Top Tourist Places to Visit in Armenia

Armenia has the religious superlative of being the first Christian country in the world. Armenia adopted Christianity as its official state religion in 301 A.D. Armenia has been a part of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Empire, and U.S.S.R. This country has seen a lot of empires rise & fall. As of today, Armenia is a democracy.

The places to visit in Armenia include churches, monasteries, ancient temples, nature sights, lakes, mountains, etc. The most popular things to do in Armenia include skiing, hiking, rock-climbing, camping, and of course eating your heart out. The traditional cuisines are a popular among Armenia attractions within themselves. The official church of Armenia is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which draws from the tradition of Apostles Bartholomew & Thaddeus of Edessa. The lance resting in the church is said to be the fabled spear o destiny. The lance is brought open for public during the Holy Lance Festival held at the Church. This has to be one of most religiously significant Armenia tourist spot.

Speaking of festivals, The festival is one of the reason many people visit Armenia. But, that is not the only festival. When it comes to Armenia, the festivals don’t stop. There are more festivals than there are Armenia tourist places. If not the culture & architecture, the festivals are the most interesting things to see in Armenia. Almost everything local & traditional has a festival built around it. There is a festival of wine, a festival of beer, a festival of food, a festival of customs, a festival of costumes, a festival of carpets, and the list goes on, actually we have listed them below in detail. If you want to experience the true Armenian culture these festivals are the best places to visit in Armenia. There are festivals dedicated to drenching people in water and one dedicated to throwing coolers on people while they run marathon. These are truly the most fun things to do in Armenia. The list doesn’t stop a common festival, there are festivals for all sub-categories of traditions & traditional items as well. There are festivals dedicated to each individual food items & preparations.

Armenia must see the festivals dedicated to food as a blessing, hence they have so many of them. The food festivals are actually the best places to visit in Armenia to indulge in the local cuisine. Then there are festivals dedicated to the pastoral life & village traditions, which are among Armenia famous places. These pastoral festivals are also great Armenia tourist attractions.

Then there is the rafting & ecotourism festival dedicated to Armenia beautiful places resting in the laps of nature. Nature exploration & adventure are among top attractions of Armenia. The country boats another superlative: world’s longest ropeway line. The view from this ropeway is best during summers and during winters it’s used to transport skiing enthusiasts up the mountain. Riding this ropeway is among top things to do in Armenia. The mountains are among top places to see in Armenia, but none more significant than Mount Ararat. Mount Ararat doesn’t actually fall in the borders of Armenia, it stands in Turkey. It is the sight of the imposing creation which makes Khor Virap one of the most important places to visit in Armenia. The mountain is also a part of the biblical tale of Noah. It is said that Noah’s ark stopped on this Mountain after the great flood and he settled in the valley of Mount Ararat after the flood. This story alone makes it a popular Armenia tourist spot. Another such naturally beautiful Armenia attractions is the Lake Sevan. The lake is huge by the way and absolutely one of Armenia beautiful places. The gifts of nature also trickle to the churches & taps of Armenia.

The country has the most delicious water drawn from the mountain springs. The country still has a very village & pastoral appeal to it, except for the national capital of Yerevan. Armenia is often overlooked as a tourist attraction, and it is an advantage for those who actually visit Armenia. The tourist rush at places to visit in Armenia is scarce, so you won’t have to wait in line or hurry through your visit. You can take your time enjoying Armenia tourist places. One eerie aspect you will find is that many villages & towns seem abandoned. There are no ghost stories to it, it’s just that majority of the population either moved to cities or travel abroad.

There are actually more Armenian people living outside the country then in Armenia. These abandoned towns make up for great Armenia tourist spot. In terms of costing, you will find it really inexpensive to visit Armenia. This includes all aspects of your vacation like food, accommodation, and travel. The people too are really friendly towards tourists. You will find it easy to strike a conversation & even get help if needed from the people. Armenia is still developing as a tourist attraction in Eurasia, but you should check out this wonderland before it becomes overrun by tourists.

