Travelling through Armenia - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

The transport system of Armenia is quite extensive, but to date is at the stage of development and improvement. For the most part, work is being done to improve the comfort level of passengers while traveling around the country. The network of railways stretches for more than eight hundred kilometers. Previously, it was narrow-gauge. All passenger railways at the moment have been upgraded to international standards. Suburban and intercity routes are available to tourists. There are also a number of interstate trips. The largest railway stations are in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. It should be noted that regular trips are made at least twice a day in the direction of these three stations in their respective cities. The fare for this means of transportation is quite affordable so tourists use it quite often.

Air transportation in Armenia is the most convenient and comfortable means of getting into the country. There are large international airports that accept both external and domestic flights throughout the Republic. In view of the fact that the tourist load on air harbors keeps increasing yearly, many airports are reconstructing and opening new terminals to accommodate the growing traffic. The bus is the most employed way of traveling within the city. Although the bus network is generally quite dense, it however connects the most remote corners of Armenia with the regional centers and large tourist cities. It is worth noting that buses run on a well-timed schedule in large cities. In mountainous and sparsely populated areas however, many trips do not have a fixed route, and the traffic schedule varies constantly.

You will find a trolley bus service in big cities. Every year, the government tries to update the fleet as much as possible. The tram network existed on the territory of Yerevan until 2004, and to date almost all tramways have already been dismantled. Automobile roads in the country continue to be modernized and improved. In the remote regions of the country however, the main roads have only a ground covering. Due to the peculiarities of the relief road, even asphalt automobile roads have a rather tortuous intersection so the speed limit is restricted to 60 kilometers per hour. The total length of the network of automobile roads is more than seven and a half thousand kilometers. There are practically no bicycle lanes in the country. The development of this transport industry was also influenced by the country’s relief.

Due to the lack of access to the sea and large rivers, water transportation has not spread in the country. Only at the height of the tourist season on the largest Armenian lake Sevan will you find excursion yachts and boats of different sizes. There is no need for the use of ferries, since pedestrian and car bridges have been constructed a long time ago in the necessary places. The cableway is very popular in the mountainous regions of the country. Here it is used not only as an excellent sightseeing entertainment for tourists, but also as a way to quickly and inexpensively reach the necessary points among the local population. The capital of the country successfully operates an underground subway. The work schedule is from 6:30 am up until 11:30 pm. The construction of the subway was not planned for other cities due to their rather complicated relief conditions and small volume of passenger traffic.

The aviation industry in Armenia is quite developed. There are only eleven large airports in the Republic, ten of which have asphalted runways. It should be noted that since the times of the Soviet Union, there were small airstrip in the territory of almost every remote settlement. Then again, only a few have survived to this day. At large international airports, flights from the countries of the former CIS region are operated several times a day. Statistics show that the number of tourists arriving in the country by air transportation increases yearly. That is why all airports are gradually undergoing reconstruction and opening new terminals in order to increase their throughput. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Zvartnots Airport is the largest air harbor in the whole of Armenia. It is located only ten kilometers from the center of the capital, Yerevan. Every day, more than a thousand passengers fly to the airport which operates both domestic and international flights. The construction of the last terminal was completed about 20 years ago. Since then the carrying capacity per year at Zvartnots airport is at least two million passengers. On the territory of the terminal, there is absolutely everything you would need for a comfortable rest after a flight or while waiting for one. You will also find small cafes, stylish colorful restaurants with delicious traditional dishes of the country, inexpensive souvenir shops and fashionable boutiques. There is a separate room for passengers with children, a nursing room, a relaxation area and a medical office. Each tourist can also take advantage of the VIP lounge services. The conditions here are more comfortable. Most of the time, it is chosen by those who want to work with a laptop or papers while waiting for their flight. You can get to the airport by taxi or by public transportation.

