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Useful information about Armenia

If you have already chosen one of our tours and are going to visit Armenia, this information will be interesting and useful for you, and if you have not decided yet, then read it all over - this information will convince you to come to Armenia.

So:

Interesting information

The Republic of Armenia is located in the South Caucasus. It borders with Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia is one of the most ancient countries in the world, and this is felt in every corner of the country. Armenia is the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

Armenia is a parliamentary republic.

The area of the republic is 29.743 km2, and this is just a small part of historical Armenia. The capital of Armenia is the 2800 years old city of Yerevan. It is the largest city of Armenia with a population of over one million. There are no other cities in Armenia with a population of one million and more, and this is precisely why they are attractive for those who want to truly have a rest from the city rush. In total, the country is home to three million people, most of whom are Armenians. Russians, Yezidis, Assyrians, Greeks, Jews live here too. There are 10 administrative districts in Armenia which are called marz or regions (Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Tavush), and a separate administrative unit - the capital Yerevan. The highest mountain in Armenia is the extinct volcano Aragats (4094 meters above sea level), which, by the way, you can climb if you choose the ascention tour to Aragats or one of the hiking tours including mount climbing. And, of course, we cannot fail to mention Lake Sevan, which is the largest lake in the South Caucasus and the second largest freshwater alpine lake in the world (the surface area is 1240 km2). And you will have an opportunity to see Sevan by choosing any of the tours and hikes offered by us.

An interesting fact - Mount Ararat, which is the symbol of Armenia, is not in the territory of Armenia. But it can be seen from almost all points of Yerevan and the Ararat valley.

As a mountainous country, Armenia is rich in stone (tuff, marble, travertine, obsidian, etc.), mineral waters (Jermuk, Dilijan, Bjni, Arzni, etc.). The country is also rich in metal deposits, such as gold, copper, molybdenum, the reserves of which in Armenia make up 6% of the entire world reserves.

Useful information

Language - The state language of Armenia is Armenian, but the majority of the population speaks Russian fluently and a very large percentage speaks English, so, definitely, you will not be misunderstood.

Telephone, Internet and time – For calls abroad you need to dial 00 or + before the country code + mobile phone number / city code + number.

There are three mobile operators in the country – Vivacell-MTS, Beeline and Ucom, which provide high-quality and low-cost mobile communications and the Internet. You can turn on roaming, or buy a card at the airport, or in the shops of operators. Moreover, there is free Wi-Fi in all cafes, restaurants, hotels. Armenia Standard Time is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+4).

Weather – Weather is wonderful in Armenia. In any season you will find something to do here. But if you are not going to ski (by the way, this can also be done in Armenia), then the best time to visit Armenia is from mid-spring to mid-autumn. The most favorite time for tourists is September, when warm, almost summer weather still remains and you can enjoy not only pleasant weather, but also an abundance of delicious fruits. It should be noted that in summer, especially in July and August, it is very hot in Yerevan, so this is the most convenient time to choose tours and hikes in the mountainous regions of Armenia that we offer you.

The national currency of Armenia is Armenian Dram (AMD), but you can exchange the main currencies (ruble, euro, dollar, Georgian lari, Swiss franc, pound sterling, etc) in any bank and large supermarket. Moreover, in almost all hotels, restaurants, cafes, museums and large and medium-sized stores you can pay with a card. The following payment systems are served here - ArCa, MIR, Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Diners Club. In case of urgent matters, some branches of banks work late and on weekends. There is a developed network of ATMs and payment terminals.

You can enter an unlimited amount of cash on the territory of the country, but if the amount exceeds 5.000.000 AMD in equivalent, you need to fill out the customs declaration.

Cultural life - In Armenia, especially in Yerevan, there are many theaters, museums and music clubs that you can visit. Information on major cultural events can be found on the Internet, or by posters in the city center.

Accommodation - You can find convenient accommodation options both in Yerevan and in many resort and tourist centers. You can choose expensive hotels, including those of well-known brands, as well as cheap but comfortable hotels and guest houses, hostels and private houses for rent. If you decide to participate in the tour to Armenia offered by our company, we will solve this issue in the most optimal way for you

Food - You definitely will not stay hungry in Armenia. Although you will not find, for example, McDonald’s here, but you are not in Armenia for this. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes, where you can try national cuisine, as well as European, Chinese and so on. You can and should also try Armenian wine, and why not, beer. In the city center you can find bars, pubs and enotecas for every taste.

In cafes and restaurants, it is customary to leave tips of 5-10%, but in some the service is included in the bill, and it is not necessary to leave a tip.

Transportation - The fastest and most convenient option to get to Armenia is by air. There are two international airports here: “Zvastrnots” International Airport in Yerevan, where you can fly from almost all countries, and “Shirak” Airport in Gyumri, where planes arrive mainly from Russia. Airlines such as Aeroflot, S7, Pobeda, UIA, Lot, FlyDubai, Qatar airways, Emirates, Belavia, Atlas, etc. operate in Armenia.

From Russia, it is also possible to arrive by land through Georgia. From Iran and Georgia, you can also arrive in road transport.

The most convenient means of transportation in Yerevan and other large cities is the taxi: it is convenient and not expensive. Yandex Taxi service works here, as well as other similar services, such as GG, U taxi, etc. You can also use the services of private taxi drivers. In addition, there is a subway in Yerevan, which quickly takes you to the main tourist centers of the city. From Yerevan to the regions you can take a taxi or a public shuttle bus. You can get to Gyumri by train as well. You can also rent a car.

Security - Armenia is one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate here is quite low. Here you can walk freely in the city even after midnight. In case of any problems, you can ask the friendly police. Besides, ordinary passers-by are very responsive and if possible, will help you.

Visa - Citizens of Russia and the CIS countries do not need a visa to visit Armenia. Also, Russian citizens can enter Armenia by air using their internal passports. For information on visas, citizens of other countries can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, as well as embassies and consular services in their countries.

Traditions - There are no rules regarding clothing and appearance in Armenia. And there are no strict traditions that must be observed. The only tradition that must be observed is respect for the country, its culture and heritage and its inhabitants.

Souvenirs and gifts - Many souvenir shops operate in the center of Yerevan, where you can buy interesting things. But the most favorite place for tourists is the Vernissage market, where you can buy souvenirs, paintings, stone and wood items, jewelry and much more. As in any market, here you can bargain as well.

Another favorite place for tourists is the GUM market. Here you can buy Armenian sweets, dried fruits and a lot of delicious food.

Many stores have a Tax free system.

Electrical network - Voltage in the network is 220 Volt 50 Hz. Socket standard is CEE.

And if the network does not match, adapters of almost all standards can be bought at any supermarket.