Last checked: November 2026
Safety note: official advisories cover areas near the Azerbaijan border. Read the Armenia safety notice, the UK advice and the US advisory before you choose routes.
How do you get around Armenia?
The easiest way to get around Armenia is a mix of metro and ride-hailing apps in Yerevan, and a hired driver, shared minibus (marshrutka) or rental car between towns. Trains cover only a few routes. Roads outside main highways can be poor, so plan daylight drives and check timetables locally.
Many of the main sights lie within one to two hours of the capital, so you don’t need a complicated plan. Our Armenia itineraries show how these options fit into three to ten days, and our guide to flights to Armenia covers transfers from the airport.
Which ways of getting around Armenia are there?
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Yerevan Metro | Crossing the capital | One line with ten stations. It’s inexpensive and avoids traffic, but it covers only part of the city. |
| City buses and trolleybuses | Districts the metro misses | Payment is by transport card or local bank card, not cash. |
| Ride-hailing apps | Short city trips and late evenings | The US State Department calls local apps the safest and most reliable option in major cities. |
| Marshrutkas | Cheap trips between towns | Shared minibuses with loose timetables. Expect crowding. |
| Trains | Yerevan to Gyumri and a few short local routes | Services are limited, and the State Department calls intercity trains aging and slow. |
| Hired driver or tour | Day trips and long routes such as Tatev | Door to door and flexible. Often the easiest way to combine several monasteries. |
| Rental car | Independent travellers who are comfortable on mountain roads | Traffic drives on the right. Check licence, insurance and winter rules first. |
How does public transport work in Yerevan?
Yerevan has one metro line, plus city buses and trolleybuses. The US State Department says the metro is generally safe, inexpensive and a reliable way to avoid city traffic, though the network is limited. Check the operator’s site, yermetro.am, for current opening hours.
Payment is the part that surprises visitors. A unified ticket system replaced cash on buses, trolleybuses and the metro on 1 February 2025, according to the Armenian news agency ARKA. The State Department says public transport accepts a transport card or a local bank card only, and that it does not accept foreign bank cards. Follow the city’s transport portal to buy a ticket or card, and keep some Armenian dram for markets, small shops and rural stays. We don’t list fares here because they have changed in recent years.
How do taxis and ride-hailing apps work?
Local apps such as GG Taxi and Yandex Go are widely used. The State Department says these apps are trusted and generally the safest and most reliable way to get around major Armenian cities, and the price shows in the app before you ride. Yandex services were disrupted in several countries in October 2026 and have since recovered with some limits, so keep a second app installed. Some foreign bank cards don’t link to local apps, so carry cash as a backup.
Street taxis are a different experience. The State Department says the cars are often older and may lack working rear seatbelts. It also advises you to agree a price before you get in, because unregistered taxis without meters can overcharge.
How do marshrutkas and intercity buses work?
Marshrutkas are shared minibuses and the main public link between Yerevan and most towns. They’re cheap, but the State Department says they’re often overcrowded, poorly maintained and lack seatbelts, and that drivers may stop suddenly to pick up passengers. Outside major cities, public transport has no fixed timetables and can be unpredictable.
Yerevan has more than one bus station. The Kilikia (Central) Bus Station and the Northern Bus Station serve different directions, with Sevan and Dilijan routes leaving from the northern one. Ask your hotel which station your route uses, arrive early and carry small notes in dram.
Can you travel by train in Armenia?
Yes, but on a small network. South Caucasus Railway runs Armenia’s railways, and timetables and tickets are on railway.am. Domestic passenger services include trains between Yerevan and Gyumri and a few short local routes. Check the timetable for your date, because frequency and times change.
The State Department describes intercity trains as aging and slow but generally safe, with schedules that can be unreliable. Choose the train if you want a calm ride to Gyumri and have time to spare. Take a marshrutka or a driver if you’re short on days.
What should you know about renting a car and driving?
Traffic drives on the right. The State Department says you can drive on a foreign licence for up to three months after you enter Armenia, with an International Driving Permit, and you may need to show your passport to prove your entry date. Rental companies can set their own rules, so confirm what yours requires before you book.
- Road quality: primary roads often have potholes and missing pavement, and some roads shown as main roads on maps are unpaved. Secondary roads are usually in poor condition.
