20 Travel Tips for Yerevan Armenia: Things to know before you go

[@jratcliff63367]

All photographs and video clips in this video are from my vacation. Video edited by ‎@Jessica Shaw A few small corrections. * Google translate does support Armenian for text but not voice. It does do voice translation for Russian. * You can also fly to Armenia via Qatar and may be able to have fewer connections * There are more options for getting to Armenia from the US via Europe than I experienced out of Denver. From your location you may find better options. When I booked my trip no matter what I did it always took me in and out of Yerevan to Europe at 4am. * If you ask a waiter in a restaurant to add a tip to the bill they will. But it's not automatic like it is in the US

[@jackie_twirlsmarashlian6947]

Great information thanks, haven't been since 1983 so this was helpful

[@lucybalyanify]

Thanks for the tips; I was there in Armenia in 2005 but alots of changes since; More people, better economy and lots of building going on with freeways connecting cities which is great. I will be coming this June 2023 for a month;

[@BillyWilkins]

This is awesome great job and editing!!

[@lusineyanikyan1395]

I love everything you say and I’m from US now, but I grow up in Erevan 🇦🇲 yes yes yes Armenia it’s safe place to visit

[@luiggifillipo1601]

Valuable tips! Thanks a lot!

[@naranjapk1]

Very informative video

[@TravelLadiesApp]

I had a wonderful time exploring the city and its surrounding areas. From the stunning views at the Erebuni Fortress to the delicious local cuisine, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

[@GreatCityAttractions]

Lovely city with plenty to do too.

[@lawoman608]

Thank you for visiting our country 😊 *real smile*

[@jratcliff63367]

Absolutely loved it. Can't wait to go back again. Yerevan is a jewel.

[@yomotii]

Hi Lawoman, I am planning to visit Yerevan from 22 to 25 november. Is there any problem or is it more at the borders? Thank you.

[@benandhaley]

Good tips, thanks for sharing! We loved our time in Armenia. Definitely rent a car if you want to see all of what beautiful Armenia has to offer. Driving is a little more difficult than in the USA but if you just be a defensive driver and follow the flow of traffic, you'll be fine.

[@jackie_twirlsmarashlian6947]

I was gonna say, if you can drive in new york city traffic, Armenia will be a piece of cake

[@shelemm2605]

I rented a car in Armenia. and loved the experience. The car rental was as easy as any other country. We definitely got to places and had sublime experiences that would have been unlikely otherwise. I had no problem with the traffic, the laws, or the police.... I find your comments about that odd. The big problem for most people in driving are the potholes and the condition of the roads in general, which you don't even mention! However, I very much enjoyed the rest of your video.

[@jratcliff63367]

I'm glad you had a positive experience. I stand by my comments though. For me, driving in Armenia was an overwhelming experience. I saw many vehicles with missing or broken mirrors from driving down those streets.

[@davitavoyan1150]

Some pretty bad misconceptions here. For example, there are close to 20 flights to Europe daily from Yerevan (for example, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw, Cologne, Brussels, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Vilnius, Larnaca, Riga, Athens and many more). And it IS possible to fly from the US with just 1 stopover and do that in one day - I do it all the time - the issue in your case is Denver and its lack of international flights to enough European cities for you to have 1 layover, not Yerevan.

[@davitavoyan1150]

also calling the airport a zoo? Really? I always had the shortest time checking in and getting to my gate in Yerevan. You've never seen people lined up to check in? Wow, so so ignorant and arrogant.

[@jratcliff63367]

You are correct. When booking my trip I spent an enormous amount of time on Google Flights and no matter what I tried it still gave me these very limited connection options. Thanks for the clarification.

[@georgeharalambous261]

​@@jratcliff63367 book the car online before you go

[@jratcliff63367]

@@georgeharalambous261 I did, but when I got to the counter it was still a big paperwork process anyway.

[@marinafossey3129]

❤🙏🏻 very helpful.

[@elnurhussein9025]

Thank you! Spot on! I live in Armenia. The dude described everything perfectly. A few things have changed tho since his visit. Now all vendors are forced to accept card (apple pay would do the thing). Some apps to download Tellcell for public transport payments, GG, Yandex as local Ubers, Glovo for food delivery. More flights (during the daytime, too) are available. You can even book flights from Europe with Wizzair for under 50 euros (Rome, Milan, Budapest, Vienna, Sofia, Venice). A few more flights from Germany. You can also connect to China and India (even Maldives) through Yerevan as 5 hours will get you there via direct flights. It’s less safe than it used to be sadly…more narcotics, more violence…the country used to be a heaven but after the war things are messy in Armenia unfortunately…

[@jratcliff63367]

The dude says thanks!

[@elnurhussein9025]

@@jratcliff63367 sorry haha if the word “dude” came across as rude 😢 didn’t mean to offend you. Maybe i should have used the word “gentleman”…

[@jratcliff63367]

@@elnurhussein9025 Gosh no. I took it in the spirit given my dudeness.

