The best things to do in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, follow it through several historical layers. Urartian foundations sit beneath a capital shaped by Alexander Tamanian’s circular plan, Soviet monuments and contemporary Armenian life. Pink-tuff façades change colour through the day, while views of Mount Ararat remain visible whenever the sky clears.
Yerevan sightseeing moves between monumental spaces and quieter encounters. Republic Square, the Cascade and the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex provide the ceremonial scale. Kond, Hrazdan Gorge, courtyard cafés and neighbourhood markets reveal a less formal city. Some of the most unique things to do in Yerevan involve walking between these contrasting environments.
Many Yerevan attractions are concentrated in Kentron, making the centre easy to explore on foot. Yet several top places to visit in Yerevan stand outside the central grid. The Erebuni Fortress, the Shengavit Settlement, the Victory Park and the city’s outer districts broaden the capital’s history and geography.
How Many Days Do You Need in Yerevan?
One full day in Yerevan introduces the central axis between Republic Square, Abovyan Street, the Opera and the Cascade. Travellers deciding what to see in Yerevan in one day will discover the Etchmiadzin, Sardarapat, Zvartnots, and Genocide Museum. This route covers major must-see places in Yerevan without turning the day into a rushed checklist.
Three days in Yerevan include Erebuni Fortress, local markets, Soviet architecture and residential neighbourhoods beyond Kentron. Families can also add parks, the Children’s Railway and other things to do in Yerevan with children.
In 3 days one can also include museums, food, live performance and outdoor activities in Yerevan. The extra time also supports an excursion to Garni, Geghard or Lake Sevan. Below, we bring together famous Yerevan tourist spots with free things to do in Yerevan.
Discover Yerevan’s Origins
Among the most revealing things to do in Yerevan is tracing the city back beyond its pink-tuff centre. Erebuni and Shengavit show that human settlement here began thousands of years before modern Yerevan took shape. These Yerevan attractions connect prehistoric communities, the Urartian kingdom and the planned capital seen today.
Climb the Erebuni Fortress
King Argishti I founded Erebuni Fortress on Arin Berd hill in 782 BC. A surviving cuneiform inscription records the fortress’s construction and identifies its founder. Visitors can explore the remains of palaces, temples, storage rooms and mud-brick walls once decorated with colourful frescoes. The hill also provides broad views across the Ararat Plain.
Visit the Erebuni Museum
The Erebuni Museum stands below the fortress and opened in 1968 for Yerevan’s 2,750th anniversary. Its collection includes cuneiform inscriptions, weapons, jewellery, ceramics and ritual vessels recovered during archaeological excavations. A large relief of King Argishti I appears above the entrance. Visiting the museum before the fortress makes the surviving ruins easier to understand.
Visit the Ancient Settlement of Shengavit
Preserving an Early Bronze Age site, Shengavit Settlement dates from the 4th to 3rd millennia BC. It existed for more than a thousand years, long before the foundation of Erebuni. Excavations have uncovered houses, defensive walls, workshops, grain pits and a burial ground. Among the less familiar Yerevan tourist spots, it reveals the city’s prehistoric landscape beside the Hrazdan River.
Visit Republic Square, the Heart of Yerevan
At the heart of modern Yerevan, Republic Square reflects the city’s transformation from ancient settlement to national capital. Alexander Tamanian designed its main plan in 1926, combining an oval with a trapezoidal public space. Pink-tuff government buildings, arches and carved façades surround the square. Today, it remains one of the must-see places in Yerevan and a natural starting point for exploring the centre.
Walk through Yerevan’s Pink Central Axis
Most central Yerevan sightseeing begins at Republic Square, where the city’s principal streets radiate through Kentron. From here, Abovyan Street leads towards Northern Avenue, the Opera area and the Cascade. This route connects historic churches, Soviet planning, public art and several major Yerevan attractions. Most stops are also among the best free things to do in Yerevan.
