thetrainfamilyOur journey from Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan was a long and restless one, as we traveled through the night by train. However, as soon as we arrived in Yerevan, we were greeted by the stunningly beautiful Yerevan Train Station.
Mother Armenia
Our first day was spent visiting the bronze made Mother Armenia statue, which is a grand monument located in the city center. It has a height of 22 meters and was originally built in 1950 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. The statue was later modified in 1962 to depict the Armenian motherland, with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. On our way to the statue, the kids had a blast trying out the slides and kiddie cars. Unfortunately, the museum located at the statue had already closed by the time we arrived, but we still enjoyed the stunning views from the top. We took taxis to and from the monument, as we had trouble navigating the public transportation system. It’s worth noting that smoking is quite popular in Armenia, so our taxi rides were sometimes challenging due to the smoke.
Yerevan zoo
The following day, we took a taxi to the Yerevan Zoo, which is located in the southeastern part of the city, about 5 km from the city center. The kids had a great timeying on the large playground, as there aren’t many playgrounds in the city center. The zoo covers an area of about 35 hectares and is home to over 2,000 animals from about 200 species. We saw a variety of animals, including lions, wolves, bears, and even a giant griffin and bearded dragon. We spend about 4 hours there and had a cheap day, as the tickets costed around 1,500 Armenian Dram (about $3 USD) for adults and 1,000 Dram (about $2 USD) for children.
Armenian Genocide Museum
No visit to Yerevan is complete without a trip to the Armenian Genocide Museum, which is dedicated to commemorating the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. The museum is located on a hilltop overlooking the city and was opened in 1995 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It contains a permanent exhibition that documents the history and consequences of the genocide, including photographs, personal testimonies, and artifacts from the period. The centerpiece of the museum is the Memorial Hall, which features an eternal flame and the names of the cities and towns where Armenians were killed during the genocide.
Admission to the museum is relatively affordable, with tickets costing around 1,000 Armenian Dram (about $2 USD) for adults and 500 Dram (about $1 USD) for children and students.
It was heart-wrenching for us to learn about the atrocities that the Armenian people suffered, and it’s disappointing that our home country still doesn’t recognize this event as a genocide.
Yerevan Cathedral and Luna park
We also visited the magnificent Yerevan Cathedral, which was built in 2001, making it one of the newest cathedrals in the world. The construction of the cathedral was sponsored by the Armenian government and was built to replace the old cathedral of the same name, which was destroyed during the Soviet era. The design of the cathedral is based on the traditional Armenian architectural style of the early Christian period, with a central dome surrounded by four bell towers. It’s a stunning architectural masterpiece, although quite spartan in its decor. The kids, however, were more interested in the nearby Luna Park, where they enjoyed all the rides that they could get on. The rides were very affordable, so we let them enjoy themselves to the fullest.
Botanical Garden
After a few days of exploring the city, we decided to visit the Yerevan Botanical Garden, which is quite large and sprawling. The garden is home to over 5,000 species of plants, including many rare and endangered species from Armenia and other countries. It also has a large greenhouse complex that includes collections of tropical and subtropical plants, as well as a butterfly exhibit. Although the garden and the greenhouses were a rundown, we still enjoyed walking through the different sections and seeing the various plants and flowers. The only downside were the wild dogs that we encountered, which made us a bit nervous.
The garden is open to visitors every day except Monday and admission is free.
Children’s railway
We also visited the Children’s Railway. The Children’s Railway is a miniature railway that runs through the Hrazdan Gorge, offering scenic views of the surrounding mountains and forests. The railway is operated entirely by children aged 10 to 16, who serve as conductors, ticket sellers, and train drivers under the supervision of adult trainers. It was built in the Soviet era in the 1980s and has since become a popular attraction for families and tourists. Unfortunately it can only be visited from May to September, so we could not use it, as we visited in April.
Friendly people
Throughout our trip, we met many Armenians who were genuinely interested in why we were visiting their country. One man we met at the Botanical Garden even invited us to his home, which was a very kind gesture. Unfortunately, we had to decline due to our son’s bedtime schedule, but we appreciated the invitation nonetheless.
In conclusion, our stay in Yerevan was a wonderful experience, filled with beautiful sights and rich culture. We highly recommend visiting this beautiful city, and we hope to return again soon.
