If you are a fan of the most alternative destinations, then Yerevan is perfect for you. A city full of vast parks, beautiful squares, historical monuments, delicious food, and hospitable people.
A few words about the city
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia, with a population of 1,075,800 inhabitants. It is built on the banks of the Razdan River and is the administrative, cultural and industrial center of the country. Yerevan is considered one of the ancientest cities in the world, with its history beginning in the 8th century BC, with the erection of the Erebuni fortress in 782 BC. Eventually, the name "Erebuni" evolved into the Armenian language mainly in the 5th or 4th century BC, so as to end in "Yerevan" before the 7th century AD. Of course, according to Armenian tradition, the name "Yerevan" comes from the phrase of Noah as he looked that way after his ark ran aground on Mount Ararat. After the receding waters of the deluge, he exclaimed "Yerevants!", which in Armenian means "appeared". So I will try to introduce you to Yerevan through my own eyes and share with you what I think should be seen by someone who visits it for the first time.
Republic Square
If we were looking for the heart of the Armenian capital, this would surely be the Republic Square. This particular square was constructed according to the plans of the great architect Alexander Tamanyan, who is responsible for much of what we see in today's Yerevan. It was completed within 32 years (1926-1958) and there are some of the most significant buildings in the whole country. More specifically, around the square dominate the Parliament, the Ministry of Energy and Foreign Affairs, the National Historical Museum, the Central Post Office and the Hotel Mariott Armenia. Finally, in the center of the square is placed a huge fountain, which from May to October, dances to the rhythms of famous songs. This impressive show starts at 21: 00 every day and lasts for over an hour!
Cascade
If we were looking for the pride of Yerevan, it would undoubtedly be the Cascade Complex. The "waterfall", as it is translated in Armenian, is a giant stone staircase with multiple levels, which connects the center of the Armenian capital with the Monument to the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. In fact, this impressive structure is the entrance to an unusual art space, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. The idea of creating such an art space belonged to American businessman Gerard Levon Gafeschian, who founded a gallery in the city with exhibits from his personal collection. Thus, there you will find over 5,000 sculptures, paintings, photographs, glassware collections and various other installations. Each level of the Cascade is adorned with elaborate statues, special fountains and a gorgeous floral decoration, and you must reach the top to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and Mount Ararat. Ultimately, at the base of the building, there is a special park, Alexander Tamanyan Park. Various unique works of modern art are exhibited there, with the most famous and most photographed, that of the stout woman smoking. Admission to the Cascade Complex and the individual halls of the Cafetjian Art Museum is free.
Armenian Genocide Museum & Memorial
Yerevan's most emotionally charged attraction is undoubtedly the Armenian Genocide Museum & Memorial. It is located on the Green Hill Tsitsernakaberd , which in english means Swallow Castle. Of course, it is dedicated to the unprecedented atrocity, manifested by the Turks against the Armenians from 1915 to 1922. According to estimates, over 1.5 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire died in the bloody massacre! The monument was designed by architects Arthur Tarkanian, Sassur Kalasyan and artist Hovanes Khachatrian and completed in November 1967, on the 80th anniversary of the terrible tragedy. The chief monument is highly imposing and at the same time representative of the tragedy. It is an edifice, with twelve large slabs placed circularly next to each other, representing the twelve lost provinces in present-day Turkey. In its center there is a giant fire, always lit according to Christian tradition. Right next to it stands a 44-meter-high column, symbolizing the Armenian national revival, while along it you will find a 100-meter wall with the names of towns and villages, where massacres and atrocities are known to have taken place. There is moreover a small park with trees planted by politicians and leaders of foreign states who visited and paid tribute to the victims of the genocide. Finally, in the southern part of the park and underground (one level down) there is the Museum of the Armenian Genocide, which you should definitely visit. Admission is free.
