| AIRPORT ARRIVALS Yerevan International Airport has been privatized. The new owners are in the process of upgrading it to level of a world-class facility. At this time baggage chariots without porter are being rented out for 400 AMD each (about $0.70). With porter each chariot costs 1.200 AMD ($2.14). Just as you pass the passport control there is a change booth, change as little amount of greenback as you can (As in any other airport the rates are very unfavorable) You will need no more than $20 in Armenian money to pay for the chariot and the taxi to the city. They have just started regulated taxi service. There is a booth as you come out of the customs, where you can order a taxi to anywhere in and around Yerevan. The fare to central Yerevan is 5,000 AMD (about $8.50), and something between 4-8,000 AMD depending on the distance of travel. There are many moonlight "taxis" as you get off. Beware! If you want to splurge, you can arrange for arriving through VIP section for a cost of 25,000 AMD/person (or $42). The service at the VIP is very courteous and comfortable. Either your hosts can prepay for this service on the spot, or you can request for it directly upon getting off the plane. VIP representatives will be at the tarmac with identifiable badges. Alternatively, most of the hotels, and almost all of tourist and apartment rental agents provide airport pick-up and drop-off service, for a fee ranging from $20-$30 per pick-up (not per passenger). You can find their coordinates in the relative sections of this guide. |
 International Airport in Yerevan |
| APARTMENTS (Short and Long Term) A lot of furnished apartments are available for weekly and monthly rental, which compete with hotels. The furniture and facilities range from modest but adequate, to luxury. A 2-bedroom apartment accommodating at least 4 persons ranges from $200 to $400 per week, depending upon proximity to the center and/or level of luxury. Some travel and tourist agencies also provide this service. Search for "Yerevan Apartments" on the web. Some of the major rental brokers are: Shake A. Petros-sian, Tel.: +3741/53.11.65 www.yerevanrentals.com; Lilit Hakobyan, Tufenkian Enterprises Tel.: +3741/52.09.11/12, www.tufenkian.am; and www.hyurservice.com, Tel.: +3741/56.04.95. |
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| ARTS and CRAFTS OPEN AIR MARKETS (Vernissage) Weekend "Flee-Markets of arts and crafts" popularly known as "Vernissage", are held at two locations, every Saturday and Sunday about 10 am to 5 pm. One is at Pavstos Biuzand Blvd., between Hanrapetutiun and Khanjian Streets, where some art, but mostly handicraft, jewelry, some house-ware, tools, needle-works, carpets, and even pets are sold! The other "Vernissage" is around the statue of painter Martiros Sarian, across from Opera Square, where mainly paintings and sculptures by local artists are sold. Prices are reasonable, and sometimes very interesting pieces of art and handicraft may be found to take back as souvenir from Armenia. All prices are "negotiable"! |
 Martiros Sarian's Monument |
| BANKS MONEY AND EXCHANGE Armenian money is called Dram (AMD). Over past several years AMD has been more stable—upper 500s for a US Dollar—than other local currencies of the ex-Soviet republics. The most favorite bank of foreigners and expats is the HSBC Armenia Bank. However, one can find better exchange rates (0.5 to 1% lower) in "changes" strewn all over Yerevan. Rates are posted outside for you to shop around. Beware that some banks charge up to $10 for cashing travelers checks, irrespective of the amount! So, if you can, bring cash. Banking hours in Yerevan are Monday-Friday: 10 am through 4 pm, Saturday 10 am through 1 pm. No lunch breaks! |
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| CAFES There are a number of popular cafes where tourists, expats as well as who-is-who of Yerevan hang out. One of the most popular ones is "The Meeting Point" of the Armenia Marriott Hotel. It is located at the sidewalk in front of the hotel main entrance, overlooking the Republic Square. The other popular venue is "Aragast" cafe (popularly known as "Paplavog"). It is located on Issahakian Street by the artificial pond, and features live jazz every evening. It is usually packed from late evening through the wee-hours in the morning... Light food and specialty enthusiasts frequent a number of other small, specialized restaurants and cafes. Most of these are on Abovian Street between the Republic Square and Moscovian Street. Some popular ones are the "Artbridge" bookstore-cafe, the "Marco Polo" restaurant, the "Natura Gold" teahouse-pastry shop and the "Rembrandt" cafe. Younger people frequent "Cheers", "Yum-Yum Donuts", Tea House "Thomas Tea" and "Astral" dance club. |
 Armenia Brasserie by Armenia Marriott Hotel |
