Armenia operates a network of marshrutkas — fixed-route minibuses that connect Yerevan to every major town and most villages. These vehicles depart when full rather than on published schedules. The main departure point in Yerevan is the Kilikia Bus Station for southern destinations and the Northern Bus Station for Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Dilijan. Fares range from 500 to 2,000 dram depending on distance. A marshrutka from Yerevan to Gyumri takes approximately two hours and costs 1,500 dram. The same vehicle to Goris requires four hours and costs around 2,000 dram.
Shared taxis operate parallel routes at roughly double the marshrutka fare but leave more frequently and travel faster. Drivers congregate at the same stations as marshrutkas and call out destinations. Four passengers typically share the cost. A shared taxi from Yerevan to Dilijan costs 2,000 dram per seat and takes ninety minutes compared to two hours by marshrutka.
Armenian Railways operates limited passenger service between Yerevan and Gyumri with one daily train departing in each direction. The journey takes approximately three hours and costs 1,000 dram for third class. The railway infrastructure dates from the Soviet period and has not been substantially upgraded. There is no rail connection between Yerevan and southern Armenia.
Yerevan operates a metro system with one line running north-south through the city center. Ten stations serve the route between Barekamutyun and Charbakh. Trains run from 6:30 AM until 11:00 PM with tickets costing 100 dram regardless of distance. The system opened in 1981 and carries approximately 60,000 passengers daily.
Taxis within Yerevan operate without meters in most cases. Standard rates are 100 dram per kilometer but drivers quote flat fares for common routes. A ride from Republic Square to the Cascade typically costs 600 to 800 dram. Yandex Taxi and GG Taxi provide app-based service with set prices displayed before booking.
Renting a car requires an International Driving Permit alongside a valid national license for tourists. International agencies including Sixt and Europcar operate at Zvartnots Airport with daily rates starting at 20,000 dram for economy vehicles. Roads connecting major cities are paved but narrow in mountainous sections. The M2 highway from Yerevan to Gyumri is the primary east-west artery. Secondary roads to monastery sites such as Tatev and Noravank are single-lane with limited guardrails on cliff sections.
The Wings of Tatev aerial tramway connects the village of Halidzor to Tatev Monastery across a gorge of the Vorotan River. The cable car runs 5,752 meters making it one of the longest reversible aerial tramways when it opened in 2010. Operating hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from May through October with reduced winter hours. A round-trip ticket costs 5,000 dram for non-residents.
Armenia experiences a highland continental climate with distinct seasons determined by elevation. Yerevan at 990 meters altitude records average July temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius and January averages of minus 4 degrees Celsius. Lake Sevan at 1,900 meters remains cold even in summer with water temperatures reaching 18 to 20 degrees Celsius in August.
May through June offers spring conditions with wildflowers in Dilijan National Park and the Gegham Mountains. Temperatures in Yerevan during this period range from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Precipitation is moderate with occasional rain showers more frequent in northern forested regions than in the Ararat Plain.
July and August constitute peak tourism season when accommodation prices increase by 30 to 50 percent in Yerevan and Dilijan. Temperatures in the capital exceed 30 degrees Celsius regularly with July 2010 recording a maximum of 42 degrees Celsius. Monastery sites such as Geghard and Garni Temple receive maximum visitor numbers during these months. Lake Sevan draws domestic tourists escaping Yerevan heat with beach areas crowded on weekends.
September through October provides stable weather with temperatures in Yerevan ranging from 10 to 22 degrees Celsius. Fruit harvest occurs during September when markets sell fresh pomegranates, grapes, and apricots from the Ararat Valley. Autumn colors appear in Dilijan forests and along the Debed Canyon where Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries are located.
November through March defines winter when mountain roads to locations including Tatev require snow chains or winter tires. Temperatures in Yerevan drop below freezing at night with January lows reaching minus 15 degrees Celsius in severe years. Ski operations at Tsaghkadzor resort run from December through March depending on snow conditions. The resort sits at 1,966 meters on the slopes of Mount Teghenis with runs reaching 2,819 meters.