Yerevan Activities From Morning to Evening

This page sorts Yerevan’s activities by how you will spend the day. The centre, called Kentron, is compact enough to cover on foot, and most paid attractions close one day a week, usually Monday, so check the day before you plan around any of them.

Before you travel, read the current Armenia notices on gov.uk and travel.state.gov , and stay away from political demonstrations.

Morning: the Cascade and the Matenadaran

Start at the Cascade, the monumental staircase on Tamanyan Street, which was built in the Soviet period and renovated in the 2000s. Counts of the steps run from 555 to 572, so call it about 570. The outdoor stairs and terraces are open all day and free, and the escalators inside usually run from 08:00 to 20:00. The Cafesjian Center of the Arts, which opened in 2009, has galleries open only Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00, and a group tour costs 10,000 AMD by advance booking.

The Matenadaran manuscript repository sits at 53 Mashtots Avenue. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:50 and closed Sunday and Monday. Adults pay 2,000 AMD, ages 6 to 18 pay 1,000 AMD and under-6s go free. A foreign-language guide costs 5,000 AMD for up to 10 people or 7,000 AMD for 11 or more, booked ahead. The holdings are over 17,000 manuscripts.

Afternoon: brandy

Two places run tours. The Yerevan Brandy Company at 2 Admiral Isakov Avenue needs advance booking, and prices vary by tasting package and language, so ask when you reserve. The Noy museum at Argisht Street 9 is simpler: 3,000 AMD for the visit alone, and 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 AMD for a tasting depending on the brandy’s age. It opens weekdays 09:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 11:00 to 16:00. You must be 18 to taste. The Noy museum page lists current tickets.

Evening: wine and fountains

Saryan Street is the wine district. In Vino at number 6 is the best known stop. Wine Days take over Saryan, Tumanyan and Moskovyan streets in early June. From spring to early autumn, the fountains at Republic Square run an evening show that starts at about 21:00 and is free to watch.

A market morning

Vernissage is the open-air market near Republic Square, on Buzand and Aram streets. Saturday and Sunday are the days when it is fullest. Bring cash in AMD and expect to bargain.

One day away: Debed rafting

Rafting Armenia runs the Debed River in the Lori region, about 3 hours from Yerevan, for roughly 12,000 AMD per person on an 11 km, 1.5 to 2 hour run. Riders must be 14 or older. The operator page has the details. No other river near the capital is rafted commercially.

Planning tips

  • Ride the metro with a contactless card or phone, since cash ended in February 2025.
  • Use GG Taxi or Yandex Go for cars. The airport to the centre is about 2,500 to 4,000 AMD in the app.
  • Summer afternoons are hot, often 35 to 40 C, so put museums in the middle of the day.

Read more: Yerevan attraction tours and Yerevan day trips .

Book a guided tasting: Yerevan food and drink tours on Viator .