Are you planning a trip to Armenia, but don’t know where to begin? If so, our guide to the top spots in Armenia will help. The most difficult part of visiting a new country is deciding which tourist sites to see. To make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of what we think are the top ten tourist sites in Armenia. Your priorities may not match ours, so while they are ranked in our order of preference, we’re confident that you will be pleased with a visit to any of these sites.
Armenia has had a long history of survival in tumultuous lands, which has given it a diverse background. From historic churches and monasteries to cave cities and natural landscapes, a lot is packed into this small nation. Let us show you the places we enjoyed the most during our travels in Armenia.
Click on the link to go directly to Travel Tips For Armenia
The map below includes all of the sites we wrote about in Armenia. It is an interactive map, so you can zoom-in, or click on the markers, which include a link to our post from that area.
Here is a brief description of our top places to visit in Armenia as well as links to our posts from each area.
1. Gyumri
A vibrant energy emanates from Gyumri’s historic centre, and it is that lively atmosphere that puts Gyumri at the top of our list of things to see in Armenia. Seeing its collection of wonderful black tuff heritage buildings energized us even more. There’s a lot to see in this city, and we think you will love visiting the sites in Gyumri as much as we did.
To find out more about our favourite city in Armenia, go to our post Things To See In Gyumri.
2. Goris and Tatev Monastery
In eastern Armenia, you will find some of the most fascinating sites in the country. Using the charming city of Goris as a base, begin by visiting the historic Tatev Monastery, perched on the edge of a cliff. After the monastery, you have your choice of hand-carved cave cities to explore and even a prehistoric stone circle. We promise, if you see any or all of these sites it will be well worth the effort it takes to reach, and is why Goris is number two in our top sites to visit in Armenia.
You can read more about Goris and Tatev Monastery in our posts Discover Goris and Khndzoresk – Armenia’s Cave Cities and Tatev Monastery – An Armenian Treasure.
3. Debed Canyon Monasteries
Described as a fusion of Caucasus vernacular and Byzantine styles, the Debed Canyon monasteries, Sanahin, Haghpat and Akhtala, are unmissable landmarks when visiting Armenia. We think you’ll love exploring their architectural features such as centuries-old engravings and frescoes, as well as the tombstone floor tiles. Though the monasteries were partially restored, they were not overdone like others, and it’s their unfinished look that makes them so captivating. It is for these reasons that the Debed Canyon monasteries rank high on our list of best sites in Armenia.
Learn more about these fascinating monasteries in northern Armenia in our post Debed Canyon Monasteries: Sanahin, Haghpat and Akhtala Monasteries.
4. Yerevan
As the capital of Armenia, Yerevan is where most will begin their exploration of the country. Filled with museums, squares, parks, public art and religious monuments, it is easy to find something to do in Yerevan. It is also perfectly located to be used as a base to visit the many tourist sites nearby.
You can find out about the best tourist places in Yerevan in our post Top Sites To Visit In Yerevan.
5. Day Trip To Garni Temple, Khor Vrap and Geghard Monasteries
One of our favourite tours from Yerevan is dubbed ‘From Paganism to Christianity’. This day trip combines the pagan Garni Temple with the early Christian Khor Virap and Geghard Monasteries. Not only do these sites provide information about Armenia’s early history, but each also has a unique and picturesque setting.
Find out more about the sites in our post Day Trips From Yerevan – Garni Temple, Khor Virap and Geghard Monasteries.
6. Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Zvartnots
Located only twenty kilometres from Yerevan, Etchmiadzin Cathedral is one of the most important historical sites in the country. Armenia was the first nation in the world to become a Christian state, and Etchmiadzin became its first cathedral. Only a few blocks away are the ruins of Zvartnots, another cathedral, built to surpass Etchmiadzin in beauty. To better understand the people and the country, a visit to these cathedrals and neighbouring historical sites is a must for visitors to Armenia.
You can learn more about these sites in our post How To Visit Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots.
7. Lake Sevan
Not only is Lake Sevan one of the world’s highest freshwater lakes, but it is also home to some of the country’s most picture-perfect monasteries. In addition to visiting the popular Sevanavank, there are several other fascinating places to visit in the region, including Noratus Cemetery, Hayravank Monastery, and the ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor which is why we’ve placed Lake Sevan as a top site in Armenia.
