Sights of Yerevan and its surroundings: what to see and where to go | Guide Club

What is worth seeing in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia? You will definitely not be bored once you are in this city. It is beautiful and hospitable, it offers an extraordinary view of Mount Ararat. And most importantly, this city is one of the oldest in the world, it is considered to be the same age as Rome. Here you can see many interesting places and get acquainted with unique cultural traditions. Armenia is also famous for its excellent cuisine and wonderful wines. We have collected the top attractions of Yerevan so that you don’t miss anything. The list is diverse: it includes architectural monuments, museums, parks, places for shopping and much more. There is something interesting for everyone. Reveal the content

Streets and squares

You will find something to see in the Armenian capital, even if you just walk along its avenues and squares. Yerevan has a characteristic feature: many of its buildings are built of tuff. It is a local rock of pinkish-cream color. Houses made of it look beautiful without any decoration.

Republic Square

Republic Square is located in the central part of the capital, surrounded by the most beautiful buildings. Among them are the Government House, the Historical Museum, the art gallery, the main post office and the Marriott Armenia Hotel. Tulips bloom on the square in spring, roses in summer. This is a place where you can take a walk, drink coffee or eat ice cream while enjoying a sunny day. In the evening, Republic Square is transformed by illuminated musical fountains.

Northern Avenue

Among the most interesting places for tourists in Yerevan is the Northern Avenue. This is the main pedestrian street of the city, stretching from Republic Square to the Opera House. There are many cozy cafes and trendy restaurants, souvenir shops and branded boutiques. There are green corners with benches and street musicians. Here you can go shopping, have dinner or just walk around and look at people. Life on the avenue does not quiet down until late at night.

Freedom Square

Although Freedom Square is considered the second largest in Yerevan, it is the first in size. Its main attraction is the Opera House. Like a pearl, it is surrounded by a park area with cafes and restaurants. This is one of the best places to visit in Yerevan. In summer, you can relax on the square from the heat among the greenery. There is even a small lake that turns into an ice rink in winter. And in October, when the leaves turn yellow, the city’s birthday is celebrated on Freedom Square.

Charles Aznavour Square

Charles Aznavour is a poet and composer of Armenian origin. He was born and lived in France, but did not break ties with his historical homeland, and therefore is well known in Armenia. The square named after him is also one of the places worth visiting in Yerevan. The most beautiful thing you will see here is a large round fountain decorated with figures of the zodiac signs. The Moscow cinema is located on the square and there is a local “Walk of Fame”, as in Hollywood. Chess fans will be impressed by a huge board with figures the size of a child’s height.

Architectural monuments and sculpture

Although Yerevan has already celebrated its 2800th anniversary, there are few monuments with a thousand-year history or at least those created several centuries ago. In 1674, a major earthquake occurred here, which almost completely destroyed the city. Later it was rebuilt, but for a long time it remained a small provincial town, and grandiose structures were not built in it.

Mosques, churches and other buildings that appeared after the earthquake were demolished during reconstruction. It was carried out according to a project created in 1924 by architect Alexander Tamanyan. During the reconstruction, city blocks were destroyed one by one, and new houses and streets were built in their place. Then the capital of Armenia acquired a modern look. Now some condemn Tamanyan for neglecting the historical past, others call him a genius. Anyway, he designed a comfortable and beautiful city. But the architectural sights in it are mostly Soviet or modern, although there are exceptions to this rule.

The Grand Cascade and Sculpture Garden

Of all the sights in Yerevan, the Grand Cascade is the most recognizable. This is a symbol of the city that must be seen. It was also conceived by Tamanyan, but it began to be built only in the 1970s, and in the 2000s it was restored. In fact, it is a huge multi-level staircase that connects the city center with the northern part. Climbing 572 steps, you will see a beautiful panorama of the capital with Mount Ararat on the horizon.

There is something interesting on each tier of the Cascade. These are restaurants, coffee shops, and exhibition centers. There is an escalator inside if you don’t want to walk up. The staircase is decorated with flower beds, fountains and modern sculpture. The sculptures in the garden, from which the Cascade begins, are especially interesting. These are the works of famous masters, including Ferdinando Botero. The most famous of them is the “Smoking Woman”.

Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator

Armenia is the first country where Christianity has become the state religion. It happened in 301. In 2001, the 1700th anniversary of this event was celebrated. By the memorable date, the construction of the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator was completed. The grandiose structure has become one of the main attractions of Yerevan. The 54 m high cathedral is distinguished by its complex and original architecture, it is definitely worth seeing.

