Best Things to Do in Yerevan: Sights, Museums, Markets and Evenings

Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its founding date is fixed by an inscription from 782 BC. But the centre you walk through today is mostly 20th century: wide avenues and squares laid out by the architect Alexander Tamanyan and built in pink, orange and grey volcanic tuff. The result is a city that is easy to read in a day, with museums that hold far more than their size suggests and street life that peaks after sunset.

This guide covers the sights worth your time, the practical details that trip people up (mostly opening days), where to stay, and two ready-made plans for one or two days. For the rest of the country, see the best things to do in Armenia. For background on the city itself, see our Yerevan destination page.

What are the top things to do in Yerevan?

If you only have time for a short list, prioritise these in roughly this order: the Cascade for the view, the Matenadaran for the manuscripts, Tsitsernakaberd for understanding modern Armenia, Republic Square and the History Museum for the city’s centrepiece and its archaeology, and an evening walk from Northern Avenue to the Opera. Then add markets, Erebuni and Kond as time allows.

Why climb the Cascade?

The Cascade is a giant stairway of white limestone terraces running up the hill north of the Opera. It has 572 steps and rises about 118 metres. From the top, on a clear day, you look over the whole city towards Mount Ararat. Visibility is usually best in the morning and in the cooler months.

At its foot, the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden displays large contemporary works, including pieces by Fernando Botero, and is always open. Inside the hill, a series of escalators runs up through the Cafesjian Center for the Arts galleries, so you can ride up and walk down. Indoor gallery hours vary by exhibition, so check the centre’s current schedule. Allow 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. If you keep climbing past the top terrace, you reach Victory Park and the Mother Armenia statue.

Who it suits: everyone. Families like the sculptures, and photographers come at golden hour.

What is there to see on Republic Square?

Republic Square is the oval heart of Tamanyan’s plan, framed by government buildings in tuff of different colours. The History Museum of Armenia and the National Gallery share the building on the east side.

The History Museum is the best single introduction to Armenian history, from Bronze Age finds and Urartian objects to medieval manuscripts and carpets. Allow 1.5–2 hours, and consider a guide, because labels can be brief. It is closed on Mondays.

In the warmer months, the singing fountains in front of the museum usually put on an evening show of music, light and water. The timetable and season vary from year to year, roughly from late spring to early autumn, so check locally.

Is the Matenadaran worth visiting?

Yes, even if you think manuscripts aren’t your thing. The Matenadaran (the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts) sits at the top of Mashtots Avenue and holds one of the world’s great collections of medieval manuscripts. The museum displays illuminated Gospels, early scientific and medical texts and the history of the Armenian alphabet. The colours of the miniatures are the real surprise.

Allow 1–1.5 hours. An English or Russian guided tour makes a big difference here and can be arranged at the museum. Remember that it is open Tuesday to Saturday only, so don’t leave it for a Sunday.

Why visit Tsitsernakaberd and the Armenian Genocide Museum?

The Armenian Genocide Memorial stands on Tsitsernakaberd hill above the Hrazdan gorge. It has an eternal flame under twelve inclined basalt slabs and a 44-metre stele. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is built into the hillside next to it. Together they explain the events of 1915 and their lasting effect on Armenia and its worldwide diaspora. It is difficult to understand modern Armenia without this visit.

• Admission is free. Guided tours in Armenian, Russian, English, French and German are paid and must be booked in advance by phone. They last 40 minutes to an hour, and according to the museum they are not offered to children under 13.
• On 24 April, the day of remembrance, hundreds of thousands of people walk to the memorial, and the museum keeps extended hours. It is a powerful day to be in Yerevan, but expect crowds and closed roads.
• Allow 1.5–2 hours. Most visitors take a taxi, which is about 10 minutes from the centre.

Who it suits: adults and older teenagers. With younger children, the outdoor memorial alone is often enough.

What can you buy at Vernissage and GUM market?

