I've been to Armenia twice, once in early spring (not the best time, it's still too cold) and once in early autumn (really the best time to visit Yerevan). Armenians are genuinely warm and welcoming, you feel it everywhere, and it’s the reason you keep coming back.
Seeing Mount Ararat: pick a clear day and you'll see it right from Yerevan, towering over the city from across the Turkish border. Good viewpoints: the top of the Cascade and Tsitsernakaberd hill, and for the closest view, Khor Virap monastery. Haze often hides it, so check the forecast and go early
Yerevan grew out of Erebuni, an ancient fortress older than Rome. Climb the ruins on Arin Berd hill, and visit the Erebuni Museum. Another hidden gem from the same era: an Urartian tomb right by the wall of Yerevan Mall on Arshakunyats Avenue. Ancient history next to a shopping mall, that's Yerevan in a nutshell
Where to eat: Dolmama, Yerevan's world-famous restaurant, visited by Serj Tankian, the Kardashians and plenty of other celebrities. A modern take on Armenian classics, dolma included. Book ahead
More things worth knowing:
- Easy day trips: Garni temple and Geghard monastery, Lake Sevan, and Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Church
- Try Armenian brandy, lavash, khorovats (barbecue) and apricots in season
- Yerevan is safe and walkable, and app taxis (Yandex Go, GG) are cheap
Who I'd recommend it to: anyone who wants mountains, great food and genuinely kind people. One visit is rarely enough, I'm the proof