ARMENIA
TRAVEL/LIVING GUIDE 
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By air. The main way to Armenia, due to the geopolitical situation of the region is by air. You can come to Armenia via Amsterdam, Athens, Beirut Dubai, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Moscow, London and Zurich.
Carriers. Armenian Airlines (tel. 593184, 583969) is the national carrier of the Republic of Armenia. Other airlines, serving the country include Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines (tel. 532131) from Russia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (tel. 567208, 567308) from the Netherlands, Swissair (tel. 523082, 520780) from Switzerland and British Airways (tel. 521383) from the UK. Flying time to Yerevan from Amsterdam is 5 hours.
Airport. Yerevan "Zvartnots" Airport handles flights from different parts of the World. It has ICAO 2-nd category certificate with 24 hours service. There are Business and 2 VIP halls and modern Duty Free Shops.
Between Airport and town. The Airport (tel. 533311, 533411) is 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Yerevan. You can come from the Airport to Yerevan by bus, minibus (working hours: 08.00 - 20.00) and taxi. The bus frequency is half an hour; cost of the ticket is $0.3/$0.4. Cost of the trip Airport - city center by taxi is about $6 - $8.
Passport required except for holders of return certificates and refugee travel documents. Passports or passport replacing documents must be valid at least for the period of the validity of the visa.
Tourist Visa cost is $60.00 US and may obtained online via http://www.armeniaforeignministry.am/eVisa/ or in person at Armenian Embassy. The validity of visa may be prolonged.
Visa required, except for Nationals of Armenia, and some countries listed here: http://www.armeniaforeignministry.com/consular/visawaiver.html
For further instructions,
please visit Visa
Application Guidelines http://www.armeniaforeignministry.com/consular/visa.html
Those continuing within three days to CIS country, provided all documents required
for the destination. Visa may be issued by consulates or embassies of Armenia.
Visa also is available upon arrival to any passengers for a stay not exceeding
three days.
Health Info: No vaccinations are required to enter
Armenia for any country. No risk of inflectional diseases in tourist areas.
For additional info, please
see Armenian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website or if you are a US resident,
you may contact the following Embassies :
Los Angeles:
50 North La Cienega Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Tel: (310) 657-6102
Fax: (310) 657-7419)
Washington DC:
2225 R Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202)319-1976
Fax: (202) 319-2982
Email: amembusadm@msn.com
Export of foreign currency of more than $10000 or other currency equivalent to more than $10000, is allowable upon the presence of a currency declaration about import of currency, or a certificate given by banks and exchange points. There are no other restrictions, including restrictions on import of foreign currency. There are no limits on goods (such as perfume, cigarettes, or alcohol) brought into Armenia from another country, provided that they are for personal use.
Exit Duty. Exit duty for departing air passengers (AMD 10000 closely to USD 20) is levied on all passengers embarking in Armenia for destinations abroad at the airport of departure. Exceptions: eligible dependants under 12 years; transit passengers; representatives of the International Organizations registered in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RA; holders of diplomatic passports; employees of foreign Embassies and Consulates and members of their families; Officials and Participants of Delegations arriving in Armenia at the invitation of the President of Armenia, Chairman of the National Assembly, Chairman of Constitutional Court, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
State organization. Official name - Republic of Armenia (RA), briefly - Armenia. State flag of the RA - three horizontal stripes - red, blue and orange. Head of executive power - President of the RA. The legislative power in Armenia belongs to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia.
Religion. Armenians are Christians. Armenia was the first country that adopted Christianity as a national religion (301 A.D.). The central Armenia Apostolic church is seated in Echmiadzin that is 25 kilometers far from Yerevan.
Language. The official language is Armenian, which has Indo - European roots, and completes a separate branch in that family. Russian is also widely used in Armenia. Many people in Armenia, especially in Yerevan have a good command of English too.
Time.
The Armenian time outstrips the Greenwich time for 4 hours (3 hours Central
European time).
