Yerevan

Introducing Yerevan

The views of snow-topped Mount Ararat may be timeless, but Yerevan is a city on the move. In the centre you’ll find chic shops and contemporary restaurants, alongside galleries and museums tracing three thousand years of history. Tree-lined boulevards lead to grand Soviet squares. While in the parks, locals settle in at open-air cafes for an evening of people-watching and toast-making over ice cold vodka. Make yourself at home in your boutique hotel, and raise a glass to a truly memorable city break.

Things to do

HISTORY
People have lived in Yerevan for since 700BC – ranking it among the world’s most ancient cities. Since then it has seen many cultures come and go, from the early Urartian tribes to the Iranian and Ottoman Empires. While the architecture reflects its time under Soviet control, Yerevan’s museums delve deeper into the past. At Erebuni Museum for example, you’ll find fascinating artefacts from the founding settlement, Erebuni Fortress.

CULTURE
From galleries to festivals, Yerevan is Armenia’s cultural heartland. Spend an afternoon at Cafesjian Center for the Arts to see modern art from the likes of Warhol and Chagall. Drop by Lover’s Park to see live classical music. Or dress up for a night at the opera, an elegant Art Deco building with a programme of national and European opera, theatre and ballet.

LANDMARKS
The Cafesjian Center for the Arts doesn’t just house modern masterpieces – it is one itself. Inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, it takes the form a vast stairway decorated with fountains, green spaces and waterfalls. From the top, views stretch over Yerevan’s rooftops, with Mount Ararat glimmering in the distance.

Top Tip from SLH

Watch Republic Square come to life each evening as crowds gather to watch the singing fountains dance to a backing of classical music.