Provinces & Best Places to Visit in Armenia

1. Aragatsotn Province

Aragatsotn province is known for its beautiful mountains and lakes which form amazing hike trails to enjoy. It is also known fro Jesus’s Church as well as other historical structures for sightseeing.

2. Ararat Province

The Province is named after mount Ararat. It is the mountain from the biblical tale of Noah. The province is as much a tourist site as it is religiously significant for the people of Armenia.

3. Gegharkunik Province

The province is known for the beautiful monasteries and Lake Sevan. Being the largest Armenian province, there are several picturesque landscapes to explore in Gegharkunik. You can also enjoy water sports at Lake Sevan when you visit Armenia.

4. Kotayk Province

Kotayk Province is known for the variety of winter activities and adventurous things to do in Armenia. This is the place to go to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in winter.

5. Lori Province

Lori province is most known for the archeological remains of fortress city founded by King David Anhoghin in the 11th century. Among other places to visit in Armenia located in Lori province are monasteries and a fortress.

6. Shirak Province

Shirak Province has a meadow mountain terrain, which is quite different from rest of Armenia. The capital city Gyumri has a lot of historical as well as contemporary tourist attractions to explore. Lake Arpi National Park is also one of the biggest attractions to visit in Armenia in Shirak Province.

7. Syunik Province

Syunik province is one of the best places to visit in Armenia to explore historical structures. There are a variety of historical and archeological sites to explore in Syunik ranging from cave villages to ancient fortresses.

8. Tavush Province

Tavush is often referred to as small Switzerland of Armenia. It has mesmerizing landscapes to explore. It is one of the most popular provinces to visit in Armenia for hiking, trekking and camping.

9. Vayots Dzor Province

Also known as Bayatzur Province, this place has some interesting historical places to visit in Armenia. You can explore archeological caves, monasteries, fortresses and museums in Vayots Dzor Province.

10. Yerevan

Yerevan is the capital of Armenia. It is definitely the most popular tourist destination in the country. You can enjoy everything you would expect from Armenia in Yerevan itself. It has historical sites, nature and adventure activities.

Best time to visit Armenia

The best time to visit Armenia would be spring and autumn. The months of summer are hot for things to do in Armenia and the winter is too cold for places to visit in Armenia. The monsoon makes it impossible to access some of the Armenia tourist attractions. Hence, if you are planning to visit Armenia, do so between May to June or August to October. Even between these two choices, the May to June window is great in terms of weather. Though if skiing is on your things to do in Armenia list, then winter is definitely best time to visit Armenia.

Popular Festivals, Events & Things to do in Armenia

1. Anniversary of Erebuni-Yerevan

• • Dates: October 19
  • Location: Yerevan
  • It’s the birthday of Yerevan city. The city was established in 8 century and has celebrated over 2800 birthdays and going strong. Yerevan itself is one of the best places to visit in Armenia. On this day the city is especially decorated to grandeur.

2. Taraz Festival

• • Dates: August 4
  • Location: Yerevan
  • Taraz is a festival celebrating the traditions of Armenia, especially the local identity & attire. You will find many people dressed in the tradition Armenian attire on this day.

3. Vardavar Festival

• • Dates: July 8
  • Location: All across Armenia
  • This is like a water war festival in a way. It’s a tradition where people would splash water on each other. You will often find people drenched in water on the street and further drenching other people in water. It is a really fun among things to do in Armenia. It also gives you great opportunity to mingle with the local people when you visit Armenia during Vardavar Festival.

4. 1000 Years of Village Life

• • Dates: September 27
  • Location: Pshatavan, Armavir Province
  • This is a festival dedicated to pastoral traditions of Armenia. It is one of the best cultural experience in Armenia and also one of the most interesting things to do in Armenia. This festival allows you to spend an entire day living the pastoral life with beekeeping, cattle rearing, farming etc. You can also engage in handicrafts and arts during the festival. If not participate you can merely observe the people reliving rural lifestyle among things to see in Armenia.

