Walking Yerevan: Squares, Markets and Kond

Travel advice: UK FCDO guidance covers parts of Armenia. It advises against all travel within 5 km of the whole eastern border with Azerbaijan, and along the M16/H26 road between Ijevan and Noyemberyan. The US advisory is Level 2 and says not to travel to the Azerbaijan border region. The walks below are away from those zones. Read the current wording at gov.uk and travel.state.gov , and keep to main roads in Syunik and Tavush.

Yerevan is a city to explore on foot, and a few other towns have a street or quarter worth an hour or two. This page lists the walks in the order you might do them. Prices are in Armenian dram (AMD) at roughly 370 to 390 AMD to the dollar.

Join a guided walk

Free Walking Tour Yerevan is listed as a tip-based operator, so check the current meeting point and schedule. Paid city walks can be compared on GetYourGuide and Viator .

Walk 1: Republic Square to the Cascade

Start in Republic Square, stroll along Northern Avenue and finish at the Cascade, 10 Tamanyan Street. The route is flat and free. Plan about two hours. At the Cascade, about 570 steps lead up, and escalators inside the building offer a lift for tired legs. The Cafesjian Center galleries are open Friday to Sunday only; see cafesjian.mus.am .

Walk 2: the Kond quarter

Kond is among Yerevan’s oldest districts, and people live there. Keep your voice low, leave courtyards unphotographed and do not enter private yards. The derelict Tepebashi mosque from the late 17th century has families living inside, so it is not a sight to enter.

Walk 3: Vernissage and GUM

Vernissage is the crafts market near Republic Square, at full strength on Saturday and Sunday; hours vary, so go in the morning. GUM, the covered market on Movses Khorenatsi Street, sells dried fruit, cheeses and lavash.

Beyond Yerevan

  • Dilijan: Sharambeyan Street has restored 19th-century balconied houses and working craft workshops; the restoration began in 2004. The town is in Tavush province and sits far from the Ijevan to Noyemberyan road above.
  • Gyumri: the Kumayri old quarter is the one to walk. The trip from Yerevan is about 120 km; daily trains take around 3 hours and cost roughly 1,300 to 2,500 AMD, though timetables changed in September 2026 (railway.am ).

Moving around

The metro runs on one line with 10 stations; a ride is about 150 AMD, paid by contactless card or phone. Cycling on busy streets is not advised. Walk in the cooler hours in summer.

Tsitsernakaberd Memorial

The Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum at 8/8 Tsitsernakaberd Highway sits outside the walking centre and is best reached by taxi. Dress quietly and respectfully, and follow the photography rules displayed at the entrance. Admission is free and donations are welcome. The museum is closed on Mondays, and its hours change with the season. Guided tours are booked by phone and are not offered to children under 13. Further details are on the official site .

Read more: Attraction tours and Day trips .