Just how great is it?

With so many things to see in Armenia, you may be wondering just which ones to narrow it down to on this trip.  Hopefully, this list will help you decide.  I have visited hundreds of sites across Armenia and Karabakh, and have read every resource available to me in English.  But in the end, the ratings just come down to my opinion... there is no scientific way to judge.  The sites are listed by rank, on a scale of 1-100.  A question mark (?) means that I have not been to the site, so I am judging based on pictures and texts. A plus next to the number means that it may be worthy of bonus points to you if you are Armenian, since they have special significance for Armenians. The GPS coordinates make finding sites infinitely easier, so if you plan on seeing much more than Garni/Geghard you should seriously consider bringing a GPS. These numbers are all quite close to the mark, unless there are question marks. You may not actually be at the front door, but you will almost always see the place you intend to visit. The coordinates are formatted the following way (since there are a few ways to do this): degrees, minutes, fraction of a minute. That means that 40 06.50 on this page equals the same thing as 40degrees 6 minutes 30 seconds. You can easily convert to seconds by multiplying the .50 by 60

ARMENIA

100	Geghard Monastery	GPS - 40 08.47n x 044 49.12e
100	Haghardzin Monastery	GPS - 40 48.16n x 044 53.55e
100	Haghpat Monastery	GPS - 40 54.81n x 045 06.30e
100	Tatev Monastery	GPS - 39 22.81n x 046 15.01e
95	Akhtala Monastery	GPS - 41 09.13n x 044 45.83e
95	Goshavank Monastery	GPS - 40 43.79n x 044 59.82e
95	Kobayr Monastery	GPS - 41 00.30n x 044 38.10e
95	Sanahin Monastery	GPS - 41 05.22n x 044 40.00e
90	Harich Monastery	GPS - 40 36.35n x 043 59.97e
90	Khorakert Monastery	GPS - 41 12.53n x 044 36.00e
90	Khoranashat Monastery	GPS - 40 51.66n x 045 35.96e
90	Khuchapi Monastery	GPS - 41 11.99n x 044 33.84e
90	Kirants Monastery	GPS - 41 00.68n x 044 59.50e
90	Noravank Monastery	GPS - 39 41.08n x 045 13.97e
90	Tsakhatskar Monastery	GPS - 39 53.42n x 045 21.25e
90	Smbatabert - Huge mountaintop fortress	GPS - 39 52.35n x 045 20.34e
90	Ughtasar - Caveman art on mountaintop	GPS - 39 41.20n x 046 03.25e
85	Amberd - Mountain Fortress & Church	GPS - 40 23.30n x 044 13.75e
85+	Echmiadzin Cathedral Compound	GPS - 40 09.70n x 044 17.53e
85	Havuts Tar Monastery	GPS - 40 07.38n x 044 46.18e
85	Horomayri Monastery	GPS - 41 02.07n x 044 37.66e
85	Makaravank Monastery	GPS - 40 58.45n x 045 07.65e
85	Marmashen Monastery	GPS - 40 50.60n x 043 45.35e
85	Nor Varagavank Monastery	GPS - 40 57.70n x 045 19.68e
80	Garni Temple	GPS - 40 06.72n x 044 43.84e
80	Hayravank Monastery	GPS - 40 25.97n x 045 06.56e
80	Mozrovi Caverns	(closed to public)
80	Odzun Church	GPS - 41 04.38n x 044 36.85e
80	Saghmosavank Monastery	GPS - 40 22.83n x 044 23.80e
80	Selim - Intact Silk Road Caravanserai	GPS - 39 56.97n x 045 14.20e
80	Tegher Monastery	GPS - 40 20.70n x 044 14.53e
80	Vahanavank Monastery	GPS - 39 13.09n x 046 21.12e
80	Sevan - Beautiful huge mountain lake	GPS - 40 23.00n x 045 17.00e
75	Dilijan - Forested resort town	GPS - 40 44.37n x 044 52.09e
75	Goris Town - traditional architecture	GPS - 39 30.50n x 046 20.50e
75	Gladzor Monastery	GPS - 39 46.83n x 045 24.02e
75	Hnevank Monastery	GPS - 40 57.17n x 044 35.18e
75	Hripsime Church	GPS - 40 10.05n x 044 18.62e
75	Kecharis Monastery	GPS - 40 32.02n x 044 43.05e
75	S. Grigori Monastery	GPS - 40 58.66n x 044 39.54e
75	Srveghi Monastery	GPS - 40 57.92n x 045 14.65e
75	Dashtadem - Large Fortress	GPS - 40 20.37n x 043 51.43e
75	Zorakarer - Armenian Stonehenge	GPS - 39 33.17n x 046 01.75e
