If you’re looking to visit the incredible Garni Pagan Temple, Symphony of Stones or Geghard Monastery in Armenia, then you’ll need to get from Yerevan to Garni. Garni is just 26 km (16 miles) from Yerevan so it’s an incredibly easy trip to make.
Quick Takeaway: There are four ways to get from Yerevan to Garni; marshrutka, taxi, tour or rent a car. The journey time is just over 30 minutes and the cheapest option is to take the marshrutka which costs just 500 drams ($1.25).
I’ve been to Garni twice times since I’ve been living in Yerevan, and it’s one of the easiest (and most impressive) day trips from the city. See the incredible pagan temple, walk along the canyon under the Symphony of Stones, and visit the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery.
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Bus From Yerevan to Garni (Marshrutka Number 266)
There is no public bus from Yerevan to Garni however, there are marshrutkas (minibusses with a fixed route) going twice an hour from the stop on Gai Avenue in Yerevan.
The Yerevan Garni journey time is between 30 and 40 minutes depending on traffic and costs just 500 drams one-way. I’ve done this trip twice this year and for anyone that’s an experienced traveler, it’s pretty easy to do.
Gai Avenue is around 4km (2.5 miles) from the center of Yerevan, so you’ll need to make your way there either by bus or taxi.
A taxi on the street costs c2,000 drams ($5) or about 1,200 drams ($3) with an app like Yandex or GG (Armenia’s equivalent of Uber).
Marshrutka number 266 leaves every 30 minutes in summer and every hour in winter. The cost is 500 drams ($1.25) and you pay the driver when you leave. There is no return ticket so you just need to buy a single each way.
Click here for directions to the bus stop on Gai Avenue on Google Maps.
Taxi from Yerevan to Garni
Taking a taxi from Yerevan to Garni is one of the easiest ways to make the trip. It’s best to use an app like GG or Yandex. I’ve just got a quote on GG for 3,300 drams ($8.25) from my apartment in the center of Yerevan which is a real bargain.
If you take a taxi from the street or station, be sure to haggle, but you’ll pay at least 50% more than using GG or Yandex. GG is easy to download, and works with a foreign number (you need a local number for Yandex).
I use GG almost every day to get around and the app is in English, easy to use, and saves a fortune on taxi fares.
Click here to download to find GG on Google
Click here to download to find GG on Apple
Take a Tour from Yerevan to Garni
There are many excellent tours that go from Yerevan to Garni which include a trip to Garni Temple, the Symphony of Stones, and other nearby attractions such as Geghard Monastery, Khor Virap and the wineries of Areni.
Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery
This 7-hour day trip from Yerevan to Garni Temple includes a tour of the impressive pre-Christian pagan temple, the Symphony of Stones, and the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery. It also includes a baking class where you’ll get to make traditional Armenian lavash. Click here to check availability.
Garni, Geghard and Khor Virap
This full-day tour (9 hours) includes a trip to Khor Virap Monastery which sits in the shadow of Mount Ararat as well as a trip to Garni Pagan Temple and Geghard Monastery. The tour also includes a lavash cooking class and trip to Charents Arch. Click here to check availability.
Garni, Geghard and Lake Sevan
This 9-hour tour from Yerevan to Garni also includes a trip to beautiful Lake Sevan (one of my favorite places in Armenia). The tour also includes lunch at Garni and a cooking class, as well as a trip to the impressive Geghard Monastery. Click here to check availability.
Driving from Yerevan to Garni
If you want the ultimate freedom to explore at your leisure, then renting a car and driving from Yerevan to Garni is an excellent option.
All you need to do is take route 3. Make your way to Tevosyan Street and head east and then south to Garni.
If you need to rent a vehicle while in Armenia, our partners at Discover Cars have options available from the airport and downtown. Click here to get the details.
Where to Stay in Garni
Garni is an easy day trip from Yerevan (I’ve done it twice already), however, if you don’t want to rush and would like to spend more time exploring the beautiful canyon, Symphony of Stones and the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery then there are a couple of options for staying overnight.
Budget: Lucy B&B. This quaint B&B is just 1.5 km from the center of Garni and offers double rooms with an en-suite bathroom, and a pleasant garden for guests to enjoy. Click here to find out more.
Mid-range: NorDar is a 3-star hotel in Garni that has an outdoor swimming pool, terrace, garden and a selection of en-suite rooms and suites with gorgeous mountain views. Click here to learn more.
Luxury: Aya Maria Wellness Spa is a resort 9 km (5.5 miles) from Garni and offers spacious en-suite rooms, two swimming pools, a spa with a sauna, and a beautiful garden. Click here to check availability.
Things 5 to do in Garni
- Explore Garni Temple
- See the Symphony of Stones
- Shop for souvenirs
- Go to Taverna Restaurant for the best views
- Take a trip to nearby Geghard Monastery
FAQS
You can get to Garni and Geghard by taxi, marshrutka (bus), on a tour or by hiring a car.
The quickest way to get from Yerevan to Garni is to take a taxi which takes around 30 minutes and costs from 3,300 drams ($8).
The cheapest way to get from Yerevan to Garni is to take the marshrutka from Gai Avenue. The journey time is around 40 minutes and costs 500 drams ($1.25).
Due to its mountainous location, there are no trains from Yerevan to Garni.
Conclusion
Now you know the best ways to get from Yerevan to Garni using a variety of transport methods. I’ve made this trip many times and will surely return again to explore more of this incredible mountainous location.
Whether you want to adventure off on your own using local transport or opt for something easier like a taxi or tour, Garni is a piece of cake to get to from the city and is definitely one of the best day trips for visitors.
Check out my other guides to Armenia:
About the author:
Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.
Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.
Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