Stroll along Historic Abovyan Street
Built to an official plan, Abovyan Street opened in 1864 under its original name, Astafyan. It runs north from Republic Square through one of the capital’s oldest central corridors. Historic façades now stand beside cafés, shops, hotels and cultural institutions. The walk shows how nineteenth-century Yerevan became part of the modern centre.
Explore the Katoghike Church
This small 13th-century sanctuary, the Katoghike Church, sits nearby the much larger Saint Anna Church. An inscription dated back to 1264 helps establish its age. It survived the earthquake of 1679 and later Soviet reconstruction, making it one of mediaeval Yerevan’s rare survivors. Its plain tuff interior walls provide a quiet pause along busy Abovyan Street.
Walk along Northern Avenue
Northern Avenue creates a pedestrian route between Abovyan Street and Freedom Square beside the Opera House. Alexander Tamanian included it in his 1924 plan, but the avenue opened only in 2007. Shops, restaurants and the underground Tashir Street gallery now occupy the route. Street musicians and evening crowds make it one of Yerevan’s busiest public spaces.
Visit the Opera Theatre and Swan Lake
The Opera Theatre opened in 1933 with Alexander Spendiaryan’s Almast. Alexander Tamanian designed the circular building with separate halls for opera, ballet and concerts. Nearby Swan Lake was created in 1963 and becomes a seasonal skating rink in winter. The surrounding paths form one of Kentron District’s favourite evening meeting places.
Browse Art in Saryan Park
Standing beside France Square, Saryan Park honours Armenian painter Martiros Saryan with a marble monument. Local artists display and sell paintings here, particularly at weekends. The park also contains the Tree of Life and statues inspired by Edmond Keosayan’s film The Men. It remains one of the more relaxed and distinctive Yerevan tourist spots.
Climb Yerevan’s Cascade
The Cascade rises through 572 steps, terraces, fountains and carvings inspired by Armenian symbols. Construction began during the 1970s to connect central Yerevan with its northern districts. Each level combines sculpture, architecture and changing views across the capital. On clear days, the upper platforms reveal Mount Ararat beyond the pink-tuff cityscape.
See Contemporary Art at the Cafesjian Centre
The Cafesjian Centre for the Arts occupies galleries within the Cascade and opened in 2009. Its collection includes more than 5,000 works donated by the Cafesjian family. Outdoor sculptures by Fernando Botero, Lynn Chadwick and Jaume Plensa continue through the adjoining garden. Inside, exhibition halls present international contemporary art alongside monumental works by Armenian artists.
See Religious Sites in Yerevan
Yerevan’s religious heritage features Armenian Apostolic cathedrals, historic neighbourhood churches, a Persian mosque and early mediaeval sites.
Visit Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
The Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral is Yerevan’s largest Armenian Apostolic church and the city’s Mother Cathedral. Built between 1997 and 2001 to mark 1,700 years since Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion. Its three main churches create a prominent landmark near the southern edge of central Yerevan.
Visit Saint Sarkis Cathedral
Standing above the Hrazdan Gorge, Saint Sarkis Cathedral serves as the prelacy church of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese. The present church dates from 1842 and was rebuilt between 1971 and 1976. Its elevated position gives the site views towards the city, marking it a natural stop on the Yerevan trip.
Step Inside Zoravor Holy Mother of God Church
Zoravor Holy Mother of God Church, also known as the Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church, is one of the historic churches in central Yerevan. Its name comes from the miraculous “Zoravor” Bible once kept here. The church complex developed between the 17th and 19th centuries and retains a quieter atmosphere.
Visit the Blue Mosque
Yerevan's best-known Islamic monument, the Blue Mosque, is an important reminder of the city's Persian heritage. Built in 1765-1766, the mosque features a blue-tiled dome, courtyard and traditional Persian architectural details. Today, it remains an active place of worship and one of the most distinctive historic buildings in central Yerevan.
Explore the Ancient Churches of Avan
The Avan Temple Complex preserves some of Yerevan’s earliest Christian architecture. The complex includes remains from the 6th-7th centuries and is one of the earliest domed churches in Armenian architecture. Nearby historic churches and surviving khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) make Avan worthwhile for exploring Yerevan’s early mediaeval past.
