A little more
Armenia.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Armenia: what to know before you go

Armenia is a small, mountainous country in the South Caucasus with one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. Medieval stone monasteries perch on cliffs and gorges, Yerevan has a busy café culture, and the country has been making wine for thousands of years. It suits history lovers, hikers and travellers interested in food and wine.

Where to go

• Yerevan. The capital is built largely of pinkish volcanic tuff stone.
• Garni and Geghard. Garni is a Greco-Roman-style temple above a gorge of basalt columns, the 'Symphony of Stones'.
• Tatev Monastery. A 9th-century monastery on the edge of a deep gorge in the south.
• Lake Sevan. A large high-altitude lake at around 1,900 metres, with the twin churches of Sevanavank on a peninsula above the water.

Best time to visit

Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the best times to visit, with mild weather, green or golden landscapes and harvest season in the vineyards. Summer is hot and dry in Yerevan but cooler around Lake Sevan and in the mountains.

Staying online in Armenia

Mobile coverage is good in Yerevan and most towns, and along the main highways, with 4G widely available. Signal can drop in deep gorges and remote mountain areas, including parts of the south. Free Wi-Fi is very common in cafés, restaurants and hotels in Yerevan. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so ride-hailing and maps work from the airport.