Tatev Monastery, ArmeniaPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Armenia
Armenia, made simple: ancient monasteries, warm hospitality and Mount Ararat on the horizon
Armenia is one of the oldest Christian nations on earth: a small, mountainous country of stone monasteries on cliff edges, a pink stone capital that stays up late, a vast high lake, forested hills and some of the world's oldest winemaking. It can feel unfamiliar, with a new alphabet, cash habits, closed borders and border area advice to understand. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, safety advice and health, answered
- LandingZvartnots airport, SIM cards, dram and your first night in Yerevan, explained
- Your days in ArmeniaMonasteries, food, wine and mountain roads, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, cards, taxis, tipping and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Armenia should feel like a warm welcome, not a worry. We answer the questions about entry, money, borders, transport and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, Beirut or Buenos Aires to see family, or finally standing in front of Ararat for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your ArmeniaCity life, monasteries, hiking, wine country or lake days: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the right season and current border area advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, wine bars, museums, markets and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Yerevan, Sevan, Dilijan, Gyumri and the south at a realistic pace.
Everything your Armenia trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Yerevan, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Gyumri and Tatev, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred monasteries, restaurants, wine bars, markets, hikes and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Yerevan and Gyumri and stays in every region.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Armenia trip
Yerevan, the monasteries, Lake Sevan and the deep south
Most first trips base in Yerevan for a few nights, with day trips to Garni temple and Geghard monastery, Khor Virap below Mount Ararat and the cathedral at Echmiadzin. Then head north to Lake Sevan and the forests of Dilijan, or west to the old stone streets of Gyumri, before driving south through wine country at Areni to Noravank and the cable car to Tatev. A week shows you the heart of the country; ten to twelve days lets you reach the far south at an easy pace.
- Khor Virap with Mount Ararat behind it
- Garni temple and the rock cut chapels of Geghard
- Sevanavank on its peninsula above Lake Sevan
- The Wings of Tatev cable car to Tatev monastery
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the lake, the north and the south fit together.
Armenia destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Armenia rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, enough cash for villages and markets, a look at current advice for areas near the border with Azerbaijan, and a pace that respects winding mountain roads. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic driving times on mountain roads
- The right season for hiking, wine harvest or skiing
- Where to base yourself outside Yerevan
Where to go in Armenia
From the capital Yerevan and the high blue waters of Lake Sevan to the forests of Dilijan, the old stone city of Gyumri and the gorges and monasteries around Tatev.
Yerevan
Yerevan
A pink stone capital of cafés, wine bars, museums and late summer nights, with Mount Ararat on the skyline.
Read the guidePhoto: Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gegharkunik province
Lake Sevan
A huge high lake with a peninsula monastery, summer beaches, fresh fish and fields of carved cross stones.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tavush province
Dilijan
A green spa town in a national park, with forest monasteries, a restored old street and Armenia's best hiking trails.
Read the guidePhoto: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shirak province
Gyumri
Armenia's second city: black and red stone streets, crafts, humour, churches and its own airport.
Read the guidePhoto: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces
Tatev and Syunik
Cliff top Tatev monastery by cable car, cave villages, standing stones and the wine country on the road south.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Armenia safe to visit?
Yerevan and the main tourist routes are generally safe and welcoming, with low street crime. Some governments advise against travel to areas close to the border with Azerbaijan, so read your own government's travel advice before you go, especially for road trips in the south and east.
What is the capital of Armenia?
Yerevan, in the Ararat plain, about twenty minutes by road from Zvartnots International Airport. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Do I need a visa for Armenia?
Many passports, including those of the EU, the UK and the United States, currently get visa-free stays, while others need an e-visa or a visa on arrival. Rules vary by nationality, so check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia website before you book.
Can I see Mount Ararat from Armenia?
Yes, on clear days. Ararat is across the border in Turkey but dominates the view from Yerevan, Khor Virap and the Ararat plain. Mornings from autumn to spring usually give the clearest views.
What money is used in Armenia?
The Armenian dram. Cards work widely in Yerevan, but carry cash for markets, marshrutkas, villages and small guesthouses.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a tour operator. Use our trip planner to shape your route, and our partner links to compare flights and stays.
Ready to find your Bliss in Armenia?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.