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3 days in Yerevan: a day-by-day itinerary

Covered souvenir stalls of the Vernissage in Yerevan under tall trees, with a paved square and a small fountainRepublic Square in Yerevan from above: pink tuff Government House with its clock tower, the oval square and arcaded buildingsPedestrian Northern Avenue in Yerevan with tuff-clad buildings, flower beds, passers-by and the Opera House at the far end

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
7 of 9 free; paid: Matenadaran, Garni Temple
Duration
3 days, 9:30 to 15:30 each day
Start and finish
Yerevan Vernissage → Khor Virap
On foot
≈ 45 min in total
Transport
2 rides, ≈ 2 h 54 min
Lunch
around 13:07
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
Tuesday to Saturday. Go to Khor Virap on a clear day: Ararat is more often visible in the morning.

Day-by-day plan

Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.

Day 1 · Yerevan09:30–15:30 · 5 places · 6 h

  1. Yerevan Vernissage

    · 1 h · Free

  2. 9 min on foot

  3. Republic Square

    · 30 min · Free

  4. 10 min on foot

  5. Northern Avenue

    · 30 min · Free

  6. 18 min on foot

  7. Yerevan Cascade

    · 1 h · Free

  8. Lunch · 1 h
  9. 8 min on foot

  10. Matenadaran

    · 1 h 15 min · 2,000 AMD, under 6 free

Day 2 · Yerevan09:30–12:10 · 2 places · 2 h 40 min

  1. Geghard Monastery

    · 1 h · Free

  2. 40 min · transport or taxi

  3. Garni Temple

    · 1 h · 1,500 AMD

Day 3 · Yerevan09:30–15:29 · 2 places · 6 h

  1. Etchmiadzin Cathedral

    · 1 h 30 min · Free

  2. Lunch · 1 h
  3. 134 min · transport or taxi

  4. Khor Virap

    · 1 h 15 min · Free

Go · start

Add nearby

Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.

What the route costs

7 of 9 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

5Matenadaran381 h 15 min2,000 AMD, under 6 free
7Garni Temple471 h1,500 AMD
Other 7 places7 hFree
Total9 h7 of 9 free

Tips for each stop

Day 1

  1. 1

    Yerevan Vernissage. Start at the open-air craft and souvenir market: stalls every day, the full market at weekends. Free.

  2. 2

    Republic Square. Yerevan's main square — an oval of pink and yellow tuff, with the Government House and the History Museum around it.

  3. 3

    Northern Avenue. A 450-metre pedestrian street from Republic Square to the Opera, lined with cafés and shops.

  4. 4

    Yerevan Cascade. A white stairway of 572 steps with a sculpture garden at the foot. The outdoor stairs are always free, and there is an escalator inside.

  5. 5

    Matenadaran. The repository of Armenian manuscripts: 2,000 AMD, ages 6–18 1,000 AMD. Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–17:50.

Day 2

  1. 6

    Geghard Monastery. Day two — a 13th-century monastery partly carved into the rock, 40 km from Yerevan. Free; cover shoulders and knees, women usually cover their heads.

  2. 7

    Garni Temple. A classical temple with 24 columns above the Azat gorge, 10 km from Geghard. 1,500 AMD; closed on Mondays, until 15:30 on Sundays.

Day 3

  1. 8

    Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Day three — the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Vagharshapat, 20 km west. Free; the treasury is 2,000 AMD, museums Tue–Sun from 10:30.

  2. 9

    Khor Virap. A hilltop monastery 40 km south of Yerevan with the closest view of Mount Ararat. Free; the best photo is from the hill behind the monastery.

Who this route is for

Good for
  • First trip to Armenia for 3–4 days
  • You want both the city and the monasteries
  • By taxi or bus out of town
Not for
  • Mondays — the Matenadaran, Garni and the Etchmiadzin museums are closed
  • Day three is mostly on the road
Best time

Tuesday to Saturday. Go to Khor Virap on a clear day: Ararat is more often visible in the morning.

How to spend 3 days in Yerevan

Day one is the centre on foot, day two Geghard and Garni to the east, day three Etchmiadzin to the west and Khor Virap to the south. The drive between Etchmiadzin and Khor Virap is the longest of the trip, so lunch comes before it, in Vagharshapat.

You can flip day three: Khor Virap at opening time, while Ararat is clear, and Etchmiadzin after lunch — its museums are open until 17:30.

How to get to Etchmiadzin and Khor Virap

To Etchmiadzin: bus 203 from the Kilikia bus station, about 35 minutes, 250–300 AMD in cash; a taxi takes 30–40 minutes. To Khor Virap: 40–50 minutes by car; bus 467 from Sasuntsi David metro runs three times a day (unofficial). For both in one day a taxi for the whole trip is easiest.

What to wear to the monasteries

At Geghard, Etchmiadzin and Khor Virap cover shoulders and knees; women wear a headscarf in church. The hill at Khor Virap has no shade in summer — bring water and a hat.

How to plan the days of the week

The Matenadaran is open Tuesday to Saturday, Garni is closed on Mondays and so are the Etchmiadzin museums. The Sunday liturgy at Etchmiadzin is at 11:00. Geghard and Khor Virap are open every day.

How to do it right

  • On Mondays the Matenadaran, Garni and the Etchmiadzin museums are closed.
  • Etchmiadzin Cathedral and the monasteries are free; only the treasury, Garni and the Matenadaran charge.
  • Buses take cash in drams only.
  • Armenia uses the dram (AMD). Cards work in Yerevan cafés and museums; minibuses and markets want cash.
  • Start day three early if Ararat is the goal: mornings are clearer.

Questions

Is 3 days in Yerevan enough?

Yes for the city and the two classic day trips: Garni–Geghard and Etchmiadzin–Khor Virap.

What to do in Yerevan in 3 days?

The centre with the Cascade and the Matenadaran, then Geghard and Garni, and on day three Etchmiadzin and Khor Virap.

How much does a 3-day itinerary cost?

The Matenadaran is 2,000 AMD, Garni 1,500, the Etchmiadzin treasury 2,000 AMD for foreigners; the monasteries are free. Add taxis.

How do I get to Etchmiadzin?

Bus 203 from the Kilikia bus station, about 35 minutes, or a taxi in 30–40 minutes.

How do I get to Khor Virap?

40–50 minutes by car; bus 467 from Sasuntsi David metro runs three times a day.

Where is the best view of Mount Ararat?

From Khor Virap — the closest; in Yerevan, from the top of the Cascade on a clear day.

Can I see Etchmiadzin and Khor Virap in one day?

Yes, by taxi: one in the morning, the other after lunch.

How much is the Etchmiadzin treasury?

2,000 AMD for foreigners; the cathedral and grounds are free.

Are there good day trips from Yerevan?

Garni with Geghard, and Etchmiadzin with Khor Virap — both are days two and three of this itinerary.

Do I need a car?

The centre is on foot. Out of town use Yandex Go or GG taxis, or buses.

Sources and fact-check

  • Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
  • Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: museum hours and liturgy
  • Garni Historical and Cultural Reserve
  • Matenadaran: hours and tickets
YesGo editorial team ·
How we checkedDay one is the city's one-day route; the next days were put together by hand — the centre on one day, trips out of town on others. The YesGo planner works out the order within each day, the walks and lunch. Prices, hours and closing days come from the place pages.

More Yerevan routes

Other cities in Armenia: one-day routes