GETTING THERE & AWAY

AIR
By far the most popular way of coming, it is easy to catch a flight to Armenia from a large number of cities across Europe, America, and the Middle East.  Most of these routes are serviced by Armenian Airlines.  Levon Travel has offices in Yerevan, Paris, and Los Angeles, and their web site has some information.

Airport
You will arrive at Zvartnots International Airport, where you pass through immigration, get your luggage, then go through customs.  There are free luggage trolleys that may be monopolized by locals who insistently try to help you, expecting a few dollars.  After gathering your bags, they will check your baggage stubs before you pass through customs.  Upon exiting customs, you can take a taxi, or a bus to Yerevan.  The bus costs 100AMD and operates from early morning until 6pm.  If you take the bus you can ask to be dropped off by the indoor market (pag shuga) or stay on until the last stop by the Opera.  Zvartnots airport information can be called by dialing 1-87.

LAND
Azerbaijan 
The border is closed to Azerbaijan, and the Azeri region of Nakhichevan.

Georgia 
There are many ways to get from Armenia to Georgia by land.  There are buses, trains, marshotnis, taxis and you can always drive or hitch.  Border officials on either side are notorious for trying to extract bribes, so have your visa and paperwork in order. From Tblisi you can catch a taxi to Ortajala, which is where the minivans to Yerevan depart from.

Iran
The train line to Iran is via Nakhichevan region of Azerbaijan, so it is currently closed.  Buses leave to Iran from Hotel Erebuni for approximately $50.  Private cars are permitted to cross the border, and hitching with the numerous Iranian truck drivers by the border crossing in Meghri is not out of the question.  A visa may be required.  There is an informative Iranian Embassy of Armenia web site.  Prana Tours can assist with Iranian visas and tours. To get to Armenia you can catch a cab from Tabriz to Nocuz, the Iranian border town for $15. You may have to tell them Ermenistan. From there you easily cross to Agarak on the Armenian side and can catch a cab or hitch to nearby Meghri for about 30 cents/km where there are buses to Yerevan a few times a week, or you can take a cab/hitch much further to Kapan or Goris which have transport to Yerevan each morning. To cross you need either an Armenian visa, or Land Entry Permission which are issued in Tehran. The permission is much faster, but you will need to get a visa in Yerevan eventually. This all having been said, you may want to consider the cheap flights from Tehran to Yerevan.

Karabakh
Refer to getting around in Armenia section, the information is exactly the same except that you should obtain a visa from the Karabakh Representative Office in Yerevan.  The office is located at 11 Moscovian Ave., across from the Chamber Music Hall. Phone 58-71-91

Turkey
The Armenian border with Turkey is closed by Turkey.  Meanwhile, there are bus services from Turkey to Armenia via Georgia.  A ticket costs about $40 one way, plus about about that much more for misc. border bribes in Georgia.  A Turkish/Georgian/Armenian visa may be required of you so it is best to get these before arriving to the region (there is no Armenian Embassy in Turkey).  There are discounts for part way trips.

AST Turizm Ltd.

Turkey: Tiyatro Cad. Esirci Kemalettin Sk. No. 12 Beyazit-Istanbul  

Tel. :(unavailable)
Armenia: Nalbandian 50,  Tel: +56-44-54
Departs Wednesday and Saturday at Kilikia bus station

Mahmudoglu Turizm Ltd.

Turkey: Buyuk Istanbul Otogari  No: 3 B. Pasa-Istanbul  

Tel. :(0.212) 658 38 34 (and -35)
Armenia: Hotel Erebuni Room 224  Tel: +56-11-53
Departs Wednesday and Saturday

GETTING AROUND

BUS
This is a very cheap way to get around in Armenia, but more for the budget traveler.  A ticket to Lake Sevan for example will cost about a dollar, but will take twice as long as other means, and you may not get a seat.  Buses are often beat up, but they cover the country well, and buses from the actual bus station to the regions are much better than the average private bus. 

TRAIN
There are some inexpensive train lines in Armenia which can be taken to Gyumri, Sevan or Tblisi.  They are very slow and basic transportation.  Yerevan's train station is at Sasuntsi Davit Metro Station, where schedules and tickets can be obtained.  Call 1-84 for Railway information.