Read more about Lake Sevan in our post Sites To Visit Near Lake Sevan.
8. Areni
Located in one of the oldest wine-producing regions in Armenia, and in fact, the world, a visit to Areni may interest you. From exploring a rugged canyon with both an ancient cave winery and a remote monastery, to wine tasting in the village, there’s a lot to see and do when you visit the village of Areni.
To learn more about the places near Areni, visit our post A Visit To Areni – Armenia’s Wine Country.
9. Amberd Fortress and Monasteries Under Mt. Aragats
Towering over the Armenian Highlands, Mt. Aragats drew people to it for centuries. As a result, there are a variety of historical sites to explore around its base. Amberd Fortress, Stone Lake, the Alphabet Monument, as well as Hovhannavank and Saghmosavank Monasteries are only a short drive from Yerevan, and together, they make a great day trip.
Find out more about these sites in our post Day Trips From Yerevan: Amberd Fortress And Mt. Aragats.
10. Monasteries Near Dilijan
Located a short drive from the town of Dilijan, you can easily visit the two historic monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank on a day trip from Dilijan. It would make a long day, but it is also possible to see them on a day trip from Yerevan. However far you travel, these historical monasteries, set in the lush hills, offer visitors a look into their unique histories.
You can learn more about these monasteries in our post A Day Trip To Haghartsin and Goshavank Monasteries Near Dilijan.
Travel Tips For Armenia
Finding information online about many details important to travellers, such as opening hours and fees of sites, as well as marshrutka times and routes, can be very difficult at times. Our main resource in Armenia was usually other blogs, some of which are 4 or 5 years old, making the information out of date. To help make it easier for future travellers, we’ve included a lot of this important information in each post. Also keep in mind that other than the cities of Yerevan, Gyumri and Goris, there is not much tourist infastructure. This makes independent travel a little more difficult.
Below, you will find other information that you may find useful when travelling in Armenia.
ATM – We had the best success using our international debit cards at Ameribank and Ardshin Bank ATMs. You can find them in most cities and towns. Other banks either didn’t accept international cards or charged a very high fee.
Money Exchange – If you need to change money, there are currency exchanges in most SASS Supermarkets in Yerevan.
Costs – In general, it is inexpensive to travel in Armenia, but Yerevan is expensive compared to the rest of Armenia and to neighbouring capitals such as Tbilisi and Baku. This is especially true for restaurants and hotels.
Language – Armenian is a difficult language to learn and an even more difficult one to read. In the larger, touristy centres, there is a lot of English both spoken and written on signs/menus. As well, the older generation speaks Russian. In the smaller centres, though, there is not much English. You will get lot of smiles from the locals if you learn a few phrases such as Scnorkhakalutyun (Thank you), Barev (Hello to one person) and Barev dzez (Hello to more than one person).
Safety – The entire country, including the capital, is very safe. We saw locals leave their phones, purses, and cigarette packs just lying on a table and walking away, out of sight for a few minutes, not concerned they would be stolen.
Transportation – Armenia is not really set up yet for independent travel. Most towns are connected to Yerevan by marshrutka, but there aren’t a lot of routes operating between the small towns. Because of this, you often have to return to Yerevan to travel between smaller centres.
Ride Share – Yango, formerly Yandex, and GG are the main rideshare apps in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Goris. In most other towns, it is usually easy to find taxis.
Tours – Since public transportation is so cumbersome in Armenia, it is usually easiest to take day tours to reach most of the tourist sites that are close to Yerevan. You will find many tours advertised on vans in downtown Yerevan. We used Armand for two separate tours and were happy with their service. Smaller towns and cities, though, do not have many tour companies. In those, we mainly used local taxis to reach the sites. They’re inexpensive, but not always available.
Border Crossings – It is possible to cross the land borders to Georgia and Iran, but the borders between Armenia and Turkey, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan, are closed. It is possible though to fly between Armenia and Azerbaijan as of 2025. We were a little concerned when entering Armenia because we had a stamp from Azerbaijan in our passports. At the Armenia-Georgia border, agents asked our reason for visiting Azerbaijan. Ultimately, though, they did not prevent us from entering Armenia.
To read more of our adventures in Armenia, click here.
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