Yerevan Tourist Attractions

The Armenian capital of Yerevan is a city with a long and rich history, and there are many tourist attractions to be found there. One of the most popular is the Cathedral of Echmiadzin, the oldest cathedral in the world.

The cathedral was built in the 4th century and is a beautiful example of Armenian architecture. It is also the seat of the Catholicos of all Armenians, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Other popular tourist attractions in Yerevan include the Armenian Genocide Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and the Museum of Armenian History, which houses a collection of artifacts from Armenia's long history.

We also invite you to visit our partners at getyourguide.com for more options in the area. Meanwhile, here are some recommendations.

Yerevan: Echmiadzin & Zvartnots Tour with a Guide

Participate in this Yerevan sightseeing excursion that lasts six hours to see the city's most exciting sites. Pay a visit to the temple of Zvartnots, which dates back to the 7th century, and the churches that make up the cathedral of Echmiadzin.

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is home to many unique attractions. When you visit the churches dedicated to St. Hripsime and St. Gayane in Armenia, you will gain insight into the development of Christianity in the country. In conclusion, the Zvartnots Temple, which dates back to the 7th century and features medieval Armenian architecture, should be visited.

You will meet your guide at the designated location at nine in the morning. Get a kick out of the fascinating tales from the city's first thousand years. Admire the primary architectural monuments and the historic streets in the core area. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the entire city as you ascend to a particular viewpoint with its elevated vantage point.

Echmiadzin and its churches are also on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Sites list.

Therefore, your next stop should be there. The churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, dedicated to female Christian martyrs, are the first places visitors will visit. They successfully evaded capture in Rome with the assistance of their abbess Gayane.

After that, you should go and see the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin, the primary cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the very first Christian cathedral ever built anywhere in the world. As a result of ongoing development, Mother Cathedral may currently only be viewed from the exterior.

Proceed to the Treasures of Echmiadzin museum with one more stop in the neighborhood of Zvartnots, a medieval temple dedicated to St. Gregory.

Yerevan: Private Airport Transfer

Plan for a private transfer from Zvartnots Airport to your lodging location in Yerevan. You will save time and receive superior service at a really affordable cost.

Private transfers to and from Zvartnots Airport offer a convenient alternative to public transportation. You can book a transfer between your accommodation in Yerevan and the airport in both directions, or you can just book a transfer in one order if that better matches your travel needs.

When you arrive at the airport, your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a clipboard bearing your name and indicating that you will be picked up there. Your driver will wait for you for up to an hour after your flight has landed, and they will monitor the arrival time of your flight in case it is delayed.

Your driver will pick you up at the reception of your Yerevan accommodation and take you to the airport in a car that is both comfortable and secure when you are ready to be dropped off at the airport.

If you have any queries, your confirmation voucher will include information regarding your transfer details, meeting instructions, and a 24-hour helpline in Yerevan.

Yerevan: Echmiadzin, Zvartnots, Lake Sevan, and Dilijan Tour

After leaving Yerevan, you will make your way to the stunning Lake Sevan, which is widely considered to be one of the most iconic landmarks in the entire country. Sevan is located in the mountains at an elevation of 1,900 meters above sea level. It is encircled on all sides by a vast mountain range. It is only a one-hour drive from Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

The first part of the excursion consists of ascending a set of stairs to reach the Sevan Peninsula. This calming morning workout is the perfect way to make up for missing out on an incredible bird's-eye view of the lake from higher above.

You will also go to the monastery of Sevanavank, constructed in the 9th century by Princess Mariam as a memorial to her late husband and will be one of the stops on your tour. In addition, Sevanavank is the location of one of Armenia's most stunning Amenaprkich Khachkars, which translates to "all savior."

After that, you will go to the northern part of Armenia, where you will be immersed in stunning natural scenery. You will stop at the monastery of Gosh-Goshavank as you go through the city of Dilijan.

The ancient Haghartsin Monastery, built sometime between the 10th and 14th centuries, will serve as the final stop on this journey.

The name literally means "the play of the eagle." when translated into English. Because the monastery and the natural landscape that surrounds it provide such a spectacular vista, the scenery might be compared to a breathtaking piece of artwork.

Zvartnots Cathedral

Location: Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armavir Province, Armenia

Zvartnots Cathedral is a centrally designed aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral constructed in the 7th century on the instruction of Catholicos Nerses the Builder between the years 643 and 652. It may be found in the Armavir Province of Armenia, on the outskirts of the city of Vagharshapat (also known as Etchmiadzin). Today, it is in ruins.

Zvartnots was constructed when a large portion of Armenia had recently been taken by Muslim Arabs who were gradually dominating Sasanian Persia/Iran, of which Armenia was a part at the time. Zvartnots is located in what is now the Republic of Armenia.

In 643, under the direction of Catholicos Nerses III, the cathedral's construction was first underway (nicknamed Shinogh or the Builder).

It was said to have been the site of a meeting between King Trdat III and Gregory the Illuminator and was dedicated to Saint Gregory. The cathedral is said to have been committed in the year 652, as stated by Movses Kaghankatvatsi, an Armenian historian from the middle ages.

