⛪ Armenia

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 38% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Rules on visas differ by passport, so consult the official site below first. For those needing a visa, sources point either to an e-Visa obtained online or to a visa granted when you arrive, whether at the airport or at border points. They disagree, so ask the Armenian foreign ministry before booking. The portal run for the official e-Visa can be found at evisa.mfa.am. It could not be opened when this was checked, so type the address in yourself and keep away from copycat sites. Pack hotel details, a return ticket and a passport with 6 months of validity.

Culture and safety - take note

Among the oldest Christian nations in the world, Armenia takes pride in its history. Visitors to churches and monasteries should keep shoulders and knees covered; men should remove hats, and women may wear something over their hair, so follow any signs. At the table, hospitality matters and toasts are a ritual, which is why slow sipping is wise. Show respect at the memorial to the Armenian genocide in Yerevan, and steer clear of political talk about neighbouring countries. Areas near Armenia's land borders to Azerbaijan and to Turkey, which are closed, can be sensitive: read the travel advice issued by your own government along with other advisories, and stay on main roads. Military sites must not be photographed. Winter can make mountain roads slow going and icy. Outside Yerevan, halal choices are limited.

Emergency

112. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.

Good to know

Plugs and voltage

Armenia's tourism website says power outlets are mainly Type C, the standard European outlet. Appliances can be used there if the standard voltage at home is between 220 and 240 volts. A device labelled for 100 to 240 volts needs only a Type C adapter, while others may need a voltage converter. The page does not state the mains frequency.

Cards, taxis and cash machines

The dram is Armenia's currency. Canadian advice says most taxi drivers do not accept cards, some cash machines do not take foreign cards, and cash can be withdrawn at bank counters with a passport. Card and ATM fraud occurs, so the PIN pad should be covered. Foreign currency above a set value must be declared on arrival and departure.

Local laws and customs

Cannabis, photography and drinking

Cannabis, CBD and THC products are illegal even with a medical prescription, and smuggling drugs can bring a prison term, UK advice says; airport scanners also check the baggage of transit passengers. Photographing military bases and installations is illegal, and Canadian advice adds sensitive border areas and drones. Drinking to excess is not tolerated, and foreign visitors have been arrested for drunken behaviour. UK advice says same-sex activity has been legal since 2003, and that many Armenians still disapprove of same-sex couples.

Taxis and scams

Taxi apps and fares

Flagging a taxi on the street risks high fares, UK advice warns; it names GG as a reputable taxi app you can download on arrival. Canadian advice adds that several apps let you order taxis at fixed fares, that cars are often in poor condition, and that most drivers do not take cards or give change for large notes.

Friendly strangers' bills

Friendly strangers have pickpocketed foreigners in Armenia or pushed them into paying a bill, according to Canadian advice. The usual openers are an offer of help beside an ATM, a request to take a photo, or an invitation to a bar for drinks. Treat such offers from people you do not know with caution.

Who can help

local government

Police emergency number 102

Helps with: Armenia's police number, listed with the other emergency numbers on the national tourism site. No separate tourist police unit is shown on that page.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Armenia who needs the police, including visitors.

Phone: 102

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Visit Armenia (national tourism site)

Helps with: Armenia's official tourism site. It lists tourism information centres in Yerevan and the regions and takes questions through an online contact form. It shows no phone number.

Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Armenia or planning a trip there.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Armenian Red Cross Society

Helps with: Armenia's national Red Cross society. Its site lists disaster management, a search service, first aid, and social and health care. Contact its Yerevan headquarters reception.

Who qualifies: People in Armenia who need its disaster, first aid, search or social and health services.

Phone: +374 60 62 50 50

Address: 21/1 Paronyan Street, Yerevan 0015

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Armenia

Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Armenia it advises on migration policy, supports voluntary return and reintegration, works against human trafficking and provides health services for migrants and refugees.

Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and refugees in Armenia. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +374 10 585 692

Email: IOMArmenia@iom.int

Address: 14 Petros Adamyan, UN Building, Yerevan

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Foreign diplomatic representations in Armenia (foreign ministry list)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Armenian foreign ministry lists foreign representations by country and offers a downloadable diplomatic directory.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Emergency number 911

Helps with: Armenia's emergency number for police, fire and ambulance. The national tourism site lists it for the Emergency Situations Crisis Management Center, with 101 for fire and 103 for ambulance.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Armenia facing an emergency or disaster.

Phone: 911

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Tourism information centres in Yerevan

Helps with: Visit Armenia lists three tourism information centres in Yerevan: Republic Square (Nalbandyan 2/1), France Square (Baghramyan 2/5) and HIKEArmenia (Vardanants 5). The page shows no phone numbers for them.

Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Yerevan who wants tourist information.

Address: Republic Square: Nalbandyan 2/1, Yerevan

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Yerevan YerevanMount Ararat can be seen from this pink-stone capital, which also has Republic Square, the Cascade steps, museums and wine bars.Photo: Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian), CC BY 4.0 Garni and Geghard Garni and GeghardA Greco-Roman temple from the first century and, carved partly into rock, a UNESCO-listed monastery make an easy day trip.Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lake Sevan Lake SevanBeaches and summer swimming come with this large high-mountain lake, above which the Sevanavank monastery stands on a hilltop.Photo: Dudva, CC BY-SA 4.0 Etchmiadzin EtchmiadzinIn this town the Armenian Apostolic Church has its spiritual centre, along with a UNESCO-listed cathedral regarded as one of the oldest anywhere.Photo: Areg Amirkhanian, CC BY-SA 3.0 Dilijan DilijanSet inside a national park, this forested resort town offers a craft street, hiking trails and the hidden Haghartsin monastery.Photo: H-dayan, CC BY-SA 3.0 Tatev TatevA long cable car crosses a deep gorge to reach the medieval monastery on a cliff top in the south.Photo: Armineaghayan, CC BY-SA 3.0

City selection based on: UNESCO site listings plus regional travel guides

Festivals and events

culture

Vardavar water festival

4 Jul 2027 · Yerevan

Water is thrown by everyone at everyone else, so be ready to get wet.

culture

Areni wine festival

around Oct 2027 · Areni

This wine festival takes place in a village, in the region of Vayots Dzor.