Discover Armenia through Yerevan Museums
Museums are among the most rewarding Yerevan attractions for seeing Armenia beyond the city’s streets and monuments.
Explore Armenia’s Past at the History Museum
The History Museum of Armenia, overlooking Republic Square, follows the country from prehistoric settlement to the present day. More than 400,000 objects cover archaeology, ethnography, coins, traditional dress and religious culture. Highlights include Urartian inscriptions, Bronze Age metalwork, mediaeval church artefacts and historic Armenian carpets. It is one of the top places to visit in Yerevan for a broad introduction to Armenia.
Explore Armenian Art at the National Gallery
The National Gallery occupies the same Republic Square complex and holds more than 42,000 works. Its Armenian collection includes works by Martiros Saryan, Hovhannes Aivazovsky, Vardges Sureniants and Yervand Kochar. The gallery also displays European and Russian art, including works by Jacopo Tintoretto, Marc Chagall and Wassili Kandinsky. Visiting both institutions together creates one of the most complete Yerevan sightseeing experiences.
Visit Matenadaran
Matenadaran is Armenia’s principal manuscript warehouse and an important research institute. Its collections preserve around 23,000 manuscripts and approximately 300,000 archival documents in Armenian and other languages. Displays cover manuscripts, early printing, medicine, philosophy, music and mediaeval science. Outside, statues honour Mesrop Mashtots and other figures who shaped Armenian intellectual life.
Visit Cultural House-Museums
Yerevan’s house museums bring visitors closer to the people behind Armenian painting and music. The Martiros Sarian house-museum preserved the painter’s studio, which contains works spanning his career, alongside the rooms where he lived. The Aram Khachaturian museum combines the display of manuscripts and personal objects of the world-renowned Armenian MaestriS, with a concert hall and extensive sound library. The Komitas Museum-Institute examines Armenian folk music, composition and ethnography through exhibitions, recordings and research.
Enter Sergey Parajanov’s World
The Sergey Parajanov Museum presents the filmmaker through collages, assemblages, drawings, dolls, costumes and unrealised projects. Parajanov created many works created during imprisonment or years when Soviet authorities prevented him from directing. Two reconstructed rooms include personal objects and furnishings from his Tbilisi home. Among the unique things to do in Yerevan, few reveal such a complete private artistic universe.
Visit the Armenian Genocide Museum
The Armenian Genocide Museum stands within the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and opened in 1995. The museum retraces the events suffered by Armenian communities during the last years of the Ottoman Empire and WWI through photographs, documents, testimonies and personal objects. The surrounding memorial includes the eternal flame, Memorial Wall and split column of Revived Armenia. It is among the must-see places in Yerevan, and visitors should allow time for a contemplative visit.
Factual note: This is a deeply sensitive and controversial topic. Some countries and international researchers recognise these events as genocide, while others, including the Turkish government, dispute this classification. The issue remains a subject of international debate.
Walk from Kond District to Hrazdan Gorge
Kond and Hrazdan Gorge reveal a side of Yerevan hidden below its planned avenues and monumental squares. The route moves from an old hillside district through a Soviet pedestrian tunnel into the river valley. It combines history, street art, abandoned architecture and some of the best outdoor activities in Yerevan.
Explore Kond and Walk through Its Tunnel
One of Yerevan’s oldest surviving districts, Kond is built across a hill above the modern centre. Narrow lanes pass shared courtyards, earthen houses, wooden doors and vines growing between buildings. Ruins of a 17th-century mosque and Saint John the Baptist Church survive within the neighbourhood. From Kond, a 460-metre pedestrian tunnel covered in graffiti descends towards Hrazdan Gorge.
Visit the Children’s Railway Park
The Children’s Railway opened in 1937 as a Soviet educational and entertainment project. Its route once connected three stations through tunnels and wooded sections of the gorge. Visitors can still see the tuff station, old railway carriages, tracks and surviving park structures. The area remains one of the more unusual free things to do in Yerevan.