Anastas Akoratsi carried on with the cathedral construction while Nerses was residing at Tayk between 653 and 659. Nerses relocated the patriarchal residence of the Catholicos from Dvin to Zvartnots as a result of the Arab takeover of Dvin and the growing battles between the soldiers of the Byzantine empire and the Arab army on the eastern boundaries of the Byzantine empire.

The exterior design of the church displays the influence of Syrian and northern Mesopotamian architecture through the use of eagle capitals, basket capitals with Ionic volute mounts, and vine scroll friezes.

The church of Zvartnots stood for 320 years before it was destroyed in the 10th century; when the historian Stepanos Taronatsi wrote about the church, it was already in ruins, and he did not provide a reason for its destruction. It is not entirely clear what caused it to crumble. Still, most people subscribe to two hypotheses: either an earthquake or Arab attacks caused it.

The earthquake is the most likely cause of the damage, even though the tower was carefully constructed and intended to last for a millennium (a projected date for the second coming of Christ).

During excavations, signs of huge flames have been discovered at the site; these fires may have been part of an earlier attempt to destroy the church. In addition, the building also featured firing mortar made of obsidian and lime to make the mortar joints (firing it into a brick).

The rubble was cleared during the excavation that took place in 1893 using fire and explosives. During the final decade of the eleventh century, Trdat, the Architect working under the reign of Gagik I Bagratuni, created a replica of the cathedral at Ani out. This replica was very similar to the original.

When describing the church Gagik I had inaugurated, the contemporary Armenian historian Stepanos Taronetsi mentioned Zvartnots. He said the church was "a large structure at Vałaršapat [Vagharshapat], dedicated to the same saint that had fallen into ruins."

Armenian Apostolic Church

Location: Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Vagharshapat, Armenia

The Armenian Apostolic Church is the nation's primary place of worship for Armenians. It is one of the oldest Christian organizations associated with Oriental Orthodox Christianity.

During the reign of King Tiridates III of the Arsacid dynasty in the early fourth century, the Kingdom of Armenia became the first state to recognize Christianity as its official religion. This event occurred in Armenia.

Tradition has it that the Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus of Edessa were responsible for establishing the first churches in what is now known as the Christian church.

St. Gregory the Illuminator is generally regarded as the first person to hold the position of primate in the Christian church. The name "Armenian Orthodox Church" has also been used to refer to this institution. The Armenian Church is another name for this particular establishment.

Apostolic succession is a doctrine adhered to by the Armenian Orthodox Church, which may be traced back to the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus (Jude).

Tradition holds that the latter of the two apostles was the one who used the Image of Edessa to cure Abgar V of Edessa of leprosy, which ultimately led to Abgar V's conversion to Christianity in the year 30 AD.

After that, Abgar gave Thaddaeus a commission to proselytize all across Armenia, and it was there that he succeeded in converting King Sanatruk's daughter. When Sanatruk later abandoned their faith, she and Thaddeus both paid the ultimate price and were put to death.

After this, Bartholomew traveled to Armenia, bringing a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon arriving in Armenia, he established a nunnery on top of what had been Anahit's temple.

The sister of Sanatruk, who had previously martyred a female cousin, was later converted to Christianity by Bartholomew, the apostle who had initially converted her.

Before they were put to death, both apostles ordained native Armenians to the role of bishop, and James the Just had previously ordained several other Armenians in other parts of the world.

When Christianity was adopted as the official religion of Armenia between 300 and 301 by King Tiridates III, it was not a wholly novel faith in that country.

At the very least, it had established a foothold in the nation by the third century and may have been there even earlier.

Gregory was sent to Caesarea to be consecrated after Tiridates appointed him the first Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church and made him the church leader. After Gregory had returned, he began tearing down shrines to gods, building churches and monasteries, and ordaining many priests and bishops.

Armenian Genocide Museum (Tsitsernakaberd)

Built-in 1967 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan, the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex is Armenia's official memorial devoted to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. It was designed to honor those who perished during the Armenian Genocide.

On April 24, which is recognized as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, hundreds of Armenians travel to the memorial to pay their respects to those who perished in the Genocide. To pay their respects to those who died during the Armenian Genocide, the people assembled in Tsiternakaberd have laid fresh flowers on the ground.

Throughout its history, the memorial has been visited by a wide variety of public figures, including politicians, artists, musicians, sports, and religious leaders from all over the world. 1995 was the year that saw the opening of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

The memorial may be found on one of the three hills parallel to the Hrazdan River and share the name Tsitsernakaberd. This particular hill originally served as the location of an Iron Age stronghold. Even though most of the visible evidence at this top has vanished over time, there are still remnants of a castle on the nearby hill that are not as prominent.

In 2007, archeological surveys were conducted, and excavations found a wall that is hundreds of meters long and can still be visible in several places above ground. The wall was discovered during these activities.

In the center of the square, on the edge of one of the hills, is where you'll find a stone altar that's been carved out. Graves dating back to the second millennium BC can still be seen today despite being covered by massive rocks weighing up to two tons each.

Later on, apartment buildings were constructed along the hills during Roman times. However, these were subsequently covered up by other structures throughout the medieval era. There are also the ruins of an enormous cave located nearby.