Yerevan
Geography. Armenia is situated in the south of Transcaucasus, and it is bordered by Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia has an area of 29800 square kilometers (360 kilometers long and 200 kilometers wide) and it is situated from 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level. Armenia is famous for its lofty mountains. The highest peak Aragats is (4090) meters. Population - 3.5 million. 98% - Armenians. Capital of Armenia - Yerevan, with a population of 1 million people.
Climate. The climate is almost tropical in summer and the winters are warmer than in the regions north to the Caucasus. Cold spells, however, do occur and low temperatures are frequent, both on the high mountains and in the deep, enclosed valleys. The average temperatures are: -5 0C in winter, +11 0C in spring, +25 0C in summer and +13 0C in autumn.
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Armenia Annual Temperature - Decide when toTravel
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Money: Armenian national currency is Dram (AMD).
Note Bills: 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000. Coins: 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500
Currency Exchange. The currency exchange is not a problem in Armenia. Foreign currency (USD, Dutch Marks, English Pound Sterling, Swiss Franks, French Franks, Canadian Dollars, Japanese Jen, Holland Guilden, Russian Rubles) can be changed at banks. USD and Russian Rubles can be changed in currency exchange points ("changes") available everywhere in the city. There is no limitation on the amount of money exchanged. No exchange commission is charged. Usually, "changes" offer better exchange rates than banks. Rates are posted outside for you to shop around.
Beware that some banks charge up to $10 for cashing travelers checks, irrespective of the amount! So, if you can, bring cash. Banking hours in Yerevan are Monday-Friday: 10am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. No lunch breaks.
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Rates: |
Prices: (approximate, in AMD)
Bread:
90-400
Meat:1,200-2000
(1kg)
Mineral Water:
120-150 (0.5L)
Beer: 250-750
Wine: 800-5,000
Armenian Brandy: 3,500-65,00
Cigarettes: 100-800
Pizza: 1,200-3,000
Hamburger: 150-400
Kabab: 500-600
BBQ (Xorovats): 1,800-2,500
Taxi: 100-150 (1km)
Bus/Mini Bus (Marshrutka): 100
Metro: 50
Movie Ticket: 500-1,500
Play (Theater) Ticket: 500-1,500
Credit
Cards:
Major hotels, most restaurants
and stores accept Visa & MasterCard. It
is recommended to call them beforehand to check. ATM's are located mostly in
the central part of the city (Yerevan).
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ARDSHINBANK Executive Director: LEVON FARMANYAN 3 DEGHATAN Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 528513 Fax: (374 10)151155 E-mail: office@ardshin.bank.am Internet: http://www.ardshin.bank.am/ |
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ARMAGROBANK Chairman: KAREN DAVTYAN 7a Movses Khorenatsi Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 534342 Fax: (374 10) 535347 E-mail: head-office@agrobank.am Internet: http://www.agrobank.am |
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ARMENIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK Chairman: ALEXANDER GRIGORYAN 21/1 Paronyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 531832 Fax: (374 10) 533233 E-mail: info@armdb.com |
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ARMINVESTBANK Chairman: VARUZHAN AMIRAGHYAN 13 Vartanants Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 570502 Fax: (374 10) 07210 E-mail: root@invest.b.infocom.amilink.net |
| ARMSAVINGSBANK Executive Director: SEDA PETROSYAN 46 Nalbandyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 580451 Fax: (374 10) 565578 E-mail: savebn@mbox.amilink.net |
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ARTSAKHBANK Chairman: KAMO NERSISYAN 30 D. Sasounci Street Stepanakert Telephone: (374 10) 285872 Fax: (374 10) 288943 E-mail: artsakh@nktel.net |
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CREDIT-Yerevan BANK Chairman: HAKOP MALKASYAN 2/8 Amiryan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 589065 Fax: (374 10) 06868 E-mail: ss@mbox.creyer.amilink.net |
