Families
Families will find that Armenia is first and foremost a safe environment for traveling with children. Secondly, it can be fun-filled, with a lot of options to choose from—outdoor parks with kiddy play areas, amusement parks, water parks and sophisticated “play cities” that feature activities for children of all ages.
Family venues are located throughout the country; and more and more are being developed each year. In the regions you will find a number of tourist sites that in themselves are of family interest; along with the museums, theatres and activity centers that cater to the young.
Family traveling, with a little planning, can be a rewarding experience. Tour Operators that cater to family travelers are a great place to begin planning your trip.
Yerevan
Take a walking tour of the Old Abovian Quarter, combining old world charm with a lively street life that includes family-friendly restaurants and the Geological Museum, which has Armenia’s only life size Wooly Mammoth fossil and child-oriented workshops.
Walk through Ring Park and you will find within the maize of outdoor cafes a number of small amusement parks for the young child. There also are activity areas tailored to children of varying ages. Lunar Park, next to St. Gregory Cathedral, has rides for children of all ages, up to young adults.
Take the trolley or hike into the Hrazdan Canyon with the Yerevan’s Children’s Park and Railway. (use one of our walking tours)
Other amusement parks in Yerevan include the large complex below Mother Armenia in Hakhtanaki Aigi (Victory Park); Water World on Tbilisi Highway, and one of several Play City sites. Older children will enjoy the go-carts and video games at Play City.
Museums: Museums families can enjoy include the Children’s Art Museum, State History Museum (see the Bronze Age Burial Room and Gold Room), the National Gallery (Fresco Room), and the wonderful little Folk Art Museum and Woodcarving Museum; excellent introductions to Armenia’s Arts and Crafts. Visit the Museum of Natural History, with enough displays of wild animals and insects to satisfy many an inquisitive mind. The herbarium at the Botanical Gardens has a fine collection of flower species from around the country, as well as a large expanse of parkland to play in.
Hint: Museums give student tours throughout the year; ask when you buy tickets for one of these, which are tailored to children of different ages.
Ask for the same at a house museum, and enjoy the colorful landscapes by Martiros Saryan, the engaging “moving art” by Yervand Kochar and the whimsical collages by Sergei Parajanov. Visit the home museum for Hovhannes Tumanian, author of a number of children’s fairy tales; or the musical composer Alexander Spendiarov.
Monuments: The 1000 steps on Cascade are an active child’s dream, as is the view from Monument at the top of the monument. The soon-to-open Cafesjian Modern Art Museum will include child and family friendly excursions to the modern art displays. Of particular interest will be the mammoth displays of blown glass art by Dale Chihuly, expected to become as big a magnet for children here as it they are wherever his work is displayed. Mother Armenia is another monument children enjoy looking at, though the nearby amusement park will soon tug at their hearts. Already children are climbing over preview statues at Cascade of Fernando Botero’s Cat & Soldier, and a pop-art boat at the top of the monument.
The huge statues of Sasuntsi Davit (railway station) and Vartan Mamikonian (Ring Park) always delight children passing by, as does the large Charents’ monument.
Performance: There are a number of youth theatres in Yerevan, including the circus, three marionette theatres and three live theatres for children. The ballet and opera offer youth-oriented performances and musically minded children will enjoy regular concerts at one of Yerevan’s concert halls. Attend a folk music and dance performance. Take in one of Armenia’s festivals.
Eating Out: Yerevan has a number of family restaurants, complete with activity centers and costumed staff Enjoy a bit of Yerevan’s culinary past by eating a warm, cream-filled ponchik at Ponchikanots on upper Mashtots Ave, or one of Armenia’s delicious full cream frozen desserts.
Half-Day & One-Day tours
Yerevan is close to a number of sites families can enjoy together; many within 30 minutes drive from the city.
Half-Day: City tour
Take a city tour of Yerevan, exploring Old Abovian Street, Opera Square and Cascade. Visit the Folk Art Museum at the end of Abovian and the Sergei Parajanov home museum overlooking the Hrazdan Gorge. Finish with a trolley ride into the Hrazdan Canyon for a trip down the gorge rail line, kiddy rides and ice cream at the Children’s park.
Half- Day: Erebuni Museum, State History, Geological Museum
Visit Erebuni, the 782 BC citadel that was the birthplace of Yerevan; visit its excellent small museum of Urartian artifacts. Visit the State History Museum, focusing on the Bronze Age Burial and Gold rooms. Walk one block up Abovian to the Geological Museum, with its old world displays of Armenia’s geological birth and the only life size Wooly Mammoth in the country.