| CNN CNN is one of the regular channels of TV in Armenia. There are several Russian rebroadcast channels, and a good number of local channels, which broadcast either in Armenian, or reruns of Western movies with Russian "talk-over". Most of the hotels have satellite dishes and provide guests variety of Western programs. |
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| EATERIES Please also refer to special section of review by Ed Balassanian at Yerevan Guide, for his personal recommendations. "Khorovatz-Rabiz" "Khorovatz" in Armenian means grill. This was simple. But "Rabiz" needs some etymologizing! The word is Soviet abbreviation of "Rabotchi Izkustva" (workers culture). It started with popular music appealing to the tastes of common people, and now has become a "peach-melba" of Armenian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish and Greek music, which is very popular with the nouveau riche in Armenia. Khorovatz and Rabiz put together will give you the picture of fully packed restaurants and dance floors on Proshian Street (the street extending for about a kilometer from the American University of Armenia down towards the center of the city). Both sides of the street are lined by large and small restaurants, all serving variety of Khorovatz (pork, beef, lamb, etc.), and playing ear-piercing Rabiz music. The most popular ones are: Cesar's Palace, Urartu, and Dzoraghbiur, all three are located on one intersection on Proshian street. An experience one should try at least once. Who knows, one may enjoy watching people having real fun... Top of the line restaurants: Phoenicia (continental with slight Eastern European flavor), Dolmama (exclusively Armenian), and Monte Christo (French-Levantine cuisine), could be placed in this category safely. Traditional/Authentic Armenian: Artashi Mot, Mer Giugh, and Old Erivan, serve authentic and quality Armenian food and delicacies, with live genuine Armenian music. Fast Food: A number of Pizzerias (Pizza di Roma, California Pizza, etc.) as well as other joints which serve Shaurma (Middle Eastern dish), Khachapouri (Georgian-Armenian food) and other dishes, are located in the center as well as Komitas Avenue. Most serve fast-food in the restaurant and over the counter. Ethnic Food: A number of ethnic restaurants, such as Chinese, Georgian, Indonesian, Italian, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Thai, etc., exist in Yerevan. Unless they are advertised in Yerevan Guide one will have to find them by asking around! |
 Monte Christo Restaurant |
| ELECTRICITY Electricity in Yerevan is 220 volt; 50 cycle. If you are coming from the States and your equipment is dual voltage, you will only need a plug converter (from flat prongs to round ones). If you do not have it with you, you can get one at any convenience store, or flee market at Gnuni Street. If your equipment is not multi-voltage bring something like a "Radio Shack" transformer, rated for your equipment. |
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| EMBASSIES AND FOREIGH ORGANIZATIONS You will find the addresses and telephone numbers of all of the embassies and consulates, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations active in the Republic of Armenia at the front section of the Yerevan Guide. |
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| FLIGHTS A number of international airlines have regular weekly flights to and from Yerevan (some more than one per week). These are: Armenian International Airlines, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and the British Airways. All of these airlines offer connecting flights to virtually every major city in the world, and sell tickets directly from their offices. You can find their phone numbers in Yerevan Guide. Airline prices are very competitive, particularly if you need connecting flights to the East or West coasts of the United States. Some major travel agencies, such as "Levon Travel", "Saberatours", and "Sydon Travel", usually offer bargain package deals. So, shop around. You will not regret. Most of these travel agencies, and other reputable ones are listed in Yerevan Guide. |
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| GUIDED TOURS A number of tourist and travel agencies offer wide variety of sightseeing tours that cover virtually unlimited wealth of historic landmarks and cultural activities. The agency, which has a wide variety of interesting tours, ranging from daily to several days, is "Menua Tours" (52.73.72, 58.39.01 www.menuatours.com). "Sati" is another major tour operator and travel agency (53.10.22 www.satiglobal.com). There are also experienced individual tour operators/consultants, which provide custom-tailored guided tours. "Princess Maneh" (58.24.57 maneh@netsys.am) is one, which has been with us virtually from day one. A substantial part of the Yerevan Guide contains listings of these services. Check it out. |
