Armenia Travel Guide - Getting Around

There are no domestic flights in Armenia.

The main railway station is the Sasuntsi Davit Station on Tigran Mets Avenue. Trains to places such as Sevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor are slow, overcrowded and poorly maintained. Belongings should be secured.

Traffic drives on the right. Road surfaces can be very poor, even in the case of major highways, and care should be taken to avoid children and animals on the road. Local drivers have a tendency to flout traffic regulations and ignore signals. Visitors should take care when driving or crossing the road.

Bus: There are city minivans available (marshrutni or marshrutka) which operate on 100 different routes and may be flagged down. From Yerevan its three hours to Dilijan, two hours to Vanadzor, four hour to Goris and six hours to Kapan.

Coach: Coaches run between the major centres of population.

Car hire: There are plenty of car hire companies operating, including international firms.

Regulations: Seat belts are required by law (although no one seems to use them).

Documentation: An international driver's license is required and the minimum age of driving is 18.

There is a small underground system in Yerevan (0630-2300). Buses and trolleybuses run in the city. Taxis are available in the city centre or can be ordered by telephone. Private cars can be flagged down as well as official taxis. Taxi fares should always be negotiated before starting a journey, and visitors should be aware that rates proposed initially are likely to be unreasonably high, in the expectation that foreigners will have unlimited cash and little idea of how much they ought to be paying. It is therefore advisable to make enquiries about ‘going rates' per kilometre of travel before entering into negotiations with taxi drivers. Chauffeur-driven cars are available but are expensive. It is advisable to obtain them through official channels, such as hotels or travel agencies in Yerevan.