Half-Day: Garni/Geghard
Garni/Geghard is an excellent half-day trip that first explores Garni, the 1st century Greco-Roman temple and Roman baths set on top of a promontory overlooking the Garni gorge and Khosrov Nature Preserve. Take an extra half hour to drive/hike into the canyon and view the spectacular “organ pipe” stone formations and the icy cold waters of the Goghti River. This is a perfect spot for family picnics. Follow this with a visit to the amazing 4th-13th century monastery of Geghard, built at the site of a pagan cave with churches and mausoleum carved from solid rock.
Half-Day: Echmiadzin/Mokhrablur-Metsamor
Choose a Sunday morning or holiday to visit the church services at Echmiadzin, seat of the Apostolic church with a 4th century era cathedral and a number of chapels, churches and shrines. If possible, plan to visit the church treasury (relics include the True Cross, Noah’s Ark and the Holy lance). Combine this with a visit to one of Armenia’s Cradle of Civilization excavations, at nearby Mokhrablur or Metsamor. Mokhrablur is rarely visited; its remote hills littered with 4000 BC pottery shards. Metsamor has a small museum with displays showing some of its 7000 year history, including an Urartian burial grave, gold room and a 2800 BC astronomical observatory platform that visitors can still use to plot the night sky. The site also includes remnants of Bronze Age temples to a mother goddess and the remains of brick kilns used to forge copper and bronze; the earliest known instance of this process.
Half-Day/ 1 Day: Agarak, Biurakan, Amberd, Mt. Aragats (Kari Lich)
Visit Agarak and the early Bronze Age temple complex that stretched two kilometers along the Amberd River. The complex includes a stone-carved royal tomb and a complex map of the night sky believed to show the positions of the stars 5000 years ago. At Biurakan, you can visit the modern observatory with the second largest optical telescope in Eurasia, or one of the 4th-13th century monasteries. Next is the fortress of Amberd, one of Armenia’s most popular sites and home to Armenia’s royalty from the Neolithic era. Finish the excursion by climbing 2000 meters to Kari Lich, base camp for mountain climbers tackling the four summits of that ring Mt. Aragats’ volcanic crater.
1 Day: Mt. Aragats South Peak
Many student/youth groups and families make a day trip by hiking up the South Peak (3879m), a 3-4 hour moderate climb. Tour Operators can arrange for professional guides to take small groups to the crest, from where you can view the other three peaks. At the bottom of the sunken crater there is a turquoise-colored lake. The crater is called “Armenia’s weather maker” for the constantly changing climates churned up from its base; on even the hottest days, within a matter of minutes you can experience torrential rainfall, hail, snow and sunny skies. Camp on the shores of Kari Lich the night before to acclimatize yourself to the altitude and enjoy the clean alpine air.
Half-Day: Khor Virap, Artashat and Dvin.
Visit Khor Virap in the Ararat Valley, under the shadow of Mt. Ararat and a great place to watch the sun rise. The pit is believed to be where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before beginning his conversion of the country in 301. The pit was part of a dungeon keep in the 2nd century BC city of Artashat, the “Carthage of the East”, and envy of Rome. The city covered the hills surrounding Khor Virap, many still littered with Roman era pottery fragments. Nearby are the ruins of Dvin, the capital of Armenia from 428-1236; once one of the most powerful cities in the Near East. The small museum and excavation is great for the active child to explore.
1 Day: Tzaghkadzor
The winter ski resort of Tsaghkadzor is also a summer retreat, with the 9th-13th century Kecharis Monastery in the town center; alpine cottages and lodges scattered throughout the wooded town; restaurants, tea houses and cafes; playgrounds and game rooms at the larger lodges; and the surrounding forests covered by a web of nature trails that explore (half-day to 1 day hikes) the surrounding terrain, 7th century Tezharuik and the Greek village of Hankavan.
Armenia’s Regions
Trips originate in Yerevan.
Sevan:
Lake Sevan, Noradus, Hairavank
This highly recommended trip explores the aquamarine world of Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. The lake is a placid sheen of turquoise or sky blue, or a churning cauldron of jet black depending on the lake’s mood, which changes several times a day. There are over 200 beaches on the North Shoreline, most with cottages and picnic tables. There is also a Water World Amusement park with swimming pools, wading pools and water-fed rides.
While at the lake, visit the collection of 1000 khachkars at Noradus, and the beautiful Hairavank set on a cliff overlooking the immense surface of the lake. Visit Sevanavank, the 9th century monastery on a peninsula that was once an island for royal exiles. In fair weather, Teen art groups make the trek to the peninsula to sketch and paint the view. Dine on fresh caught fish at a beach side restaurant; spend the night in one of the lake’s hotels, cottages or resorts.
