IN & OUT

Air

Zvartnots International Airport is ten kilometers east of Echmiadzin. Taxis will run to Echmiadzin for around 2500AMD, even though they always start the bidding at 5000AMD (or the more popular "for you, $20"). .

Bus

Buses regularly connect Echmiadzin with Yerevan, Ashtarak, Masis, Markara and Armavir. Prices quoted are for the entire trip, so if you are getting off someplace between, ask the price beforehand. Despite announced hours, village buses will wait until enough passengers justify a trip.

Yerevan, Zvartnots, Masis Yerevan buses arrive and depart from the Bus Station on Atarbekian Poghots, 100 meters west of Komitas H’raperak. The Yerevan bus is #111, which leaves every 15 minutes between 7 am and 6 pm (220 AMD, one hour), stops at the villages of Zvartnots (200 meters east of the church, 100 meters from Zvartnots Motel), Petkhunk, Musalehr, Parakar, Airport Road and Argavand, then in Yerevan at the Shengavit Bridge, Yerevan Bus Station and the Modern Art Museum terminus.

Buses from Yerevan begin on Sarian Poghots next to the Modern Art Museum.

To go to Zvartnots (village, motel or church) take bus #1, 2 and 3 which leave every 10 minutes between 8am and 5 pm (50AMD, 15 minutes).

To go to Masis and the lower Ararat Valley, take the Masis Bus from the same point (170AMD, 2 hours), which leaves at 8,9,10 and 11 am and at 12, 1, 2 and 3 pm daily.

Taronik and Metsamor Excavation The Bus to Taronik village by the Metsamor Excavation (150AMD, 30 minutes) departs from opposite the Yerevan, Zvartnots and Masis Bus Station (50 meters west in front of the Apteka Shop) hourly between 10.30 am and 4.30 pm.

Ashtarak Buses depart from the Bus Stop directly in front of the Shuka on Toumanian Poghots at 8.30 am and 5.30 pm daily (200AMD, one hour).

Armavir-Yerevan Express The Armavir-Echmiadzin-Yerevan bus leaves every 30 minutes between 7 am and 5 pm at either end (400AMD, 30 minutes either way). To catch the bus in Echmiadzin go to the intersection of Toumanian and the Armavir-Echmiadzin-Yerevan Highway on the northwest end of town, and flag the bus from under the overpass.

Villages, Metsamor, Armavir Buses to northwestern regional villages depart from the bus stop at the corner of Toumanian and Baghramian Poghots.

Buses to Metsamor-Armavir (250AMD, 30 minutes) leave daily at 11 am, 12.30 and 2.10 pm.

Buses to the village of Arshaluis (60AMD, 90 minutes) leave at 10.45 am and at 12.30, 2, 3.30 and 5.30 pm, passing through the villages of Tsaghkunk, Tsiatsin, Hovtamech, Samaghaz and Haitagh.

Buses to Aghavnatun (100AMD, 2 hours) leave at 8.30 and 11 am, 1 and 3 pm, passing through Doghs, Franganots, Aghlighala and Aragats villages.

Markara The bus to Markara at the Turkish border leaves from Yerevan (350AMD, one hour) at the intersection of Sarian and Mashtots Poghots and makes a one minute stop in Echmiadzin at the corner of H’raperak and Araratian before continuing to Markara (220AMD, 30 minutes). The first bus leaves from the bus garage in Yerevan at 7.00 am and stops in Echmiadzin about 8.00 am. Others leave from Sarian Poghots in Yerevan at 8.10 am and at 12.45 and 5.00 pm. Arriving in Echmiadzin about 30 minutes later. Get there early.

Van

Yerevan Private vans (also called "RAF") to and from Yerevan travel the same route as the bus. In Echmiadzin the vans are located in front of Zbosaigee near the bus station. In Yerevan they depart from in front of the Shuka on Mashtots Ave. Vans leave when there are enough passengers to justify a trip, and cost 250 AMD from 7am to 7pm, 300 AMD thereafter. The trip lasts between 30-45 minutes.

Taronik, Metsamor Excavation One van a day leaves for Taronik (150AMD, 30 minutes) at 8.30 am, returning to Echmiadzin around 9.30 am. Obviously not a convenient arrangement for seeing the Metsamor excavation, you can arrange with the drive to return at a later time and collect you for about 3300AMD.

Taxi, Car

A taxi from the airport is around 2500AMD, but expect to haggle. Taxis to and from Yerevan cost 200AMD plus 200AMD per kilometer. To other cities, the rates are negotiable, and quoted for up to 3 passengers. Rates given at the time of writing were: Armavir 2000AMD; Giumri 10,000AMD; Ashtarak 2500AMD; Masis 2500AMD.

To rent a car with driver, ask at the taxi stands located at the Yerevan and Markara Bus Stations and by the Shuka. All prices are negotiated, and in Armenia's time-honored tradition of trading, the first price quoted by the driver is just that--the first price. Expect the final price to be about 25% lower. Prices generally go down the more days you use a car or taxi. At the time of writing, prices for a car and driver (up to 4 passengers) were from US$30 for one day to US$120 for a week's drive anywhere in Armenia. Prices for cars and drivers do not include petrol on longer trips, which must be figured into your calculations. See Getting There and Away: Cars.

AROUND

Bus, Van Local bus routes were discontinued years ago, but unless you are lugging a lot of gear, you won't find walking from point to point difficult in Echmiadzin. However, Echmiadzin-Yerevan Bus #111 departs every 15 minutes between 7am and 6pm from the bus station on Atarbekian Poghots and stops at the Markara Bus Stop (Komitas H’raperak), WW II Monument, Zoyayi Poghots (Shoghakat Vank) and Hripsimeh Vank en route.

The Zvartnots Bus (#1, 2 & 3) leave from the same point every 10 minutes between 7am and 6 pm, travels the same route. Use either bus to get to Zvartnots Church or Zvartnots Motel.

Taxi, Car Taxis officially charge 200AMD plus 200AMD per kilometer. If you want to use one for longer trips or wait while you visit a site, they will ask for more. Most are willing to negotiate rates for long trips or daily use. In negotiating, take into account how long you will use the taxi and the distance involved. A quoted rate is for the car and driver, which can sea up to 4 passengers. Rates given at the time of writing varied between $10 for a half day in Echmiadzin only to $30 for a full day trip taking in the city, Zvartnots Vank and the excavations at MokhraBlur, AdaBlur and Metsamor.