Cheap flights to Armenia from EUR28*

Sandwiched between Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan, pocket-sized Armenia is a land that surprises and delights in equal measure. Known as the first country to adopt Christianity as its national religion, it boasts an astonishing collection of ancient monasteries and churches, many of which are nestled among dramatic mountains. This is a place that’s home to the world’s oldest winery and Churchill’s favourite cognac, the largest lake in the Caucasus and a record-breaking cable car. It has its own Stonehenge and its own pizza, and its beloved flat bread is treasured by UNESCO and tourists alike. Equally special is Yerevan, its rose-tinted capital, which is blossoming into one of the region’s most captivating cities, with its eyes firmly on the future. And don’t even get us started on how friendly the locals are. Armenia is still a relatively undiscovered corner of the world – and it’s quite difficult to understand why.

Visit Armenia to:

• Admire the Armenian capital’s pink-hued architecture from atop the Cascade and watch the musical fountains of Republic Square dance to classical and pop tunes after dark.
• Explore the country’s writing traditions at Matenadaran, Yerevan’s manuscript museum, and marvel at the giant, mysterious-looking letters of the Armenian Alphabet Monument.
• Indulge in coffee culture, sample Churchill’s brandy of choice or hop from bar to bar in Yerevan’s hip “wine street”, Martiros Saryan Street.
• See Armenia’s World Heritage Sites: the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, the cathedral and churches of Echmiadzin or Geghard Monastery and the surrounding valley.
• Take a dip in Lake Sevan, nicknamed the “Armenian Sea”, which covers about one-sixth of the country, at 1,900 metres above sea level.
• Hop on the breathtaking Wings of Tatev tramway, which holds the Guinness World Record for the longest non-stop double-track cable car on the planet at 5,752 metres.
• Lace up your boots and hike through Armenia’s breathtaking countryside, taking in quaint villages, deep valleys and peaks rising well beyond 3,000 metres.
• Go skiing in Tsakhkadzor, the country’s largest winter resort, with some 27 kilometres of 2,000-metre-plus slopes, just 60 kilometres from Yerevan.

Where nature meets history

One of the world’s oldest centres of civilisation, Armenia is a history-lover’s seventh heaven, with its rich past going back several millennia. According to the Bible’s Book of Genesis, the country’s national symbol, Mount Ararat, is the place where Noah’s ark landed after the great flood (many people think it’s still there, buried in ice). Armenians’ legendary forefather, Hayk, is believed to have lived about 4,500 years ago and is revered as the biblical patriarch’s great-great-grandson – hence the country’s Armenian name, Hayastan. The nation’s later history is marked by a long string of invasions and occupations, from the Ottomans through the Persians to the Russians. If truth be told, it’s a small miracle Armenia even exists. Known for its resilient spirit, the nation finally gained independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union and is now looking ahead to brighter tomorrows.

The land of churches, from Geghard to Noravank

As any local will proudly tell you, Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion in 301 AD, 25 years before Georgia. It certainly has the churches to show for it, squeezing in some 4,000 Christian places of worship into an area smaller than Belgium. An easy day trip from Yerevan, the UNESCO-listed 13th-century monastery of Geghard is built into a cliffside in the picturesque Upper Azat Valley. Combine your outing with a visit to the Parthenon-like Garni Temple, dating back to the 1st century AD, set in a magnificent landscape of tall mountains and vertical basalt columns poetically named the Symphony of Stones. Another highlight near the capital is the 9th-century Sevanavank monastery complex, perched above the sky-blue Lake Sevan, one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes on the planet at 1,900 metres. Some 40 kilometres of Yerevan, you’ll find the pilgrimage site of Khor Virap, a much-photographed church complex at the foot of Mount Ararat and its towering peaks. Afterwards, you might want to continue your journey southwards to Noravank Monastery, established in 1205. Often billed as Armenia's most spectacular religious site, Noravank’s golden brown stone is stunningly complemented by the reddish hues of the surrounding cliffs.

Oh, the views!

Hikers are in for a treat: more than 90% of Armenia’s territory lies at least 1,000 metres above sea level, with the average altitude being 1,800 metres. Start in the northwestern resort of Dilijan, dubbed the “Switzerland of Armenia”, where crystal-clear alpine lakes dot the forested landscape, and snow-capped peaks tower in the distance. Little wonder that the area’s tranquil beauty has long been a source of inspiration to artists, writers and other creative types. Short on time? Make your way to Ashtarak, just 22 kilometres from Yerevan, and walk the stunning 7.5-kilometre trail that connects the medieval monasteries of Saghmosavank and Hovhannavank along the Kasagh Gorge. Collecting summits? Snow-capped Mount Aragats, to the northwest, is the highest mountain in modern Armenia at 4,090 metres (Ararat is located in eastern Turkey), made up of four volcanic peaks. Walks start at the hotel-restaurant by Kari Lake (3,185 metres). If that sounds a bit too much, choose the record-holding aerial tramway called Wings of Tatev instead. Southern Armenia’s top attraction will whisk you from the village of Halidzor up to the 9th-century Tatev Monastery, offering magnificent vistas over Vorotan River Gorge. The 5.752-kilometre ride is approximately 12 minutes each way – but you’ll probably wish it took longer.

A fusion of flavours

Armenia is a country that loves its food. Its diverse cuisine borrows from Russian, Georgian, Levantine and Persian cooking traditions, without committing to any of them. Dishes can range from meat-filled dumplings and stuffed vine leaves to mayo-based salads and juicy barbecued meats, and there’s considerable variation from region to region. Be sure to try the nation’s favourite flat bread known as lavash, which has even been featured on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Other specialities to look out for include ghapama (pumpkin stuffed with fragrant rice, dried fruit and toasted nuts), khorovats (pork, lamb or beef grilled on a skewer), lahmacun (Armenia’s answer to pizza) and gata (sweet bread with a custard-like filling). Battling a hangover? Armenians swear by a bowl of hearty khash soup (boiled down cow hooves), which tastes a million times better than it sounds. Speaking of hangovers, be sure to try the nation’s world-famous ArArAt brandy –Winston Churchill is said to have ordered 400 bottles of it annually. See how it’s made at the imposing distillery of the Yerevan Brandy Company on a guided tasting tour. Oh, and don’t leave the country without sampling its fine wines either. After all, Armenia is home to what is thought to be the oldest winery on earth, discovered in a cave, with fermentation jars and other wine-making tools dating back to over 6,000 years ago.