[@elnurhussein9025]

@@jratcliff63367 well done then hehe

[@elnurhussein9025]

@@jratcliff63367 and say hello to your Russian friend Dmitry who has chosen to live in Armenia. Hope he feels comfortable and has made Armenia his home.

[@tamarmarkosian1841]

I absolutely agree with your comments about driving in Armenia. I don’t know about Denver but there’s a direct flight from LA to Armenia through Qatar or Dubai with only a few hours of layover.

[@jratcliff63367]

Thanks. I will definitely check that out, because I'm going back next year.

[@vahikavasapian385]

Thank you

[@anniewho315]

Hello John, Thank you for your honest review of Armenia. I enjoyed your video. My heart just about melted when you spoke about the pups. I've often said that you can tell a great deal about a society by the way that they treat their animals. Sadly, the two non-Christian nations that are not native to the region, both have a frightening animal abuse record. I believe Armenia has the most affordable taxi rates in the world. Also, unlike Turkey, their Taxi drivers do not scam tourists. Thanks to you, I will avoid getting a rental. Lastly, according to Numbeo's latest Crime Index by Country for 2023 has ranked Armenia 7th safest country out of 142 countries in the world. Armenia is followed by Japan, Switzerland and Bahrain. Whilst I've never been to Armenia, I have been preparing for my journey for summer 2024. I was touched and learned a great deal from your informative video. I hope you and your wife will have a blessed journey to the Land of Noah! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jratcliff63367]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I plan to return to Yerevan next year with my wife so she can enjoy it as well.

[@anniewho315]

@@jratcliff63367 How, exciting! I hope that you will be able to share your journey with us and of course your valuable insight. Cheers!

[@grahamlawlor8361]

All the stuff this guy is alarmed by happens everywhere in Eastern Europe - and pretty much everywhere in the developing world (street dogs, informal driving rules, dirt roads, outdoor cafes, English signage, no AmEx). Feels like he's never left the US before

[@jratcliff63367]

I've traveled the world extensively but this was my first time ever being in a former soviet republic. My Russian friend did say that a lot of this stuff was typical for former soviet states.

[@imal360]

@john I'm new here, I want to ask given the current situation with the war going on and the conflict at the boarder is it safe to travel to Armenia?

[@alisatravels]

It is safe, just don’t go south and close to the borders

[@jratcliff63367]

I just talked to my friend Dmitry who lives there and he says things are fine. I guess the issues are closer to the borders; but in Yerevan and the tourist areas things are still normal.

[@shelemm2605]

@@alisatravels There is nothing wrong or worrisome about going south of Yerevan.

[@oliverzwahlen]

I don't mean to be mean, but you're basically saying in the first travel tip that a.) you're a rather poor driver and b.) you don't bother to google the most basic requirements for a car rental. If I were to take one piece of advice from your words, it would be to read at least a little about the destination before travelling.

[@KishothMadhu]

Exactly my views. It's just common sense that one would need an International driving license to drive in another country. Unfortunately common sense is not that common !

[@georgeharalambous261]

Were you expecting Armenia to be the same as America?

[@jratcliff63367]

No. I've just never been to a former soviet republic before and it was certainly a new experience for me. I've traveled the world pretty extensively but this was my first time in that part of the world.

[@AnnaFresa1]

@@jratcliff63367As if Armenia didn’t exist before the Soviet Era :)) It’s funny how foreigners put it.

[@lovelejanib3770]

pano po ang visa pag uae resident? on arrival na po ba?

[@taboonheknek]

On arrival po, alternatively you can also apply for e-visa to save you the hassle of long waiting time at the airport

[@kkelly9424]

Yeah, i would take Yerevan over Paris any day. But there are a number of very interesting former SSR states that you would probably enjoy too. If you go back, make a stop in Georgia. And if you got the guts, go to Uzbekistan. All of the grand cities of the Silk Road, Tashkent, Samarkand. Like nothing else in the world. Fabled

[@jratcliff63367]

Thanks for the recommendations! I look forward to more travel adventures like this one.

[@whitefeather29]

I take it that you won't be coming back to Armenia, then right? Goodbye & good luck..

[@jratcliff63367]

I'm definitely coming back. It was awesome. I just won't rent a car again.

[@fashionskiller]

did you even watch the video? or are just on the left side of the bell curve?

[@ArmenGhazaryan2018]

what country are you from ? to tell the most important thing for your country citizens

[@jratcliff63367]

US. Sorry, I should have said that up front. I absolutely loved your country!

[@nairanazaryan1494]

@@jratcliff63367 he isn't Armenian, he is azerbayjani

[@georgeharalambous261]

​@@jratcliff63367 he's a typical yank. Spoiled brat