Pink Yerevan with its Shades

It is hard not to fall in love with Armenia’s pink capital Yerevan. This is a modern city that maintained its cultural identity. Being more than 2800 years old Yerevan is one of the ancient cities in the world. This historical city underwent many changes but kept the traces of its past. Being in the central part of the country, Yerevan embraces elements of all regions of Armenia.

Yerevan is described as a pink city as most of the buildings are built of pink tuff. The city is situated in the west Armenia, on the two banks of the Hrazdan River. More than 1 million people live in Armenia’s capital and 98 percent of them are Armenians. The official language is Armenian, but most of the population of Yerevan speaks Russian and English as well. Therefore, tourists can easily communicate with locals and find whatever they want.

The majority of Armenian universities and colleges are located in Yerevan. That is the reason why most of young Armenians live here. Young people from all over Armenia come to study in Yerevan and bring the lifestyle and characteristics of their regions with them. That is why Yerevan is so diverse and colorful.

Since most of the Armenians are Christians, there are many ancient and new churches in the city. The biggest church in Yerevan is the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. One of the famous churches in the city is the St. Hovhannes-Mkrtich Church, which is located in Kond district. Kond is one of the oldest districts in Yerevan and it maintained the old face of the city. In addition to Christian churches, there is also one Muslim mosque in Yerevan, built in 1766.

Transportation

The subway is operating in Yerevan since 1981. It has 1 line with 10 stations. Public transport is working fast but buses are crowded. Traveling by buses and minibuses is very cheap. You can reach to any part of the city with public transport. Taxi services are also quite cheap especially compared to European countries. However, to avoid the misunderstanding it is recommended to check the prices with the drivers beforehand. The city is mostly clogged with traffic jam, especially in the mornings and evenings. So in some cases it is even more comfortable to walk from one place to another than to use a transport.

Sights in Yerevan

The Republic Square is situated in the center of Yerevan. In this part of the city there are also the buildings of government and ministries, as well as the National Gallery of Armenia. In the evenings, a lot of people usually walk in this part of the city. In general, Yerevan is more crowded in the evenings. People like to have a walk along the beautiful streets of Yerevan after work, school or other activities. Among the most beautiful, we would like to mention Abovyan, Tumanyan, Teryan, Mashtots Avenue, Baghramyan and Saryan. Saryan Street is one of the most beloved streets for tourists due to its beauty and many outdoor wine cafes. Therefore, every year Yerevan wine festival is held on this street.

The streets in the central part of the city stand out with their beautiful buildings with interesting architectural solutions, outdoor cozy cafes, beautiful performances by street musicians and, of course, warm and hospitable locals. Notable parts of Yerevan are the Opera building, Cascade, Swan Lake, Moscow Cinema, Museum of the History of Yerevan, Matenadaran, Tsitsernakaberd, as well as Yerevan Railway Station.

Cuisine

There are many cafes and restaurants in Yerevan. Here you can find restaurants with cuisines from all over the world, but the focus is Armenian cuisine, of course. Besides the restaurants there are lots of small bakeries, coffee shops and ice cream stands everywhere in the city. Therefore, in Yerevan you will never have a problem with food, because there are many affordable options. Yerevan is also rich in drinking water fountains. They are located throughout the city, so there will be no need to buy water in the store. The water in Yerevan is clean and free.

Where to stay

If you are thinking about where to stay in the city, no worries, Yerevan can offer the most suitable option for you. There are many hotels, hostels, guest houses, and rental apartments. Prices may vary, but everyone will be able find something appropriate to their budget.

Places of Entertainment

This cultural city has many places of entertainment. There are many theaters, cinemas and galleries in Yerevan. The National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet is never empty, because performances are held here all year round. Recently, the nightlife is also becoming more popular as new pubs and clubs open every day in the city. Some of them are themed and some of them are just for dancing and having fun. The interesting fact is that Armenians always like to mix their traditional culture with something modern. For example, recently there is a tendency of presenting folk music with rock arrangement. There are many bars and pubs where you can listen to that kind of music.

Hiking culture is also developing in Yerevan. At the end of the week people like to go to the nature and do small hiking trips near the city. Armenian Geographic also organizes hiking trips near Yerevan. The most popular destinations are Mount Ara, Southern Peak of Aragats and Hell’s Canyon.

However, we should admit that the mood and colors of the city are embodied by its inhabitants. As Armenian singer and songwriter Forsh sings “Yerevan is not just a house or building, Yerevan is all of us. Being unconditionally in love with Yerevan is an unwritten law”.

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