Temple of Garni: How to Easily Get From Yerevan to Garni?

Armenia is a real paradise for tourists, but so far, underestimated. In such a small area, there is an incredible number of monuments and the most valuable exhibits of world architecture. Here, every square meter is steeped in history, not to mention the unique nature.

It is very convenient for the traveler that most of the main attractions of Armenia are located relatively close to Yerevan, that is, you can live in the capital and arrange daily outbound tours. For this, renting a car is the most comfortable way to spend time in Armenia. Yerevan rental cars are not expensive and will be your friend throughout your whole trip.

One of these places, which you have probably seen on many tourist brochures and websites of the country, is the unique Garni temple.

Once upon a time on the site of the Garni temple, which is located in the village of the same name, a majestic fortress towered. The Armenian kings loved this place very much, where nature itself is the guarantor of inviolability and inaccessibility, as well as because of the pleasant climate. For this very reason, as well as due to its strategic location, the Armenian kings turned the Garni fortress into their summer residence.

The Garni Fortress is one of the most striking pieces of evidence of the centuries-old culture of the pre-Christian period in Armenia. The adoption of Christianity by Armenia in 301 resulted in the destruction of many pagan shrines. Fortunately, the hand of the followers of the new religion did not encroach on the Garni temple that stood in the royal residence.

The proximity to the capital of Armenia makes Garni one of the most visited attractions in the country. It is located 30 kilometers from Yerevan. You will not find the specific address of Garni, and the only thing that the Internet will give you is the coordinates and the name of the village of the same name in the Kotay marz. However, as a reference point, you can take the address: Marzpetunu, 8, which is in the village of Garni. This is the address of the Garni Tun restaurant, which is located right at the entrance to the complex (I will tell you a little more about the restaurant below).

You can get to the temple in several ways, you can choose the most convenient for you:

By taxi. Taxis in Armenia are quite affordable. So, it will be possible to get to the attraction for about 10–12 USD. If these are private traders, then they can offer both a lower and a higher price. In any case, you can bargain.

As part of an organized tour. For lovers of comfort and group tours, this option will be the most optimal. The cost of the trip will be about 17–20 USD per person, which usually includes a visit to one of the most beautiful Geghard monasteries. There are a lot of travel agencies offering such tours in Armenia. You can familiarize yourself with their services and reviews via the Internet in advance. You can order a tour, as they say, on the spot. Fortunately, finding offices of travel agencies in Yerevan will not be difficult, almost all of them are located in the city center.