Many people don’t think of Armenia when they think of a Summer destination. They think of the orange-topped roofs of Prague, the clear turquoise water of the Greek Islands, or the top sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum. But when we flew to Armenia for the weekend, we found a vibrant country, steeped in history and traditions with plenty of lively bars and restaurants. Whether you love adventures, picturesque landscapes, or are just craving for a good glass of wine, Armenia is one of the most surprisingly interesting countries to visit. We’ve been to Armenia in July and we find it an amazing place to visit especially in the summer.
This 3 days in Armenia travel guide will map out the perfect way to spend your time.
BACKGROUND STORY
We’ve always been around Armenians and have had a taste of their delicious food. We’re Lebanese, and there has been an Armenian presence in Lebanon for centuries. The Armenians have settled in many parts of Lebanon and most streets in Bourj Hammoud are named after Armenian cities such as Yerevan and rivers such as Arax.
Oh by the way, in case you’re new to our blog, WELCOME to The Rahal !!!!
We just wanted to share with you that our three days in Armenia travel guide video went viral on Facebook (see picture below) and we couldn’t be more humbled by the amount of love, support and positive feedback we’ve received.
Click here to watch on Facebook or scroll down to watch on Youtube
WHERE TO STAY IN ARMENIA
We were there for the weekend. So the best option for us was to stay in the country’s capital: Yerevan and intended to use it as a base to explore the area, going as far as Yenokavan on day trips.
We stayed in the absolute ideal location just walking distance from major Yerevan attractions such as Republic Square and the Armenian Opera at ibis Yerevan Center. ibis Yerevan Center is a great choice not only for their very nice and hospitable staff but also for their comfy rooms with modern design and affordable prices. It was just all what we needed!
TRANSPORTATION
In order to see the best of Armenia, you obviously need a good plan and you will most likely need a car. There is a lot to see in the capital, but there is a lot more in the other areas too. While it’s really tempting and relatively inexpensive to rent a car in Armenia, we opted for paying a little bit more and hiring a driver who could speak the local language and drive us around so we could focus on the scenic journey as much as possible. Just know that driving through those areas can be hectic, so we recommend hiring a local driver. Zare was the guide who helped us navigate, spoke the local language and took us around to places and restaurants we would never know unless we’re locals. He’s honestly a great guide and we highly recommend him for your trips to Armenia.
Feel free to message us, we would be really happy to share with you his contact details.
No matter which means of transportation you choose, this itinerary will be particularly helpful if you rent a car, or hire a driver to drive you around.
WHAT TO EAT
Can you really experience a country without eating the food? No. Here’s a quick look at some of our favorite must-eats:
Mante : One of our favourite appetizers in Yerevan was at Anteb restaurant. It’s a traditional crunchy grilled dumpling made either of minced lamb or beef, served with yogurt and garlic sprinkles. It is so good it could win over our mother’s Chich Barak.
Lahmadjun aka pizza the Armenian way
Did you really visit Armenia if you didn’t try their traditional lahmadjun? You can try it at Mer Taghe restaurant.
Collette Restaurant in Lake Sevan
Located next to Sevanavank Monastery, Colette restaurant serves tasty fish and meats. No matter what you order, make sure not to miss their Chalaghaj, a mix of smoked Pork steak and potatoes grilled underground in a traditional cooking pit. Really delicious!
Wine republic restaurant
It may surprise you that cheese and wine is a thing in Armenia. Almost every menu includes a cheese platter and Armenians are on top of their game when it comes to wine.
TIP: Before leaving Armenia, grab some bottles of Karas wine home. A true delicacy!
Malocco: start your day off with a hearty breakfast.
Louis Charden : a great grab n go breakfast place
Zeitouna restaurant: A Middle Eastern Armenian restaurant that also serves our favourite Mante.
THE PERFECT THREE DAYS IN ARMENIA TRAVEL GUIDE
DAY 1 : Garni-Geghard Tour
We landed in Yerevan at 11:00 am on Friday. Our driver picked us up at the airport and drove us directly to our hotel.
We headed to what’s known for the Garni-Geghard Tour.
Our guide drove us 50mins to get to our first stop: The Garni temple. It is the most significant structure in Armenia from the pre-Christian era.
In case you decided not to hire a local driver, you can get there with public transportation by taking Bus No. 22 from downtown Yerevan to GAI Poghtos (100 Dram = 0.2 $) then a mini-bus to Garni (500 Drams = 1$)
Then, we headed to the Geghard monastery, 25 minutes away from the temple of Garni. Geghard is an 800-year-old monastery complex listed as a Unesco cultural heritage. It has very impressive stone structures, many carved into the mountain’s rock. Can you actually believe that monks used to live in these cells. Incredible!!!
We ended the sightseeing in Yerevan and had a late lunch/early dinner at Anteb restaurant. Then, after a walk in the main square called the Republic square, we watched the dancing fountains, a show that starts every day at 7 pm.
After that, we finally headed back to our hotel after a packed day to have some rest before kicking off our second day early in the morning.
If you might consider traveling to the most gorgeous place in the world : Iceland, you can find our itinerary here.
Day 2 : Yenokavan
We woke up at 6:30 am to head to a two-and-a-half-hour ride to the ZipLine at the Yell Extreme Park located in Yenokavan. The roadtrip itself was very scenic and we got to pass by a 2-kilometer long tunnel on the way.
The ZipLine has 5 different lines that range between 130 m and 750 m long and 200 to 300 m high above sea level. The park is of high standards of security and the staff is very professional. They gave us a 15-minute brief to have an idea of what to expect. It’s probably not the longest ZipLine in Armenia but it was still so worth it. So much fun and highly recommend it for adrenaline junkies!!
We decided to head to our next stop, but it is always possible to do more activities such as paragliding, mountain biking and camping facilities.
We then continued to Sevanavank monastery located on a peninsula at the shore of lake Sevan. Did you know? It was once a very strict monastery for monks who had sinned. The tour takes around one hour to explore the former churches and hike the trail leading to and behind the monastery. Enjoy a gorgeous view of lake Sevan and plenty of handmade souvenir along the way.
Our driver took us to Collette restaurant for lunch. Tentlike seating right on the lake. Food is fantastic and freshly cooked : a true Armenian authentic cuisine.
In the evening, we had dinner at Wine republic before hitting 44 Sky bar, a rooftop bar in the Opera Suite Hotel. It was SO much fun!
Day 3: Yerevan city
We had few hours left in Armenia, so we decided to explore Yerevan. We went to the genocide memorial, the cascade stairway, and the vernissage open air market!
Tsitsernakaberd – The Armenian Genocide memorial complex
Just minutes away from Yerevan downtown, the Armenian genocide memorial takes you on an emotional ride through history and definitely leaves you speechless. The complex consists of twelve inclined columns sheltering an eternal flame. We were told that these columns were meant to be inclined to show respect to the lives lost during the genocide. Visitors who gather in Tsitsernakaberd lay fresh flowers out of respect.
Vernissage Open Air Market
Armenia’s version of open air market is the perfect place to buy souvenirs, bargain with locals and taste the delicious Armenian peach. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, don’t miss it!
Want more visual content? Check out the video we posted about our stay in Armenia below.
Follow along!
Very interesting!