Budget Travel Ideas in Yerevan

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is one of its largest and oldest cities. If you love to visit rich cultures, witness an era gone by and also enjoy a happening nightlife, great eat outs and cozy cafes - then this city located on the banks of River Hrazdan is your destination. Yerevan is an ideal natural and cultural vacation destination for budget travelers. Here are some tips to guide you to a fantastic vacation in Yerevan, without having to burn a hole in your pocket.

Budget Accommodation and Transport

Besides economy lodges, hostels and guest houses, there are several budget hotels such as the Olympia Hotel and Barsam Suites in the heart of downtown Yerevan.

For budget travelers the best way to travel across the city is by taxicab which usually costs around $1 or 500 drams in local currency for the first 1.8 miles and $0.15 thereafter. If you want to further cut down the traveling cost, you can consider using public transports such as buses and local vans which cost around $0.15. Walking is also a great way to explore downtown Yerevan.

Budget Sightseeing

Yerevan is home to numerous heritage sites and museums. One of the biggest tourist attractions here is the Mashtots Avenue. At Mashtots Avenue tourists can pay a visit to the Matenadaran, an ancient manuscript museum, the St. Sarkis church and the Blue Mosque. Your next destination in the city could be the Abovian Street. This street is in the heartland of Yerevan where tourists can visit the Republic Square, which has a stone carving at the center of it to resemble an Armenian rug from above. Around Republic Square there are several government buildings and the National Museum of Armenian History.

Yerevan has a number of beautiful parks and most of them have no entry fees. One of the popular tourist attractions of Yerevan is the Victory Park. Situated above a mountain, this park offers a scenic view of the entire city. There are a couple of elevators to Victory Park for visitors who want to skip the tedious climb.

Tourists interested in historical and heritage sites can also visit the Genocide Memorial and Erebuni Ancient Settlement. Located in Tsitsernakaberd Park, this memorial was built to commemorate 1.5 Armenians massacred by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

Budget Eating and Shopping

Eating out is very cheap in Yerevan. The Proshian Street in downtown Yerevan is the dining Mecca of the best of Armenian barbeque. Walking down the streets of Mashtots Avenue, Abovian, Sayat Nova Avenue, and Tumanian in downtown, visitors will come across lots of restaurants in which they can feast on local delicacies such as “loshkebab” at very reasonable prices. Those of you who want to make Yerevan eating out a memorable experience will enjoy a dinner at one of the restaurants at the beautiful Hrazdan River gorge.

To take back memories of your stay at Yerevan visitors can shop for Armenian souvenirs or artifacts from Vernissge over the weekend, which is a souvenir fair set up every Saturday and Sunday at the park behind the Nalbandian and Khangian streets. If you are looking for the world famous Armenian cognac, the best place to shop is at one of the Ararat factory stores.

For travelers longing to go on a fun-filled vacation full of history, minus the exorbitant expenses involved, Yerevan is the perfect getaway.

Contributor : Sameera Kumar