75?	Arjeri Caverns	(closed to public)
70+	Sardarapat - Monument and large museum	GPS - 40 05.58n x 043 56.77e
70	Garni Gorge - Magnificent Vertical Cliffs	GPS - 40 06.92n x 044 44.30e
70	G'ndevank Monastery	GPS - 39 45.53n x 045 36.69e
70	Jermuk - Hot springs resort	GPS - 39 50.38n x 045 40.25e
70	Kh'ndzoresk - Valley of caves	GPS - 39 30.33n x 046 26.00e
70	Noratus - Huge Khachkar Cemetary	GPS - 40 22.40n x 045 11.05e
70	Satan's Bridge - Land bridge & hot springs	GPS - 39 23.72n x 046 15.53e
70	Sisavan Church	GPS - 39 31.79n x 046 01.20e
70	Spitakavor Church	GPS - 39 49.75n x 045 21.87e
70	Srveghi Monastery	GPS - 40 57.92n x 045 14.64e
70	Talin Cathedral	GPS - 40 23.31n x 043 52.35e
70	Tsaghkadzor - Ski resort	GPS - 40 32.00n x 044 42.50e
70	Yereruyk Basilica	GPS - 40 26.43n x 043 36.66e
70	Zvartnots Cathedral ruins	GPS - 40 09.62n x 044 20.25e
65+	Khor Virap Monastery	GPS - 39 52.70n x 044 34.55e
65	Aruj Monastery
65	Hovhannavank Monastery	GPS - 40 20.39n x 044 23.30e
65	Makravan Monastery	GPS - 40 31.46n x 044 44.18e
65	Shativank Monastery	GPS - 39 50.50n x 045 19.61e
65	Shkhmuradi Monastery	GPS - 40 54.87n x 045 18.14e
65	Teghenyats Monastery	GPS - 40 29.03n x 044 31.46e
65	Vorotnavank Monastery
65	Yeghvard Church
65	Zorats Church	GPS - 39 33.06n x 046 01.74e
60	Arakelots Monastery	GPS - 41 02.00n x 045 04.28e
60	Garnahovit Church	GPS - 40 29.83n x 043 57.38e
60	Karapet Monastery	GPS - 39 50.65n x 044 54.29e
60	Karmravor Church	GPS - 40 17.98n x 044 21.93e
60	Baghaberd Fortress	GPS - 39 12.84n x 046 16.68e
55	Bgheno-Noravank Monastery	GPS - 39 23.29n x 046 21.62e
55	Ptghni Church
50	Arates Monastery
50	Bjhni Church
50	Garni Church
50	Kristapori Vank Church
50	Mastara Church
50	Mshkavank Monastery	GPS - 41 09.74n x 044 58.22e
50	Mughni Church	GPS - 40 18.83n x 044 22.32e
50+	Oshakan Church	GPS - 40 15.53n x 044 18.90e
50	Sevanavank Monastery	GPS - 40 33.83n x 045 00.65e
50	Yeritsavank Monastery	GPS - 39 16.83n x 046 29.08?
50	Kaptavank Monastery	GPS - 40 53.00n x 045 18.75e
50	Kotrats - Silk Road Caravanserai
50	Mt. Aragats - Armenia's highest peak
50?	S. Stepanos Church/Aghjots Vank
45	Dendro Park - Botanic gardens	GPS - 40 56.17n x 044 28.85e
40	Areni Church
40	Parz Lich - Lake in forest	GPS - 40 45.18n x 044 57.71e
40	Lmbatavank Church
40	Makenyats Monastery	GPS - 40 07.50n x 045 36.83e
40	Vanevan Monastery	GPS - 40 08.80n x 045 31.02e
40	Boloraberd - Fortress on towering rock	GPS - 39 49.83n x 045 22.53e
40	Byurakan - World renown observatory
40	Erebuni - Original fortress of Yerevan
40	Lori Berd - Large fortress ruins	GPS - 41 00.17n x 044 25.85e
40	Magili Caverns - Bats, 1.7km deep tunnels
35	Avan 6th Century Church	GPS - 40 12.85n x 044 34.27e
35	Gayane Church	GPS - 40 09.04n x 044 17.55e
35	Aghudi - 1,500 year old memorial	GPS - 39 31.00n x 046 05.00e
30	Arkazi Church	GPS - 39 46.80n x 045 25.30e
30?	Artik Church
30	Ayrk Church
30	Makaravank-Artik Monastery
30	Martiros Cave Church	GPS - 39 35.17n x 045 31.28e
30	Aghjkaghala - Tiny mountaintop castle
30	Arzakan - Hot Mineral Springs near Yerevan
30	Halidzor Fortress	GPS - 39 13.09n x 046 21.12e
25	Petros & Poghos Church
20	Shoghakat Church
20	Mariane Church
20	Bjhni - Fortress Ruins
20	Dvin - Ruins of previous Armenian capital	GPS - 40 00.25n x 044 34.60e
20	Horom - Remains of Urartian Citadel
20?	Tanahati Monastery
?	"Aragats" Church 1*	GPS - 40 14.32n x 043 41.03e
?	"Aragats" Church 2*	GPS - 40 13.83n x 043 40.95e
x	Berd Town	GPS - 40 52.80n x 045 23.59e
?	Tejharuyk Monastery	GPS - 40 35.90n x 044 38.71e
add	Jukhtak Monastery
add	Matosavank
add	Berdavan Castle
add	Deghdznuti+Samsoni Monasterys
add	Kasagh Basilica
add	Sardarapat Monument and Museum
add	Ddmashen

