Please RSVP by June 15th.
US passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Armenia, but your passport does need to be valid a minimum of 6 months from the date you arrive. For non-US passport holders you can check out the visa requirements here: https://evisa.mfa.am
We will provide transportation for both the Ghna (Henna) Party and the Wedding Ceremony + Reception. For both days, a bus will pick everyone up from a central meeting point in Yerevan and will return everyone back to the same location in the evening.
For when your destination is not walkable, Yerevan has an underground metro system which is fast and very affordable. For all other destinations, download the app for the local transportation service GG (Armenian version of Uber/Lyft) or Yandex to call a ride from your phone. You will need a local number to access GG & Yandex.
We definitely recommend at least one person in your party with an *unlocked* phone to purchase a local SIM card and plan. We recommend using Vivacell and we suggest purchasing a short term package which is quite affordable and usually includes plenty of internet data which will be very useful during your travels! If you plan to use the local transportation app GG, you will definitely need a local number in order to register.
Cash is king in Armenia (the currency is the Armenian Dram), however many restaurants and brick and mortar establishments will take card. We suggest doing a currency exchange at your local bank prior to traveling. When you need to exchange more money, you can find an exchange booth at most grocery stores (Parma, SAS etc). All banks will also provide money exchange, just make sure you have your passport on you.
We’ve opted for a cash registry instead! If you'd like to contribute, you can find it on our website under the tab "Gift."
We highly recommend the tour guide service Hyur. Garni and Geghard is a great day trip. Noravank is also one of our favorite monasteries located near Areni. Visiting the second largest city, Gyumri, by train is also a great option. Please reach out to us for ideas and suggestions! If you'd like to go with a tour package, Hyur already has their August and September schedules posted here: https://hyurservice.com/en/group-tours-armenia
We're so glad you asked! Here is our very long and ever-growing list of favorite spots: COFFEE & SWEETS -Baguette & Co: delicious cappuccinos and pastries. -Lumen coffee: amazing coffee! -Afrolab coffee: Great coffee and breakfast. -Hayk Coffee: solid coffee on Saryan Street. -Crumbs: for a delicious sweets and tea/coffee. -Marash: for Western Armenian style pakhlava. -Mirzoyan Library: very hip and cool place to hang out, get the icecream w pakhlava. -Sorriso: delicious gelato! GRABBING A QUICK BITE -Bar B.Q.: Get the potatoes and homemade tan--everything is good here. -Zaatar pizza: Get the Zaatar special, hummus, tabouleh. -For a good Yerevan-style shawarma: try Artashi mot, Lebanon Shawarma or Tumanyan Shawarma. -Byblos: Order the mante and the zaatar roll. -Araks: THE BEST FALAFEL IN YEREVAN! -Tumanyan Khinkali: for nonstop khinkali (Georgian soup dumplings). SIT DOWN MEAL -Yerevan Pandok: A must-visit for everyone! There are several locations, but you have to go when "Akunq" folk ensemble is performing: Tuesday-Saturdays at the Amiryan location and Sunday at the Teryan location. -Baron: a new restaurant in town, everything is delicious! -Ainteb: One of our favorite restaurants!! Get the mante! Hummus is delicious here too. -Derian: The chi kufte is a must try for carnivores! Everything else is great here. -Mayrig: For a bit of a bougie Armenian dining experience. -Sherep: A very classical, can't go wrong, everything is delicious, menu is huge, type of spot -Lavash: On par with Sherep (same owners) but less fancy and the menu differs a little. Definitely make a stop here. -Zeituna: More Western Armenian cuisine. We really love this spot--the food is always so fresh and delicious. BEER & WINE -Dargett: hand-crafted beer made in Armenia! -Dors -Beer Academy -In Vino -Voskevaz -Minas Cocktail Room for amazing cocktails. -and really any wine bar on Saryan Street.