| GLADZOR
BANK Chairman: GAGIK AMARYAN 1B Charents Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 576750 Fax: (374 10) 506447 E-mail: gladzor@amlink.net |
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INECOBANK Chairman: AVETIS BALOYAN 17 Tumanyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 565974 Fax: (374 10) 545166 E-mail: incobank@incobank.am Internet: http://www.inecobank.am |
| INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BLACK SEA BANK (ARMENIA) Deputy Director General: GORGE PETRUCOS 6 Deghatan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 520432 Fax: (374 10) 151878 E-mail: cbgam@arminco.com |
| PROMETEY
BANK Chairman: EMIL SOGHOMONYAN 44/2 Hanrapetutian Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 562036, 521705 Fax: (374 10) 545719 E-mail: nunm@freenet.am |
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UNIBANK Chairman: VARDAN ATAYAN 12 Amiryan Street Yerevan Tel: (374 10) 535132, 539870 Fax: (374 10) 533032 E-mail: unibank@unibank.am |
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AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE BANK OF ARMENIA Chairman: STEPAN GICHYAN 1 Bayron Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 568585 Fax: (374 10) 151755 E-mail: acba@arminco.com Internet: http://www.acba.am |
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ANELIK BANK Chairman: SAMVEL CHEZMACHYAN 75 Baghramyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 221451 Fax: (374 10) 226581 E-mail: anelik@arminco.com, Internet: http://www.anelik.am/ |
| AREXIMBANK Executive Director: ARMEN KHANDKARYAN 20 Tumanyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 583131 Fax: (374 10) 580506 E-mail: info@areximbank.am Internet: http://www.areximbank.am |
| ARMECONOMBANK Executive Director: ASHOT OSIPYAN 23/1 Amiryan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 538904 Fax: (374 10)151149 E-mail: armeco@arminco.com Internet: http://www.aeb.am |
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ARMIMPEXBANK Chairman: BAGRAT ASATRYAN 2 Vazgen Sargsyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 589906 Fax: (374 10) 565958 E-mail: jav@impex.infocom.amilink.net Internet: http://www.impex.bank.am |
| ARMCOMMUNICATIONBANK Executive Director: HARUTYUN MESROPYAN 30 Eznik Kokhbacu Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 581934 Fax: (374 10) 534497 E-mail: haykap@mbox.amilink.net |
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CONVERSE BANK Chairman: SMBAT NASIBYAN 49 Komitas Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 281015 Fax: (374 10) 06195 E-mail: post@conversebank.am |
| CREDIT-SERVICE
BANK Executive Director: TIGRAN MIRZOYAN 15 Tigran Mets Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 585331 Fax: (374 10) 525701 E-mail: credit@service-infocom-email.net |
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HSBC ARMENIA BANK Managing Director: CHARLES BERNARD GREGORY 9 Vazgen Sargsyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 563229 Fax: (374 10) 527078 E-mail: hsbc@arminco.com |
| INTERNATIONAL
INVESTMENT BANK Executive Director: ASHOT ERANOSYAN 45 Khorenatsu Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 559055 Fax: (374 10) 525955 E-mail: bsevan@arminco.com |
| "ITB"
INTERNATIONAL TRADE BANK Chairman: ARA KITBALYAN 19a Koryun Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 588512 Fax: (374 10) 529471 E-mail: yerevan@menatep.infocom.amilink.net |
| MELLAT
BANK Executive Director: ISSA JHAHREMANI TCHABOK 6 Amiryan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 581791 Fax: (374 10) 151811 E-mail: mellat@infocom.am |
| "UNITED
BANK" (period of conservatorship, temp. administration) Chairman: ASHOT VAHANYAN 4 Spendiarov Street, Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 530271 Fax: (374 10) 536905 E-mail: ubank@netsys.am |
| International Financial Institutions: |
| CAUCASUS
ADVISORS LLC (MANAGER OF THE CAUCASUS FUND, FINANCED IN PART BY OPIC) ARTAK MELKONIAN MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ARMENIAN OPERATIONS Address: 8 Hanrapetutyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 560954, 587418, Fax: (374 10) 587418 E-mail: amelkon@acc.am |
| EUROPEAN
BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT ALKIS DRAKINOS, HEAD OF YEREVAN RESIDENT OFFICE Address: 20 Baghramyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 540425, 540426, 540427, 540428 Fax: (374 10) 540430 E-mail: drakinoa@evn.ebrd.com |
| INTERNATIONAL
FINANCE CORPORATION ARUSYAK SARGSYAN, OFFICE MANAGER Address: 2 Khorhertarani Street Republic Square Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 545241, 545242, 545243 Fax: (374 10) 599542 E-mail: asargsyan@ifc.org, Internet: http://www.ifc.org |
| EURASIA
FOUNDATION EUGENE STAPLES, ACTING REGIONAL DIRECTOR Address: 22 Isahakian Street, SUITE 11 Yerevan Telephone:(374 10) 585598, 566789, 565147, 561626, 151824 Fax: (374 10) 151824, 585598 E-mail: eurasia@eurasia.am |
| WORLD
BANK OWAISE SAADAT, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE Address: 2 Khorhrtarani Street Republic Square Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 505060, 520992, 523992 Fax: (374-10) 151883, 151788 E-mail: abuniatyan@worldbank.org |
| SHOREBANK
ADVISORY SERVICES (SHORE OVERSEAS CORPORATION) JENNIFER O'NEIL, COUNTRY MANAGER 15 Parpetsu Street, SUITE 3 Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 537310, 537360 Fax: (374 10) 151806 E-mail: safarm@arminco.com jonsaf@arminco.com |
| IMF
RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE GEORGE ANAYOTOS, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE 1 Melik Adamyan Street, SUITE 326 Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 528532, 528960 Fax: (374 10) 151703 E-mail: ganay@arminco.com |
| Other Financial Institutions: |
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UNION OF BANKS OF ARMENIA Chairman: ARMEN YEGHIAZARYAN 19A Koryuni Street YERAVAN Telephone: (374 10) 527731 Fax: (374 10) 567589 E-mail: aba@arminco.com |
| CENTRAL
BANK OF ARMENIA Chairman: TIGRAN SARGSYAN 6 Nalbandyan Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 583-841 Fax: (374 10) 580052 E-mail: info@cba.am Internet: http://www.cba.am |
| MINISTRY
OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY MINISTER: VARDAN KHACHATRYAN 1 Melik Adamian Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 595304 Fax: (374 10) 524282 OR 151069 E-mail: staff@mf.gov.am |
| AMERICAN
EMBASSY, Yerevan Commercial Section GEORGE ISAYAN, BISNIS REPRESENTATIVE IN ARMENIA 18 BAGHRAMIAN Street Yerevan Telephone: (374 10) 151551 Fax: (374 10) 151550 E-mail: Isayangx@yerevanb.us-state.gov Internet: http://www.arminco.am/embusa/cons.htm |
Armenia uses the right - side movement principle. When crossing the road its necessary to look left at first. Transport connection between cities is by buses and mini - vans. Principle transportation in Yerevan - bus, trolley bus, tram, subway and taxi. Yerevan Subway works from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Public transportation in Armenia is very cheap. Tickets for bus, trolley bus and subway cost 10 cents not depending upon the length of the journey. Taxis are also rather cheap, costing about $1 for 3-4 kilometer, though meters are practically not used by taxi drivers. There is a number of taxi-by-phone services available in Yerevan.
Bus Station. The bus station is located on Issakov Ave. near the Yerevan Brand Factory. Working Hours: 6am-6pm daily. In addition to a very tight grid of local destinations there is international service to the following cities: Athens, Busharest, Istanbul, Batumi, Krasnodar, Moscow, Rostov, Sophia, Tehran, Tbilisi. For schedules and destinations please call: (37410) 56-53-70, 54-82-98.
Car rental. Car rental service is still not available in Armenia. Here you can hire car only with a driver.
The country
code for Armenia is 374. The area code for Yerevan is 2. While calling from
the CIS countries the old code 8852 should be used.
Local calls. Local calls can be made from the street
by public coin operated telephones. One call costs AMD 70.
International calls. To call outside Armenia, dial
8, followed by the country code ( 1 for USA and Canada, 31 for the Netherlands
), area code and number. International calls can be made from the Post building
on the Republic Square as well as from many private international phone service
providers available in Yeravan.
