Where to stay in Armenia: the city or the mountains?

Most visitors start in Yerevan, and for good reason: the capital has museums, cafés, wine bars and a lively evening life. But Armenia is a small country. Monasteries, fortresses, lakes and mountain meadows are often less than two hours away, and many travellers find that a few nights outside the city are the part of the trip they remember most.

Yerevan: for the city

Stay in Yerevan for your first or last night, or if your trip is mainly about food, culture and nightlife. Hotels are plentiful, from international chains to small guesthouses, and taxis are easy to find. In July and August the city can be very hot.

The mountains: for space and calm

North of Yerevan, the province of Aragatsotn is dominated by Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia. Here you will find the medieval Amberd fortress, the high-altitude Lake Kari, early Christian churches and wide mountain meadows. Summer evenings are cool, winters bring deep snow, and the night sky is dark enough to see the stars.

Why stay in Aragats village

Aragats Hotel is in the village of Aragats near Aparan, 40 km from Yerevan and about an hour by car along the M3 highway. It is a quiet base for exploring the mountain, with comfortable rooms and a suite, a restaurant serving Armenian dishes, a large garden, and a pool, sauna and gym at our sister venue, the Aragats Sport Complex.

From the hotel it is a short drive to the Kasagh Basilica in Aparan and the Armenian Alphabet Monument, and a scenic drive around the mountain to Lake Kari and Amberd.

A simple plan

Spend your first night in Yerevan, then two or three nights in Aragats, and return to the city for your last night before your flight. Or come straight from Zvartnots International Airport: the drive takes about an hour and a quarter, and we can arrange a transfer on request.

When to come

Late spring to early autumn is ideal for walking and sightseeing, and the high mountain trails are usually free of snow from July to September. From December to March the landscape turns white: a good time for snow walks, sledging and warm evenings by the fire.