5. Artsakh Airfest

• • Date: July 13
  • Location: Stepanakert Airport
  • This fest is primarily an airshow. You can see incredible aerial acrobatics being performed. You can also experience hot air balloon rides, paragliding, and ride in a small plane. Besides the sky, the scenic view of the mountains is equally beautiful. The festival also hosts music & dance, as all festivals do.

6. Arni Wine Festival

• • Dates: October 3
  • Location: Arni, Vayots Dzor
  • This festival celebrates the great wine making traditions of Armenia. This is especially a fun Armenia attractions to attend for couples owing to the grapes crushing competitions. Not that singles & friends wouldn’t have fun here. You will also see a lot of cultural dresses, dances, music, and games being carried out during the festival making it a culturally significant Armenia points of interest.

7. Ecotourism Festival

• • Dates: dates unannounced
  • Location: Yeghegis, Vayotz Dzor Province
  • This is a festival fit for wanderers and nature lovers. The festival includes many things to do in Armenia including hiking, cycling, camping, wildlife tour, photography etc. This is combined with local cuisines of Armenian attractions and leisure activities like yoga.

8. Yerevan Beer Festival

• • Date: July 12
  • Location: Yerevan
  • It is festival celebrating beer, so there is not doubt on the amount of fun you can have here. The festival has beer, music, dance, games, and other entertainment. Frankly there is not much one can ask from life in terms of merriment. But it is not just drinking beer that this festival celebrates, it is also the culture of brewery and variety of beers. It is becoming a very popular Armenia tourist spot for jugs of fun.

9. Snowman & Snow art Festival

• • Dates: February 17 and 18
  • Location: Jermuk, Vayotz Dzor Province
  • It is a festival of winter haven. Jermuk is one of the best places to visit in Armenia during winters. This festival celebrates all things snowy. The snow art & sculptures are also some of the most popular things to see in Armenia. You can also enjoy skiing, sledging, snowboarding, snowman building, and other activities among things to do in Armenia during this festival.

10. Rafting Festival

• • Dates: May 30-31
  • Location: Tumanyan, Lori Province
  • This a festival for the adventurous kind. The rafting festival is exactly as advertised for adventurous things to do in Armenia. The participation has to be made prior to the festival with the Armenian Tourism Rafting Foundation.

11. Navasard Festival

• • Dates: January 15th
  • Location: All across Armenia
  • This is a pre-christian festival, but is still very much a part of the Armenian traditions. It is also one of the most culturally rich Armenia points of interest. The pagan story is that the Gods bathe in the river & watch the celebrations from atop the mountains. But, the festival also has association with the story of Noah in the Bible. It is said that this was the day when Noah’s Ark touched the mount Ararat.

12. Festival of Gata

• • Date: September 21
  • Location: Khachik, Vayots Dzor
  • Gata is a local Armenian preparation of bread. On this festival you will find this bread baked in every size, shape, and cuisine possible. A special Armenia points of interest is preparation of the largest Gata. Once prepared, you can even taste the large bread. This is again a very pastoral looking festival and popular among things to do in Armenia.

13. Yerevan Wine Days

• • Dates: May 11 & 12
  • Location: Saryan Street, Yerevan
  • It’s a celebration of the fine wines produced at the Wineries of Armenia, which themselves are important Armenia tourist spots. One these days the wine flows. During this festival Saryan street is the best among Armenia points of interest for wine tasting. The restaurants too offer a variety of preparation which either involve wine or are great accompaniments to wine. For the connoisseurs of wine, this would be the favorite time to visit Armenia.

14. Yerevan Colour Run

• • Dates: July 16
  • Location: Hamilar Complex
  • This is a 5 km long marathon where people throw color on the runners as well as one another. This is yet another festival which lists among fun things to do in Armenia. It is amusing to be a part of this festival if you visit Armenia in July. Just remember to wear a white t-shirt & unleash the colors. This is also a great Armenia attractions for unique photo opportunities.

15. Yell Extreme Park Festival

• • Dates: July 25
  • Location: Yenokavan, Tavush Province
  • Yenokavan and Yell Extreme Park are among the best places to visit in Armenia. Add to that a festival which allows for few adventurous things to do in Armenia like hiking, mountian climbing, paragliding, horseback riding, zip line etc. makes it a great fun.