Central/North:
Lake Sevan / Dilijan
Visit Lake Sevan, just 40 minutes from Yerevan, with its peninsula monastery, Hairavank, Noradus and one of 200 shoreline beaches, resorts and hotels. Come early to watch the sun rise on the lake, one of Armenia’s great natural moments. Then drive an extra 45 minutes to Armenia’s Little Switzerland, Dilijan, with its authentically reconstructed 18th century old town and dozens of guest houses and B&B’s overlooking the surrounding thick old growth forests. Forests are filled with hiking trails, including several day hikes to nearby Haghartsin and Goshavank, as well as the fairy tale setting for Jukhtakavank Vank, just outside the city limits. Spend a night at Sevan and Dilijan each for a 3-day weekend.
North:
Lori:
This popular route takes the high mountain road in Aragatsotn via nomadic Yezidi villages (with warrior stones from the pagan era) to Armenia’s third city, Vanadzor, gateway to the northern forests. Combine hiking and sightseeing with visits to the abandoned vank at Kobair, perched over a deep canyon with caves, its exposed walls covered with 13th century frescos. Another hike delves the wooded gorge at D’segh, passing the spring featured in Hovhannes Tumanian’s tale, “Gikor”, and the fairytale Bardzrakash S. Grigor ruins. Near Alaverdi, visit the World Heritage Sites at Sanahin and Haghbat, set among rolling mountains thick with old growth forests ripe for exploration. Akhtala is perched on top of a copper mine, with thick stands of forest nearby. Camping, hiking and family whitewater rafting on the Dzoraget (spring time) can be arranged by an adventure tour operator.
For those wanting to add Tbilisi to their Caucasus trip, continue to the border at Sadakhlo and the highway to Tbilisi (2 hours).
Shirak (Giumri):
This route explores the mountainous landscape around Mt. Aragats, ending at Armenia’s second city, Giumri. The route passes the early Bronze Age temple complex at Agarak, the medieval town of Kosh, with a number of khachkars and Kosh Fortress, a 13th century castle keep overlooking the Ararat Valley. At Aruch, you will find one of the two largest churches in Armenia, as well as the 7th century seat of the Mamikonian princely family. Nearby, in Talin, you will find another great cathedral, built for a rival clan, the Kamsarakans, who took the wrong side in the 8th century and were wiped out. Complexes include grave markers carved from pagan vishap stones, and frescoes. South of Talin is Dashtadem, the largest standing castle in Armenia, recently rebuilt to its former glory.
At the top of Shirak Pass you catch the last view of Mt. Ararat and the Ararat Valley, and face the mythical Mt. Arteni, considered a home for the gods in pre-Christian times. At Harichavank you find one of the best preserved medieval complexes it the country, with churches, shrines, and a fortress wall filled with empty rooms and long hallways.
Giumri is a great base for exploring Shirak region; and has several youth-oriented spots, including a puppet theatre and Children’s Art Museum and creative center. The city center is small enough to explore on foot, its historic center filled with old houses and long alleys. Museums that can tailor excursions to children (ask for a student tour when you arrive) include the Dzitoghtsian Home and Museum, Avetik Isahakian Home Museum, Azlamanian Sisters Gallery, and Shiraz Home Museum.
Shirak and Western Georgia: Giumri is also the gateway to Armenia’s “Siberia” and Arpalich; Armenian communities in southern Georgia (Akhaltsikhe & Akhalkalaki); and a day’s drive to the Black Sea resorts at Batumi and Cabuleti, the winter resort at Bakuriani, or Tbilisi.
South:
A stunning mountain landscape awaits those who travel to Armenia’s south and the regions of Vayots Dzor and Siunik.
Vayots Dzor:
In Vayots Dzor, visit the dramatic canyon (with caves) leading to the monastery of Noravank, the Selim Pass with its Silk Road Caravanserai above Yeghegnadzor, and the wonderful mineral spa at Jermuk.
Siunik:
Siunik is the gate to Zangezur, with great expanses of high mountain meadows, the plunging Vorotan River Gorge, and a week’s worth of sites, including the petroglyphs on Ughtasar and the 4200 BC astronomical observatory near Sissian (Armenia’s “Stonehenge”); the monastery of Tatev; the French designed town of Goris; the 3000 limestone cave dwellings at Khndzoresk; the dramatic setting for Kapan; the forest complex at Vahanavank; a Pleistocene era plane grove; and the dramatic desert city of Meghri, an oasis of pomegranate and fig groves in a dry tropic region just 20 minutes from one of the largest old growth forests in the Caucasus, Shikhahot.