St. Zoravor Church

This church is one of the oldest in Yerevan. It was originally named after the Most Holy Mother of God, that is, Surb Astvatsatsin. Later, the name was changed in honor of the ancient Gospel “Zoravor” kept here. The church was built at the end of the XVII century on the site of a much older temple destroyed by an earthquake. In the XX century, it stood abandoned for a long time, but now it has been restored and is in operation. Paintings, decorative columns, carved steles worthy of attention have been preserved since the XVII century.

Church of the Holy Mother of God Katogike

This small church is probably the oldest in Yerevan. It was built in the XIII century and miraculously survived the earthquake. The history of this landmark has developed in such a way that most of the time it was hidden from view and no one knew about it. At the end of the XVII century, after the earthquake, a larger basilica was added to it. Over time, this basilica grew and became one of the largest in the city, and the small church disappeared into the depths of the complex and became inaccessible to visitors. Over time, it was simply forgotten.

In the 1930s, the great basilica was demolished, and only then an older structure was discovered inside. It was also going to be demolished, but archaeologists and the public protested. As a result, the building was preserved, but they did not want to leave the temple at the intersection of two busy streets. It was hidden in the same way: the Institute of Linguistics was built around it, so that the church disappeared again. It was only after the collapse of the USSR that the institute was demolished, and the old church was opened and surrounded by a park. But it is too small for services. Therefore, a new spacious St. Anne’s church was built nearby, which seems to embrace the Katogike Church from two sides.

The Blue Mosque

The only mosque in Yerevan has been preserved since the XVIII century, when the city was under the rule of Persia. During Soviet times, it was closed, but in the 1990s it reopened as a sign of friendship with neighboring Iran. In Iran, in turn, there are active Christian churches as a sign of friendship with Armenia. The Blue Mosque is a popular place in Yerevan, where not only Muslims come. It is an impressive structure with a dome, a minaret and turquoise majolica. The mosque is surrounded by a quiet garden, giving a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Opera and Ballet Theatre

The theater was built in 1933 according to the project of Alexander Tamanyan, and half a century later it was reconstructed. You can come and just walk around Freedom Square next to the theater, but it’s better to take a ticket to the performance. There are two halls in the building, designed for 1400 and 1200 spectators. The repertoire includes classical works, for example, “Swan Lake”. There are also more original productions for the Russian audience, for example, the first opera in the Armenian language “Anush”.

The Central station and the forecourt

Yerevan Railway Station was built in 1956. This building is made of pink tuff, made in the style of the Soviet Empire. It is decorated with numerous columns and a through tower with a high spire. There is a monument to David Sasunsky, the hero of the medieval Armenian epic, on the station square. This 12.5 m high sculpture has become an unofficial symbol of Yerevan. The image of the monument was the emblem of the Armenfilm film studio, it was found on stamps and commemorative coins.

Erebuni Fortress

Among the historical sites of Yerevan, the Erebuni Fortress has a special significance. These are the remains of a powerful fortress city built in 782 BC during the reign of Urartu. The exact date is known thanks to the records preserved on the stones. This year is considered the date of the foundation of Yerevan. The fortress stood abandoned for many centuries, it was discovered only in the XIX century. Active excavations were carried out in the XX century. As a result, luxurious halls, temples, houses, weapons and much more were found. Now Erebuni is a large museum complex on the outskirts of the Armenian capital. Come to see the remains of the fortress walls, ancient frescoes and exhibits that are more than two millennia old.

Yerevan Museums

Many fascinating places in Yerevan that need to be visited are the city museums. There are dozens of them in the capital, and we will tell you about the most interesting ones. Tourist maps are provided to make acquaintance with museums more accessible. They also provide free travel and discounts at some shops and restaurants.

Matenadaran Museum-Institute of Ancient Manuscripts

This museum houses a collection of ancient manuscripts of world importance. The oldest date back to the 5th century. There are about 23 thousand manuscripts in total. Many were written during the time of non—existent civilizations – in Hebrew, Latin and other languages, but most of them are in Armenian. Here you can see heavy meter-sized folios, antique maps, medieval Gospels and chronicles, recordings of music from the Italian Renaissance… The exhibition includes beautifully decorated illuminated books with beautiful covers, for example, made of ivory. The building of the Matenadaran is built of gray basalt and looks like a palace or temple decorated with frescoes and statues of Armenian scientists.

Historical Museum

The History Museum is located in a beautiful building built in 2005. There is a huge collection of objects found in Armenia from different periods: from the Stone Age to the end of the XIX century. They give you an idea of the history and culture of the Armenians. For example, you can look at the world’s oldest leather shoes, which are 5,500 years old, artifacts related to winemaking, wedding costumes and antique equipment. It is better to come with a guide who will tell you about the most interesting exhibits.