16. Cultural Rennaissance

• • Dates: September 7
  • Location: Dilijan, Tavush Province
  • Cultural Renaissance is about the revival of culture and traditions of Armenia. Shopping for souvenirs, handicrafts, carpets, and local produce is among popular things to do in Armenia. In fact you will find the most variety of all things local and popular shopping items among Armenia attractions here.

17. Armenia Carpet Festival

• • Dates: September 8
  • Location: Dilijan, Tavush Province
  • Carpets are among Armenia top attractions. These artistically woven carpets have a long history & tradition tied with Armenia. This festival is also a great place to buy a carpet, as shopping is among the best things to do in Armenia.

18. International Balloon Festival

• • Dates: September 15 to 18
  • Location: Yerevan
  • It is not about the balloons you hold in your hands. This is the festival of Balloons which hold you in the sky. Many participants from many countries visit Armenia to be a part of the Yerevan sky during the International Balloon Festival. The sky of the Yerevan city becomes a canvas painted with colorful hot air balloons, making it one Armenia beautiful places.

19. Dolma Festival

• • Dates: May 20
  • Location: Hnaberd village, Aragatsotn Province
  • This festival held in the Hnaberd village is dedicated to the national dish of Armenia. Dolma is a preparation of minced meat in grape leaves. There are several different variations of the dish found throughout the country. One could say the the dish itself is a great Armenia points of interest. During the Dolma festival you get to try different varieties of the dish.

20. Bread in the Mountains / Hamov-Hotov Yerevan

• • Date: June 10
  • Location: Yerevan
  • This a a traditional food festival of sorts, but with major focus on bread. The festival hosts a variety of Armenian cuisines and the culture & traditions are brilliantly on display. It again a very cultural experience among things to do in Armenia.

21. Festival of Honey & Berries

• • Dates: August 8 to 9
  • Location: Berd, Tavush Province
  • The event invites local beekeepers to present their variety of honey for people to taste and even purchase if they wish to. The festival also features traditional dance & music performance to keep people entertained. There are also several games designed around the theme of honey and berries for people to enjoy if they visit Armenia during this festival.

22. The Syunik Mulberry Festival

• • Dates: July 7
  • Location: Goris Regional Park, Syunik Province
  • The festival is focused on mulberry native to Syunik. The festival offers a variety of items prepared from mulberry including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, syrups, dishes, deserts, snacks etc.

23. Haybuis Festival

• • Date: June 27
  • Location: Yenokavan, Tavush Province
  • This is festival associated with herbs & local spices. It has a very hippie vegan feel to it as most activities surround various uses of herbs in tea, cuisines, beverages etc. It is an interesting among Armenia attractions for the preparation of 20 meter long sandwich laden with herbs, spices, vegetables, and cheese.

24. Gifts of Syunik

• • Dates: July 1
  • Location: Goris, Karahunge Syunik
  • The festival is closely associated with the traditions of the Syunik region. It focuses on the produces and items in the region. You buy local arts, taste local cuisines, purchase hand-made items, enjoy folk songs and local dance. In terms of cultural experiences this is one of the most engaging things to do in Armenia.

25. The Big Bonfire Festival

• • Dates: September 28
  • Location: Sarukhan, Gegharqunik Province
  • There is no hidden branding or surprises here. This Armenia attraction is exactly as the name narrates. It is a festival centered around a very big bonfire. The festival is dedicated to the harvest. It is also simultaneously a traditional cuisine food festival. You can also learn to prepare these dishes during this festival.

26. Golden Apricot International Film Festival

• • Dates: July 8 to 15
  • Location: Moscow Cinema, Yerevan
  • This film festival promotes endeavors in cinema by local & international film makers. The festival was established in 2004. This is one of Armenia attractions for cinema artists as many films from various countries are showcased and appreciated during the Golden Apricot International Film Festival

27. Grape Blessing Day

• • Dates: September 18
  • Location: All Churches in Armenia
  • This is a day when the grapes are blessed. The people of Armenia believe that blessed grapes will produce good wine. It is also symbolic of blessing harvest & prosperity of the people.