Discover Hrazdan Gorge
The Hrazdan River flows for around 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) through Yerevan, creating a deep natural corridor below the city. Rocky slopes, bridges, paths and abandoned structures give the gorge a character unlike central Kentron. Archaeological sites along the river show that the area was inhabited long before modern Yerevan developed. Access to the river is possible through the Kond Tunnel, Tumanyan Park and several neighbourhood roads.
Relax in Tumanyan Park
Occupying seven hectares beside the Kievyan Bridge, Tumanyan Park (also known as Tumo park) overlooks the Hrazdan Gorge. Created in 1970, it now includes walking and cycling paths, sports fields, playgrounds and broad lawns. Sculptures inspired by Hovhannes Tumanyan’s characters connect the park with Armenian literature. The neighbouring TUMO Centre makes it one of the most practical things to do in Yerevan with children.
The Taste of Yerevan
Some of the most social things to do in Yerevan begin at local markets and continue over coffee or produce. Wine bars and historic brandy cellars connect present-day Yerevan with Armenia’s much older traditions of grape cultivation.
Glance at Armenian Crafts at Vernissage
A large open-air craft market, Vernissage begins near Republic Square and extends along Aram and Buzand Streets. Stalls sell ceramics, carpets, silver jewellery, carved backgammon boards, duduks, embroidery and Soviet-era objects. More sellers usually attend at weekends, although the market operates throughout the week. Visiting Vernissage is one of the most enjoyable free things to do in Yerevan.
Taste Local Produce at GUM Market
GUM Market provides a compact introduction to the ingredients used across Armenian cuisine. Its counters hold dried apricots, nuts, sujukh, spices, cheeses, pickles and carefully arranged seasonal produce. Large sheets of lavash are stacked and softened with water before sale. Vendors frequently offer samples, but remember they sell dried fruit and sweets by weight.
Drink Armenian Coffee in a Traditional Café
Armenian coffee is brewed in a jazzve from finely ground beans, water and, if preferred, sugar. Cafés usually serve it unfiltered, with the grounds settling at the bottom of the cup. The annual Tea, Coffee & Chocolate Festival in Armenia expands this ritual through tastings and brewing demonstrations. Usually held in autumn, it brings together local and international producers alongside tea, chocolate and traditional sweets.
Try Gata and Yerevan’s Favourite Pastries
Gata is a rich Armenian pastry filled with butter, flour and sugar, with recipes changing between regions. Bakeries also sell layered nazuk, walnut pakhlava and ponchik filled with custard or jam. These sweets are commonly paired with Armenian coffee and work well as inexpensive breaks during Yerevan sightseeing. Gata Tavern and neighbourhood bakeries provide easy places to compare different versions.
Taste Armenian Wine on Saryan Street
Saryan Street has developed into Yerevan’s principal Armenian wine district, with bars specialising in different types of wines. Visitors can sample wines made from indigenous grape varieties such as Areni, Voskehat and Kangun without travelling to the vineyards. Several establishments also pair tastings with Armenian cheese, cured meat and seasonal dishes. The street becomes especially busy during the annual Yerevan Wine Days festival.
Visit a Yerevan Brandy Cellar
Armenian brandy has been produced commercially in Yerevan since the late 19th century. The ARARAT Museum combines an operating ageing workshop with guided tastings explaining distillation, blending and Caucasian oak maturation. The Noy Factory adds tours of its historic cellars, winemaking equipment and several tasting programmes. Reserve ahead and use a taxi after the visit rather than planning to drive.
Learn about Yerevan’s Soviet Architecture
Local architects combined modernist design with volcanic tuff, carved reliefs and Armenian motifs to create a distinctive architectural language. Public buildings, transport hubs and cultural venues reveal how Soviet design was adapted to Yerevan. Exploring these structures is among the most distinctive things to do in Yerevan.
