Yerevan Transportation Tips by MalenaN Top 5 Page for this destination

To Echmiadzin and Zvartnots

To go to Echmiadzin or Zvartnots from Yerevan you can take a bus or minibus from the corner of Mesrop Mashtots Poghota and Sarian Poghots (near the Modern Art Museum). Along the road look for a pillar with an eagle on top, because that’s where you are getting of f if you are going to Zvartnots. The bus to Zvarnots was 400 drams and the marshrutka back to Yerevan was 250 drams (August 2006). Going back to Yerevan you just stop a bus passing by. When I went to Echmiadzin in June 2003 the bus and marshrutka was 250 drams.

Mode: TO

Type: Bus

From Yerevan to Tabriz (Iran), part II

... At 20.30 we arrived to the border, where it took two hours on the Armenian side. I was the last one to be ready as the Russian controller took long time to check my passport. Not until everyone was seated in the bus and we crossed a bridge all women took their scarves on. As we arrived on the Iranian side all our passports were collected and we waited. While I waited I changed money at an exchange office and bought some crisps at a shop. Everyone changed the time on their watches back 1,5 hours. At the Iranian side of the border it took 1,5 hours before we were finished and could continue.

Before arriving in Tabriz we stopped for another food break. Back in the bus I wished I was going to Tehran because I wanted to sleep, but suddenly we where in Tabriz and there only I and another passenger left the bus. The driver of the bus asked the other passenger to take me to my hotel in the same taxi as he was taking (even if I don’t speak Farsi and they didn’t speak English) and I was glad for not being left alone in the outskirts of Tabriz in the middle of the night, even if there were other taxis around.

I had been told the bus ride between Yerevan and Tabriz should take 14 hours but it took more than 18 hours. It didn’t feel so long, but it was inconvenient to arrive in the middle of the night.

Mode: TO

Type: Bus

From Yerevan to Tabriz (Iran)

I went to Tabriz in Iran by bus from Yerevan. A few weeks before leaving home I booked a ticket via email through Tatev Travel, but not until I picked it up I had to pay for it, 17 000 drams (about 40 dollars). I was going to Tabriz, but the price was the same for Tehran, to where the bus was continuing. There is supposed to be a bus every day, but when I arrived to Yerevan I was told the Monday bus was cancelled and I had to leave one day earlier.

At 10.15, 15 minutes late, the bus left Kilikya Avtokayan in Yerevan. It was a big comfortable and air-conditioned bus with Iranian plates. It is a long journey. A man on the bus was sick and we stopped several times for him to go out (once we stopped by some cherry trees with yummy cherries). After 5,5 hours we passed Goris and a litter further south it was time for food break and we stopped by a restaurant.

The journey through southern Armenia was very long, it doesn’t look so long on the map, but there are many high mountains (with beautiful views) and no tunnels.

The tip is too long, but continues below...

Mode: TO

Type: Bus

Daytour to Ani viewpoint, Gyumri and Marmashen

When I went to reconfirm my ticket I was told that the flight day had been changed and I had to leave Yerevan one day later than planed. I wanted to spend that day seeing a place outside Yerevan that I still hadn’t visited. I went to Tatev Travel Agency and they had a tour that suited me well. It was to Ani viewpoint, Gyumri and Marmashen. Normally they visit Gyumri and Marmashen together with another place than Ani viewpoint, but people going on the tour had asked for Ani. The price was 11 000 drams plus 20 dollars extra for the permit to visit Ani viewpoint.

We travelled in a comfortable air-conditioned bus and entrance fee to museums in Gyumri were included and some refreshments.

I was told that the tour was going to take eight hours (9 - 17), but realised during the way it would take much longer (I think it was because of Ani) The first stop was Ani viewpoint and then we went to Gyumri and then on to Marmashen. At 22.55 the bus dropped me outside the opera house in Yerevan, about six hours later than I had been told. Unfortunately I had to cancel a VT-meeting with R-men because I was late.

There are several travel agencies in Yerevan organising daytrips to places around Armenia. I went to Tatev because they had a different program the day I wanted to go and I had been there earlier to buy a bus ticket to Iran.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Bus

From Sevan to Yerevan, on to Goris

There is no public transport from Sevan Peninsula and it is very hard to find a taxi (in the morning they are none existing). Marshrutkas (minibuses) to Yerevan are leaving from Sevan town, about 5 – 6 km away from the beach area on the peninsula. I asked for a taxi, but was told to go up to the main road and stop a bus (for example marshrutkas from Dilijan are passing). Well, it was eight in the morning and very little traffic. After walking for a while along the road towards Sevan a small lorry stopped and gave me lift. The two young men next to the driver had to get up on the platform where it was very cold. That was very kind of them to let me and my luggage take their place. I was dropped by the marshrutka to Yerevan. It left Sevan when it was full, at 8.50, and arrived in Yerevan 40 minutes later. It was 600 drams (August 2006).

The marshrutka from Sevan stops at the corner of Teryan Poghots, near the drama Theatre and that’s about 2 km from Kino Rossiya, from where marshrutkas to Goris leave. I took a taxi between the two and paid with a 1000 drams bill, expecting to get change back, but I didn’t (the driver very quickly left the car to carry my luggage to the marshrutka).

The marshrutka to Goris was just about to leave. I quickly bought a cola and sandwich and paid the ticket, 2500 drams. The bus drive to Goris took four hours, and that included a food break halfway along the way. In Goris the bus stopped down in town, opposite the post office.

Mode: TO

Type: Bus

Taxi from airport

Several planes arrive to Yerevan very early in the morning, before public transportation starts to run. The first time visiting Armenia I flew with Austrian Airlines arriving early and got a lift in to Yerevan with some people from the plane. The other time I flew with Czech Airlines, which is supposed to arrive 4.15am, but it was half an hour late. This time I took a taxi. The driver asked for 20 dollars, but immediately changed to 10 dollars when I said no (it is cheaper to phone for a taxi). It took about 25 minutes to go from the airport to Sayat-Nova Poghota, opposite the Opera House.

When I left Yerevan (August 2006) Gayane had called a taxi for me the evening before and at 2 in the night it was waiting for me. This time I paid 2000 drams (5 dollars).

Mode: TO

Type: Car/Motor Home