Yerevan walking tour: Armenian food tastings and Khachkars

Walk Yerevan's streets and squares, then sit down to taste what Armenians actually eat

A four-hour walking tour of Yerevan with an English-speaking guide covers Republic Square, the Cascade, and Khachkars park while stopping at a local restaurant for Armenian starters and a choice of drink. The guide discusses Armenian history, geopolitics and traditions as you move through the city, and the pace leaves room to linger at sites that interest you instead of rushing through a checklist.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Yerevan's cultural highlights

• Visit Republic Square
• See first monument in Yerevan
• Walk through traditional wooden balconies area
• Browse designer carpets and rugs
• Visit Statue of Garegin Nzhdeh and Cultural Genocide park
• Discover Republic Square Metro station
• Explore Art Kvartal complex
• Learn about Armenian cross-stones (khachkars)
• See Opera-Theatre building
• Visit Yerevan Cascade and Cafesjian Center for the Arts
• Stop at Armenian restaurant for local food tasting

The Experience

You start in the center of Yerevan at Republic Square, an oval roundabout with a stone pattern designed to look like a traditional Armenian rug. From there the walk moves through neighborhoods with wooden balconies, past the Statue of Garegin Nzhdeh (an Armenian national hero), and into the Cultural Genocide park where khachkars—carved memorial stones bearing crosses and botanical motifs—stand as examples of medieval Armenian art. The guide talks through the geopolitical history of Armenia from the 19th century onward as you walk, so the city itself becomes the frame for understanding how it got here.

Midway through, you stop at an Armenian restaurant to try local starters: zaatar with cheese, mutabal (eggplants), and muhammara made from walnuts, red bell peppers and pomegranate, served with puffed bread. You choose between local beer or Tan, a yogurt drink, and coffee or tea comes with the meal. This is not a rushed tasting—it is a real stop where you sit and eat what people in Yerevan actually order.

The walk ends at the Yerevan Cascade, a complex of massive staircases with fountains, and the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. By then you've covered the Opera-Theatre (opened in 1933), seen the Armenian metro station at Republic Square, and passed through Art Kvartal, a gallery and design shop in the center of the city. Four hours is long enough to ask questions and move at a pace that lets you absorb the stories instead of just collecting names.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide.
• stop at an Armenian restaurant with local starters (zaatar with cheese, mutabal, muhammara with puffed bread).
• choice of local beer or Tan yogurt drink.
• coffee and tea.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Haya Tours

Is this one for you?Four hours is enough to walk the main sights and eat a real meal without the day feeling rushed, so you can fit this into a free afternoon or a first morning in Yerevan and still have time to explore on your own afterward.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

387 verified traveler reviews

5 ★363

4 ★16

3 ★4

2 ★3

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly are khachkars and why does the tour visit them?

Khachkars are carved memorial stones bearing crosses, rosettes, interlaces and botanical motifs—characteristic of medieval Christian Armenian art. The tour visits Khachkars park, also called the Cultural Genocide park, to see these examples of early medieval Armenian stonework and to understand their place in Armenian history and identity.

What food do you actually eat on this tour?

You stop at an Armenian restaurant and try local starters including zaatar with cheese, mutabal (eggplant), and muhammara, which is made from walnuts, red bell peppers and pomegranate, all served with puffed bread. You also choose between local beer or Tan, a yogurt drink, and coffee or tea is included.

Does the guide speak English the whole time?

Yes, the guide is an English speaker and leads the entire tour in English, discussing Armenian history, economy, geography, geopolitics, traditions and religion as you walk.

What is Republic Square and why does the tour start there?

Republic Square is an oval roundabout in central Yerevan with a stone pattern in its center designed to look like a traditional Armenian rug. It is where the tour begins and also where you can see the Armenian metro station as part of the walk.

How much walking is involved and what is the pace like?

The tour lasts four hours and covers several neighborhoods and landmarks on foot, but it is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace allows time to linger at sites and ask questions rather than rushing through a checklist.

What is the Yerevan Cascade and where does the tour end?

The Yerevan Cascade is a complex of massive staircases with fountains in the city center, home to the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, which is dedicated to contemporary art and Armenian culture. The tour ends here after covering the Opera-Theatre, Art Kvartal and other highlights.