Garni Temple
The only standing Greco-Roman temple in Armenia, perched above the Azat Gorge near Yerevan. History, entrance fee, opening hours and how to visit from Yerevan.
Things to Do in Armenia
Armenia is a small country with an unusually rich mix of ancient monasteries, mountain landscapes, historic towns, volcanic gorges and scenic day trips from Yerevan. This guide brings together the best things to do in Armenia for first-time visitors: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Lake Sevan, Tatev, Khor Virap, Noravank, Dilijan and other places worth adding to your route.
Most major attractions can be visited on day trips from Yerevan, especially with a private car and driver. Some routes are short and easy, such as Garni and Geghard, while others, like Tatev and Southern Armenia, are better planned as a long day or an overnight trip.
Below you will find our local guides to Armenia’s top attractions, natural wonders, monasteries, viewpoints and travel routes. Each page includes practical details such as location, travel time from Yerevan, nearby places and tips for planning your visit.
Top Attractions in Armenia: What to See First
Start with 16 of Armenia’s best-known sights, including ancient monasteries, historic landmarks, natural attractions, Lake Sevan and must-see places in Yerevan.
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Geghard Monastery
A UNESCO World Heritage site partly carved into the cliffs of the Azat Valley. Rock-cut churches, ornate khachkars, and a centuries-long link to the Holy Lance — 40 km from Yerevan.
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Khor Virap Monastery
The pit where St. Gregory was imprisoned for 13 years before Armenia became the first Christian nation in 301 AD — and the best view of Mount Ararat in the country.
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Etchmiadzin Cathedral
Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the world’s oldest cathedral (301–303 AD), 20 km from Yerevan. UNESCO site with the Holy Lance, a fragment of Noah’s Ark, and 18th-century Hovnatanyan frescoes.
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Sevanavank Monastery
Sevanavank Monastery (Armenian: Սևանավանք — “the Black Monastery”) is one of the most recognisable images of Armenia. Set…
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Tatev Monastery
A 9th-century clifftop monastery reached by the Wings of Tatev — the world’s longest reversible cable car (5.7 km) over the Vorotan Gorge.
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Noravank Monastery
A 13th-century monastic masterpiece in the red cliffs of Vayots Dzor — the two-story Surb Astvatsatsin Church, Momik’s carvings, and the dramatic sunset glow.
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Dilijan National Park
Armenia’s ‘Little Switzerland’ — 33,765 hectares of beech and yew forests, two mountain lakes, four medieval monasteries, and 80 km of the Transcaucasian Trail, all 100 km north of Yerevan.
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Yerevan Cascade
Monumental 572-step staircase of white travertine in central Yerevan, with sculpture gardens, the Cafesjian art collection and panoramic views of the city and Mount Ararat.
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Republic Square
Yerevan’s central square: Alexander Tamanyan’s neoclassical ensemble of pink-and-yellow tuff buildings, the iconic stone-carpet roundabout and the musical singing fountains in front of the History Museum.
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Amberd Fortress
Amberd Fortress (Armenian: Ամբերդ — “fortress in the clouds”) is a medieval Armenian castle-town on the southern slopes…
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Haghpat Monastery
Armenia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site (1996), in the Debed canyon. Surb Nshan Cathedral founded by Queen Khosrovanush in 976, the 1245 free-standing bell tower, the celebrated 1273 Amenaprkich khachkar, and a library where manuscripts were once hidden from the Mongols.
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Shaki Waterfall
Shaki Waterfall is an 18-metre cascade in southern Armenia, dropping over a wall of solidified basalt lava on…
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Symphony of Stones
Hexagonal basalt columns hanging from the cliffs of Garni Gorge — Armenia’s natural cathedral. How to visit from Yerevan and tips for combining with Garni Temple.
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Khndzoresk Cave Village (Old Khndzoresk)
A cave village abandoned only in 1958, ~3,000 rock-cut dwellings on a 3 km gorge near Goris, reached by a swinging 160 m bridge built by villagers themselves in 2012.
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Lake Sevan
Armenia’s high-altitude inland sea, 1,900 m above sea level. Guide to Sevanavank Monastery, beaches, Sevan trout, and the Soviet-era water-level crisis.
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How to See Armenia's Top Attractions
Armenia's most rewarding sights are spread across the country — ancient monasteries in the mountains, high-altitude lakes, red-cliff canyons and viewpoints often far from public transport. Seeing several in one day is realistic only when you skip the schedules and travel with your own driver.
For day trips, book a car with driver in Yerevan: the route is built around you, with stops at every viewpoint and no parking worries. For families with luggage, see the Mercedes V-Class or our minivan rental; for larger groups, the minibus rental with driver.
If you'd rather hear the story of each place from a local guide, browse our day tours from Yerevan. For one-way trips on popular routes we offer fixed-price transfers — Yerevan to Sevan, Yerevan to Dilijan, Yerevan to Tsaghkadzor — plus the Zvartnots airport transfer with meet-and-greet on arrival.
