Armenia Country Guide
Armenia is slowly opening its doors to the west. For those intrepid travellers willing to visit this country, they will find countless monasteries, along with fortresses, ancient cities, ruins, mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. Armenian food and drink can be a delight. And underscoring it all is the Armenian people, whose friendliness is unmatched and whose warmth and generosity is genuine.
Come experience the glory of this ancient country for yourself!
Our Armenia Country Guide lists some useful information for travellers, giving some background on the climate, people, costs and visas, as well as a whole host of other aspects. Details about what there is to see and do can and tours that encompass these highlights can be found ineither our Armenia Destination Guide or our Armenia Tours page.
We recommend you read about travel in Armenia on GoNOMAD.
Check out the latest Armenia features on YouTube.
Armenia Country Guide
Armenia has a long and interesting history, filled with triumph and tragedy. Tourism is experiencing an upsurge, and new roads, hotels, restaurants, bars and shops are opening all the time, especially in the capital city, Yerevan. However, it is in the countryside where you will get a real appreciation of the country, for it is here that many of the ancient monuments and the stunning scenery can be found.
Useful information on this page includes:
Except for citizens of certain Eastern Bloc and CIS countries, visas are required by everyone to visit Armenia. On arrival you will be granted a 3 week visa, which costs $30. Shorter stays may only require a 3 day transit visa, which can also be granted upon entry, and costs $20. If you wish to obtain the visa before arrival, you can contact your nearest embassy, or else visit the website of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. These cost between $50 and $60. Overstaying your visa will incur a penalty of $3 per day.
Note: It is recommended that you check the latest visa and passport requirements with your embassy before planning a trip to Armenia. These rules are subject to changes very often.
Check out our six-day Armenia weather forecast on our Armenia weather page. The page also provides climate details and information on the best time to visit.
Armenia's transition from a communist to capitalist economy has not been easy. The massive earthquake of 1988 and the blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey both had a significant effect on this process. Further trouble came in the form of the collapse of the Soviet industries, and this, combined with the continuing blockades of import and exports by Armenia's neighbours caused the economy to shrink quite severely. Recently, industries such as agriculture, information technology, electricity and tourism, as well as massive investment in infrastructure, have led to a booming economy that currently has one of the highest rates of growth in the world.
Armenia - Population and PeopleTop
Armenia is a very homogenous nation, with 98 % of the population ethnically Armenian. The earthquake and the collapse of the Soviet Union both led to large scale emigration, and have left the population at about 3 million. Ethnic minorities within the country include Yezidis, the largest minority, as well as small pockets of Russians, Greeks and Assyrians. The recent emigration, along with a large exodus due to the Armenian Genocide, means that there are more Armenians living outside Armenia than inside. This Armenian diaspora has formed large communities in various cities and countries throughout the world.
The currency of Armenia is the dram, and is divided into 100 luma. The Armenian Dram Exchange Rate can be found at Oanda.com, the currency site. The smallest unit normally used is a 10 dram coin, and 500 or 1000 dram notes are the handiest to carry around - although keep small change with you, as alot of places may have trouble changing larger notes. US dollars are also widely accepted. If you are planning on bringing dollars, it's best to bring crisp bills in excellent condition to avoid hassles. Credit cards are mostly only used at upscale places, and ATMs are mostly only found in Yerevan. It's probably best to bring a combination of cash, cards and travellers cheques.
In general, Armenia is quite inexpensive, although prices are slowly creeping upwards. This is evident in the upscale restaurants and hotels that are opening, especially in Yerevan. Budget accommodation in Yerevan is in short supply, and you may find a homestay to be a more affordable (and interesting) option. Be aware that sometimes taxi drivers and shop owners may attempt to overcharge foreigners. Tipping is uncommon, although more accepted in Yerevan. Some restaurants may add a "service charge" to the bill. Bargaining is widely practiced across the country.
Post
Letters and postcards normally take about two weeks to arrive from Armenia. It is recommended that you send everything, especially packages, but also including postcards and letters, by secure mail to ensure that it arrives.
Telephone
The telephone connections in Armenia are quite good. However, due to a monopoly of the domestic telephone market, calling overseas from Armenia is expensive. Most public phones use pre-paid phonecards. The international country code for Armenia is 374, and the city code for Yerevan is 10.
Important phone numbers include:
101 Fire
102 Police
103 Ambulance
109 Information
184 Railway Information
187 Airport Information
Email
Internet cafes are becoming increasingly common throughout central Yerevan, and most charge a standard rate of $3 per hour.
