Yerevan: areas, where to stay and what to see in 2-3 days

Yerevan is called the Pink City because of the tuff the center is built from. It is compact: almost everything tourists come for lies in one area and can be covered on foot. Below are the areas, the best places to stay, the main sights and the road from the airport. The data comes from the Wikivoyage guide.

How the city works

The center of Yerevan is planned as a grid inside a ring road. The two main hubs are Republic Square and the Opera area with the Swan Lake park and Freedom Square. They are connected by the pedestrian Northern Avenue. The rest of the city is mostly residential and business, so most tourists hardly leave the center.

Areas and where to stay

• Kentron (the center). Almost all museums, hotels, cafes and restaurants are here. The best choice for a first trip: everything is close and you can do without transport. One minus: it is crowded and noisy on the central streets in the evening.
• The Monument and the Cascade. At the top of the Cascade staircase stands the victory monument, with the Cafesjian museum of contemporary art and glass nearby. Good for people who want to live near a view of the city and Victory Park.
• Barekamutyun. The area around the metro station of the same name with the Ayastan department store, which looks like a covered bazaar. Suitable if you need shops and inexpensive food.
• Erebuni. The ruins of the Erebuni fortress, founded in 782 BC, and the railway station with a statue of David of Sassoun. It works for a stay only if you arrive by train.
• Nor Nork. A Soviet residential district. The highway to Garni temple and Geghard monastery passes through it, and a statue of Hayk Nahapet stands on the avenue.
• Bangladesh. A district on the outskirts with the largest street market of the city. Inconvenient for a stay.

If you are going for the first time and looking for accommodation, choose Kentron. Compare with how another Caucasus city works: Tbilisi: where to stay and what to see.

What to see in the center

1. Republic Square. The main square of the city, where any walk begins.
2. The Cascade. A monumental staircase with a view of the city and the Cafesjian museum at its foot and its top.
3. Matenadaran. A repository of ancient manuscripts on Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, one of the main streets.
4. Katoghike Church. A small 13th-century church at the corner of Saryan Nova Avenue and Abovyan street. Entry to Yerevan churches is free.
5. St. Sarkis Cathedral. Above the Hrazdan river gorge, and according to the guide young couples love it.
6. Erebuni Fortress. Entry according to Wikivoyage is 1,000 drams (reference data, so check the price on the spot before you go).
7. The Tsitsernakaberd genocide memorial. A memorial complex with a museum, worth setting aside a few hours for.

Trips out of town

The highway through Nor Nork leads to the two main monuments near the capital: Garni temple and Geghard monastery. It is a classic half-day or full-day trip that is convenient to plan for the second or third day.

Getting from the airport

Zvartnots airport is 14 km west of the center. Buses run every half hour from 7:00 to 22:00 and once an hour at night. According to Wikivoyage in August 2025, a ticket on bus 201 costs 300 drams and on bus 100 it is 500 drams. It takes about 25 minutes in good traffic. You can order a taxi in the gg and Yandex Go apps, and when you leave the terminal always agree the price in advance.

A 2-3 day route

• Day 1. Republic Square, Northern Avenue, the Cascade and the Cafesjian museum, and in the evening Opera Square and Swan Lake.
• Day 2. Matenadaran, Katoghike and St. Sarkis churches, then Tsitsernakaberd.
• Day 3. A trip to Garni and Geghard or a visit to Erebuni.

Flights

Look for flights in the HotTrip flight search. If you want to join two capitals of the Caucasus, open Tbilisi: when to go.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to stay in Yerevan?

In Kentron: it has almost all the museums, hotels and restaurants, and the center can be covered on foot.

How many days do I need for Yerevan?

Two days is enough for the center, and three days is enough to add a trip to Garni and Geghard.

How do I get from Zvartnots airport to the center?

By bus 100 or 201 in about 25 minutes, or by taxi through apps.

Do I need to spend time on the outskirts?

Not necessarily: most tourists have enough with the center and trips to the temples outside the city.

How much is entry to Erebuni?

According to the Wikivoyage guide, 1,000 drams.

Cover: photo by Valeria Drozdova on Pexels