Armenia

About Armenia

Armenia is located between the south of the great Caucasus Mountain and the northwestern part of Asia. Georgia and Azerbaijan are its northern neighbors. Other neighboring countries of Armenia are, Iran on the southeast and Turkey on the west. The capital of the country is the city of Yerevan. Armenia is one of the most ancient countries in the world. Its antiquity mix with years of tragic and complicated history has formed the historic attractions of Armenia.

Aside from its history, the country is rich in dramatic landscapes, mountains, valleys, and eco-villages. That is why, this country is also a great destination for nature lovers. In this post, we will be giving you an overall travel guide to Armenia. We will also be listing the top attractions and things to do in each city. Plus, we will talk about the dress code, transportation system, Currency of Armenia and more.

Armenia attraction
old Armenia
old Yerevan

The History of Armenia

According to some researches, the first inhabitants of Armenia were Urartians, Hourrites, and Luvians in the 4th – 3rd millennia BC. Over time, these ancient tribes formed the unions of Uruatri, Nairi, and Daiani. The most ancient civilizations of Armenia were then formed out of these unions. It was after this that the many series of wars and intrusions started in Armenia.

The highlighted series of events and intrusions before Mongol Invasion

  • Around 520 BC, Persian of Achaemenid Empire conquered Armenia
  • During the Hellenistic era, after the fall of Persians, the country entered an era of Great Armenia
  • The loss of independence by division of Armenia between Rome and Persia’s Sassanid Empire
  • Adoption of Christianity
  • Byzantium expanding its borders in Armenia
  • The Arab Raid on Iran which lead to Armenia becoming a province of the Arab caliphate
  • Unification of Armenia by Bagratids
  • Armenia’s division between the Muslim East and the Christian West by the Invasions of Seljuk Turks and Byzantium
  • Mongolian invasion around 1236 After few years of prosperity under the rule of Queen Tamara’s of Georgian Kingdom

Armenia after the Mongol Invasion and today

  • The years of oppression under the wars of Ottoman Empire and Persia
  • Armenia asking for help from the Christian nations and Russian Empire in 17th century
  • The beginning of Soviet Armenia in 19th century
  • The independence of Armenian
  • Around 1992 Armenia joined the United Nations and became a member of the Council of Europe

Today, the country is still dealing with some struggles. However, the outcome of this tragic history is the historical and religious sites in the heart of its beautiful landscape.

Armenian Cuisine, Local Food & Signature Dishes

Armenian cuisine is full of a variety of Appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. You can find the trace of Mediterranean, Middle East, and European flavors in its colorful dishes.  Yet, there is a special signature Armenian uniqueness in them too. Here are some of the signature dishes and local food of the country:

Traditional Dishes:

  • Dolma (stuffed vegetables, spiced rice, and meat)
  • Boerag ( Pastries filled with cheese)
  • Topik (chickpeas and potato dumplings)
  • Basturma ( air dried pieces of beef)
  • Khash Soup
  • Manti pie
  • Lahmacun ( the Armenian Pizza)
  • Tjvjik ( fried liver of beef)
  • Armenian Eggplant
  • Shashlik and a variety of Kebabs
  • Chikofte(Steak Tartare)
  • Vospov Kofte ( special vegetarian dish with lentils)
Tradition Armenian foods

Sweets:

  • Gata
  • Ghapama ( pumpkin filled with rice and fruits)
  • Sujuk or Churchkhela (sausage shaped candies)
  • Dried Fruits

Drinks:

  • Kefir or tan ( a beverage with taste of yogurt)
  • Armenian coffee
  • Cognac, the most famous Armenian beverage

Breads:

  • Lavash ( the traditional and national Bread of Armenia)
  • Zhingyalov hats ( a kind of bread filled with a variety of greens)

Cities and Historical & Natural Attractions of Armenia

Armenia stretches from the coasts of the south-central Black Sea to the Caspian Sea and Lake Urmia in Iran. Its mountain peaks, Caucasus valleys and forests, and many preserved cultural Heritage, make it a great travel destination. In this post, we will be listing the top historic and natural attractions of different cities and regions in Armenia. For more information about different cities, regions and each attraction, you can check out our blog’s posts.

