Things to do in Kapan

Tatev Monastery

Tatev Monastery, founded in the Middle Ages, the university here was once the cultural center of Armenia, and trained the very important scholar Grigor Tatevatsi at that time, and his tomb is still in the monastery. The monastery that tourists see today was rebuilt after the independence of Armenia from the late Soviet Union. The original building was destroyed by the earthquake in the 1930s. It is a little far from the main road, and the beautifully carved sarcophagus of Grigor Tatevatsi and the seismic column next to it are all highlights. Tatev Monastery faces a canyon, both natural and cultural landscapes are worth seeing.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Armenia

Yerevan Cascade

The Yerevan Cascade is a landmark complex in the capital of Armenia. This giant staircase, built into the hillside, connects the city center with Victory Park at the top. Multiple platforms are linked by hundreds of steps, rising along the city's main axis. Today, it serves as a public space for locals to walk and relax, and also attracts visitors from around the world who come specifically to see it. It is like an open-air art museum itself. The plaza at the bottom features a statue of its visionary, the architect Tamanyan, while fountains and courtyards are dotted along the platforms, and contemporary sculptures like Botero's "Black Cat" are displayed in the open air. Inside, it houses the exhibition halls of the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. As you ride the escalators through it, you can also see collections by artists such as Andy Warhol and Chagall along the way.

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Armenia

Lake Sevan

Lake Sevan is located on a plateau in eastern Armenia, with an altitude of approx. 1,900m, making it one of the premier alpine freshwater lakes in the Caucasus region. The lake basin is surrounded by mountains, creating the open water surface and mountainous backdrop characteristic of highland lakes. The lake water has a blue-green hue, and on clear days, the expansive lake surface creates distinct color layers with the surrounding mountains and sky. The lakeshore features diverse environments such as sandy beaches, wetlands, grasslands, and mountains, and the lake area is also an important habitat for various aquatic species and migratory birds.

Vahanavank Monastery

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Armenia

Garni Temple

Garni Temple is a Hellenistic temple in Armenia and the easternmost intact Hellenistic temple in the world. The temple was built in the 1st century, during the era of Roman Emperor Nero and Armenian King Tiridates I. The original structure was destroyed in the earthquake of 1679, and what visitors see today was reconstructed by archaeologists during the Soviet era under Brezhnev, using many architectural components scattered on the site. There are many other historical sites around the temple, such as the ruins of a Roman bathhouse in the distance to the southwest, which still preserves a mosaic featuring a sea goddess.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Armenia

Khor Virap

Khor Virap is situated on the Ararat Plain in Armenia, near the border with Türkiye, and is an active monastery that also serves as an important pilgrimage site in Armenia. Today, the complex is centered around the Church of the Holy Mother of God and surrounded by high walls, resembling a small castle. Religious activities continue, and locals often travel here specifically to be baptized. The pit where Saint Gregory was imprisoned is hidden beneath the Saint George Chapel next to the main church. Outside the walls lie open pastures and vineyards, and releasing white doves by the pit to watch them fly toward the snow-capped mountains is a long-standing tradition.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Armenia

Geghard

Geghard is located deep in the Azat River Gorge in the Kotayk Province of Armenia, with the entire complex partially embedded in the cliffside and some of its halls carved directly from the rock. The main structures include the main church, a narthex, two rock-cut churches, the princely family tomb, monastic cells, and numerous cross-stones. The main church features a typical Armenian cross-shaped floor plan topped with a central dome. Unlike typical freestanding stone buildings, the rock-cut churches extend directly into the rock, with walls, vaults, and columns all carved from the natural rock. Some tombs and worship spaces are also integrated into the cliff face, creating a unique cave-like architectural effect.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Armenia

Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Catholicos, with the entire enclosed "Holy See" complex spreading out from it as the center. The building before you has undergone numerous reconstructions and additions over approximately 1,500 years: the core structure dates back to the 5th century, while the dome and bell tower reflect their 17th-century appearance. The interplay of gray old walls and ochre-red new walls on the same church is like a three-dimensional history of Armenian architecture. Stepping inside, the paintings of the Virgin Mary under the dome and altar are the work of the 18th-century painter Naghash Hovnatan, and early reliefs depicting saints are preserved on the north wall. The courtyard houses a treasury displaying sacred relics and ancient manuscripts, such as the Holy Lance, wood fragments said to be from Noah's Ark, and illuminated Gospels from a thousand years ago. It remains an active religious site to this day, with ceremonies often held on weekdays, and believers from all over gather here for major church festivals.

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Armenia

Republic Square

Republic Square is the central square of Yerevan and a representative urban space in the city's downtown area. Most of the surrounding buildings are built with the locally unique pink tuff, and the overall design features distinct neoclassical and local Armenian architectural elements. The building facades extensively utilize arches, colonnades, and stone ornamentation, creating a cohesive urban space with the expansive central square. A large fountain sits in the center, featuring musical fountain shows at night, and serves as a prominent public landmark.

Hilltop Camping Bekh