Yerevan, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, blends ancient heritage with modern energy. Founded in 782 BCE, Armenia’s capital showcases pink tuff stone architecture, Soviet-era landmarks, and vibrant cultural spaces. From the majestic Mount Ararat views to bustling markets and memorial complexes, Yerevan offers diverse experiences. The city’s compact center allows easy exploration of historical sites, culinary hotspots, and artistic venues.
With welcoming locals and a thriving café culture, Yerevan serves as the perfect gateway to Armenian history and hospitality. Among the numerous places to visit in Yerevan, there are a few iconic attractions that truly define the soul of this captivating Caucasus capital. Here’s a curated selection of the top must-visit destinations:
Republic Square
Republic Square stands as the majestic centerpiece of Yerevan, showcasing Alexander Tamanian’s visionary urban design. Encircled by neoclassical government buildings crafted from rose-tinted Armenian tuff stone, this architectural ensemble includes the History Museum with its iconic clock tower and the National Gallery.
The square transforms into a cultural hub during summer evenings (May-October) when synchronized musical fountains dance to Armenian symphonies under colored lights. Accessible via the Republic Square metro station, it’s surrounded by luxury hotels, traditional taverns, and the State Revenue Committee building featuring a unique seismic pendulum. Visitors should linger until dusk to witness the buildings’ dramatic illumination.
Free guided walking tours depart daily at 11 AM from the Tourism Information Center. Nearby, the “Singing Cranes” sculpture symbolizes peace, while underground passages connect to Northern Avenue’s upscale shopping district. Allow 60-90 minutes to appreciate its grandeur and people-watch locals gathering for celebrations.
Cascade Complex
The Cascade Complex is Yerevan’s monumental stairway to the arts, comprising 572 limestone steps adorned with contemporary sculptures by Botero, Lynn Chadwick, and Catalan artists. This open-air museum connects the city center to the Monument district, revealing panoramic views of Mount Ararat from each terrace. Inside, escalators ascend through the Cafesjian Center for the Arts’ seven gallery levels showcasing glass art and modern installations. The complex hosts summer jazz festivals on its main stage, while the rooftop “Cafesjian Sculpture Garden” offers cocktails with sunset vistas.
Practical details: Open daily 8 AM-11 PM; museum admission 1,500 AMD ($3.70); free exterior access. Wear non-slip shoes for climbing and use the free water stations.
Nearby parking is scarce—arrive via taxi or buses 5/15. Evening visits combine cooler temperatures with magical city lights.
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
Perched on a hill overlooking Yerevan, Tsitsernakaberd is Armenia’s sacred memorial to the 1.5 million victims of the 1915 Genocide. The complex’s stark symbolism includes a 44-meter granite spire representing national rebirth, twelve inward-slanting basalt slabs memorializing lost western provinces, and an eternal flame ringed by violets—Armenia’s mourning flower. The underground museum documents Ottoman-era atrocities through survivor testimonies, deportation maps, and international diplomats’ eyewitness accounts. O
pen Tuesday-Sunday 11 AM-4 PM (free admission), it requires respectful silence and modest attire. Annual April 24 commemorations draw global diaspora leaders. After viewing the exhibits, walk the Memory Alley honoring genocide scholars like Franz Werfel.
Reachable by bus 8/46 or taxi (10-minute ride from center). Allow 2+ hours for this emotionally profound experience, followed by reflection in the adjacent pine forest.
Matenadaran
Officially the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Matenadaran safeguards humanity’s largest collection of Armenian texts—over 17,000 manuscripts including the luminous “Msho Charentir” Gospels (AD 862) and Avicenna’s medical tracts translated in Cilicia. Beyond displaying exquisite miniatures and celestial maps, this research fortress preserves documents in extinct languages like Caucasian Albanian. The grand hall features Khoren Ter-Harutyunyan’s bronze door depicting Armenia’s spiritual history, while the courtyard statue of alphabet creator Mesrop Mashtots gazes toward Mount Ararat.
Practical visit: Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM; entry 1,500 AMD; English tours at 1 PM. Photography bans apply to fragile codices.
Nearby, the “Scriptorium” café serves quince tea beside replica scribal desks. Scholars can request archival access with prior permission.
Vernissage Market
Yerevan’s sprawling open-air bazaar bursts into life weekends (9 AM-6 PM) along Aram Street, stretching from Republic Square to the Opera House. Over 800 vendors display authentic Armenian crafts: hand-carved khatchkars (cross-stones), Karabakh carpets woven with pomegranate motifs, Soviet-era collectibles, and duduk flutes crafted from apricot wood.
Watch master artisans demonstrate filigree silverwork and enamel painting techniques passed through generations. Bargaining is expected—start at 60% of quoted prices. Cash (AMD) preferred, though some stalls accept cards. Food sections offer lavash bread baked in tonir ovens and honey-soaked gata pastries. Weekdays feature a smaller antique market.
Pro tip: Arrive by 10 AM to avoid crowds and find rare Soviet medals or vintage Armenian posters.
Yerevan Opera Theatre
An architectural marvel blending neo-Moorish and Armenian styles, the National Opera Theatre dominates Freedom Square since 1933. Its twin venues—the Aram Khatchaturian Concert Hall and Alexander Spendiarian Opera House—host world-class ballet (notably “Gayane” with its “Sabre Dance”) and operas like Tigran Chukhajian’s “Arshak II.” Summer evenings feature free fountain shows choreographed to Komitas’ folk melodies in the adjacent Charles Aznavour Square.
Practical details: Box office opens Mon-Sat 11 AM-7 PM; tickets from 3,000 AMD ($7.50); dress code encourages smart attire.