Mother Armenia
As in most countries of the former Soviet Union, in Armenia, there is a statue that personifies the country. Mother Armenia or "Mayr Hayastan", as it is called in Armenian, is located in Victory Park, in the Kanaker-Zeytun district and took the place of a statue of Stalin that existed on the same spot. It has a total height of fifty-one meters, including the pedestal and is constructed of wrought bronze! The fact that it has the sword in her scabbard and the shield at its feet, symbolizes peace through strength. The size and position of the statue makes it present as the patron of Armenia's capital, while the view from the top of the hill towards Yerevan is simply dazzling. At the base of the statue is the Military Museum of Armenia, where there are various exhibits of the Soviet era, such as manuscripts, weapons, uniforms and other objects. Entrance to the museum is free, but it is advisable to leave something symbolic to support it.
Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
The Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator is the largest Armenian church in the world and, of course, the most important in the entire country. Located in the center of Yerevan, it is considered one of the largest religious buildings in the South Caucasus, along with the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi! It was designed by the architect Stepan Kurkchian and was completed in just 4 years (1997-2001)! The specific building complex essentially consists of three churches, the central church and the chapels of Saint King Tiridates and Saint Queen Asheni. These two royal figures were St. Gregory's crucial helpers in the Christianization of Armenia! The total area of the complex is approximately 3,822 square meters, while the height of the cathedral from the ground to the top of the cross is 54 meters! The truth is that the interior of the temple is not as impressive as the exterior, since it is quite minimal, the dome is impressive anyway. Admission is, of course, free.
Blue Mosque
A few kilometers away is the main Muslim religious site in Yerevan, the Blue Mosque. It is an 18th-century Persian Shia mosque, ordered by Hussein Ali Khan, the Khan of the Iranian Erivan Khanate. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the center of Yerevan and the most important construction from the Iranian period of the city. It was the largest of the eight mosques of Yerevan in the 19th century, while today it is the only active mosque in Armenia! During the Soviet era, due to atheist policy, the temple ceased its services and was converted into a museum. However, after the independence of Armenia, and with the support of the Iranian government, the sites again began to function as a mosque. On the positive that non-Muslims are also allowed in, as long as they remove their shoes and women cover their heads. Admission is free.
Opera Theatre
The Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia, or as it is simply known to the locals Opera, is located in Freedom Square. And this building was designed by Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan, during the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Soviet Armenia. It opened its doors on January 20, 1933, and immediately after the foundation of the theater, a ballet troupe was founded! It consists of two halls, the Aram Khachaturian concert hall and the Alexander Spedyaryan Opera and Ballet Hall. Since opening, the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia has performed more than 200 different operas and ballets from compositions by Armenian, Russian and Western European artists. So if you're in town and there's a show, don't hesitate to attend!
Vernissage Market
Vernissage Market is an outdoor market in the city center where you can find literally anything. It is essentially a flea market full of stalls, selling everything from Soviet-era antiques, silverware, carpets and textiles to souvenirs, paintings and books. The reason this particular bazaar is popular with locals and tourists is the fact that you won't find imported items there, as most of what is sold is either handmade or authentic pieces of Armenian culture! And of course, as in any market, haggling is welcome, so don't hesitate to negotiate the price until you get a good deal. Finally, in the Vernissage market you will find several canteens with local food and drink, as well as various cafes.
Charles Aznavour square
Charles Aznavour square is one of the most popular spots for young people in Yerevan. It was formed as we see it today only in 2001, taking the name of the world-famous singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour. On the perimeter of the square, there is a cinema, Moscow, the Golden Tulip Hotel, the House of Artists of Armenia and the Russian Drama Theater, named after Stanislavsky. The hallmark of the square is the huge spider statue and the fountains in its center, which represent the twelve signs of the zodiac! Finally, rock concerts and youth events were often organized in this particular square.
Museums
In Yerevan there are many museums and art spaces that deserve your attention, but five are the ones that stand out. I suggest you start at the Matenadaran Museum of Ancient Manuscripts, located in the center of the city, on Mashtots Avenue. It is one of the largest depositories of ancient manuscripts and books in the world, with over 17,000 works of inestimable intellectual and historical value, dating from the 5th to the 18th centuries. Admission costs 1500 drams, which is about 3.5e.
