Armenia tourist information with details about
travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with
insider tips and hand-selected Armenia links, by dedicated editors and visitors to
TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.
Armenia was a former republic of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics. Together with Azerbaijan and Georgia it forms a region known as Transcaucasia.
Countries neighbouring Armenia are: Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Weather in Armenia
View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around
Armenia.
Gyumri
Weather, Yerevan Weather.
Foreign powers have treated Armenia brutally over the centuries.
The Seljuk Turk invasion in the 11th century caused the first
large-scale emigration of Armenians.
During the 19th and 20th centuries Armenians suffered further large
scale massacres and oppression at the hands of Russian and Turkish governments.
The Russians closed Armenian schools and ordered the confiscation of
church property, while the Turks wanted to move Armenians to Mesopotamia.
Over a million Armenians died, and there is a large Diaspora. More
Armenians live outside of the country than in it.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia has remained on the
verge of becoming either an economic crossroads or an isolated backwater.
The Spirit of Armenia:
The Armenians have had their share of suffering, but events have failed to destroy the
spirit of Armenia.
Armenia Travel Notes Submitted by Eve
Armenian men often hold hands or walk closely together - greeting each
other with a kiss on each cheek. If you shake hands with an Armenian don't expect to let
go until the conversation is complete. Men don't shake hands with the women (probably a
courtesy or sign of respect).
Women in Yerevan dress in tight and somewhat revealing clothing. There
are many many places to shop in Yerevan but not in the outlying areas. Not very much
public displays of affection between couples.
Men - plan to wear pants at all times as shorts are not in the norm
for Armenians. Women - no shorts either unless you will be with a man. Many cat-calls and
whistles may make you uncomfortable.
Be prepared for many Armenians to be smoking in restaurants, on the
street, in cafes, the airport, everywhere.
There are many places to get your money exchanged.
Most citizens who completed school before the Armenians regained their
independence in 1991 speak Russian and behave in a Soviet manner. Don't expect big smiles
or hellos.
Be aware of the traffic at all times. Road rules are rarely followed
and the police often pull taxis over to receive bribes.
Don't ask the police for directions unless you are willing to pay for
their services. A good tip is 500 dram (about $1).
Many Armenians earn $30 to $200/month in pay and taxi drivers earn
4,000 dram/day.
Food and travel are extremely inexpensive as are most hotels, unless
you stay at a commercial location (The Marriott in Yerevan charges rates close to those
they would in the US).
Summer is extremely hot but I have heard that the fall (end of
September, October, and early November) is the best time to visit.
You will not be hungry - in the city there are many restaurants and
coffee shops (try Armenian coffee if you like sweet espresso).
There is a lot of poverty and very underdeveloped places but the
hospitality of most Armenians cannot be beat. Most of the architecture in Yerevan is
Armenian-inspired and Republic Square is beautiful any time of the day.
In more rural areas the local homes are plain and some residents use
old trailers as houses.
Visit the Vernizage on Saturday, in Yerevan, to bargain for souvenirs
to take home. Some of the more popular are the stone, apricot, or walnut T-Cross (carved
crosses), traditional flutes such as the duduk, pomegranate ceramics, mother earth spice
serving containers, obsidian objects of all kinds, apricot wood carvings, and needlework.
Apricot wood is used because Armenia has many apricots (be sure not to
drink water with apricots as it can cause some physical discomfort).
Yerevan has a water park called WaterWorld that is a great place to
cool off.
A small café called 'The Colour of Pommegranets' is an excellent
taste of Armenian cuisine. This place is named after a movie by Parajonov - a famous
Armenian film maker.
Armenians are very proud to be the first government to adopt
Christianity (in 301 AD), to have many literary artists in it's past and present, and many
are knowledgeable about their history.
The Armenian genocide has a museum and monument. This is a sensitive
subject to Armenians.
Hotels
in Armenia:
Find hotels in Armenia with online dicounts.
Hotels in Yerevan:
A selection of place to stay in Yerevan.
Odzoun Guesthouse:
The Odzoun Guesthouse was built in 1971, but until recently remained closed after
independence. Local inhabitants have since bought the premises and are currently
renovating it.
Sissian Hotel:
The Sissian Hotel is an ideal choice for those interested in visiting the Siunik region of
Armenia, or those interested in breaking up their journey to Nagorno Karabagh or Iran.
Sounk Motel:
Small, clean guesthouse located in charming Dilijan and conveniently situated close to
Haghartsin and Goshavank. Excellent Armenian restaurant.
Tufenkian Heritage Hotels:
A network of luxurious properties in Armenia that combine great design, comfort and
service; providing its guests with the richness of experiencing a revived Armenia -- its
culture and the natural beauty of its countryside.
Books
on Armenia Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Armenia.
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