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| HOLIDAYS Virtually all stores, and most of the retail businesses are open on national holidays, and Saturdays. Most stores are open on Sundays as well! Store hours usually are from 10:00 am through 7:00 pm. Some stay open much later. |
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| INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CALLS "ArmenTel" has monopoly over Armenia's telephone system. Hence outrageous rates of international calls and electronic mail services have resulted. However, ingenious entrepreneurs have found ways around this problem. Virtually every Internet club, which is plentiful around town, offers international calls over the Internet for fraction of ArmenTel rates (some even as low as 10 times cheaper). There is also system of Prepaid Phone Cards (the most widely used one is AlexServ, (+3741/63.21.00). For example, while ArmenTel rates to the U.S. have recently been lowered from close to $3/min to $0.99, the AlexServ rate is $0.18/min! Moreover, with Prepaid Card you have the convenience of using desired telephone to make your call. |
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| INTERNET CLUBS As it was mentioned above, there is an Internet Club virtually at every intersection. They work late hours, have plenty of fast computers, and offer very low hourly rates. |
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| LOST AND FOUND There is no lost and found service at this time in Armenia. |
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| MUSEUMS There are many museums in Yerevan (close to 30) to cater for virtually every taste and interest. All of the museums are listed in the front section of Yerevan Guide. However, following museums are highly recommended: History: Matenadaran: Museum of Ancient Manuscripts The tradition of illustrating manuscripts started in Armenia right after the invention of the Armenian alphabet (IV century A.D.) and translation of the Holy Scriptures and other writings. "Matenadaran" is probably one of the rare museums in the world, which specializes in this field. Ingenious renderings and compositions are plentiful in this museum, shedding light on early principles of composition, color coordination and draftsmanship. Certainly an important check mark on the list of sites to visit. Museum of Holy Mother See of Ejmiadzin This museum—about 35 minutes ride from center of Yerevan—can be visited only by appointment and special permission. There are 3 sections to see: The museum next to the Seat of His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians; the collection in the rooms behind the altar of the Mother Church; and the ruins of the pagan temple underneath the Mother Church. A little persuasion and persistence will not hurt, and will go a long way! Sardarapat Museum (One hour drive from Yerevan) Built to commemorate the victory of the Armenian people at the Battle of Sardarapat (May 28, 1918), this ethnographic museum is one of the well-preserved and managed entities in Armenia. Architecture as well as the items exhibited are tasteful, and worth visiting. Museum of Armenian Genocide of 1915: Genocide committed against Armenians at the turn of the century by the Ottoman Empire of Turkey is the saddest episode of the history of this small but resilient nation. More than 1.5 million perished. This museum contains historic documents, photos and film footage documenting these horrific events. Art: At the museums section of this guide several museums (Yervand Kotchar, Sergey Parajanov and Martiros Sarian) have been featured as favorites. However the National Gallery, the Museum of Russian Art, and the Yerevan Museum of Contemporary Armenian Art should not be missed if possible. Specialized: Among this category following museums are strongly recommended: Museum of Wood Carving, Museum of Children's Art and Museum of Architecture. Personalities: Besides special museums dedicated to painters and sculptors, where the visitor can view samples of the creations of Armenian masters of fine arts, there are a number of museums dedicated to prominent Armenian writers and composers, such as writers Hovhannes Toumanian, Yeghishe Charents, Avetik Issahakian, and composers Aram Khachatrian, Alexander Spendarian, and others. |
 Matenadaran. Museum of Ancient Manuscripts.  Museum of Armenian Genocide of 1915. |
| POST OFFICE There is a full-service post office (The Main Post Office) at the Republic Square on the ground level of the building across the street from Prime Minister's office, and opposite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, across the Republic Square. It is open from 9:00 am through 7:00 pm. everyday, except Sunday. |