Guided backstage tours (Wednesdays 2 PM) reveal century-old stage machinery. Dine pre-show at “Lavash” restaurant for dolma and apricot wine.
History Museum of Armenia
Housing 400,000+ artifacts in Republic Square’s western wing, this museum chronicles Armenia from Bronze Age settlements to modern independence. Unmissable exhibits include 5,000-year-old “Areni-1” leather shoes (world’s oldest footwear), Urartian cuneiform tablets detailing King Argishti’s conquests, and medieval khachkars from Julfa. The ethnographic floor displays traditional looms and Karabakh weaponry.
Open Tuesday-Saturday 11 AM-6 PM; entry 1,500 AMD; audio guides 2,000 AMD. Photography permits cost extra—flash prohibited. Allow 2+ hours, focusing on Room 28’s Christian reliquaries.
Nearby, the museum shop sells replica Bronze Age jewelry. First-Saturday-of-month free admission.
Blue Mosque
Yerevan’s sole surviving Persian mosque (built 1766) astonishes with turquoise-tiled minarets and a courtyard blooming with 7,000 roses. The complex functioned as a city museum during Soviet times before reopening for worship in 1996. Non-Muslim visitors can explore the hexagonal prayer hall (remove shoes), madrasa library, and intricate mihrab niche facing Mecca during 10 AM-1 PM / 3-6 PM windows.
Free admission includes headscarves for women. The Islamic Centre hosts Nowruz celebrations and calligraphy workshops. Located on Mashtots Avenue—combine with visits to Matenadaran.
Respectful silence required during prayers.
Kond District
Yerevan’s oldest neighborhood (15th century) reveals crumbling Persian-era mansions with distinctive “khoran” balconies overlooking hidden courtyards. Wander labyrinthine lanes to discover St. Hovhannes Church’s faded frescoes, artisan workshops crafting copper tavas (pans), and Soviet-era communal wells. Gentrification brings stylish cafes like “Kond House” serving Armenian coffee in traditional “jazzve” pots.
Photography tip: Morning light accentuates volcanic tuff textures.
Free walking tours depart Saturdays from Parpetsi Street. Wear sturdy shoes for uneven terrain.
Nearby, the Lovers’ Park offers respite after exploring.
Erebuni Fortress
Founded in 782 BCE by King Argishti I, this Urartian citadel bears the cuneiform inscription declaring “I built this mighty fortress.” Excavations reveal throne rooms with frescoed bulls, wine cellars holding 400-liter karas jars, and a temple dedicated to Khaldi. The onsite museum displays bronze quivers and cuneiform tablets detailing ancient tax records.
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:30 AM-4:30 PM; entry 1,000 AMD. Reach via taxi (15 minutes from center) or bus 23. Hire guides at the gate to decode the 2,800-year-old drainage systems.
Panoramic views encompass modern Yerevan against Mount Ararat.
Saint Gregory Cathedral
Consecrated in 2001 for Christianity’s 1700th anniversary in Armenia, this colossal cathedral complex spans three churches under seven domes. The minimalist interior features soaring arches directing light toward the main altar, where relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator are enshrined. The bell tower’s 12 bells (cast in Slavensk) echo across Yerevan during Sunday liturgy (11 AM).
Open daily 7 AM-8 PM; free entry.
Dress code: Covered shoulders/knees. Evening choral performances (June-August) showcase sharakan hymns. The courtyard’s khatchkar garden memorializes genocide victims.
GUM Market
This Soviet-era covered market (1952) immerses visitors in Armenian gastronomy. Vendors hawk sun-dried mountain herbs, strings of fiery basturma, and honeycomb from Ararat Valley bees. Sample Armenian cheese varieties like braided chechil or aged lori in brine. Must-try: Churchkhela (walnuts dipped in grape molasses) and lavash bread baked that morning. Butchers demonstrate traditional meat preparation for khorovats barbecue.
Open daily 8 AM-7 PM; cash preferred. Bargaining tolerated for bulk purchases.
Located steps from Vernissage—combine for cultural-commerce immersion.
Ararat Brandy Factory
Since 1887, this legendary distillery produces brandy from Ararat Valley grapes aged in Caucasian oak barrels. The 90-minute tour explores barrel halls where Winston Churchill’s personal reserve (Dvin) matures, followed by a tasting flight including 10-year-old Akhtamar. Museum exhibits showcase royal warrants from Nicholas II.
Tours (Mon-Fri 10 AM-5 PM; booking essential) cost 7,000-25,000 AMD based on tasting tier. Minimum age 18. The gift shop ships globally.
Combine with nearby genocide museum for contrasting historical narratives.
Lovers’ Park
Redesigned in 2008 by Pierre Rambach, this 18-acre oasis blends Japanese zen gardens with Armenian flora. Stroll past duck ponds, magnolia allees, and sculptures like Fernando Botero’s “Cat.” Locals play backgammon under 200-year-old oaks while children feed squirrels. Summer brings open-air cinema nights screening Parajanov films.
Open 24 hours; free admission. The park café serves exceptional apricot smoothies.
Located near Baghramyan metro—perfect respite after museum-hopping.
Swan Lake
Nestled beside the Opera House, this artificial lake transforms with seasons: Summer features paddle boats among swans (May-October); winter becomes an ice-skating rink (December-February). The surrounding “Ring of Intellectuals” park displays statues of Armenian poets like Hovhannes Tumanyan. Evening fountain shows sync with opera overtures. Cafés like “Jazzve” offer outdoor seating with prime people-watching.
Accessible 24/7; skating rental 1,500 AMD/hour.
Central meeting point for locals—observe Yerevan’s social rituals unfold.
