By Expedia Team, on June 20, 2014

10 Reasons You’ll Be Amazed by Armenia

Monasteries in Armenia

It´s not easy to find travellers that, after visiting Armenia, don´t want to go back. This place of gentle people and heavy history doesn´t disappoint. Surrounded by mountains, its streets are full of Columbian art, strong fresh coffee and Soviet-style cars. If you still haven’t visited this Caucasian country, here you have 10 good reasons the prove your trip will be worth it! [Image Source](https://www.flickr.com/photos/gusevg/481113171/in/photolist-2Qt2oR-4f5gLR-eXFkJr-3D1jwu-2WQKUt-9RcaD4-2SCL9z-7sHyH8-cqUPQL-gUpvcn-8F5MHr-8F5JAz-gc4nQ6-cWiw3L-djnHYc-JvQbF-kEHULe-dMYhh3-njRp5A-ej1VhK-7dQyKo-9LycJR-7xGXnr-4eWsMR-gyDqcp-5uCfvT-dpRs57-m48qwM-dyusur-8F5ZMp-6bJjBt-awGjR3-8LTaSq-ej7ETS-ej7EYf-cXVU9U-84Ar5W-fuCDHK-kwAS1M-8F5Kje-6ng2Yy-kVSUAM-5wp6B9-4faiim-eYG8gj-eYuFcT-k4UiHz-5eVtP-5eW6F-fiz1TD “Image Source”)

1. It´s a country full of history
————————————–

From its biblical past until the most recent conflicts, the Republic of Armenia is a country with hundreds of stories behind it. Armenian citizens were the first ones to welcome Christianity in 301 BC and this country was also the place that Noah set up his ark just after the flood.

2. It has its own version of Stonehenge
——————————————–

Zorats_Karer_Menhir6

Also called “Karahunj”, Carahunge is an ancient archaeological place near the city of Sisian and it’s based on an area 1770 meters above sea level. Here you will find a huge collection of Bronze Age tombs and if you finally decide to visit this magical place, there is no doubt that you will ask yourself the big question: Is Carahunge an observatory or just a necropolis? [Image Source](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Zorats_Karer_Menhir6.jpg “Image Source”)

3. It’s between two worlds
——————————

Located in Euroasia and between the Caspian and Black Seas, Armenia is bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan, and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey. Can you imagine how wonderful the views are?

4. Taxis here have wifi!
—————————-

Armenia is a country of contrasts and the transport is no exception. Armenia is one of those places where you can see either cabs with wifi connection or old marshrutkas (minibuses) on the road.

5. If you love Contemporary Art, this is your place!
——————————————————–

Cascade Yerevan, Armenia

Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, is a real outdoors museum. Here it is easy to find statues from the most popular worldwide artists such as Fernando Botero or Jaume Plensa. Art lovers can’t miss the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts, in the area around the Cascade, which hosts an important collection of art pieces from our century. [Image Source](https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_chapman/3649058520/sizes/m/in/photolist-nFZVMH-nYoHk1-nYuDFr-nYoKt9-nYnYpQ-nYo153-nG1cdU-o1h4An-nG1ddQ-nG1egj-nYct6P-nG1Xs2-nYoN5G-o1h1Le-nWs5Z1-nG14nn-nYnXaq-4g4Heu-9ZvU23-6ysnY5-ndxScV-2RvFiQ-hK3BaH-b1My1K-dusLXH-6ysp8W-vrMPi-2RvKSy-6yohAX-8pmCfV-cPdqdb-4gpUqZ-anEbtG-nG3nsN-nk3kZP-4gTZQM-6yrUEA-8pmBUe-cJQJUU-2RvJGE-cwmBRY-bbq4og-8bPUdj-6yompF-4d9FcS-fHhMmg-boxMSX-gN7zHZ-cEbj67-5nNKcz/ “Image Source”)

6. It has amazing monasteries
———————————

Geghard is probably one of the most amazing places in the world. It could be considered as a sort of Petra but without tourists. Dating from the 4th century, it is composed of different little churches based on the mountains.

7. Buy and enjoy amazing coffee on the street
————————————————-

The smell of coffee floods the streets of villages such as Vanadzor. In this and other places, it is easy to find old women selling strawberry or blackberry jam in the middle of the road.

8. You can enjoy views out of this world
——————————————–

Sevan Lake, Armenia

Whoever decides to travel to the Caucasian country should also visit the Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the country and also the largest fresh water high-altitude lake in the world. This is a good place to relax along the lake shore thanks to its numerous swimming beaches such as Sevan City Beach. [Image Source](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tim-waters/7768302238/sizes/m/in/photolist-cQszBu-bVyUMW-gRrzhb-5ig69-8J6AeD-3CM6MB-4tNXe1-gandbS-38M7Cp-bFwdxg-cWsth9-cQPEPw-4pcVa8-m8Eagx-m8FM4S-4J5cnb-ahj5as-4pgXYW-jirr8L-5qw4hb-nEf8ot-5iMqRX-b7tQsZ-ay7xF3-5iMqZZ-nEHZaA-PkDSm-anZ7nr-hgQQpz-d6jBsy-bUrBX8-bBCt7K-6yqBxA-6yqCSo-aRvSrv-cbo47j-29SFwp-9tbyri-cyCjNL-bBCrs4-a3GGe3-dfsMxr-niLgzj-niL8D8-nzXQTr-niLevg-6ymswr-91Ruuj-6yp1A2-c3zmyA/ “Image Source”)

9. You will love the coriander as much as they do!
——————————————————

Armenians use coriander for almost everything. If you order a salad, a kebab or a steak, it is very likely that you will have to taste the flavour of this herb – they even add it to the bakery!

10. There is a paradise called Vernissage Market
—————————————————-

Vernissage Market, Armenia

If you love street markets, you will love this country, especially its capital. Don’t hesitate to visit Vernissage Market, an open air exhibition-market open on the weekends (the word Vernissage comes from the French and refers to a preview of an art exhibition). It was set up by Armenian artists in the 80s as a place to display their art. The art pieces, the people and the atmosphere will encourage you to stay there for hours! [Image Source](https://www.flickr.com/photos/zsoolt/8840740412/sizes/m/in/photolist-ete77Q-dng1ck-4HhNxG-8K1Ryj-eyKXSP-eovxDP-ekxAND-gBa4XM-egptJi-eamQEZ-ezqqWX-4k1abX-71iaih-5to7Tf-71i9Sm-eoYG86-5tiJF8-5to7Zu-5tiJzz-5to7nb-5tiHWB-fuLHtp-fv1ZdQ-ejEUCm-ej2ULm-earDc8-eaCBoB-esrGQb-ekuCmV-eaktUE-gj52ay-esfELw-ek1Uho-emCAKd-7So8qY-3nFnNF-3nKSw7-3nFnxp-3nKSdJ-3nKSD7-kFRFe-erF1iW-ejEpHp-eztCLU-ekns2A-eaAAsD-kFRpa-fj5HE-kFRki-nbbuYh/ “Image Source”)

Do you know any other reasons to visit this incredible country? Tell us in the comments below orjoin us on Facebook!