28. Sheep Shearing Festival

• • Dates: June 5
  • Location: Khot village, Syunik
  • This is a festival associated with pastoral roots. You see people dressed traditionally and attending to sheep with a traditional type of scissors. There are also several other activities & merriment going around during this festival. If you wish to experience the traditional pastoral lifestyle of the villages, this festival is an Armenia points of interest for you.

29. Watermelon Festival

• • Dates: July 22
  • Location: Swan Lake, Yerevan
  • This is not so much a watermelon festival as it is a watermelon carving competition & fashion show. The center of Armenia attractions here are the watermelons and the art is the incredible variety of ways this fruit can be sculpted and presented. It is also a great relief in the summer time. You will also find various preparations of watermelon served at this festival.

30. Fish Festival

• • Dates: April 11
  • Location: Abovyan, Kotayk Province
  • Though Armenia is not a coastal region, the fish festival is well celebrated. Many local and even some foreign chefs come to participate in this festival to prepare a unique cuisine from fish. You will also find major hotels & restaurants participating in this festival.

31. Barbecue Festival

• • Dates: August 18
  • Location: Akhtala, Lori Province
  • You will get all kinds of barbecue dishes at the food festival of Armenia. This festival is among Armenia attractions for those who wish to relish Armenian cuisine, especially the barbecued one.

32. Lavash Day

• • Dates: August 1
  • Location: Tsaghkunk, Gegharkunik Province
  • Lavash is a kind of Armenian flatbread and the festival is dedicated to various preparations and cuisines concerning this flatbread. It is also a food fest of sorts combining various cuisines, both local & foreign with Lavash flatbread.

33. Tea & Coffee Festival

• • Dates: October 3 & 4
  • Location: Yerevan
  • The tea & coffee festival is exactly as advertised, a festival dedicated to the beverages, namely tea & coffee. A speciality among things to see in Armenia is the preparation of mountain herbal tea, which you get at this festival. You can also purchase the local and foreign varieties of the beverages at this festival.

34. The Holy Lance Festival

• • Dates: November 28
  • Location: Echmiadzin, Armavir Province
  • This festival is dedicated to the Feast of Apostles St. Thaddeus & St. Barthalomew. The Holy Spear is open for people to receive blessings from on this day at the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin.

35. Harissa Festival

• • Date: September 20
  • Location: Musaler, Armavir Province
  • The harissa is local Armenian dish with an incredible story of war, bravery, and rescue behind it. Large pots are used to cook this dish and merrily served to people around. This dish is also among Armenia attractions and this festival offers the most authentic preparation of harissa.

36. Yerevan Jazz Day

• • Dates: April 30
  • Location: Cascade Complex, Yerevan
  • Yerevan Jazz Day takes place on the International Jazz Day. Armenian musicians along with few foreign musicians gather for performances at the Cascade Complex. The event is an Armenia points of interest for local musicians.

Emergency Contacts for Tourist in Armenia

Police: 102
Ambulance: 103
Fire Fighters: 101

Useful Mobile Apps for Armenia

1. 911 SOS Armenia

This is the go to app if you fall into any trouble when you visit Armenia. Whether you are exploring places to visit in Armenia or exploring nature on a hike, this app allows you to call for help with a single tap on the phone.

2. Localz

This app helps you find a local tour guide for things to do in Armenia. You can make an itenary for yourself of the Armenia top attractions you want to visit and the app will find you a suitable guide. You can then easily explore the places to visit in Armenia with the help of your local guide.

3. Yerevan Card

Yerevan Card gives you access to many things at discounts and some even without a cost. This will get you entry to Armenia tourist spot and is useful for dining and transport as well.

4. Ginosi Apartels

This app is like Airbnb. You can search for places to stay when you visit Armenia. You can even search & pre-book the places.

