7 best day trips from Yerevan

Day trips compared

The day trips

40 km · About 45 minutes by car

1.Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery

Garni is a 1st-century Greco-Roman temple above a gorge with basalt columns known as the Symphony of Stones. Further up the valley, the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery is partly carved into the cliff, with rock-cut chapels known for their acoustics.

Getting there

Tour, taxi or marshrutka to Garni

Best for

First-timers, Culture, Families

45 km · About 45 minutes by car

2.Khor Virap

A monastery on a hill facing Mount Ararat, built over the pit where St Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before converting Armenia to Christianity. The views of Ararat are among the best in the country.

Getting there

Tour or taxi

Best for

First-timers, Culture, Couples

20 km · About 30 minutes by car

3.Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots

Etchmiadzin is the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with a cathedral founded in the early 4th century, one of the oldest in the world. On the way, the ruins of the 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral stand in a field.

Getting there

Tour, taxi or marshrutka

Best for

Culture, First-timers

65 km · About 1 hour by car

4.Lake Sevan and Sevanavank

Lake Sevan is a large high-altitude lake about 1,900 metres above sea level. The Sevanavank monastery stands on a peninsula with views over the water, and summer brings swimming and lakeside fish restaurants.

Getting there

Tour, taxi or marshrutka

Best for

Families, Couples, Quiet stays

100 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

5.Dilijan

A forested mountain town known as a spa resort, with restored old streets and the nearby monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank in the woods.

Getting there

Tour, car or marshrutka

Best for

Quiet stays, Couples, Culture

120 km · About 2 hours by car

6.Noravank and Areni

The 13th-century Noravank Monastery stands in a narrow red-rock gorge. Nearby, Areni is Armenia's best-known wine village, with tasting rooms and the cave where the ancient shoe and winery were discovered.

Getting there

Tour or car

Best for

Culture, Food lovers, Couples

250 km · About 4 hours by car

7.Tatev Monastery

A 9th-century monastery on a cliff above the Vorotan Gorge, reached by the Wings of Tatev cable car, one of the longest in the world. It is a long day, so many visitors stay overnight in the south.

Getting there

Car or tour; best as an overnight trip

Best for

Culture, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Buses and minibuses cover the city, and marshrutkas run to Garni, Sevan and Dilijan; fares are low and paid on board.
• An overnight sleeper train links Yerevan and Tbilisi on a seasonal timetable, and regional trains run to Gyumri.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask