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We’ve said before that Armenia is the ‘cool travel destination’ for 2024 – and as Georgia’s neighbor to the south, it would be a shame to pass up the chance to visit. Before you head to Armenia, check out our FAQ to planning an Armenia adventure.
The capital, Yerevan, is worlds away from Tbilisi so it’s well worth a trip just to experience the contrast. Captivating museums, the iconic cascade and miles of beautiful parkland make Yerevan a bucket list destination. Outside the city, the beauty of Lake Sevan and Dilijan National Park offer some of the most iconic landscapes of the Caucasus. Add in a delicious and varied cuisine which takes inspiration from other Caucasian countries plus its other neighbors, Türkiye and Iran.



We’ve put together the Ultimate 5 Day Armenia Itinerary to help you discover all this small landlocked country has to offer. However, if you are considering a quick day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia, you’ll be able to tick off many of Yerevan’s top sights.
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How to do a Day Trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan
By tour
Unquestionably, the easiest way to do a day trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan is with a day tour. This avoids having to spend long hours driving, or the potential for a public transport mishap.
By car
If you’ve hired a car, it is possible to drive from Tbilisi to Yerevan. It’s around a five-hour journey depending on queues at the border. Given the distance, leave early and plan for a long day; ideally, you’d want to be sharing the driving.
By plane
A few years ago, it was possible to take a morning flight from Tbilisi to Yerevan and an evening flight back on certain days. Unfortunately, Georgian Airways now only fly the route once per day, so you’d need an overnight stop.

By public transport
By bus
It is possible to travel by public transport for a day trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan. There are buses every two hours from Tbilisi Avlabari Station which take around five and a half hours to reach Yerevan. If you take the first one of the day at 7:30 am, you’ll reach Yerevan by early afternoon. This would give you around six hours until the last bus back at 7:15 pm.
By train
If you choose to travel by train, you can take advantage of the overnight train from Tbilisi to Yerevan. These leave at just after 8:20 pm in the evening and arrive in Yerevan at around 6:55 am, giving you a full day to explore the city before heading back. The train runs four times a week and often sell out, so it’s worth checking dates and booking in advance.
What to see in Yerevan on a Day Trip from Tbilisi
How you travel from Tbilisi to Yerevan will greatly affect how much time you’ll have to explore the city. If you’ve arrived by train, or drove and left Tbilisi early, you’ll easily have time to pack in all of Yerevan’s top sights. If you’ve traveled by bus, you may need to plan a little more carefully to fit everything in.
Regardless, Yerevan is a compact city. This means you should be able to see most of these highlights on your day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia – if you plan your time carefully.
Genocide Museum
No matter how long you have in Yerevan, the Genocide Museum really must be at the top of your list. Sitting on the top of Tsitsernakaberd Hill, the museum is dedicated to the lives lost and families displaced by the Armenian genocide.

From 1915 to 1917, the weakening Ottoman Empire attempted to displace Armenian peoples and their culture from the empire. The result was harrowing; over one million deaths, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forcibly deported, and those who remained, forced to convert to Islam.
History Museum of Armenia
A very close second on the list of Yerevan’s must-sees, the History Museum of Armenia is the centrepiece of busy Republic Square, flanked by a musical fountain. Founded in 1919, the museum is the oldest in Armenia.

With over 400,000 items on display, the History Museum of Armenia has artefacts dating back to the 3rd millennia BCE. A highlight is the inscription which denoted the founding of Yerevan (then known as Erebuni) by King Argishti I in 782 BCE. In our opinion, this is the best crash course in Armenian history you can receive with just one day in Armenia!
The museum is open from 11 am every day and tickets can be purchased on arrival. If history is your thing, it’s well worth taking a guided tour which are available in English.
Ararat Museum
One of Armenia’s most loved exports, Ararat Brandy, has been distilled in Yerevan since 1877. It takes its name from Mount Ararat, said to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark (although Nakhchivan contests this). Despite being a symbol of Armenian identity, Mount Ararat is actually in Türkiye.

Ararat Museum is a short walk from the city center and offers various tours, all of which include a tasting.
Yerevan Cascade
Yerevan’s most iconic structure, the Cascade is a rather unusual sight to behold. Completed in 1980, it leads to a viewing platform which overlooks the Ararat Valley.
You can climb the stairs to reach the top or ascend on escalators inside the complex which gives you the chance to admire art exhibitions on your way up.



Victory Park
Right behind the Cascade, Victory Park is home to Mother Armenia. Erected in 1967, Mother Armenia sits on the former site of a statue of Joseph Stalin which was built as a victory monument at the end of the Second World War.
The imposing copper statue (it’s 22 meters tall) is intended to symbolize peace through strength. It also serves as a reminder of the role of women in Armenian history. During clashes with the Turks, Armenian women are noted to have fought alongside their husbands to protect their country.

Yerevan’s Best Eats
What to eat
With a heavy focus on meat, Armenian cuisine draws influence from across the Caucasus region as well as neighboring Türkiye and Iran. The national dish, Khorovats, is a grilled kebab.
If you’re keen to try as many Armenian foods as you can in one day, you’ll want to squeeze in other Armenian staples include Kufta (meatballs which are similar to Syrian koftas), Tolma (meat wrapped in vine leaves) and Tjvjik (fried liver).
And when it comes to sweets, you’ll have enough sugar available to energize you for the trip back to Tbilisi. Pakhlava, similar to Turkish Baklava in more than just name (although probably best you don’t mention it) are a national favorite. Gata (sweet bread) and Sharots (walnuts coated in colorful candied fruit juice) are also very popular – and very delicious.

Where to eat
Sherep
One of Yerevan’s top fine-dining restaurants, Sherep serves a modern take on Armenian classics. Michelin-starred chefs cook up delicious creations in an open kitchen with live music in the evenings.
Tapastan
If you’re looking for no-nonsense, classic Armenian fare, head to Tapastan. They serve all the famous local dishes with vegetarian alternatives available on request.

Local tip: After Tapastan, pop next door to in Vino for an after dinner tipple.
Armenians take their wine very seriously and in Vino is one of Yerevan’s best and most-loved wine bars.
Street food
If you want to maximize your sightseeing time on a day trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan, you might want to skip a sit-down meal and eat on the go instead. Luckily, Yerevan has plenty of quick and inexpensive street food options.
Highlights include Greek gyros from Mr Gyros and German hot dogs from Berliner Hot Dog. Armenia’s alternative to McDonald’s, Karas, serves everything from burgers to pizzas at incredibly low prices.
How about Lake Sevan and Dilijan?
Lake Sevan and Dilijan are actually closer to the Georgian border than Yerevan, which means visiting these sites can often make for a shorter day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia.

However, a lack of regular public transport directly connecting these sites means an organized day tour is the best way to go.
Unquestionably, the easiest way to do a day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia is with a day tour. This avoids having to spend long hours driving, or the potential for a public transport mishap. This 12-hour tour offers the chance to see Lake Sevan and Dilijan with a stop for lunch by the lakeside. For a longer, but more fulfilling day, this 17-hour tour includes Lake Sevan, Dilijan and Yerevan.
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