5. Yerevan Events

This apps helps you seek exciting events taking place in the national capital of Armenia. It is basically a things to do in Armenia list in form of events. Aside from the places to visit in Armenia, these events give you an opportunity to gain unique experiences & experience the culture when you visit Armenia.

6. Spyur

This app is helps you find anything you want in Armenia. It is a yellow pages equivalent for Armenia. You will find all kinds of companies, products, and services listed on this app.

7. Velo Park

Velo park is an app for those who wish to get around on bicycles to get around in Yerevan. You can basically rent a cycle from one spot & drop it on another spot. It is great if the Armenia tourist attractions you want to visit are close-by.

8. HikeArmenia

There is no false advertising here. As the name suggests, this is an app for hiking in Armenia to the natural places to see in Armenia. Everything from the trail guide to weather conditions is available on this app for Armenia beautiful places for nature exploration. Hiking is one of the most popular things to do in Armenia, hence this app comes in pretty handy while walking the wild natural landscapes.

9. Yandex.Taxi

Yandex is the Uber for Armenia. You can hire a cab to get to things to see in Armenia with taxi on demand. You can choose from luxury cars to regular cars as you mode of transport as you explore best places to visit in Armenia.

10. EarlyOne

This is an app more for the locals than travelers, but you will find it useful if you ever come across the hassle of waiting in line for some reason. This app allows you to reserve your spot in a line, like a token number, while you do other things to do in Armenia.

11. OyoLingo & DuoLingo

This is a language learning app. Even if you don’t learn the entire language, it will be very helpful if you learn a few key phrases to use when you visit Armenia like asking for directions, asking price, thank you, sorry, please, greetings, etc.

12. Other Yerevan

This app is great for exploring history & architecture of Yerevan. The app works like a treasure hunt map for Armenia must see historical places. It gives you the history, stories, and facts about the historical Armenia tourist attractions.

13. GG.Taxi

This is the another parallel app to Uber for Armenia. In this app you can also choose a truck or a minivan as a mode for transport aside from the usual cars to get to Armenia tourist spot.

14. Maps.me

maps.me is an application equivalent to google maps for Armenia. Though you can use Google maps as well, they work pretty well to guide you to Armenia tourist places. This app works offline as well, so is specially useful for adventure & nature exploration among things to do in Armenia.

15. Menu.am

This app let’s you discover restaurants & order food. You would want to eat out if you visit Armenia. Nobody goes on a vacation to order food in the Hotel room. This app is also great for exploring restaurants and find you great spots near places to see in Armenia so that sightseeing & dining can go hand in hand.

16. A2B Transport

This app will guide you through the public transport system of Yerevan. As the name says, this app will help you get from point A to point B using public transport mediums. You can also find your way to all Armenia tourist spot using this app.

17. Sovats.am

This is another app for exploring food outlets & ordering food. You can search for restaurants near you as you are exploring Armenia beautiful places.

Safety Tips for Armenia Trip

• You should learn few basic phrases in Russian or Armenian language to ease the communication gap. English is not as widely spoken as other tourist countries.
• The infrastructure of Armenia is not as developed as other European countries. So certain luxuries of developed countries would be missing when you visit Armenia.
• Armenia is a pretty safe country to travel to, it has a very pastoral vibe to it, where you would quite secure.
• You won’t be bothered by a lot of tourists there. The places to visit in Armenia are scarcely crowded, making it a very easy journey.
• You won’t be able to travel to neighboring Turkey or Azerbaijan. The borders to Georgia are very open though.
• Keep cash handy, and withdraw a little extra as it is difficult to find banks & ATMs once you start exploring Armenia tourist places.
• You will also need cash in majority of places, cards & digital transactions are not very common aside from the capital city.
• If you are planning a road trip to visit Armenia or thinking of driving yourself to Armenia attractions, know that the roads are not very good and the local drivers are quite reckless & aggressive. You will have to be extra careful while driving, especially around the valleys & mountains.
• In the same vein, be very careful when crossing the roads.
• The tap water is safe to drink as it comes from the mountain springs, it also tastes great.