Yerevan

Yerevan, the modern capital of Armenia

  • Republic Square and Abovyan Avenue
  • Opera House and Ballet
  • Cascade Monument with a spectacular view of Mount Ararat
  • Victory Park
  • Mother Armenia statue
  • Genocide Memorial Complex
  • Research Institute, Matenadaran Museum
  • Manuscript Museum of Armenia
  • Brandy factory
  • The large open-air market of Vernissage
  • Garni eco-village and the Greco-Roman Garni Temple
  • The UNESCO site of rock-cut Geghard Monastery in Kotayk province
  • Sevanavank Monastery at top of a hill overlooking Sevan Lake

Jermuk town

  • Mineral springs
  • Jermuk waterfall, the second largest waterfall in Armenia
  • Gndevank ancient church
  • Arpa River and Canyon
on-the-southern-slope

Amberd

  • Amberd Fortress, the gem of the middle ages
  • Alphabet Monument in the honor of the founder of Armenia’s Alphabet

Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin)

  • The UNESCO site of Echmiadzin Cathedral (the main Armenian Apostolic Church)
  • The UNESCO site of Zvartnots Cathedral

Hrazdan town

  • the 13th century Makravank monastery
  • Natural sceneries of mountain ranges and pine trees

Gyumri

  • The churches of St. Astvatsatsin
  • The churches of Surb Amenaprkich
  • Black Fortress from the time of Russian-Turkish war

Dilijan

  • Dilijan National Reserve and coniferous forests
  • Hiking and trekking routes
  • Parz Lake
  • Goshavank monastery

Yeghegnadzo

  • Agarkadzor bridge over Arpa River
  • Educational center of medieval Armenia
  • Vernashen village and Surb Hakob church
  • Noravank Monastery
Dilijan

Goris town

  • Ancient cave town of Khndzoresk
  • The Wings of Tatev, the longest reversible cableway in the world
  • Tatev Monastery Complex
  • Sevlich Lake
  • Khndzoresk village with cage and cliff dwellings
  • Karahnuj prehistoric site

Vanadzor

  • Hovhannes Abelian’s Drama Theater and Art Gallery
  • Armenian universities
  • Old church of St. Virgin
  • Churches of St. Sargis and Grigor, the Illuminator (The founder of Christianity)
  • The UNESCO Site of the Byzantine Sanahin Monastry
  • The monastery of Akhtala
  • 10th century fortress of Loriberd
Ashtarak town

Artashat

  • The famous vinery and wine factory of Areni
  • The remains of the 2000 year old Greek theater
  • Its nearby Khor Virap monastery (the prison of Gregory the Illuminator)

Ashtarak town

  • Karmavor church
  • Spitakavor Monastery
  • Church of St. Marine
  • Aragats Mountain ( popular for trekking and hiking)
  • Kari Lake

Need to Know

Things to Consider Before Traveling to Armenia

If you are considering visiting Armenia, you might have a few questions on your mind about this country. Below, we have gathered some information about Visa, Dress Code, and more in Armenia. If you have more questions about traveling to Armenia, do not hesitate to contact us at Travelopersia. We would be happy to guide you to your trip to this unique Caucasus country.

Visa for Armenia

Currently, there are 45 countries whose citizens can travel to Armenia without a Visa for 180 days per year. There are also some countries with which, Armenia has a visa-free regime according to some agreements. This type of agreement is mostly with citizens holding Diplomatic and Official passports. Other foreigners can apply for an Entry Visa depending on the purpose of their visit. We will talk about ways of applying for an Armenian Visa, its rules, documents, and more in another blog post.

