Two Days in Yerevan: A Perfect Itinerary

Exactly how Yerevan escapes the top ten lists of places to visit before you die or the best city breaks of the year remains a mystery to us. Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise. Plan to spend at least two days in Yerevan to experience the best the city offers. And then prepare to kick yourself for not spending more time in Yerevan.

We really wish we had spent longer in Armenia.

Don’t be fooled to think there’s not much to see or do in Armenia. The atmosphere and cafe culture in Yerevan alone are reasons to stay longer than planned. Two days in Yerevan will give you a taste of this unique city with an abundance of personality and charm.

Appeal and charisma aside, if you want to take keeping up with the Kardashians to the next level, we suggest you visit their ancestral homeland. NOW!

Two Days in Yerevan Itinerary

Most first-time visitors will find two days is the ideal time to spend in Yerevan. This allows for leisurely exploring the city’s history and popular spots and ample time to bask in its superb cafe culture. We spent three days in Armenia: two days in Yerevan and a third for a day trip to Geghard Monastery and Garni Temple.

Day 1 in Yerevan

Republic Square

Located right in the centre of the city, Yerevan’s circular design radiates from Republic Square. The pink neoclassical buildings surrounding the square all feature typical Armenian design elements and motives.

Other than government buildings you can find the History Museum, National Gallery and Marriot Hotel here. The singing fountains at the centre of the square come alive at night and you will want to come back here later to see that.

Vernissage Market

This open-air market is a short walk away from Republic Square and is a great place to pick up your perfect Armenian souvenir. You can find just about any local craft here including wood-carved chess sets, paintings, ceramics, posters and t-shirts. None of that is really for us though, but the best thing for us was the carpets.

If you’re looking for Armenian carpets this is the place to be! Most carpet stalls have some very unique pieces, especially from the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

We found a small carpet in a trunk of a Lada that Jin absolutely had to have. We couldn’t agree on a price and had to come back the next day to seal the deal. In the end, we very happily walked away with a small 90-year-old carpet from the Lori valley in northern Armenia.

There are also carpet shops on the street next to the market where you can see teams of women weaving modern carpets.

Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral

It is worth the short detour after the market to see the Yerevan Cathedral. This cathedral is the largest Armenian church in the world. While it’s pretty bare inside the scale is impressive. Entrance is free.

The Cascade

The Kaskad as locals call it is a monumental staircase that swallowed an art exhibition. This architectural masterpiece in the heart of Yerevan should be seen at least once. Concrete has never looked this cool.

The project started in 1971 but it was left unfinished when construction halted in 1980. Left abandoned until 2002 it was finally completed in 2009, thanks to the Armenian American magnate and collecter, Gerard Cafesjian.

Before taking the stairs have a look at the plump Botero statues in the sculpture garden at the base. As you ascend the steps from one level to the next you’ll be rewarded with more exceptional examples of modern art and installations.

Each level features gardens, fountains and symbols portraying Armenian culture and history. Each level is as exceptional as the next.

The view gets better with each level you ascend, so do go all the way to the top to see Yerevan in all her glory with Mount Ararat behind it.

There is also an escalator inside which will take you up or down if you don’t feel like walking. These escalators stop running at 20:00, as we found out at 20:05. Entrance to the Cascade is free of charge.

Mother Armenia

Fierce mother Armenia will be visible on your right, across the road, when you reach the top of the Cascade. Take the underpass under the busy road and then walk through the very Soviet-looking amusement park to reach the monument.

Symbolising peace through strength, Mother Armenia keeps a watchful eye over the city. The views down towards the city are spectacular.

Standing 20 meters tall and with a sword in hand, the statue manifests national pride and the mood is very soviet. The pedestal on which she stands houses the Museum of Defense Ministry and primarily focuses on the Nagorno Karabakh War.

Watch the sunset from the Cascade

The top of the Cascade is a great place to watch the sunset and if you’re in luck you’ll get a fine view of Mount Ararat. We found that the middle levels of the Cascade actually have the best views rather than the top. Remember too that the escalators leading down from the top stop running at 20:00.

Dinner at Lavash

End your first day in Yerevan at the excellent Lavash restaurant.

Lavash, named after the paper-thin Armenian bread, feels sophisticated without being stuck up. The atmosphere here is fantastic. We liked it so much that we came back here for dinner again on our last night. Do not leave Yerevan without eating at Lavash. You can thank us later.

Lavash (the bread) has been part of Armenian culture since the beginning of time. Women have a monopoly on baking lavash and men have no part in the process. Lavash (the restaurant) bakes its own lavash (the bread) onsite and you can peek through the window to see the women at work.

They also have a very handsome wine list. We particularly liked the Karas Dry white and the Takar.

Eating at Lavash was the best meal we’ve had in the Caucasus. Armenian food offers a ton of bbq and Lavash is a great place to try some. We like how the grilled meats are served on the lavash with various fresh herbs.

They also have ample veggie options. The halva for dessert caught us a little off guard. Expecting a portion to share, we were in for a surprise when they served us a whole plate full.

Dinner for two including starters, mains, dessert and wine came to 14 000 Dram (about $30).
Lavash is very popular and making a reservation is essential. We didn’t know this the first time we went and had to come back more than an hour later to get a table.