The second art space I would recommend visiting in the Armenian capital is the National Gallery of Armenia. It is located in the Republic Square and has been hosted since 1921 in a charming building. It is one of the richest museums in the world, with over 19,000 exhibits, many of them from the Hermitage of St. Petersburg and the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow! Admission costs 2000 drams, which is about 4.80e. Also, the same building houses the History Museum of Armenia, which was founded in 1931 and tells the history of the city. There are over 87,000 objects that present the local culture from antiquity to the present day. Admission costs 1500 drams, which is about 3.5e.
Finally, do not miss a visit to the Sergei Parajanov Museum and the Ararat Museum. The first is dedicated to the Armenian-born director and artist Sergei Parajanov and is considered one of the most popular museums in Yerevan. In the other museum you will get to know the legends of Ararat brandies, you will learn the more than 120-year-old history of Armenian brandies production, you will see the oldest Armenian barrels and medals that constitute the Ararat myth. The entrance to the first museum costs 1500 drums, which is about 3.5e, while for the second you have to book a tour in advance, with the cheapest starting from 4500 drums, that is about 11e.
How to go
Thessaloniki is connected by air with Yerevan and Zvartnots International Airport, through Aegean, where with proper planning one can find tickets starting from 313€ round trip! Plus, a more economical solution is to fly to Larnaca with Wizzair and from there to the capital of Armenia. The prices of this option range between 110 to 150€.
Where to stay
The fact that Yerevan is not a highly touristic city is also reflected in the prices of its accommodation. In the town there is a plethora of hotels, hostels and rooms, for all tastes and all budgets. My suggestion is the Mashots Hotel, a recently renovated hotel, a breath away from the main square of the city, which has spotless, spacious and fully equipped rooms.
How to move
Yerevan is a compact city, where most of its attractions are concentrated in its center, so you won't often need public transport. Nevertheless, it has a very good transport network with metro, trolley and buses, which cover the whole city. The metro has only one line and a one-way ticket costs one hundred drams, which is about 20 cents! In fact, the tickets are unordinary, since they are in the form of a plastic coin. For the rest of the means, tickets can be obtained from the driver and you will have to validate them in the special machine there. Finally, taxis are also a great way to travel in Yerevan, which are very cheap, since there is no specific rate or taxi meter, but you pay the driver, an amount after consultation!
What to eat
Armenian cuisine reflects the history and geography where Armenians lived, as well as the incorporation of external influences. The Armenian national food is vine-leaf dolmades, while the national fast food is lahmacun. Other local dishes that you should not miss are the excellent grilled meat on the coals called khorovats, the shaurma, which resembles the Greek souvlaki, the special Khash soup, the trout from Lake Sevan (Ishkhan), a kind of crepe stuffed with vegetables (Zhengyalov Hats), the harissa salad, the patties with cheese (byoreks), the pastrami (basturma), soujouki (soujouk) and, of course, lavash bread. As for drinks, in Armenia, the main protagonist is the Ararat brandy-cognac, while you will find very high quality wines. Ultimately, famous Armenian sweets are Gata, which is something between cake and tsoureki, baklava, kadaifi, sweet soujouk, dried peaches with walnut filling (Alani) and finally the walnut spoon sweet. To taste authentic Armenian flavors, I suggest visiting Lavash, Osti Bistro and Tumanyan Khinkali, while for coffee and dessert Chainy Domik.
Useful information
In Armenia we travel with a Passport valid for at least 6 months, while a Visa is unrequired in advance. Upon your entry into the country, your passport will be stamped.
In Yerevan, the language used is, of course, Armenian, while most people also speak Russian. The younger ones know English, while everyone is willing to help if they know.
The country's currency is the dram (AMD) and its current exchange rate is €1 = 422.99 drams.
Convert your money either at the dozens of banks that exist in the city, or at the exchange offices, which list the exchange rates, since they take a very small commission.
Yerevan is one hour ahead of Greece (GMT +4).
Getting to and from Yerevan Airport is simple, as there are minibus routes that will take you to the city center or the airport.
The Greek embassy in Yerevan is located at 6, Demirchian Str. 0002 and her phone numbers are 531051, 538051.
The best time to visit Yerevan is spring and autumn when the weather conditions are ideal and Mount Ararat is visible.
Recommended excursions → Garni, Lake Sevan, Geghard
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