Ride the Yerevan Metro
Running since 1981, the Yerevan metro was the 8th underground system in the Soviet Union. Its ten stations combine practical transport with marble, basalt, travertine and Armenian decorative motifs. Yeritasardakan Station's angled entrance brings daylight towards the escalators, while Marshal Baghramyan uses a broad, floating canopy. Riding several stops turns everyday transport into a compact survey of Soviet design.
Visit the Tigran Petrosian Chess House
Opened in 1970, the Tigran Petrosian Chess House reflects Armenia’s exceptional chess culture. Its sculptural form and carved exterior reliefs make the building’s purpose immediately clear. The foundation stone was laid by world champion Tigran Petrosian. It remains one of the best Soviet landmarks in Yerevan to include in central Yerevan sightseeing.
See the Former Rossiya Cinema
The former Rossiya Cinema was established during the 1970s as Armenia’s largest cinema complex. Two curved wings once contained three auditoriums seating 2,880 spectators. Its monumental concrete form shows how Soviet entertainment buildings became urban landmarks. Although its original cinema function has disappeared, the exterior remains worth observing.
Walk around the Karen Demirchyan Complex
The Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex was designed during the late 1970s and opened in 1983. Symbolising a large bird spreading its concrete wings, four sweeping structural ribs enclose its halls, giving the building a dramatic, almost mechanical profile. Broad terraces, stairways and orange-tuff reliefs strengthen its ceremonial scale. The exterior alone makes it a must-see place in Yerevan for modernist architecture.
See Soviet Modernism at the Polytechnic University
With curved concrete window elements recalling the Armenian alphabet, Building 9 of the National Polytechnic University dates to the mid-1970s. Red-tuff bas-reliefs at street level wrap socialist-realist scenes around the façade. View the exterior from Teryan Street, since the building remains an active educational institution.
Find the Former International Telephone Exchange
The former International Telephone Exchange of Soviet Armenia, also known as the AMTC Automatic-Long-Distance Telephone Station, features a deep oriental geometric screen that filters light and creates a strong repeating pattern. Carved scenes at the base introduce Armenian folklore, transforming Soviet modernism through a local architectural language.
Uncover the Other Yerevan
Beyond the city centre, another side of Yerevan lies in its botanical gardens, lakeside paths and public transport routes. These lesser-known places deliver more open space and a chance to see how everyday life unfolds across the city. Together, they add several unique things to do in Yerevan without requiring a journey outside the capital.
Visit Yerevan Botanical Garden
Yerevan Botanical Garden covers 80 hectares between the Kanaker-Zeytun District and Nor Nork heights. Founded in 1935, it preserves native trees, medicinal plants, fruit species and rare Armenian flora. A rose garden and Paleobotanical Museum add more focused stops within the extensive grounds. Its scale makes it one of the quieter outdoor activities in Yerevan.
See Residential Yerevan in Nor Nork
Nor Nork replaces Kentron’s compact streets with broad avenues, residential blocks and neighbourhood parks. Nansen Garden honours the Norwegian explorer and humanitarian through a museum, sculptures and a small church. The displays examine his scientific work and assistance to stateless refugees, including the Nansen passport, recognised by many states and issued between 1922 and 1942. This district visit shows everyday Yerevan beyond landmarks created primarily for visitors.
Watch Birds at Yerevan Lake
This artificial reservoir, Yerevan Lake, sits on the Hrazdan River, south-west of the centre. Its reed beds and open water attract nesting, wintering and migratory wetland birds throughout the year. A renewed park provides paths and places to pause beside the water. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit for spotting ducks, waders and passing birds of prey.
Ride a Trolleybus beyond the Centre
A trolleybus ride provides a practical survey of neighbourhoods missed by standard Yerevan sightseeing. Route T4 links central Yerevan and the railway station with Avan District. Route T5 crosses Nor Nork, Komitas Avenue and western districts before reaching Davtashen District. Yerevan replaced its remaining old trolleybuses with a new fleet in June 2026.