Reservations: +374 10 60 88 00
Address: 21 Tumanyan St, Yerevan
Hours: 8:30 -midnight

Day 2 in Yerevan

Genocide Memorial

The Armenian genocide (also called the Armenian Holocaust) is perhaps the event that influenced modern-day Armenia the most.

The museum and memorial will help visitors understand the impact that the genocide has had on Armenia and its relationship with its neighbours today. Most Armenian diaspora communities around the world are a direct result of the genocide.

Today there are more people of Armenian origin living outside of the country than in Armenia.

The memorial commemorates the 1.5 million people who lost their lives during the systematic massacres which took place between 1914 -1923. The displays are confronting and sombre.

The museum is open every day except Monday from 11:00-16:00. Entrance to the museum is free, but donations are welcome.

To get to the museum you can first take the metro to Barekamutuyn station. The memorial is still quite a distance from the metro station. A taxi from the metro to the memorial will be about 1000 Dram

Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex

A quirky little detour from the Genocide Memorial takes you to the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex or Hamilar as locals call it. This complex can be seen from the Genocide Memorial and is just a short walk away.

The structure reminds of a bird opening its wings, and the architects were awarded the USSR State Prize (the highest of its kind).

Opened in 1983 the building features some excellent examples of soviet architecture and makes for great photo ops. It almost has a feeling of being an abandoned building. It’s free to walk around and we’re pretty sure you won’t be able to enter the actual stadium.

Blue Mosque

The aptly-named Blue mosque is a beautiful Iranian-style mosque just a short walk away from Republic Square.

The dome and facade, covered in blue tiles, are impressive and stand out against the plain brick walls. The garden surrounding the mosque is an excellent place to sit under the fruit trees and rest for a while before moving on again.

Ararat Brandy

What better place to cheers to two days in Yerevan than the Ararat brandy distillery? They have several tours in different languages throughout the day, but you must make a reservation online before your visit.

The tour is informative without being boring. Churchill was a big fan of Ararat and apparently, Stalin had a bottle delivered to him every month.

Interestingly the Armenians still refer to it as cognac.

The Karabakh barrel is another quirky thing to see. It is a barrel of Ararat brandy that will remain sealed until the Karabakh conflict has been resolved. It is also the only place in the world where the Azerbaijan and Armenian flags can be seen next to each other. Visitors are encouraged to scribble messages of peace on the walls in which the barrel is kept.

*Now that Azerbaijan has won the Karabakh war in 2020, I guess the barrel will remain sealed forever.

The highlight of the tour however is the tasting session at the end. We went with the advanced tasting of 3 different vintages (10-year Akhtamar, 20-year Nairi, and Churchill’s favourite Dvin). The brandy is paired with chocolate which goes down well together.

Tours with tasting cost 10 000 dram (about $20) which is well worth it. Cheers!

Dinner at Zatar Pizza

Run by Armenian Syrians cheap and delicious Zatar offers a great range of Middle Eastern and Armenian dishes. The place is friendly and cosy and a short walk away from Republic Square. If you want something tasty and cheap, Zatar is your place.

Singing Fountains

Every night at 9 the fountains in Republic square come alive and spurt and dance to classical music and changing lights. While it may sound cheesy, believe us it is very nice and you would not want to miss it. It is a great show and free for all to watch. It seems like everyone comes down to see the singing fountains and there is a great sense of community. The atmosphere is just great and sitting with your feet dangling in the cool water and watching the world goes by is the best way to end your two days in Yerevan.

And that is what we did with our two full days in Yerevan. We really wish we could have spent more time in this great city. Yerevan has an amazing atmosphere and we are sure there must be tons of other things to eat and drink see and do. Let us know in the comments below what we missed out on.

Read more: 25 pictures to get you packing for Armenia

Where We Stayed in Yerevan

We stayed at this lovely RIS Central Apartments just off Republic Square. Its location can’t be beaten! A short walk will bring you to the metro, Republic Square, and Vernissage Market, and it’s just 2 blocks away from Lavash restaurant and other great eateries and bars.

The owner speaks excellent English and even gave us a ride to the bus station to get the van to Tbilisi.

Just down the road are two supermarkets where we bought ingredients for breakfast. The fruit selection at these shops is amazing!

How to Get from Tbilisi to Yerevan & Vice Versa

Armenia was part of our 3 weeks travel itinerary through the Caucasus. We started in Baku, but because there aren’t any border crossings between Azerbaijan and Armenia we had to transit through Georgia first.

Read here how we travelled from Baku to Yerevan via Sheki and Sighnaghi before getting the night train from Tbilisi.

Returning from Yerevan to Tbilisi, we took a private minivan that leaves daily from the Central bus terminal at Kilikya Avtokayan. These minivans are not typical marshrutka but Mercedes Sprinters, and we only stopped at two gas stations and the border before arriving in Tbilisi. We called Comfort Armenia Bus Company (phone number: +374-44-065555) to reserve our tickets the day before. Tickets cost 7000 Dram per person and the trip takes about 6 hours before reaching Avlabari metro station in Tbilisi. 

And that is what you do with two days in Yerevan. We hope you enjoy this amazing city as much as we did. Please drop us a comment below to tell us how much you liked it.