Social ConventionsAlmost all entertaining takes place in private homes, and guests may find themselves subjected to overwhelming hospitality and generosity, as well as being expected to eat enormously and participate in endless toasts. Visitors invited to an Armenian's home should arrive bearing some kind of small gift, such as flowers and alcohol (preferably imported) or chocolates. Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. Business cards are invariably exchanged at any kind of official meeting and not infrequently on first meeting people socially as well.
Conversation tends
to be highly politicized, and guests may be well advised to avoid expressing strong opinions. Homosexuality is now decriminalized but is still an unacceptable lifestyle for many Armenians, and discretion should be exercised when in public. Women tend to be less retiring than in nearby Muslim countries, and can usually dress in normal western-style clothing (especially in the capital), although female visitors may wish to avoid wearing short skirts and shorts.
Photography: Refrain from photographing sites such as military bases equipment and installations. Also be aware of cultural sensitivities when photographing churches and other religious sites.
International Travel:Getting There by AirArmenian Airlines (website:
www.armenianairlines.com)
is the national airline. For political reasons, there are no direct international transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan; Georgia is sometimes used as a stopover point.
Departure TaxUS$30 per person (usually payable in local currency). Although this is normally paid at the airport, visitors staying in the large hotels may sometimes pay at their hotel, and present the receipt at the airport check-in desk. Transit passengers and children under 12 years of age are exempt.
Main AirportsZvartnots International Airport (EVN) (website:
www.zvartnots.am) is 10km (6 miles) from Yerevan. Free Wi-Fi is available in the departure terminal.
To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city center. Buses run regularly (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: ATMs, duty free, bureaux de change, car hire, information center and cafes.
Getting There by RailArmenia's rail links to Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed indefinitely, but an international service still runs to Georgia (every other day) and to Iran. Passengers traveling to Georgia should be aware of the possibility of theft or robbery. The main station is Sasuntsi Davit on Tigran Mets Avenue.
Getting There by RoadA new highway connects Armenia and Iran via the town of Kapan. There are two highways linking Armenia to Georgia, with the popular Yerevan-Tbilisi road seeing frequent traffic. The Azerbaijan and Turkey borders are both currently closed. It is possible to travel by road to the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, however, it is essential to obtain a visa from the permanent representative of Nagorno Karabakh in Yerevan. Turkey and Azerbaijan have imposed a blockade against Armenia and closed borders with it.
Bus: Kilikia Central Bus Station is where most buses depart. Two buses per week travel to Istanbul via Georgia and there is a daily (except Fridays) bus service to Tabriz.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Armenia by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes.
• 2l or one bottle of alcoholic beverage.
• 5kg of perfume (or perfume to the value of US$500).
• Other goods up to the amount of US$500, for personal use only.
It is advisable to declare valuables on arrival.
Prohibited ImportsWeapons and ammunition, narcotics, pornography, fruit and vegetables (without proper documents).
Prohibited ExportsWeapons, ammunition, narcotics, pornography, fruit and vegetables (without proper documents), works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture). An export tax of approximately US$10 is payable on each item. Contact the Embassy for further information (see
General Info).
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirThere are no domestic flights in Armenia.
Getting Around by RailThe main railway station is the Sasuntsi Davit Station on Tigran Mets Avenue. Trains to places such as Sevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor are slow, overcrowded and poorly maintained. Belongings should be secured.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. Road surfaces can be very poor, even in the case of major highways, and care should be taken to avoid children and animals on the road. Local drivers have a tendency to flout traffic regulations and ignore signals. Visitors should take care when driving or crossing the road.
Bus: There are city minivans available (
marshrutni or
marshrutka) which operate on 100 different routes and may be flagged down. From Yerevan its three hours to Dilijan, two hours to Vanadzor, four hour to Goris and six hours to Kapan.
Coach: Coaches run between the major centers of population.
Car hire: There are plenty of car hire companies operating, including international firms.
Regulations: Seat belts are required by law (although no one seems to use them).
Documentation: An international driver's license is required and the minimum age of driving is 18.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesThere is a small
underground system in
Yerevan (0630-2300).
Buses and
trolleybuses run in the city.
Taxis are available in the city center or can be ordered by telephone. Private cars can be flagged down as well as official taxis. Taxi fares should always be negotiated before starting a journey, and visitors should be aware that rates proposed initially are likely to be unreasonably high, in the expectation that foreigners will have unlimited cash and little idea of how much they ought to be paying. It is therefore advisable to make enquiries about ‘going rates' per kilometer of travel before entering into negotiations with taxi drivers.
Chauffeur-driven cars are available but are expensive. It is advisable to obtain them through official channels, such as hotels or travel agencies in Yerevan.
Next Page »