Dress code in Armenia

Though Armenia is a relatively conservative country, there is no dress code there. Accordingly, locals and visitors wear a range of different styles and types of clothing every day. You should only keep in mind the following if you want to visit the churches and monasteries of the country. For entering a Church or monastery the dress code is as below:

  • Women should wear a head scarf and a long dress (no trousers or shorts). Overall, something that shows no cleavage and also covers the shoulders.
  • Men should wear shirts with collars. It is preferable to wear a coat and tie.

What is the language spoken by the locals in Armenia?

The official language of the country is Armenian. Accordingly, it is the language of school, government, and media. Since the happenings of 19th century with the Russian Empire, Russian Language became another popular language in Armenia. Also, about half of the population of the country have basic knowledge of English. Other languages spoken in Armenia as a second language are:

  • French
  • German
  • Persian
  • Minority languages of Yezidi Kurdish, Assyrian, and Greek

Mobile Service and Internet

VivaCell MTS, Beeline, and Ucom are the three main mobile and network providers in Armenia. There are accordingly two types of Sim Cards which are: prepaid cards and post-paid cards. The prepaid ones are better for short visits and travelers. There are also a variety of mobile internet bundles available for subscription. You can also use the WI-FI in cafes, bars, restaurants, and accommodations. The Mobile network and coverage is pretty much the same with each provider. They mostly also cover access in some remote villages in Armenia.

Exchange and currency

Armenian Dram is the national currency of Armenia that has replaced the Soviet Ruble. Notably, the abbreviation for Armenian Dram is AMD. While traveling around Armenia, you can also carry cash in rubles, euros, and dollars. Keep in mind that using other foreign currencies in cash is prohibited by the law. You can find Currency exchange offices and banks in major cities and towns. These places are mostly near major shopping centers, malls, and hotels. You can also exchange money upon your arrival at the airport. Accordingly, the exchange rate might be unfavorable since there is a service fee included.

Country Map

What is the best time to travel to Armenia?

The weather conditions varies from mountains to valleys, and forests of Armenia. This is due to the changes of altitude in different parts of Armenia. Overall, the weather is:

  • Subtropical in the south
  • Continental in the north

All in all, this country has cold winters and dry summers. That said, the best time to travel to Armenia is at the beginning or ending of winter or summer. Below, you can find a season by season weather guide to Armenia. Accordingly, depending on the purpose of your visit, you can travel to this country during different seasons.

Season by season weather guide to Armenia

  • April and May: Heavy and long rainfalls mostly occur during these two months.
  • Late May and early June: The best time to visit Armenia is during this time of the year. Accordingly, the weather is moderate. The frequency of rain is less during these months.
  • June to September: The hottest weather of the country occurs in this season. However, the mountainous regions enjoy a more moderate climate.
  • Late September and early October: This is another best time to travel around the country. During these months, the country enjoys a beautiful fall weather.
  • December, January and February: The coldest weather of Armenia occurs during this time. Also, snowfalls mostly occur in the northern regions. Accordingly, it is the ideal time to travel to the country for skiing, and snowboarding at Ski resorts. One of the most famous Ski Resorts of the country is Tsaghkadzor Ski Resort.

What is the best way to get to Armenia?

If you want to travel by plane, you can book a flight to Zvartnots Airport. Currently, this airport is the only international airport of the country. Then, you can get a Taxi to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. If you are in the Caucuses area, you can get on a train from Georgia to Armenia. After an 11-hour ride, you will reach Armenia. You can also get to Armenia by a 24-hour bus ride from the capital of Iran, Tehran.

How to get around Armenia?

You can get around Armenia by using the public transportation which is the safest way. Taxis and online Taxi apps such as GG or Yandex Apps are another option. For city to city transportation you can take ‘marshrutkas’ which are large local buses. You can also take a shared Taxi which can be found mostly at Yerevan’s Bus Stations. For getting to cities such as Araks, Yeraskh, Gyumri, Ararat, you can take the train. You can also take this train to reach Tbilisi and Batumi in Georgia. As another option, you can book a driver guide or rent a car for your journey around this country.

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