Spring
January 20, 2019
Yerevan’s Versatile History by Richard Elmoyan
January 24, 2019If you don’t mind a little cold, Yerevan can still be fun in the winter.
From exploring the museums, shopping for coffee or a wonderful blend of Armenian herbal teas and pastries, there are a lot of things to do in Yerevan. And, besides, it’s definitely warmer than Moscow. Still, while Yerevan is not that cold in winter, it’s likely that you will spend some of your time indoors warming up and exploring museums. Our personal favorites and a must-see in Yerevan are the Parajanov House-Museum, the Ervand Kochar Museum, Martiros Saryan Museum and Cafesjian Center for the Arts. They are situated within walking distance from each other. You can start with the Cafesjian Center on Cascade, then Kochar Museum and walk to the Saryan next and then to the Parajanov. All of the museums offer guided tours. These are unique experiences so make sure to add them to your itinerary.
Armenians love skiing in winter and Tsakhkadzor, a resort town about an hour and a half drive from Yerevan, is a hotspot for locals and tourists alike during the winter season. Here you can find numerous slopes to snowboard and ski. There are plenty of hotels, cabins, luxury villas and Airbnb apartments available for rent. Our personal favorite is Teghenis Holiday Home. Tsakhkadzor also has some very cool coffee shops and restaurants that you should check out as well, rather than starving yourself till you get back to Yerevan. One of our suggestions is Yasaman Restaurant.
“It seems like everything sleeps in winter, but it's really a time of renewal and reflection.” ― Elizabeth Camden
Traditional Armenian dishes are quite filling and heavy, and thus ideal for the winter season. When in Yerevan during the winter months, make sure to try yogurt soup, SPAS, among other local dishes. We doubt that you’ll ever get tired of Armenian food, but if you feel like you need a change of flavors, Yerevan offers a wide variety of international flavors, such as Georgian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, etc.
Saryan St, Abovyan St, and Mashtots Avenue are some of Yerevan’s trendiest streets and a great way of spending a winter day shopping or just browsing. If you prefer malls, you should check out the Dalma Garden Mall or Yerevan Mall.
If you don’t mind warming up with a shot of brandy then you should definitely consider going on a tour to the Yerevan Brandy Factory situated at 2A Isakov Avenue. It offers guided tours with brandy tasting every day. By the end of the tour, you will be able to buy your brandy bottles from the Factory shop.
Muraba is an interesting place to shop, relax and enjoy a cup of tea with house made MURABA jam. The concept of MURABA is a store that sells crafts, arts, and furniture by local artisans. But for us, the coolest thing about MURABA is that it’s tucked away from the hustle and bustle of a busy street, and you have to ring a bell and present yourself before you get buzzed in.
