Transportation in Armenia
The easiest and most popular way of getting to Armenia is by air. The capital, Yerevan, is quite well serviced with routes from a number of cities across Europe, America and the Middle East. As it is a landlocked country, the only other way into the country is by land, either by bus, minivan or taxi. Certain countries bordering Armenia have closed borders, and these are listed below. Be sure to check border conditions closer to your trip, as these are subject to change.
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This Armenia Transportation Guide gives details about both getting to and from Armenia, as well as getting around once you are there. You may also find our Armenia Country Guide and Armenia Destination Guides to be useful when planning your trip to Armenia. These pages give a bit more useful background information regarding what sights and activities you may like to see and do on your trip to Armenia.
For local travel information in our current destinations follow the links below to the destinations transportation page. We currently have transportation information for:
- Yerevan
Armenia Transportation Guide
Getting to Armenia
By Air
As mentioned, the most common and popular way of getting to Armenia is to catch a flight there. There are regularly scheduled flights from many cities in Europe, America and the Middle East. Zvartnots International Airport near Yerevan is where all international flights arrive. From the airport, you can either catch a bus or taxi into Yerevan. The bus costs 100 dram, and runs from early in the morning until 6 pm. Meanwhile, a taxi will cost roughly $10. Airlines flying to Armenia are given below. There is also an airport departure tax of 10,000 AMD, which is paid in cash when you leave. As such, it is handy to keep exactly 10,000 AMD for when you leave from the airport. This is not a departure tax and is therefore not required when exiting a land border crossing. For the best deals on Flights to Armenia try our partner website.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Armenia.
By Land
Due to border closures, it is not possible to travel overland directly from either Azerbaijan or Turkey. Two countries you can travel from are Georgia and Iran. From Georgia there are a number of overland options. The easiest way is to catch a taxi from Tbilisi to Ortajala. From here, you can catch one of the many minivans which are headed to Yerevan. From Iran there are buses running directly from Tehran to Yerevan on alternate days. Another options is to go to Nurdooz, a border town, and from there catch a mashrutka once you are over the border.
Getting around Armenia
By Bus
Buses are the cheapest way of getting around Armenia, but they are slow, uncomfortable and subject to frequent breakdowns. As such, they are only really recommended for budget travellers. One advantage is that they cover the country well, and for more remote places they may be the only option.
By Train
There are a few train lines originating from Yerevan, heading out to places such as Gyumri, Sevan, Vanadzor and Alaverdi. However, train transport in Armenia is very slow and basic. As such, it is not really an ideal way of getting around.
By Taxi
There are a number of reliable and cheap taxi services that exist in Yerevan. It is also possible to hail taxis on the street. We recommend using one of the taxi service companies, as they will quote you a price on the phone, and will rarely overcharge you. The fare to anywhere within the central Yerevan district should be roughly 600 - 1000 dram. In remote areas, it may be possible to flag down any car on the street and negotiate a price for the driver to take you somewhere - this is a reasonably common practice, although reasonably care should be taken.
By Metro (Subway)
The metro in Yerevan is a simple one line metro, and it is extremely cheap (costing less than 10 cents) and quite efficient.
By Marshrutni (Fixed Route Taxi-bus)
A marshrutni is basically a minivan which goes along a fixed route, similar to a normal bus. Within Yerevan, the numbers will identify which route they follow, whereas those that are going to other cities or towns will have the place name displayed in the window. The fare for a marshrutni within the Yerevan city limits is 100 dram (about 20 cents).
By Private Van
Hiring a van with driver can be a cheap and convenient alternative to catching one of the marshrutni. There are a number of companies which offer these, and they often have set prices and reliable, new vans. They can take up to ten people, so obviously the more people you have the better value it becomes. A half day will normally cost about $30, whereas a full day is about $50. Overnight trips are also possible.
By Tour Van
A number of tour companies offer set, scheduled tours. These will go to different destinations on different days of the week. Because of this, prices are very low, normally starting from a few dollars per person, and as such these can be ideal for individuals or small groups, especially as they normally include a tour guide. You can check out our Armenia Tours page for contact details or tour companies.
Car Rental
Cars are easy enough to drive around, and can be rented from a number of places. They can be rented either with or without driver. Most hotels and tour companies are able to organise car rental for you. Prices normally start from about $25 per day.