- Night driving: the State Department advises against it because of poor roads, limited emergency help and pedestrians on dark streets.
- Winter: the State Department says winter tires are required for all cars from November to April. Ask your rental company about tires, and see our best time to visit guide for seasonal conditions.
- Accidents: call 112 and don’t move the vehicle. The State Department says moving it before the police arrive makes you legally at fault and cancels your insurance cover.
- Border areas: some roads near the borders with Azerbaijan and Iran cross into the neighbouring country without warning, and GPS can send you down them. Check your route against the advisory maps.
- Fuel: buy fuel at reliable stations in towns, not from roadside sellers who use jars or barrels.
How long does it take to travel between the main places?
The figures below match our other Armenia guides. They’re road estimates from Yerevan, so add time for traffic, mountain bends and stops. Our guide to the best places to visit in Armenia explains what each stop offers.
| From Yerevan to | Road distance (approx.) | Typical drive time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echmiadzin | 18 km | About 30 minutes | Easy half-day trip |
| Garni | 30 km | 30 to 45 minutes | Geghard is about 15 minutes further |
| Khor Virap | 43 km | About 45 minutes | Often combined with Areni and Noravank |
| Lake Sevan | 64 km | 1 to 1 hour 15 minutes | Marshrutkas leave from the Northern Bus Station |
| Dilijan | 95 km | About 1.5 hours | Marshrutkas leave from the Northern Bus Station |
| Gyumri | 121 km | About 2 hours | Marshrutka, train or driver |
| Noravank | 122 km | About 2 hours | Usually a driver or tour |
| Tatev | 253 to 256 km | 4.5 to 5 hours | Group day tours run about 13 to 14 hours, so most visitors stay overnight |
Which option should you choose? A decision guide
- Choose a hired driver or taxi if you want the fastest door-to-door trip, especially for Garni, Geghard, Khor Virap and Noravank.
- Choose marshrutkas and the metro if low cost matters more than comfort and you don’t mind crowding or loose timetables.
- Choose a rental car or a private driver with flexible stops if scenery matters most, because you can pause at viewpoints and monasteries.
- Choose the train for Yerevan to Gyumri if you’d rather not drive and can plan around the timetable.
- Choose a group tour for Tatev if you want one long day without arranging transport. Add a night nearby if you can, and see where to stay in Armenia.
Common mistakes
- Boarding a street taxi without agreeing the price.
- Trying to pay for city buses or the metro with a foreign bank card.
- Relying on one taxi app and finding it doesn’t work.
- Trusting a map app’s travel time on mountain roads.
- Starting a long drive late in the day.
- Assuming marshrutka and train timetables stay the same all year.
Before You Travel: getting-around checklist
- Install two taxi apps and check that your phone has mobile data.
- Carry some Armenian dram in cash for markets, small shops and minibuses.
- Check your driving licence and International Driving Permit if you plan to rent a car.
- Check train times on railway.am for your date.
- Save your hotel address in Armenian and English.
- Read the transport section of the US advisory again before you set out.
Getting around Armenia FAQs
Is Uber available in Armenia?
Uber isn’t generally available in Armenia, according to travel guides. Local apps such as GG Taxi and Yandex Go are the usual choice, and the US State Department calls them trusted and generally the safest way to get around major cities. Install more than one app and carry some cash as a backup.
Can I drive in Armenia with a foreign licence?
The US State Department says you can drive on a foreign licence for up to three months from the date you entered Armenia, and you need an International Driving Permit. Longer stays need a local licence. Rental companies may set extra conditions, so confirm yours before you book.
Is public transport safe in Armenia?
The Yerevan Metro is generally safe and inexpensive, according to the US State Department. Minibuses and city buses are often overcrowded and lack seatbelts, and pickpocketing can occur. Outside the big cities, public transport can be unpredictable because timetables are not fixed.
Can I use a foreign bank card on Yerevan buses and the metro?
No. The US State Department says public transport accepts a transport card or a local bank card only, and not foreign bank cards. Buy a ticket or transport card by following the city’s instructions, and keep some Armenian dram in cash for other small purchases.
What is the best way to get from Yerevan to Gyumri?
Gyumri is about 121 km from Yerevan, roughly two hours by road. Take a marshrutka for the lowest cost, a train if the timetable suits you, or a taxi or driver for door-to-door travel. Check current departures locally before you go.