I reached Armenia from Georgia in 2019, at the end of a larger journey across Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. I had to cut Gyumri from the real trip because I had fewer paid-leave days than planned, but this standalone Armenia version should be the proper week: Alaverdi, Gyumri, Yerevan, Etchmiadzin, Garni and Khor Virap.

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Part of a larger journey: This focused Armenia guide is adapted from my complete Caucasus itinerary. Use this page for the Armenia day-by-day detail; use the complete trip for the cross-border route through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

Itinerary done quick

🇦🇲 Armenia

That’s it! Click the destination names to jump to each day.

Day 1 Alaverdi

Cross into Armenia and base yourself in Alaverdi for the UNESCO-listed monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin. From Tbilisi, take a Yerevan-bound bus and ask to stop in Alaverdi. You will probably be the only crazy person doing that, but UNESCO sites are worth it!

The monasteries were difficult to reach and I needed taxis, which I don’t personally like. Honestly, this stop was complicated and exhausting. It may be easier now, but confirm transport locally rather than trusting an old timetable.

From Alaverdi’s central bus station, local information currently points to bus 3 for Sanahin, followed by a 15-minute walk, and marshrutka 063 for Haghpat. Services can be infrequent, so check the timetable at the station. Spend the night in Alaverdi: the border crossing from Georgia is slow.

Days 2-3 Gyumri

From Alaverdi, take a bus or marshrutka to Gyumri. After arrival, keep the first afternoon inside the old centre: Vardanants Square, Yot Verk Church, Holy Saviour’s Church, then the black-tuff streets of the Kumayri historic district around Abovyan, Rustaveli and the smaller side streets.

If it is open, add the Aslamazyan Sisters’ Gallery on Abovyan Street. The official museum page lists the gallery at Abovyan Street 242 and gives its normal opening days as Tuesday to Sunday.

On the second Gyumri day, start with the Dzitoghtsyan Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life, then walk back through Kumayri for the old houses, courtyards and balconies. Continue to the Gyumri bazaar before lunch.

In the afternoon, leave the walking route and go up to Sev Berd, the Black Fortress, and Mother Armenia for the view over the city. Use a local bus from the centre if one is running, otherwise arrange the ride through the accommodation. For a monastery stop instead, use the same afternoon for Marmashen Monastery, north-west of Gyumri on the Akhuryan River; Armenia’s tourism site places it about two kilometres from Marmashen village.

The next morning, travel from Gyumri to Yerevan by train, bus or marshrutka. South Caucasus Railway lists Yerevan-Gyumri as a local passenger route, and the Gyumri station is on Kayaranamerdz Street.

Day 4 Yerevan

Take the morning connection from Gyumri to Yerevan and keep the afternoon for the centre.

Start at Republic Square, walk north towards the Opera, then climb the Cascade for its views, sculptures and Cafesjian Center. Near the Cascade is a park full of painters; it felt like an older, better version of Paris. The Opera and Freedom Square are especially worth seeing at night. I also warmly recommend walking south to Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.

Day 5 More Yerevan

Visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral. I shared a taxi there with a Chinese friend, then locals helped us find the bus back. We also crashed a wedding. Fun times.

Afterwards I visited the Matenadaran manuscript museum and took care of my friend, who got sick. With more time, add the Ararat Distillery or another Yerevan museum.

Day 6 Garni and Khor Virap

My day was complicated but possible with a mix of public transport and taxis. I took a marshrutka to Garni, walked to the sites, returned to Garni for lunch, then went back to Yerevan. From there I joined friends and shared a taxi to Khor Virap, which took the rest of the afternoon.

For Khor Virap independently, take a marshrutka towards Ararat or Yeraskh from Yerevan’s Southern Bus Station and ask for the junction. From there it is about four kilometres to the monastery. Check the route locally.

This Khor Virap, Garni and Geghard day tour (affiliate link) is a simpler guided alternative and adds several sites. I did not use that operator.

After Armenia, I flew home through Istanbul. You could instead continue overland towards Türkiye or build a longer regional trip.

For the rest:

If you have more days, there are many hiking opportunities through the country, but you could also go a bit more crazy and spend two or three days in the Artsakh Republic.

Note: This republic doesn’t exist anymore, but, when I visited in 2019, it used to.