Vernissage is the open-air market along Aram and Buzand streets, a few minutes’ walk from Republic Square. A few stalls set up most days, but it is at its fullest on Saturdays and Sundays. Look for carpets, wood carving, ceramics, obsidian jewellery, backgammon (nardi) boards, paintings and a large section of Soviet-era objects. Prices are negotiable, and bargaining politely is expected. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

GUM market (35 Movses Khorenatsi Street, behind St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, near Zoravar Andranik metro) is where Yerevan buys food. The front halls are piled with dried fruit, nuts, spices, herbal teas and sujukh, the walnut strings coated in thickened grape juice. Further in are fresh produce, cheese, pickles and meat. Vendors usually offer tastes. It is the best place to buy dried apricots to take home. Allow 45 minutes, and go in the late morning when everything is out.

What is Erebuni and why go?

Erebuni is the Urartian fortress on Arin Berd hill in southern Yerevan, founded in 782 BC by King Argishti I. Its name is the origin of the word “Yerevan”, which is why the city celebrated its 2,800th anniversary in 2018. On the hilltop you can walk among reconstructed walls, parts of the palace and a temple with fragments of wall painting. The museum at the foot of the hill, opened in 1968, displays finds from the site, including cuneiform inscriptions and silver ritual vessels.

Allow 1.5 hours, including the walk up the hill. It is about 15 minutes by taxi from the centre. It is usually quiet, which is part of the appeal.

What is Kond, and how should you visit it?

Kond is the oldest surviving quarter of Yerevan, a hilly maze of lanes, courtyards and self-built houses just west of the centre, behind the Ring Park. Much of old Yerevan was cleared in the Soviet era, and Kond is the main place where you can still see what the city looked like before. A walk usually starts at the small St John the Baptist church (Surb Hovhannes), and the lanes are full of murals and street art.

Allow 1–1.5 hours, wear shoes with grip and remember that this is a residential area. Ask before photographing people or looking into courtyards. Kond has faced redevelopment pressure for decades, so the streets you walk may change.

Should you go to the Opera in Yerevan?

Yes, if there is a performance during your stay. The Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, named after Alexander Spendiaryan, is another Tamanyan building. It opened in January 1933 and is the centrepiece of Freedom Square. It has two halls: the opera and ballet stage, and the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. Tickets are usually far cheaper than at comparable houses in Western Europe. Check the programme and buy tickets on the official website or at the box office.

Even without a ticket, the area around the Opera, with Freedom Square, the small pond known as Swan Lake and the surrounding cafés, is one of the nicest places in the city to spend an evening.

Where are the best cafés and wine bars in Yerevan?

Yerevan has a strong café culture, and it is at its best from spring to autumn.

• Saryan Street and the surrounding blocks have the highest concentration of wine bars. They are the easiest place to try Armenian wines by the glass from Vayots Dzor, Aragatsotn, Armavir and Tavush in one sitting.
• Abovyan Street, the Northern Avenue pedestrian street and the streets around the Cascade (Tamanyan and Moskovyan) have cafés with outdoor seating that stay busy into the late evening.
• For coffee, try a cup of Armenian coffee (soorj), which is finely ground and boiled. It is served almost everywhere.
• Brandy: the city’s large brandy houses offer paid tours and tastings, usually by advance booking.

Specific venues change often, so ask your hotel or guide what is good this season rather than relying on an old list.

Where can you walk in the evening?

Yerevan is a city for evening walks, and it feels safe and relaxed late into the night. A classic loop takes about 1.5 hours at a stroll:

1. Start at Republic Square. Catch the fountains if they are running.
2. Walk north up Northern Avenue to the Opera and Freedom Square.
3. Continue up Tamanyan Street through the sculpture garden to the foot of the Cascade, and climb a few terraces for the city lights.
4. Return via Mashtots Avenue or detour along Baghramyan Avenue to Lovers’ Park.

Lovers’ Park on Baghramyan Avenue is one of the city’s oldest parks. It was redesigned in 2005–2008 by Swiss landscape architect Pierre Rambach in a Japanese-influenced style, with a pond, stream, small amphitheatre and lawns. It is a calm spot to sit for half an hour, and its small amphitheatre is sometimes used for open-air events in summer.