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| PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Metro: Yerevan subway system has one line stretching from the north to the Railroad Station in the southern edge of the city. There are 6 stations. The fare is 50 AMD ($0.85) per ride. Bus and Tramway routs criss-cross the city in major directions. The fare is also 50 AMD per ride. Microbus Routs, known by Russian expression of "Marshroutni" these 12/16 seat small busses connect virtually every point to every other point in the city. Very few fares on short-run routs are 50 AMD, but on most others the fare per ride is 100 AMD ($0.17). They run until late at night. Telephone-Taxi: Probably This is the most inexpensive taxi system in the world. Average ride costs 600-800 AMD ($1.00-1.40) per ride within the central part of the city, not including the tip! They are mostly very clean imported cars with courteous drivers. Some do not charge pick-up surcharge! Benefits of free market competition. Find phone numbers of some companies at the relevant section of this guide. Regular Taxis: There are taxi stands at major and busy intersections. These are not as new and clean taxis, and fares are subject to negotiation, and are higher than Telephone-Taxis! |
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| TELEPHONE CODES AND DIALING ASSISTANCE There is an entire section in Yerevan Guide providing major public service and assistance phone numbers as well as some local and international long-distance codes and dialing instructions. |
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| THEATERS Particularly non-Armenian-speaking visitors may enjoy 2 theaters of Marionette, Theater of Pantomime, and Yerevan Chamber Theater. The latter is fast-action musical, full of humor. However, even if one does not follow the humor, it is interesting show to watch, if one can make the time. |
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| TIME DIFFERENCES Time difference between Armenia and Europe is +3 hours; with GB +4 hours; with East Coast of the US +9 hours, and with the West Coast +12 hours. Armenia observes the clock changes for daylight savings. |
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| TIPPING In Yerevan it is customary to give a "service charge"/tip of about 10% of the restaurant bill. |
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| TOURIST INFORMATION ARMENIAInformation Visitor Information Center ARMENIAInformation, the first state-of-the-art visitor information center, at 3 Nalbandyan Street just steps from Yerevan's magnificent Republic Square ((+3741 54 23 03) provides visitors accurate information on a wide range of attractions from historic and cultural sites to daily events and entertainment as well as information on hotels, restaurants and transportation. |
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| VANTAGE POINTS Statue of Sassountsi Davit: One of two major stat-ues by Yervand Kotchar, depicting a mythological Armenian hero, who stood-up for the Land. Located at the square in front of Rail- Road Station. Mother Armenia: upon the demise of Stalin, a gigantic statue of a young Armenian woman holding a sword horizontally replaced his statue overlooking Yerevan, overnight. The general form is that of a huge cross. There is a famous painting of an old woman sitting in the middle of ruins of Armenia weeping over the tragic destiny of her people... The painting is called "Mother Armenia". This statue is also called "Mother Armenia", but this one is young and beautiful, and is standing tall and calm, with the sword in her hand, in a non-aggressive posture... One could only imagine the daring move by the artist as well as the authorities in those oppressive times of single-party rule... Garni-Geghard: There are many historic monuments in Armenia to visit, but if time permit at least one trip of half hour should be made to visit the pagan temple of Garni, and the Christian miracle of Geghard (XII Century), which are only 2 minutes apart from each other. Geghard is a church partially carved in the rock of the mountain. It is a marvel... Mount Ararat/Khor Virap: St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Catholicos of All Armenians was imprisoned in "Khor Virap" (deep dungeon/pit) for 13 years. Upon emerging from the dungeon he baptized the King and the Queen of Armenia and made Armenia the first nation to adopt Christianity as official state religion. It was 301 A.D. The dungeon is about 45 min-utes from Yerevan. This is where one gets very close to the twin peaks of Mount Ararat. One can almost "touch" them from here... Lake Sevan: If you have time to spare, make this one-day trip to lake Sevan. Try "Avan Marak Tsapatagh" Hotel of Tufenkian Enterprises and their traditional Armenian cuisine. Enjoy the landscape and colors, which inspired Armenian Master-Painter Martiros Sarian and his descendants. The water is very cold. From mid-June to mid-August one may dare to swim in Sevan! |
 Statue of Sassountsi Davit. |