About 4 hours (longer with museums)· Family-friendly
Yerevan City Tour
Soviet-era squares, the Cascade staircase, the Vernissage craft market and the lanes of Kond, with museum stops chosen to suit your interests.
View tour →Price on request
Day trip · 4–5 hours
Etchmiadzin & Zvartnots Tour
The spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church, two 7th-century churches and the ruins of a round cathedral, 30 minutes from Yerevan.
Overview
Etchmiadzin is the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The city's official name is Vagharshapat. Etchmiadzin is the name of the Mother See and its cathedral, and most people use it for the whole town. The Mother Cathedral was founded at the start of the 4th century, soon after Armenia adopted Christianity, and it reopened in late September 2024 after a restoration of about six years.
Two of the finest early churches in Armenia stand nearby: St Hripsime (618) and St Gayane (630). On the way back to Yerevan, the ruins of Zvartnots show what was once one of the most ambitious buildings of the 7th century. All of these are part of a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive is only about 30 minutes each way, so the tour fits into a morning or an afternoon, about 4–5 hours in total.
Highlights
- The Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, reopened in 2024 after restoration
- The grounds of the Mother See, with khachkars, gates and the residence of the Catholicos
- St Hripsime (618), a model of early Armenian domed architecture
- St Gayane (630) and its quiet courtyard
- The ruins of Zvartnots, a 7th-century round cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage)
Suggested itinerary · arranged on request
Suggested itinerary
10:00
Pick-up in Yerevan
Your driver-guide collects you from your hotel and drives west across the Ararat plain. The trip to Etchmiadzin takes about 30 minutes.
10:30
St Hripsime Church
Start at St Hripsime, built in 618 over the burial place of a martyred Christian nun of the early 4th century. Its compact, tightly planned dome became a model for later Armenian churches.
11:00
The Mother See and the Mother Cathedral
Enter the Mother See through its main gate and walk through the grounds to the Mother Cathedral. Inside, the guide points out the restored wall paintings and explains the cathedral's role in Armenian history. If you want more time, the Mother See's museums are nearby (see optional experiences). Allow 1–1.5 hours.
12:30
St Gayane Church
A few minutes' walk or drive away, St Gayane (630) sits in a calmer courtyard, with the graves of several Catholicoi nearby.
13:15
Zvartnots archaeological site
On the road back to Yerevan, stop at Zvartnots. The cathedral was built in the mid-7th century under Catholicos Nerses III and probably collapsed in an earthquake in the 10th century. Columns, capitals carved with eagles and the circular plan survive, with Ararat in the background on clear days. A small on-site museum explains the original design. Allow about 45 minutes.
14:30
Return to Yerevan
Drive back to the city, arriving in the early afternoon.
Timings are indicative. The order, pace and stops are agreed with you.
Route
- 1Yerevan
- 2St Hripsime Church
- 3Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
- 4St Gayane Church
- 5Zvartnots archaeological site
Ways to take this tour
With the Etchmiadzin museums
Adds about an hour for the Mother See's museums, including the Manoogian Treasury. Not possible on Mondays.
With Sardarapat
Continue about 35–40 minutes west to the Sardarapat memorial, built to commemorate the battle of May 1918, and the Museum of Armenian Ethnography beside it. This turns the tour into a day of about 7 hours. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Combined with Yerevan
Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots in the morning, then a shorter walking tour of central Yerevan in the afternoon.
Main attractions
- Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
- Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin grounds
- St Hripsime Church
- St Gayane Church
- Zvartnots Cathedral ruins and museum
Optional experiences
- The museums of the Mother See, including the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury with its relics and church treasures
- Attending part of the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Mother Cathedral
- Adding the Sardarapat memorial (see variants)
Practical notes
- The Mother Cathedral reopened to visitors in late September 2024 after a restoration of about six years. Visiting can be restricted during services and major church events, so check before you travel (checked November 2026).
- The Etchmiadzin churches are active places of worship. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and women may wish to bring a scarf.
- As of November 2026, the Zvartnots museum-reserve lists Monday as its closed day. If your free day is a Monday, this tour can still cover the Etchmiadzin churches, and Zvartnots can be seen only from outside.
- The Mother See's museums, including the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury, have been listed as open Tuesday to Sunday. Hours can change on church holidays, so check before you travel.
- Zvartnots charges an entrance fee. The Etchmiadzin churches are free to enter. Current fees are confirmed when you request your quote.
What's included
Inclusions such as vehicle, guide, entrance tickets and meals are agreed with you and confirmed in your written quote before anything is booked.
Who it suits
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels. The sites are on flat ground with short walks between the car and each church.
Best season
All year. Sunday mornings are busiest because of the Divine Liturgy, which is a moving time to visit but means bigger crowds. In summer, go early. Zvartnots has very little shade.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Etchmiadzin Cathedral open after the restoration?
Yes. The Mother Cathedral reopened in late September 2024 after a restoration of about six years. Access can be limited during services and church events, so it is worth checking close to your visit.
Is it Etchmiadzin or Vagharshapat?
Both are used. Vagharshapat is the official name of the city, while Etchmiadzin is the name of the Mother See and its cathedral. In everyday speech most people call the whole town Etchmiadzin.
How long does the Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots tour take?
About 4–5 hours from pick-up to drop-off. Adding the museums adds about an hour, and adding Sardarapat turns it into a day of about 7 hours.
Can I visit on a Monday?
Yes, the Etchmiadzin churches are open, but the Zvartnots museum-reserve, the Mother See museums and the Sardarapat museum list Monday as a closed day. Tuesday to Saturday is the easiest time to see everything.
Is there a dress code?
Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees, and avoid hats inside the churches for men. A light scarf for women is useful but not usually required.
Request a Quote
Request This Tour: Etchmiadzin & Zvartnots Tour
Every tour is tailored to your dates, group size and preferences. Send a request and we will reply with an itinerary and a written quote.
Sending a request is free and does not commit you to anything.
Thank you, your request has been sent.
We will reply by email, usually within one to two working days. Nothing is booked or charged until you approve a written quote.
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