
Many travellers start their Armenia itinerary overland from Tbilisi in Georgia (as we did). Though in recent years there are more and more airlines serving Yerevan Airport, including low-cost flights with Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Zvartnots International Airport is located around 12km from the city centre. It is easy to connect to the city by bus, taxi or Marshrutka.
Travelling overland from Tbilisi to Yerevan is straightforward and doable in a day. We started our Armenia itinerary in Vanadzor after arriving overland by Marshrutka from Tbilisi, Georgia.
Getting around in Armenia
Once you have arrived in Armenia it is easy to get around the country to the varied city destinations by Marshrutka.
In the cities, and especially in Yerevan, taxis are a convenient way to get around. Taxis are very affordable in Armenia, especially with Yandex Taxi, a local Uber.
Heading north from Yerevan, you can take a direct minivan to Sevan, which departs a few times a day. There are also direct connections, that continue past Sevan heading for Vardenis, Dilijan, Ijevan, or Vanadzor.
How long do you need in Armenia?
We had one week for our Armenia itinerary, and this was an awesome introduction to the country and culture. (And food!).
Obviously, the longer you have somewhere the more you can explore.
Though we had travelled overland from Tbilisi towards Yerevan, meaning our Armenia itinerary was in one direction. In this way we didn’t have to double back on ourselves as if we had started and turned back to Yerevan.
- Tip: Yerevan is not a huge city, so 2 days to explore the city is a good amount of time.
Choosing an Armenia Itinerary
Our Armenia itinerary was somewhat dictated by our point of arrival – from Tbilisi in Georgia.
We had one week in Armenia. So, our Armenia itinerary was spread between five different places in Armenia: Vanadzor, Dilijan, Sevan, Yerevan and Garni.
- Day 1 – Vanadzor
- Day 2 – Dilijan
- Day 3 – Sevan
- Day 4 – Sevan
- Day 5 – Yerevan
- Day 6 – Yerevan
- Day 7 – Garni
It turned out to be the ideal Armenia itinerary with a good spread between the smaller towns and the capital city of Yerevan.
Places to visit – Armenia Itinerary
The following are the 5 places we visited on our Armenia itinerary and the top things to do in each destination.
VANADZOR – Armenia Itinerary
Vanadzor is an urban municipal community and the third largest city in Armenia. It is the city serving as the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country.
For us, this was the first stop on our Armenia itinerary. We arrived over the border by Mashrutka from Tbilisi in Georgia.
Usually, the Mashrutka make the border crossing journey from Tbilisi to Yerevan. But we hopped off – quite literally – on the side of the highway on the outskirts of Vanadzor.
Things to do in Vanadzor, Armenia
Despite being the third largest city in Armenia, Vanadzor isn’t a very large city. The main things to do are to explore the inner city, the park and shop at the bazaar.
- Sayat-Nova Park: This is the central city park, which in typically post-Soviet style is a large green space with statues, plants and flowers.
- Church of the Holy Mother of God: Located on a hill at the confluence of rivers Pambak and Tandzut, the Church of the Holy Mother of God was founded in 1828-1830. It is one of the landmarks of Vanadzor.
- Vanadzor Market: The covered agricultural market of Vanadzor has operated in the city for several decades now. It is a typical example of Soviet industrial architecture – but the fruits are delish!
DILIJAN – Armenia Itinerary
Dilijan is currently the fastest-growing urban settlement in Armenia. The town is one of the most important resorts in Armenia, situated within the Dilijan National Park.
We had read it dubbed as the ‘Armenian Switzerland’. Which albeit might be a slight exaggeration on resort-style accommodation. Though it is an alpine city known for its forests, hiking and mountain views.
Things to do in Dilijan, Armenia
Dilijan strives to live up to its title of the Armenian Switzerland with many hiking trails and a serene (small) resort-village vibe.
- Dilijan Bazaar: A small but bustling area with a mix of shops, restaurants, and cafes.
- Goshavank Monastery: This is a 40-minute drive from Dilijan located on the banks of the Getik River in the village of Gosh. It was built in the 12th -13th centuries and represents a uniquely Armenian architectural style.
- Haghartsin Monastery: It’s about a 13km drive from Dilijan centre, but the views and monastery are worth it.
- Jukhtakvank Monastery: This an 11th– or 12th-century monastery situated in a clearing within Dilijan National Park. It is a quiet, short hike up to it though the monastery is completely abandoned.
SEVAN – Armenia Itinerary
Sevan is another of the popular resort towns in Armenia. The town is situated on the shore of Lake Sevan, which is the largest lake in the country.
Lake Sevan is considered the ‘jewel’ of Armenia and is recognized as a national treasure in the country. It is the largest freshwater lake in the Caucasus region and one of the biggest alpine lakes in Eurasia.
Things to do in Sevan, Armenia
Sevan is located on a plateau just shy of 2,000 metres (6,300ft) above sea level. As a result, it is noticeably cooler in temperature making it a popular summer retreat for local tourists.
- Lake Sevan: Even though Lake Sevan is one of the highest lakes of this size in the world, and the water can get very cold at times. During summer the lake is popular for water sports such as swimming and windsurfing.
- Sevanavank Monastery: This is the icon of Lake Sevan known as the ‘Black Monastery’. It was first established in the 4th century shortly after Christianity was declared Armenia’s official state religion.
- Eat Fish: Lake Sevan supplies Armenia with around 90% of its fresh fish.
