Have you already planned a trip to Armenia? If this is your first visit to the country, you should find useful information in advance. It will help you to plan your vacation and have a minimum of situations that could worsen your days in this beautiful sunny country. Here are 5 tips for a perfect holiday in Armenia:
WEATHER
The best time to travel around Armenia is from May to October. In May, the weather is warm and pleasant, and the rains are not so often. The average temperature in the capital is +15/+20 °C. During that time, lots of spectacular colorful national festivals are organized in different corners of the country that are interesting for travelers. Moreover, in May the shelves in the markets start with bright and juicy berries and fruits.
The summer in Armenia is hot, and in the capital it is very dry with an average temperature of +25/+30 °C. In June and August the temperature can reach its peak, so it will not be safe to stay long in the sun. Be sure to have sunscreen, cap or hat and a bottle of water with you.
September and the beginning of October are the most pleasant months. The weather is warm and sunny days predominate over rainy. The shelves are abundant with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The winter is relatively moderate in the country. In the capital and the whole Ararat Valley it is not cold and it does not snow often, with an average temperature -1/-5 °C. But, winter reigns in the popular ski resort of Tsakhkadzor, with heavy snow and low temperatures. So, the country has all the necessary conditions for winter sport lovers.
LOCAL CURRENCY
Armenian national currency is called dram (AMD). In Armenia, you cannot pay in foreign currency, so when you arrive at the airport you need to exchange currency for paying the transport fare. As in many countries, exchange offices at the airport are not profitable, so you can change not more than $10. In Yerevan, in large supermarkets you will find round the clock exchange offices where it is already possible to exchange the required amount. To find the most favorable exchange rates, you can visit the website www.rates.am where specified courses can be found, as well as addresses of banks and exchange offices.
TRANSPORT
The international airport is located in Yerevan. After arrival you will be able to reach the city center by public transport or by taxi. Public transport is available only during the day, but it is quite convenient for going to the city center. Taxis are available around the clock. The official airport taxi is more affordable and trustworthy, so ask the airport stuff to provide you with a taxi.
By international standards, the fare for public transport and taxis in Armenia is much cheaper than in other countries: 100 AMD ($0.20) is the fee in buses and mini buses, and starting fee in a taxi is 600 AMD ($1.25) and any additional km adds 100 AMD to that price.
If you have a smartphone you can easily use the service of "gg taxi". Download this app if you haven't yet, turn on your geolocation and call a taxi. You will have to wait only for 5-10 minutes.
If you plan to have many excursions in Armenia and do not want to contact any travel agencies, then the best choice for traveling would be to rent a car in Yerevan. There are many options in the capital, those who wish can even rent jeeps and minivans for a group of people.
SHOPPING
Yerevan has several huge shopping malls with many world-known fashionable brands. So, if you plan to buy clothes, accessories, etc. you can visit Yerevan Mall and Dalma Garden Mall.
But if you want to feel all the national peculiarities of Armenia and buy colorful meaningful souvenirs the best choice would be Vernisage – the open-air fair offering a huge choice of hand-made souvenirs including pictures, magnets, khachkars, jewelry and much more.
NATIONAL CUISINE
In Armenian traditional cuisine mainly predominate meat dishes, however there are delicious options for vegetarians as well. Armenian cooks use many kinds of greens and herbs, but in general, the dishes here are not hot at all. The most popular must-try dishes are the following: Armenian barbecue, tolma, white fermented soup spas, meat snack basturma, national sweet cake gata and others.