In July and August, daytime temperatures in Yerevan are often well above 30°C. Locals shift their day accordingly, sightseeing in the morning, resting in the afternoon and going out after 19:00. You should do the same.

What else is worth adding if you have time?

• St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, consecrated in 2001 for the 1,700th anniversary of Armenian Christianity. It is near GUM market, so the two pair easily.
• The Blue Mosque on Mashtots Avenue, an 18th-century mosque with a quiet courtyard.
• The Sergei Parajanov Museum, dedicated to the film director and artist, with his collages and assemblages. It is one of the most original small museums in the city.
• Victory Park and Mother Armenia, above the Cascade, for a different angle on the city.

Where should you stay in Yerevan?

For most visitors, the answer is the Kentron (central) district.

• Between the Cascade, the Opera and Northern Avenue: the best all-round base. You can walk everywhere, choose from many restaurants and get back to your hotel easily after an evening out.
• Around Republic Square and Vernissage: very central and convenient for early tour pick-ups, though a little busier and noisier.
• Around Saryan, Pushkin and Tumanyan streets: good for wine bars and quieter side streets that are still central.
• Arabkir, just north of the centre: residential, often better value and good for longer stays or families with apartments, but you will rely on taxis.

Staying far from the centre saves little once you add taxis, and you lose the evening walks that are one of the city’s pleasures. For transport from the airport and around town, see getting around Armenia.

What is a good 1-day plan for Yerevan?

This plan works on any day from Tuesday to Saturday.

• 09:30 – Cascade. Climb or ride the escalators early for the clearest view of Ararat, then walk down through the sculpture garden.
• 11:00 – Matenadaran. A 10-minute walk up Mashtots Avenue. Spend an hour with the manuscripts, ideally with a guide.
• 12:30 – Lunch in the streets between the Matenadaran and the Opera.
• 14:00 – Tsitsernakaberd. Take a short taxi ride to the Genocide Memorial and Museum and allow about 1.5 hours.
• 16:00 – Republic Square and Vernissage. Come back to the centre. If you have energy, visit the History Museum (last entry 17:15 on weekdays). Otherwise browse Vernissage.
• 19:00 – Evening walk and dinner. Follow the Northern Avenue, Opera and Cascade loop, and finish with dinner or a wine bar on Saryan Street.

On a Sunday, swap the Matenadaran for the History Museum, and Vernissage will be at its busiest. On a Monday, keep the Cascade, Kond, GUM market, Vernissage and an evening walk, and save museums for another day.

What is a good 2-day plan for Yerevan?

Day 1: follow the 1-day plan above.

Day 2: older Yerevan, markets and food.

• 10:00 – Erebuni. Start where the city began, with the fortress and the museum.
• 12:00 – St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral and GUM market. Look into the cathedral, then taste your way through the dried fruit halls.
• 13:30 – Lunch. Try a traditional Armenian lunch, with khorovats, dolma, greens and lavash.
• 15:00 – Kond. Walk the lanes from St John the Baptist church.
• 16:30 – History Museum (if you missed it), or the Parajanov Museum, or a rest at the hotel.
• 19:30 – The Opera, if there is a performance, then a walk to Lovers’ Park or a late café on Abovyan Street.

If you would rather leave the city on day 2, the half-day trip to Garni and Geghard fits neatly into a morning, and you can still be back for the evening.

What practical tips help in Yerevan?

• Taxis booked by app are inexpensive and are the easiest way to reach Tsitsernakaberd, Erebuni and GUM market.
• Dress modestly in churches: cover shoulders and knees. Women may want a scarf, though it is rarely required in Yerevan.
• Language: Armenian is the official language. Russian is widely understood, and English is common among younger people and in the hospitality industry.
• Water: Yerevan’s public drinking fountains (pulpulak) run with cold, drinkable spring water and are a local tradition.

For your first visit, the first-time visitors guide covers money, SIM cards and etiquette. The 3-day itinerary shows how to combine Yerevan with the classic day trips.