KARABAKH

100	Aghdam Town	GPS - 39 59.58n x 046 56.00e
95	Dadivank Monastery	GPS - 40 09.71n x 046 17.32e
95	Gandzasar Monastery	GPS - 40 03.50n x 046 31.93e
85	Yerits Mankants Monastery	GPS - 40 15.11n x 046 38.38e
85	G'tichavank Monastery	GPS - 39 35.84n x 046 56.41e
75	Yeghishe Arakyel Monastery	GPS - 40 20.18n x 046 41.58e
65	Jraberd Fortress	GPS - 40 14.40n x 046 39.98e
65	Shushi Town	GPS - 39 45.66n x 046 45.33e
50	Dzovdar Hotsprings	GPS - 40 02.80n x 046 14.17e
50	Mayraberd-Askeran Fortress	GPS - 39 56.59n x 046 49.87e
45	Tsitsernavank Church	GPS - 39 38.60n x 046 24.52e
35+	Amaras Monastery	GPS - 39 41.06n x 047 03.55e
35	S'khtorashen Tree
25	Stepanakert Town	GPS - XX XX.XXn x XXX XX.XXe

OTHER

100? - Ani - City of 1001 churches GPS - 40 30.50n x 043 34.50e
100? - Aghtamar, Turkey - Island Monastery
95? - Jugha Nakhichevan
90? - Agulis Nakhichevan
90? - Iran - St. Thaddeus Monastery
70 - Venice - San Lazarro Island
50 - New York - St. Vartan
? - Portugal - Gulbenkian Museum
? - San Francisco - Saroyan House

The two "Aragats" churches, 1km from each other on the Akhurian River overlooking the Turkish border are near the village of Aragats, one of a number of villages with that name in Armenia. One of them is hexagonal and very nice, while the other I have no info about. I am pretty sure about the coordinates, which as almost due south of the village, but the churches are not accessible without prior permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for they are behind Russian the border troop perimeter. Also, an Armenian church should be visible about 2km west, and a little north of Aragats Church 1, in Turkey. (note, this info should be move to individual pages when created)