Electricity in Armenia is 220 Volts, 50 Hz, and the outlets have continental-style plugs, with two round plugs.
Population - 2,968,586 (July 2008 est.)
Total Area - 29,800 square kilometres
Capital - Yerevan
Time Zone - Armenia's time zone is GMT +4.
To view the current time in Armenia, click here.
Whilst the vast majority of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, only a very small percentage of the population are regular church-goers. The main reason for this is that Communism discouraged church attendance. There are also Catholic and Protestant churches in Armenia.
Public Holidays and FestivalsTop
Follow the link to view a current list of public holidays in Armenia.
Armenia is a foodie's delight, and you are surely bound to overeat under the influence of Armenian hospitality! The local people serve guests with such gusto that your plate is replenished every time it is found empty. The quality of food is good, and it is perfectly safe to eat out of even at the humble roadside eateries (khorovats stands). If you are visiting the remote rural regions, then take extra care about what you eat - not all food gets cleaned in fresh water.
When on the streets of Armenia, tackle the stream of perilous traffic as the Armenians do, with a lot aggression and care. If you are crossing a street, just walk across with a sure and steady step. Do not hesitate, panic or linger on the street, as the Yerevan drivers are not used to such indecision. Do not wait for the traffic lights to guide you either, especially when in the vicinity of the city centre. Wherever possible, use the underground subway to get across the street. Look out for the ‘Stair' sign to locate the subway. You can find one such subway close to the Hayastan Market at Baghramian.
Good drinking water is available almost anywhere in Armenia, with even the tap water being potable. You can also get bottled water; both aerated mineral water and the usual spring water are sold on every street in the capital and also in the interior areas.
No special immunization is required to visit Armenia; however, if you're planning your visit after June, take adequate precaution against malaria.
Some villages in the Ararat Valley are prone to small outbreaks of malaria during the months of June to December. Also, there is little medical facility available beyond the limits of Yerevan, and any major medical treatment is not advisable. Do make sure that your medical insurance covers evacuation in case of any medical emergency.
Armenia boasts of a very low crime rate; however, do keep track of your personal belongings and do not attract any undue attention by displaying wealth. Pick pocketing is common in the congested market places. Tension still prevails in the areas bordering Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh (a region of contention). Avoid visiting places close to the border.
Christianity was first adopted as a state religion by Armenia as early as 301 AD. The Armenian capital city of Yerevan is one among the ancient cities of the world. This city, a contemporary of primeval Babylon, was established about 2,800 years ago.
Armenia's strategic location, midway from the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, has made it a part of all major conflicts in this region, though unwilling. The twentieth century was witness to clashes between Turkey and Russia that led to a mass genocide of Armenians by the Turks. Eventually Armenia became a part of Russian territory until the early 90s. With the dissolution of U.S.S.R, Armenia gained independence, and just within a decade of freedom, has got into a territory dispute with its neighbour Azerbaijan.
Armenian culture is a blend of heart warming hospitality, superb cuisine and social traditions. The culture also promotes and appreciates intellectual pursuits in the fields of art and literature.
The local population comprises a predominant 97.9% of ethnic Armenians, with about 1.3% of Yazidis and 0.5% Russians. Minority populace from neighbouring countries like Assyria, Greece, Georgia, Ukraine, Kurdistan and Belarus also inhabit the region.
Prior to the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijanis formed about 2.5% of the population of Armenia (in 1989). However, during the post Soviet rule, due to the territory dispute, both the Azerbaijanis and Armenians living across the border chose to immigrate to their respective homelands, thus becoming a predominant ethnic population in their countries.
Armenians are well known for their hospitality, a quality attributable to their rich tradition. Community functions and gatherings are famous for their multi-course meals, with quite a sumptuous spread. Great care is taken in the preparation and presentation of food on such occasions. Relish the food and wine, but yes, do remember to go slow, for if your plate or glass is found empty, your host will only be too glad to serve the next helping. When you've had enough, you could politely refuse or better still, leave some food uneaten.
Red wine, vodka and cognac usually complement a meal. You cannot get away from a visit to Armenian household without having something to eat or drink. Guests are offered food, coffee, or pastry or at least a glass of water.
To view a list of Armenian embassies around the world, as well as foreign embassies within Armenia, click on this link to EmbassyWorld.com.
To view a map of Armenia, click on this link to WorldAtlas.com.
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