Introducing Yerevan
While it’s the undeniable cultural, economic and political heart of the nation, Yerevan can at times feel like a city on permanent holiday. All summer long Yerevanites saunter up and down the main boulevards, preening in high fashion and fast cars while occasionally popping into a parkside café to schmooze over a drink or two. It’s the most laid-back capital in the Caucasus and it’s easy to slide into a torpor for a day or two. The city has some lovely 19th-century Russian edifices in its central core plus rings of parkland and handsome brick squares. Outer areas maintain an air of Soviet sprawl but these are limited by steep hills and gorges. Yerevan’s museums and monuments could keep you busy for a few days but the best thing about the place is the people. Expressive black eyebrows, proud noses and classical Greek and Persian profiles appear everywhere, in a street culture somewhere between Marseilles, village Armenia and old Beirut. Yerevan is a relaxed and safe place where people live at one pace while the traffic goes at another. The cultural life is intense for a city of its size, including dozens of theatres, concert halls, galleries and live music clubs.
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At the geographic heart of the country, the city also makes a perfect base to explore other areas. You could even make day trips as far afield as Lake Sevan, Mt Aragats and Vayots Dzor.
Last updated: Mar 24, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Turkey-Armenia
by Giora 14 September 2011
There are some interesting off-beat border crossings for this trip. From Kars, you can take a minibus to Posof. From there across the…
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RE: Turkey-Armenia
by envoyhostel 12 September 2011
As mentioned # 2 the border is closed between Armenia and Turkey. The cheapest option will be taking a bus from Turkey (Istanbul) to Yerevan…
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Turkey-Armenia
by nwitts 11 September 2011
How do I get from Kars to Yerevan - bus, train taxi etc. Trying to find a cheaper way to get to Yerevan
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