The best tourist attractions in Armenia

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Selim Caravanserai, photo by David Holt

If you happen to see a 3000 year old map of ancient Anatolia in a museum, you will notice that the only part that remains virtually unchanged is Armenia. Since it was the fist Christian country in the world, Armenia naturally has a lot of religious monuments and architecture.

Its time as part of the Soviet Union has also left its mark on the country, and all in all, there is much to see here both of terms of nature and history, as well as nightlife and entertainment. So if you don’t want to limit yourself solely to churches during your visit (although these are exceptionally beautiful), here are some of the best tourist attractions in Armenia.

Selim Caravanserai

Lots of inns were built along commercial routes in medieval Armenia, and these caravanserais served as a stop for rest and socialization for weary travelers.

Out of the many surviving caravanserais in Armenia, Selim Caravanserai, on the road crossing the Selim mountains, is by far the most well preserved. The building has no amenities for tourists, so bring a flashlight if you want to go inside and be able to see anything.

Zorats Karer

photo by Maks Karochkin

Zorats Karer is the Armenian equivalent of Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle near the village of Karahunj. The monument is 3500 years older than its British counterpart, and it was a temple dedicated to the Armenian god of sun, Ari. The 204 stones are thought to be mystical by some of the locals.

Noratus Cemetery

The old cemetery of the small village of Noratus is interesting for having a large number of Khachkars, intricately carved Armenian stones which are mostly used as tombstones.

The Khachkars in the Noratus Cemetery are quite old but very well preserved and arranged into neat rows. In addition to the carved stones, there’s also an intriguing ruined basilica.

Parz Lich

If you want to relax a bit in the middle of nature, there is a thick forest near the town of Dilijan, which hides a small but picturesque lake. The lake is not very good for swimming, because its banks are rather muddy, but the whole place has a peaceful atmosphere and it is not a bad destination for a nature walk or even a picnic.

Shamb Hot Springs

If you feel like taking a dip, you can do so even if the weather is not hot enough for swimming if you take a trip to Shamb hot springs, not far from the town of Sisian. The waters of the spring are pleasantly warm rather than hot, but the spot is very scenic and it is a popular swimming hole with both locals and tourists.

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Willie Torres wrote on July 27, 2016:

Goris is my favourite city in Armenia. It’s perfect for relaxing and enjoying the air.

 

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