Getting Around Armenia: Transport Guide
How to travel around Armenia: buses and metro in Yerevan, trains, car hire, 4x4s, long-distance taxis and international minibus links to Georgia, Iran and beyond.
Photo: Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
When you decide to travel to Armenia, it pays to read up properly on transport and getting around this beautiful country. That is why we have put together this thoroughly detailed guide to answer the question: how to get around Armenia. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything.
Transport in Yerevan
The city of Yerevan has an extensive transport network: buses, minibuses and marshrutni. A bus ride costs around 50 AMD, and a marshrutni around 100 AMD. As for the metro, there is just a single line, running from 6.30am to 11pm. A single ticket costs 50 AMD.
A word of warning! The buses are uncomfortable and can break down at any moment. The marshrutni, meanwhile, get very crowded in town. This is precisely why most tourists prefer to take the train or a taxi to travel from one city to another, or else hire a vehicle so they can travel in complete safety.
Yerevan has two bus stations: the “Central” station and the Kanaker station.
Getting around Armenia by train
The train is among the most popular means of transport for tourists spending their holiday in Armenia. If you are in Yerevan, the country’s capital, it is easy to get from one city to another by train. Don’t worry, the fares are very affordable. As a reminder, Yerevan’s main station is a 10-minute walk from Republic Square.
The train is a very pleasant way to get around Armenia. It lets you visit the marz around Yerevan. You will also have the chance to discover Ararat, and above all the monastery of Khor Virap, which offers a magnificent view of Mount Ararat, as well as Kotayk, home to some of the country’s most beautiful historic sites, such as the Garni temple.
The train also lets you reach Tbilisi in Georgia, and there is another train serving Batumi on the Georgian Black Sea coast.
Photo: Ավետիսյան91 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons.
Getting around Armenia by car
Fancy touring Armenia by car? There are two options: hire a vehicle with a driver, or hire a car without one. Plenty of companies offer self-drive cars to hire at reasonable prices. That said, be aware that driving in Armenia is not easy, given the state of the roads, the bad habits of Armenian drivers, poor signage and so on. It is therefore better to hire a vehicle with a driver. This is the option we most recommend!
As for petrol stations, you will find them everywhere, though payment is made in cash. Be aware, too, that the police can pull you over at any moment.
Warning! The borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed.
Getting around Armenia by 4x4
To travel around Armenia in complete safety, the 4x4 is the most highly recommended vehicle. The country does not have a modern road infrastructure, which is why it is best to hire a 4x4 so you can travel with peace of mind.
An off-road vehicle is the ideal way for travellers wishing to venture along the country’s small roads and bumpy tracks in search of its most remote monasteries. By hiring this type of vehicle, you will no doubt have the chance to reach the elegant church of Mastara or the monastery of the Holy Cross of Aghtamar.
What about international connections?
To reach Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, there are daily international connections, handy too if you are arriving in Armenia overland. Indeed, there are numerous minibuses making the journey between Yerevan and Tbilisi, departing from the bus stations in both cities. The trip takes around 5 hours, and the fare does not exceed 25 euros.
To reach the Turkish capital, Istanbul, there is a minibus at Yerevan bus station that makes the journey once a week (usually on Saturdays), passing through Georgia. The trip takes 40 hours and costs 50 to 60 euros.
For the Iranian capital, Tehran, a minibus runs daily (except Saturdays). The journey takes around 30 hours, and the fare is 35 euros.
And, the icing on the cake, it is even possible to reach the Russian capital, Moscow, by minibus. The journey takes 3 days and costs 65 euros. To make this trip, you must hold a visa for both Russia and Iran.
Exploring Armenia by long-distance taxi
The taxi is another means of transport increasingly favoured by tourists who set foot in Armenia. Taxis let you travel from one city to another, and even as far as Georgia, at reasonable fares.
In Armenia, you will come across a new concept: the “shared taxi”. The principle is simple: it is a taxi that only sets off once it is full. You will find them in several places in the capital.
Can you get around by bicycle?
Getting around Armenia by bicycle is not advisable. Why? The roads are long and you risk being worn out with exhaustion, sweltering in summer and freezing in winter. It is better to opt for the means of transport already mentioned above.
If you want to go hiking in Armenia, there are many outings to enjoy by bike (or on foot), such as the Spandaryan Reservoir in the marz of Syunik — the scenery along the water is worth the effort alone.
Note that hitch-hiking is possible in Armenia. Vehicles stop fairly easily. You just need to be patient and friendly!
Plan your visit
Getting around is far easier with a plan in hand. Build your own itinerary or book an all-inclusive tour with us, we handle the driving so you can focus on the scenery, and see where to stay in Armenia along the way.