TAXI
Private
A number of inexpensive and reliable taxi services exist in Yerevan, as well as countless taxis which sit at intersections.  As a foreign traveler, you are likely to be quoted ridiculous prices by the corner taxis, so be prepared to argue and bargain.  The taxi service companies are much easier to deal with and you can call their exchange to have them pick you up anywhere.  They will quote you the correct and very inexpensive price on the phone.  For example, a service taxi company will come to the airport, pick you up, and take you to downtown, all for 2500 AMD ($5) , versus quotes of well over 15000AMD ($30) by corner taxis who often will not come down to 2500.  Be careful never to let a corner taxi person change the price on you once you are on the way, they often try this.  If the driver tries this, tell him to take you back and you will find someone else.  Corner taxis should not expect a tip, that is included in the price they negotiate, but service taxi company drivers might be given one.  In the most desolate places with no taxis, you can make offer any car at all money to drive you and as likely as not they will be happy to.  Some taxi service numbers that may come in handy are (54-54-01 or 54-54-02) and (22-08-09 or 22-02-88) and (Taxi Pier: 54-33-00 or 58-71-00 or 58-71-70)

Metro (Subway)
Yerevan has a very nice, cheap (less than 10 cents) and simple one line metro.  For more information visit the metro page.

Marshrutni (Shared/Service Van)
A marshrutni is a van which has a regular route around the city or country.  The ones in Yerevan have numbers which identify which route they follow, while the marshrutnis that go to other cities have the city name in the window.  Marshrutnis within Yerevan cost 100AMD (20 cents).  The streets and places on the route are usually listed on the window in Armenian, so you may have to ask which one take you to your desired destination.   You can also take marshotnis around the country, or out of the country to Georgia or Karabakh.  A ride to Stepanakert in Karabakh costs about 6,000AMD ($12).  For more marshrutni info and a list of routes visit the marshrutni page.

Private Van
A surprisingly cheap alternative for day trips is to hire a van which comes with a driver.  There are companies with set prices, reliable new vans, and honest drivers. Another plus is that you can seat up to 10 people, so if you can get a few people on there, the per person price comes down considerably.  This is a very flexible method of travel, and a half day will cost about $30, while a full day will cost about $50.  Overnight trips are also possible. The same companies I recommend in the car section should be able to provide this service as well.

Tour Van
A couple of companies have a set schedule of tours, depending on the day of the week.  Monday may always be Garni & Geghard, Tuesday may be Noravank and Khor Virap, and so on.  With prices starting at just a few dollars a person, this is usually a great deal for individuals and smaller groups, plus it includes a tour guide.  One company which has a good schedule of these tours is Sati-Armenia, (Tel. 53-10-22, 53-11-20) at 21 Mashtots Street. Another popular company with these day tours is Menua (Tel. 59-45-39, 58-56-16).

CAR & MOTORCYCLE
I would not recommend a motorcycle unless you are accustomed to dealing with potholes.  Cars are easy enough to drive, and can be rented from many places, but all of the places I have come across only rent cars with a driver.  For most people this is just as well since roads are not always well signposted, and conditions are different than the west.  Cars cost about $25-35/day plus about 150 AMD (30 cents) per km, depending on where you are going.  Some places also offer a guide/translator for an additional $20.  Two companies on Abovyan Street with cars for rent are:

Armenia Travel + M (near corner of Pushkin St.)
56-36-67 or 56-21-04 or 52-61-06
armtrav@acc.am

Hertz Rent-a-car/Elitar (across from fountain in front of Yerevan Hotel -- very expensive)
58-48-18 or 52-24-34

BICYCLE
Although this is not a great idea to get around within Yerevan, there are many awesome biking opportunities throughout Armenia.  Old Jermuk Canyon Road, Noravank Canyon Road, the road around beautiful Lake Sevan and countless others are a bikers delight.  As biking is not yet popular here, you should bring your bike and all supplies (a few spare tubes at least!)  See Greg's web site about his biking trip across Armenia.

HITCHING
Hitching a ride is quite common in Armenia by the locals who will wait on the road for a bus or van, and who will sometimes get into a private car as well.  You may or may not offer them some money to help with the gas, it will depend on the distance, inconvenience, etc.  Hitching is very safe, as assault is unheard of.