Things to do in Bagratashen

Haghpat Monastery Complex

The history of Haghpat Monastery is slightly shorter than that of Sanahin Monastery, but in the next few hundred years, Haghpat's status is definitely higher than that of Sanahin. It is larger in scale and some frescoes have been preserved. At Haghpat Monastery, the Sanahin Monastery can be seen across the valley.

Akhtala Monastery Fortress

Bagratashen - Sadakhlo Border Crossing

The Sadakhlo-Bagratashen crossing is the primary land border between Georgia (Tbilisi) and Armenia (Yerevan). Open 24/7, it is located about 70km south of Tbilisi (~1.5 hours drive). It is a key corridor for Silk Road travelers in the Caucasus. The border offers currency exchange and SIM card services. Travelers are advised to have their E-Visas or visa-free documents ready for a smooth transition.

Sanahin Monastery Complex

Sanahin Monastery, hidden in a pine forest, is the largest existing religious building in Armenia. It was built in the second half of the 10th century.

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.

Aramyants Castle / Mansion

Sanahin Bridge

No. 4 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. 3 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.