The next in Armenia in relation to size, is the Shirak airport. It is located right in the city of Gyumri. The center is not more than five kilometers from the airport, so it can be easily reached by taxi or by public transportation. There is a large parking area in front of the terminal for personal transportation and transfers. After the air harbor underwent a number of reconstructions, it was awarded the title of International Airport 10 years ago. All the runways are designed for receiving any type of air transportation. It should be noted that it is on the territory of this airport that the main base of the Armenian armed forces is located. The infrastructure of Shirak airport is also quite well developed. There are bars, restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, souvenir shops, lounges, stores, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), offices of international and local banks, currency exchange offices, as well as other amenities at the airport. You will also find a comfortable VIP lounge on the territory of the terminal.

Another well-known airport is also situated not far from the city capital called Erebuni. This airport performs the functions of both cargo and passenger transportation both within and outside the country. All the necessary facilities for a comfortable flight are present within the territory of the airport. There is even a car rental station. The peculiarity of this air harbor is such that it is only from here that helicopters can fly to the only airport which is located in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Also situated here is the second military base of the Armenian air forces. You can get to the airport by public transportation or with the help of transfer and taxicabs. Other airports and aerodromes are not used for international passenger traffic, but are mostly used for cargo transportation.

Armenia is a country with only developing modern infrastructure. However, there are quite acceptable conditions for the movement of tourists within the country. The railway is quite popular, despite the fact that the speed of regular trains and electric trains is usually much lower than that of minivans or buses. The cost of a train ticket depends on the distance traveled and the class of the wagon. However, in general, all rail lines in Armenia do not meet modern comfort requirements and many are even in deplorable conditions. With the help of trains you can travel both around different regions of the country, and make intra city trips. At the peak of the tourist season, there is an increase in the number of flights along the most popular routes. Nonetheless, not all flights go in strict accordance with the schedule.

Some tourists wanting a more private experience rent cars. In Armenia, this service is relatively inexpensive. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to understand that good quality roads can be expected only in Yerevan. Also, because the country has a rather complex relief, many roads have only a ground covering. However, there is a positive side which is that even in mountain regions, not a single automobile road utilizes seasonal passes where there is a risk of falling under an avalanche of snow or mud. So, your trip will be absolutely safe. It is worth noting that only tourists who have reached the age of 25years will be able to rent a car and this is also subject to the availability of an international driver’s license. In Armenia, many people look at the rules of the road traffic from their own point of view. Therefore, confusion and mix-up often arises. Also, only the central streets are illuminated in the dark. If you want to avoid this, it is best to use the services of a driver who will take you both along the central street of Yerevan during rush hour, and along the most dangerous serpentine mountain roads. They (the drivers) are also the only ones that can find really high-quality gasoline in the country.

The network of bus routes in Armenia is pretty dense. You can reach the most remote region of the country by buses. Most trips are run by private carriers. The average fare is from 60 to 110 drams. The price depends on the distance and the carrier company. It should be noted that it is only in large cities such as Yerevan that buses go by a clear schedule. In other cities and especially in small villages, buses go to the destination only after the entire cabin is full. Therefore, routes planned according to time schedule do not apply here. Shuttle buses are very popular in the country. Despite the fact that the cars are quite worn out and stuffed with passengers, you will be relatively comfortable. After all, the mentality of the local population does not allow them to sit calmly in their seat when a crowd of passengers hang over them. You will be asked to divide one place for two or hold a heavy bag.

There is even a trolleybus line in the capital of Armenia and recently the country bought several new trolleybuses. However, the condition of the others leaves much to be desired. Also, tourists can use the services of the subway in Yerevan. Practically every tourist city has taxis. If however you are trying to save money, then it is not worth catching a car on the road, because the prices in his case will be exorbitantly high. If there is no other way out, then you should immediately negotiate the price with the driver. It is best to just call for a taxi by phone. The cost of one kilometer ride is about 100 drams and the minimum trip is not less than 650 drams. The cost of the trip should be checked with the dispatchers during the taxi call. The peculiarities of the interchange in the country are the cable cars. Their development of course is affected by the specific mountainous terrain. In some cases, traveling by cable car can cut down the time of travel by other means of transportation by at least four hours. Also do not forget that there are no traffic jams on the cable cars, and the cost of crossing is relatively cheap.