- Soviet Viewing Platform: Built in 1978 (by the Soviet, obvs) on the shore of Lake Sevan.
YEREVAN – Armenia Itinerary
Interestingly, the city of Yerevan is older than Rome! The city dates to 782 BC with the establishment of the Erebuni Fortress. Today it is the capital city of Armenia, and another capital on the cusp of Europe and Asia.
It has been a major centre for trade and culture over the centuries, evolving through various empires and eventually becoming the capital of Armenia.
Between 1918 and 1920, Yerevan was the capital of independent Armenia before it became part of Russia and the Soviet Union again.
Then in 1991, when Armenia regained independence, Yerevan again became the capital city of the country.
Things to do in Yerevan, Armenia
The city has a mixture of beautiful architecture from various influence, rich history and plenty of good, cheap foods to try.
- Yerevan Cascade: Climb to the top of the Cascade staircase for the best views of Yerevan.
- Victory Park: This is one of the biggest green spaces in Yerevan and commands great views of the city.
- Yerevan Street Art: In 2023 Yerevan hosted its first street art festival! There are several large-scale murals around the city.
- Republic Square: Also known simply as ‘The Square’ or Hraparak, this public space is the heart and social centre of Yerevan.
- Pulpulaks: These are Yerevan’s drinking fountains erected in the 1920’s as another unique feature of the city’s urban planning. You will spot them everywhere – and they are fine to drink!
GARNI – Armenia Itinerary
Garni is a breathtaking historical site in Armenia. The village of Garni is in central Armenia, around 30km (19mi) east of Yerevan.
The historic village is famous for the incredible Temple of Garni.
Garni Temple is a classical colonnaded structure that dates to the 1st century AD. It is identified as a pagan temple built by King Tiridates I as a temple to the sun god Mihr (Mithra).
It is a fabulous place to visit on your Armenia itinerary.
Things to do in Garni, Armenia
The area of Garni itself has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC. So with a history that long, it should come as no surprise that the historical sites are the top things to do in Garni.
- Garni Temple: The Temple of Garni is an ancient, classical Greek style that is often associated with the 7th century BC.
- Roman Bath: See the remains of a Roman-style bath constructed in the late 3rd century.
- Symphony of Stones: A unique natural wonder which is referred to as the Symphony of Stones or the Basalt Organ.
- Geghard Monastery: This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Garni with medieval monasteries arranged in and adjacent to the Azrat River Gorge cliffside.
Other things to do in Armenia
If you have more time on your Armenia itinerary, there are other places to visit from Yerevan and beyond.
- Khor Virap Monastery
- Geghard (Garni)
- Noravank Monastery
- Mount Aragats
- Amberd Fortress
- Tatev Monastery
- Sanahin Monastery Complex
- History Museum of Armenia
- Areni Wineries
- Goris Cave Dwellings
- Tsitsernakaberd National Genocide Memorial and Museum
Armenian food to try in Armenia
Lamb, eggplant, and bread (lavash) are basic features of Armenian cuisine.
Lamb is often grilled or used in stews and soup. Yoghurt, buttermilk and cheese are also used a lot in Armenian food. While Lavash is served with pretty much every meal – which is brilliant.
Some foods to try in Armenia:
- Choreg – Armenian bread
- Lavash – Armenian flatbread
- Lahmajun – flatbread with topping
- Khorovats – Shish kebabs
- Losh Kebabs – meat patties
- Gomgush – meat stew
- Sini Manti – dumplings
- Harissa – meat porridge
- Dolma – stuffed vegetables
- Borek – puff pastry pie
- Khachapuri – cheese bread
We loved the Khachapuri (bread) in both Georgia and Armenia. Albeit it seems a bit like a cheese-bread-rivalry between the two countries – but it makes for good tasting to confirm!
Restaurants, cafes and where to eat in Armenia
For our first meal out in Yerevan the ladies at the hostel insisted we go to ‘Karas’ – a food chain with four restaurants in the city.
They described it as fast food, but local and traditional. Just the description reminded us instantly of Star Kabab in Bangladesh or Barbar in Lebanon. It is usually a good sign when somewhere is recommended confidently (to us as tourists) by staff.
We had an amazing meal! The kids loved the kebab and berry compote (juice). The staff were fantastic and so welcoming going above and beyond to share the local dishes with us. The owner even gave us a bottle of Armenian red wine – delicious!
Otherwise, some other restaurants and cafes to look out for in Yerevan:
- Karas Restaurant: This is a popular traditional fast-food chain that serves simple Armenian food with a modern twist. We highly recommend Karas when you are in Yerevan.
- Tavern Yerevan: This is a famously traditional Armenian restaurant where the menu is 100% traditional.
- Lavash: The service is fantastic here and the menu is huge. Lavash is often rated as one of the top restaurants in Yerevan. It is the sister restaurant to Tavern Yerevan!
- Lumen 1936: Right at the bottom of the Yerevan Cascade, this café was previously a tobacconist and a bookstore, originally opened in 1940.
Accommodation and where to stay in Armenia
There is a range of accommodation to choose for your Armenia itinerary. We had a mixture of hostel-type accommodation and guesthouses in the smaller cities.
This is where we stayed in Armenia:
- Vanadzor: NOY Guest House B&B
- Dilijan: Dil Hill By Sam
- Sevan: Hayots Ojakh
- Yerevan: Ivy Boutique Hotel
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Useful links for your travel in Armenia and beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before embarking on travel for your Armenia itinerary!