Shopping · Yerevan · Armenia
Shopping in Yerevan
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sonanik, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Yerevan's best shopping is at its markets and craft shops: carpets, brandy, dried fruit, obsidian jewellery and traditional instruments make good souvenirs. Best souvenirs: Armenian brandy, Duduk and Dried fruit and sujukh.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Armenian brandy
Where to shop
Northern Avenue
Fashion stores and boutiques along the pedestrian avenue.
Abovyan Street
Shops, cafés and bookstores in the centre.
Shopping malls
Large malls on the edge of the city sell international brands.
Markets
Vernissage
Open-air market for crafts, carpets, art and Soviet memorabilia, largest at weekends.
GUM Market
Covered market for dried fruit, nuts, spices and sujukh.
What to buy
Armenian brandy
Bottles from the Yerevan Brandy Company and other producers.
Duduk
The traditional apricot-wood woodwind instrument, sold in music and craft shops.
Dried fruit and sujukh
Dried apricots and walnut-and-grape sujukh from the markets.
Obsidian jewellery
Pieces made from Armenia's black volcanic glass.
Carpets and rugs
Hand-woven rugs from Vernissage and specialist shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Republic Square
Vernissage market
An open-air market near Republic Square selling carpets, woodcarving, obsidian jewellery, paintings, Soviet memorabilia and crafts.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
Market · Republic Square
GUM Market
A covered market selling dried fruit, nuts, spices, cheese, sujukh (walnuts in grape juice) and pickles, with sellers offering tastes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Lavash, Zhingyalov hats, Gata and Basturma. Every restaurant; watch it being baked at Garni and village bakeries. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Avenue and Opera | $$$ | Pedestrian avenue of shops and cafés leading to the Opera House |
| Saryan and Pushkin streets | $$ | Leafy streets of wine bars, restaurants and older houses |
| Mashtots Avenue | $$ | Long central avenue leading to the Matenadaran |
| Arabkir | $ | Residential district of apartments and local cafés north of the Cascade |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in AMD. Some restaurants add a service charge of about 10%; otherwise, leaving about 10% is customary. Round up taxi fares and tip guides on day tours.
- Buy dried fruit and sujukh at the GUM Market rather than in tourist shops.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- January: Armenian Christmas (6 January) and New Year holidays
- February: Trndez — bonfire festival (13–14 February)
- July: Vardavar — water-throwing festival (usually July)
- July: Golden Apricot International Film Festival (usually July)
- October: Areni Wine Festival (usually early October)
- October: Erebuni-Yerevan city festival (usually October)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife, shopping and luxury
Northern Avenue and Opera
Pedestrian avenue of shops and cafés leading to the Opera House
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Yerevan?
Armenian brandy, Duduk, Dried fruit and sujukh and Obsidian jewellery.
+Where is the best shopping in Yerevan?
Northern Avenue: Fashion stores and boutiques along the pedestrian avenue.
+What are the best markets in Yerevan?
Vernissage and GUM Market.