The Museum of Modern Art

The museum was founded in 1972, and its first exhibits were works by Armenian artists created in the 1960s. Since then, the collection has been replenished, here you can see works of the Soviet period and the XXI century. They are made in different techniques: painting, graphics, watercolor, sculpture, ceramic products. Stylistic trends are equally different. The museum often hosts exhibitions of foreign artists from the East and West.

Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

The Armenian people have a complicated history, and the Tsitsernakaberd complex was opened in memory of one of its most tragic pages. This is the genocide of 1915, when more than a million residents of western Armenia were killed on the initiative of the Turkish government. The complex is located on a beautiful hill and is interesting from an architectural point of view. There is an eternal flame burning here and there is a garden where trees dedicated to the dead people grow. The complex also includes a museum that tells in detail about the Armenian Genocide and its consequences.

Martiros Saryan House Museum

Martiros Saryan is a classical artist, the founder of the Armenian national School of painting. His works are exhibited at the Tretyakov Gallery and the Russian Museum. Saryan was born in Russia and studied at the Moscow Art College with Valentin Serov and Konstantin Korovin. Subsequently, he lived for many years in Yerevan, where he owned a large house with a workshop. Now this house has been expanded and turned into a museum. The exhibition includes about 250 works, selected so that the artist’s creative path can be traced.

Aram Khachaturian House Museum

Aram Khachaturian is a brilliant composer who glorified the ancient motifs of Armenian music. You’ve definitely heard his “Saber Dance” from the ballet Gayane, even if you’re not interested in academic music. And you probably know the waltz from the ballet Masquerade. The museum dedicated to Khachaturian is organized in the house of his brother, where the composer himself often stayed. The exhibition includes a grand piano, a conductor’s baton and many personal belongings of Khachaturian. His music is also constantly playing here, which makes a particularly strong impression in such an environment.

The Megerian Family Carpet Museum

The life of the Megerian family has been connected with carpets for four generations and hundreds of years. At first they were engaged in the sale of carpets, then they moved on to restoration. When there were very few antique carpets, they mastered the subtleties of traditional carpet making and established production. Now the family lives in New York, and their carpets are woven in factories all over the world, including Yerevan. The best examples decorate government buildings and the residence of the Pope.

The Megerian Carpet Museum exhibits several dozen antique carpets with various ornaments. There is a factory nearby where you can watch the manufacturing process, and if desired, order a carpet for yourself.

Sergei Parajanov’s House Museum

The world-famous artist, director and pioneer of cinematography was born in Tbilisi, but lived and died in Yerevan. Now there is a house museum named after him, which houses about 1,500 items belonging to Parajanov. His most famous and iconic film is “The Color of Pomegranate” in 1969. It is worth seeing before traveling to the Caucasus. But even if you are not familiar with the director’s work, we still advise you to go to the museum. This is an interesting place, with a lot of unusual and imaginative things: drawings, collages, installations, dolls, hats and festival prizes.

Natural attractions and parks

If you love beautiful nature, you will find where to go and what to see in Yerevan. There are many shady parks with rose gardens, ponds and fountains. There are natural waterfalls and untouched forests somewhere, and children’s attractions are organized in other places.

Victory Park and the monument “Mother Armenia”

The park is easily accessible by climbing the Cascade. Since it is located on a hill, the territory offers beautiful views of the city. The park was opened in 1950, and it has become one of the largest in the city. There is a forest area, a pond, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel. At the highest point there is the famous monument “Mother Armenia” with a height of 22 m, and together with the pedestal — more than 50 m. It is clearly visible from different points of the capital. There are similar statues in other cities of the post-Soviet space, for example, in Tbilisi.

Lovers’ Park

After the reconstruction carried out in 2008, this park is considered the most beautiful in Yerevan. There are waterfalls, a pond with bridges, sculptures and other picturesque places that beg to be photographed. The style of the Lovers’ Park resembles Japanese and oriental gardens, its design was carried out by a specialist from Switzerland. Pleasant bonuses include free Wi—Fi, a cafe with a beautiful view and evening lighting. Sometimes concerts and other events are organized in the park.

English Park

English is the oldest among all the parks in Yerevan. It appeared in a prestigious area of the city in the 1860s and became a place for the nobility to relax. Both then and now it is pleasant to walk along the alleys of the park, admiring the ancient trees, flowers, fountains and sculpture. The largest theater in Armenia, built in 1921, is located in this park. He continues to work, so you can go to a performance for children or adults. You can also go to the park with children. Kirov with attractions, it is located across the street.

Hrazdan Gorge

Another corner of nature in the city is a rocky gorge through which the stormy Hrazdan River flows. Over 200,000 years, it has paved its way up to 500 m wide and 150 m deep. The gorge divides the capital into two parts and looks especially impressive when viewed from one of the three bridges. There is a walking area with trees, cafes and hotels in this place, there is even a zipline. The Hrazdan Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in Yerevan.

Other sights of Yerevan

There are many interesting things in the city, besides parks, museums and architectural monuments. We will tell you what other sights to see in Yerevan to buy something to remember, relax with children, taste cognac or just see unusual places.

Vernissage Flea Market

It is impossible not to include Vernissage, a market where souvenirs, jewelry and works of art are sold, in the top tourist places in Yerevan. It is located on Charles Aznavour Square, where local artists began selling their works back in the 1980s. Now you can buy antiques, handmade products, creative goods, paintings and beautiful Caucasian carpets here.

Ararat Brandy Factory

What else is definitely worth seeing in Yerevan? Cognac lovers will be interested in the famous Ararat factory. Tasting tours can be quite expensive, but this is a good opportunity to try 30-year-old drinks. There is a program without tasting. She will introduce you to the history of Ararat cognac, which began in 1887. It is known that Stalin and Churchill loved this cognac, and now it has many fans all over the world.

Cond District

An unusual landmark of Yerevan is the Kond district, which has been preserved since the XVII century. It gives an idea of what the capital looked like before the reconstruction. And this view is not very metropolitan, it is not for nothing that the area is called “Yerevan slums”. Small, dilapidated and haphazardly built housing prevails here. And yet this old neighborhood has its own charm. This is a good place to walk and get into the spirit of the past. It is also worth seeing the 500-meter Kond pedestrian tunnel, which connects the city center with the Hrazdan Gorge.

Yerevan Zoo

If you are in Yerevan with children, be sure to visit the local zoo. It opened in the last century, shortly before the war. Now there are about 300 species of animals, birds and reptiles living here. They all look well-groomed and live in spacious enclosures. There are carousels and other attractions on the territory of the zoo, you can eat in a cafe and take pictures against the background of bright sculptures. There are performances on public holidays.

Levon’s Grandfather’s Dungeon

There is an extraordinary place on the northwestern outskirts of the city. From the outside, it is an ordinary village house, formerly owned by a local resident Levon Arakelyan. In 1985, he began to dig a cellar for food in the tuff under the house. He was so fascinated by this activity that he continued to dig for more than 20 years and created an entire underground complex with a depth of 7-storey building. A wonderful man-made cave with stairs and corridors was created with a hammer and chisel, intuitively, without any drawings. The master was going to build a temple in it, but did not have time. He died in 2008. Now a museum is organized in his cave.

What can a tourist see in the vicinity of Yerevan?

Armenia is a small country in terms of area, and almost any of its attractions can be quickly reached from the capital. Trips up to 50 km are especially convenient: you will have time to explore everything and return in one day. Let’s briefly list some of the sights to see in the vicinity of Yerevan:

• Zvartnots Temple. In the early Middle Ages, a large and majestic temple was built 10 km from modern Yerevan. The opening ceremony was attended by Emperor Constantine II of Byzantium, who was impressed by the grandiose structure. Unfortunately, 300 years later, the heavy structure collapsed during an earthquake. Today it is a museum, and the temple is being gradually restored.
• Etchmiadzin Temple. It is the first one built in Armenia and one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. It is called the “Armenian Vatican”. There are several other beautiful churches and other attractions nearby, so it’s worth setting aside an entire day for the tour.
• Garni Temple. The only pagan temple in the Caucasus that has been preserved since Antiquity. It is more than 2,000 years old. However, it was repeatedly destroyed, but later restored from the previous blocks. Sometimes it was necessary to add new blocks, which can now be distinguished by color. An amazing view opens from the rocky ledge where the temple is located.
• Geghard monastery complex. Built in 1,215, the monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is only a 15-minute drive from the Garni Temple, so it is convenient to visit these two attractions at one time. From the outside, the complex looks like a large temple leaning against a rock. But inside, the structure turns out to be much larger, because half of the rooms are hidden in the rock thickness.
• Mount Aragats. The highest point in Armenia rises to 4,090 m, it is an ancient extinct volcano with four peaks. There are many interesting sites on the slopes of Aragats: rivers, lakes, remnants of ancient settlements. This is a suitable place for trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts.
• Khor Virap Monastery. An hour’s drive from the capital, in the picturesque Ararat Valley, there is the monastery of Khor Virap. It is famous for the fact that in 301 the Armenian king adopted Christianity here and made this religion the state religion. Excursions to Khor Virap usually include exploring the surrounding nature and wine tasting in Areni village.

The best sights of Yerevan are concentrated mainly in the central part of the city. They can be examined in a couple of days. But it is advisable to allocate at least the same amount of time to explore other interesting places located near the capital. The Guide Club’s website presents ready-made tours, the program of which includes all the most interesting things. Choose a suitable offer and book a tour!

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