Make sure to see the main square. Perhaps considered the finest example of Soviet era architecture as far as squares go (only rivaled by Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan).

For music fans, attend cheap and excellent performances at the Opera and/or the Chamber Music Orchestra.

There is a free fountain and light show every night (weather permitting) in front of the National Art Gallery from 22:00 to 23:00. Accompanying the fountains is a program of classical favorites along with a variety of US and Russian hits.

• The Armenian Genocide Memorial (Genocide Museum & Tsitsernakaberd Monument)

Located on a hill above the city center. A very austere monument dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Worth seeing. Tsitsernakaberd (meaning "Fortress of swallows") is probably best reached by taxi.

• Cascades
• Victory Park/Monument

Amusement park. Features a huge monument of Mother Armenia as well as some Soviet military equipment on display. Very nice view of the city center.

• Katoghike

The oldest (and possibly smallest) church in Yerevan, constructed in typical Armenian style.

• The Apartment Museum of Sergei Parajanov
• Erebuni Fortress
• Matenadaran

A museum and research institution dedicated to the Armenian language. Has an exhibition of various books and scrolls written in Armenian.

• The National Art Gallery

Located at Republic Square in the same building as the historical museum. Features several floors full of mostly paintings, organized by their country of origin.

• Republic Square
• The Ararat Cognac Factory
• The Opera House and Swan Lake
• St. Gregory the Enlightener's Cathedral

Recently built to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of Armenia as a Christian nation. Interesting architecture.

• AquaWorld

By plane

Zvartnots International Airport (IATA: EVN) is the main gate to Armenia. Lately, a new terminal has been opened offering passengers a great comfort and good service. Free WiFi access is availabe in the depature terminal. Airport is located 14 km from Yerevan. Taking a taxi to the city is the best option. A taxi ride from the airport to the city will cost from AMD 3000 to 5000 (USD 10-20) depending on your direction. All the passengers leaving Armenia from Zvartnots International Airport have to pay 10000 AMD (30 USD) departure air tax.

Western airlines flying to Yerevan:

• AirBaltic from Riga
• bmi British Midland Airways from London,
• Austrian Airlines from Vienna,
• Czech Airlines from Prague,
• Lufthansa from Munich,
• AirFrance from Paris,
• Aeroflot from Moscow
• Armavia to Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cologne, Moscow, Kiev
• Siberia Airlines from Moscow
• Pulkovo Airlines from St. Petersburg
• Belavia from Minsk

Air Arabia has direct flight to Sharjah and connections to major Gulf cities, India and Egypt. Armavia offers direct flights to Tbilisi, Istanbul and Dubai.

By train

An overnight train runs from Tbilisi, Georgia. It is very inexpensive and actually fairly comfortable, but slow enough that it is a good idea to bring food, snacks, and water. Tickets can be purchased for a seat in a four-person coupe (pronounced koo-peh) or a more expensive two-person SV (ehs-veh) class.

By car

Options include arriving into Armenia via Georgia or Iran

By bus

You can reach Yerevan by bus from Tbilisi, fare costs 15 lari and whole journey can take about 12 hours. More expensive is to take a minibus (price is about 30 lari) but is shorter (about 6 hours).

On foot

The center of Yerevan is very compact and easy to get around by foot. Watch your step, however, as potholes, construction sites, and ruthless drivers abound.

By metro

The metro system in Yerevan is quite reliable and relatively modern, having been built in the early 1980s. It is the quickest way around town, and at 50 dram (US$0.10), the cheapest aside from walking. There is only one line (with an appended station), however, so the convenience of the metro is largely dependent on where you are going.

By minibus

More than hundred of minibus (marshrutka, pronounced mahrsh-root-kah) routes exist that criss-cross the city and travel to the suburbs and beyond (such as to Georgia or Karabagh). At 100 dram (US$0.20) a ride, they are a bargain. The minibuses are often overcrowded, and one may find themselves standing, crouched without a seat during rush hour.

By bus or trolleybus

Yerevan has a few trolley lines and buses, operated by "Yergortrans." The fare is very inexpensive (50 dram) and the vehicles are not too crowded. It is customary to pay when leaving a bus or trolley.

By taxi

Abundant throughout the city, a taxi ride anywhere downtown should not cost more than 1500 dram (US$3-4), although it is not unknown for drivers to try to get more out of foreigners. A car and driver can easily be rented for day trip outside of Yerevan, for as little as $20 plus gas. Beware of moonlighting "taxi" drivers at the airport who will try to charge you ridiculous amounts (20,000 dram or more) to get to the city.

Armenian cognac is justly considered one of the world's finest brandies and is accordingly the tourist souvenir of choice in Yerevan.It was actually Winston Churchill's brandy of choice. There are many stores within Yerevan's center devoted solely to brandy from the Ararat Cognac Factory; the airport is also a good place to stock up. As a rule, the more aged the brandy, the more refined the taste and the more expensive. But regardless the series of brandy, in Yerevan it will be an excellent value.

Budget

Strange meat wrapped in bread can be purchased on the street for 100 AMD (0.3 usd)

Mid-range

There is a local company named "CheeZLer" that makes wonderful cheesecakes. Cheesecakes are sold in most of the big supermarkets in the centre of Yerevan city. You can even order cheesecakes online only for 7.5 $ (per 1 kg cake). The web site is http://www.cheezler.com .

Splurge

• Hotel Yerevan off the Republic Square for some fine Armenian dining.

Yerevan is famous for its Cognac distilleries. 'Ararat' is mentioned by many as the very best.

Night Clubs

It's easier to find strip clubs (there are many) than ordinary night clubs with dance floors in Yerevan, but here is a list of a couple:

• Bunker Club
• Opera Club In the basement of the Opera building.

If you ask around for "Night clubs" you are likely to be shown the way to strip clubs such as these:

• Omega
• Pyramida