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ARMENIA
Visitor Information Center
ARMENIAInformation, the first state-of-the-art visitor information center, at
3 Nalbandyan Street just steps from Yerevan's magnificent Republic Square ((+3741
54 23 03) provides visitors accurate information on a wide range of attractions
from historic and cultural sites to daily events and entertainment as well as
information on hotels, restaurants and transportation.
Weekend "Flee-Markets of arts and crafts" popularly known as "Vernissage",
are held at two locations, every Saturday and Sunday about 10 am to 5 pm. One
is at Pavstos Biuzand Blvd., between Hanrapetutiun and Khanjian Streets, where
some art, but mostly handicraft, jewelry, some house-ware, tools, needle-works,
carpets, and even pets are sold! The other "Vernissage" is around
the statue of painter Martiros Sarian, across from Opera Square, where mainly
paintings and sculptures by local artists are sold. Prices are reasonable, and
sometimes very interesting pieces of art and handicraft may be found to take
back as souvenir from Armenia. All prices are "negotiable"!
The DO's and DON'Ts of Visiting Armenia
Check Here For More Armenia Travel/Living Tips
As tourist season slowly approaches, several local business owners and others who have come across tourists, have put together a list of DOs and DON'Ts for future reference.
DO
tip generously, restaurant staff depend on it.
DO ask other tourists and repats about their favorite restaurants.
DO buy fruits, veggies, cheese and bread and have a picnic.
DON'T forget your trash when you leave.
DO chat with locals (especially kids) in villages.
DON'T pass out gum like its gold. Better yet, don't even
bring gum. Armenia has plenty of chewing gum from five different countries.
DO pay the Yerevan taxi drivers 1000 wherever you go in the
center of town, even if its close by. After all, youve taken them out of their
line, and the absolute minimum for any distance is 600 Drams, anyway.
DON'T talk rudely to the owners of the vegetable stalls;
this is their life, these are their fruits and they're proud of what they
do.
DON'T try to get a tour driver's phone number so that you
can hire them directly.
DO venture out of the city center. Komitas, Monument, Zeitun
are all interesting neigh-borhoods with good restaurants.
DON'Tdrink too much mulberry vodka (tutti oghi) trust us
on this one!
DO sit in cafes near midnight. The city almost never sleeps.
DO enjoy a cognac after dinner.
DON'T enjoy more than 3.
DO get involved and volunteer for projects while youre here
and especially when you return home Rome wasnt built in a day.
DO be on your best behavior you never know who is sitting
next to you at a concert or caf you may find out youre related.
DO make a list of all the places you missed seeing. And
DO come back soon.
Food. The Armenian kitchen is close to European. Different kindes of chees, bread, alcohol and soft drinks and other widespread foods are available. There are a lot of restaurants, snack-bars and cafes, offering both traditional and European meals. Costs vary, but generally eating-out is affordable and much cheaper than in the Western Countries. Service is usually included in the prices though it is customary to tip 5%-10%.
Working hours. State organizations are closed on Saturdays and Sundays and mainly work from 09:00 - 17:30 (18:00). Banks are open weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00. Fairs, markets and most of the stores run every day, all year round.
Power supply. The electrical current in the Republic of Armenia is 220 Volts, 50 Hz alternating current; wall outlets take continental-type plugs, with two round prongs. To use US-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and an adapter.
Parking. Parking is 100-200 drams regardless of the duration.
Tipping. Gratuity is generally not included in the bill. Waiters are usually given 10% of the bill. Tipping taxi drivers and doormen is voluntary. Porters are usually tipped $1 per bag.
Post Office. There is a full-service post office (The Main Post Office) at the Republic Square on the ground level of the building across the street from Prime Minister's office, and opposite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, across the Republic Square. It is open from 9:00 am through 7:00 pm. everyday, except Sunday.
Internet
Clubs. As it was mentioned above, there is an Internet Club virtually
at every intersection. They work late hours, have plenty of fast computers,
and offer very low hourly rates.
Lost and Found. There is no lost and found service at this
time in Armenia
Sample
Rates