Armenia is the smallest of the republics of the former USSR. It has an ancient history and many interesting objects on its territory. The country is inexpensive, it is real to visit without a passport. Flights to Yerevan are cheap, there will be no problems with the Russian language in place. Therefore, when planning such a trip, you need to know what to see in Armenia.
Visit Features
Tourism in Armenia was developed during the years of the USSR. In those years, people traveled to this republic to inspect architectural monuments, to be treated at mineral spas, to taste local cuisine and alcohol. Since then, for tourists, in fact, little has changed, but rail transport has fallen into disrepair, railway communication with Russia has stopped.
You can get to Armenia without a passport, but you need to fly by plane, because by land at its borders there are such features:
- With Turkey and Azerbaijan, everything has long been closed, and it is unlikely that anything will change in the coming years.
- Two international trains (from Batumi and Tbilisi) and many buses, as well as transit buses from Moscow, Pyatigorsk and other Russian cities go through Armenia to Georgia. To travel by land you need a passport.
- You can call in from Iran, but you also need a passport. Iran is visa-free for visiting for 30 days, but you should fly by plane to major airports.
Interesting places in the capital
Tourism in Armenia is, first of all, a visit to Yerevan. About a third of the country's population lives in the capital. The city stands out from the rest. There is even a subway.
Planning a tourist route in Armenia can begin with the capital. If time is running out, then you can spend a week here, and this is enough to visit all museums, admire monuments, architecture, try national dishes.
Of the worthy visits to museums in Yerevan it is worth noting:
- Historical. The richest collection of exhibits in the country. They cover the period from the Stone Age to the present.
- House of A. Khachaturian.
- Directed by S. Parajanov.
- House of artist Saryan.
- History of the city.
- Miniature art.
- Contemporary art.
- The fortress of Erebuni.
In addition, in the city and its environs there are interesting monumental buildings:
- Grand cascade.
- Monument Mother Armenia.
- Singing Fountains.
- Zvartnots Temple.
- Cathedral in Etchmiadzin.
- Garni Temple. He is 2000 years old, despite the early adoption of Christianity, a pagan temple has been preserved.
- Theaters in Yerevan are Russian and Armenian.
- Church of Surb-Sarkis.
In addition, it is worth taking an excursion to the Ararat cognac factory and going to the zoo.
Various travel agencies of Armenia are also located in Yerevan. For example, Yerevan Travel. There you can order a transfer, services of guides and translators, group tours for a week and one-day excursions (from 6000 rubles).
Almost all interesting places in Armenia are located within a day trip from the capital. About 300 kilometers to the border with Iran, and even less to the border with Georgia.
Ski resorts
Fans of ski tourism in Armenia will like it, as the nearest ski resort - Tsaghkadzor is located 40 kilometers from the capital. Its mountain trails overlook Sevan and Ararat. The infrastructure is modern, it includes a chain of tow lifts, a three-level cable-chairlift, a chain of hotels and camp sites, restaurants and a spa, ski equipment rental.
The thickness of the snow cover is 1.5 meters, the skiing season lasts all winter and early spring. The total length of the tracks is 30 kilometers, including:
- Six red runs, 13 km.
- Five light blue trails, 14 km.
- Three black tracks, they are also the most difficult, 3 km.
The height difference in the resort is about 850 meters, from 1966 to 2820 meters.
The price of the ski pass is 13 euros. The seats of the cableway are equipped with heating, it delivers in 10 minutes to the starting point of the route.
170 kilometers from the capital, on Mount Shish near Jermuk ski slopes are located. The length of the two routes is 2.6 km.
70 kilometers from Yerevan is another ski resort - Sevan. The slopes of the mountains near the lake of the same name are gentle, they are suitable for beginners.
Mineral Resorts
Another type of tourism in Armenia is curative, it involves visiting mineral spas, where you can heal and just breathe fresh air, admire nature, visit architectural monuments nearby.
On the way from Yerevan to the city of Vanadzor, it is worth stopping by at the Dilijan resort. It is the greenest of all mountain climatic resorts in the country. The combination of mountainous and wooded areas and calm weather provides a year-round therapeutic climate. In Dilijan, you can see a monument to the heroes of the film “Mimino” at the famous crane with mineral water. Near the resort are the monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank.
Jermuk resort is located at an altitude of 2000 meters in the opposite part of the country on the banks of the Arpa River, which flows into Sevan. Local mineral water is suitable for the treatment of diseases of the liver and musculoskeletal system. In Jermuk and the surrounding area you can visit the drinking gallery, waterfall, cable car, medieval cave complexes.
Ankavan resort village, which is famous for its healing mineral water, is located 85 kilometers from Yerevan.
Arzni mineral water resort closest to Yerevan is located at an altitude of 1300 meters. To go about 20 kilometers.
A trip from Yerevan to the south of the country
Tourism opportunities in Armenia are not limited only to ski resorts and mineral waters. It is worth a trip from Yerevan to some more interesting places. For example, in the Tatev monastery in the south of the country, 250 kilometers from the capital. He is over 1000 years old. It is interesting not only for its ancient buildings, but also for the cable car, which is the longest in the world, its length is almost 6 kilometers.
On the way, you can make a stop in the city of Yeghegnadzor or in the village of Areni near it. They are known for their wines and cheeses; in the village, a 14th-century church and cave are preserved, which are studied by scientists from different countries.
Places to visit north of the capital
In that part of the country are cities and Vanadzor. They are an example of what the former industrial centers of the Armenian SSR turned into. Both are half empty, but are suitable for a short visit to inspect the churches. For example, in Vanadzor there is a Russian Orthodox church at the end of the 19th century - a very rare building for Armenia.
Fans of ethnography should call in the village of Lermontovo 13 kilometers from Vanadzor, there lives a community of Russian Molokans, such a direction in the Old Believers.
Be sure to visit the city of Sevan on the banks of the most famous lake in Armenia and the nearby Sevanavank Monastery.