Yerevan Airport (Zvartnots): getting into the city and what to know
Zvartnots Airport (EVN) is 12 km from Yerevan: the terminal, money exchange and SIM cards, bus 201, taxis, car rental and how early to arrive for departure.
Zvartnots International Airport (code EVN) lies about 12–13 km west of central Yerevan. By car it usually takes 20–30 minutes to Republic Square, longer in the evening rush hour. There is a single passenger terminal, so arrivals, departures, money exchange and rental desks are all under one roof.
Where the airport is and how the terminal works
The airport sits on the Yerevan–Vagharshapat highway, between the city and Echmiadzin. If you fly in during the day in clear weather, Ararat is usually visible from one side of the plane or the other, depending on the approach.
The terminal is modern and compact. Departures are on the upper level, arrivals on the lower one. Check-in, security and the gates follow one straight line, so it's hard to go the wrong way. Signs are in Armenian and English, and Russian is understood almost everywhere in the airport.
There is usually a first baggage screening right at the entrance, before the check-in desks. In the morning, when the wave of flights to Moscow and Europe leaves, the queue starts at the doors. Keep this in mind when working out how early to arrive.
Passport control on arrival is quick unless several planes land at once. Citizens of most countries enter visa-free on their passport. Entry rules do change, so check the current requirements on the website of Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you fly.
Money and mobile data right after landing
The arrivals area has exchange booths and ATMs from several Armenian banks. The airport rate is usually a little worse than in town, but the gap is small, and it's fine to change enough here for your first expenses. In Yerevan there are exchange offices on nearly every block.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in the city: cafés, supermarkets, petrol stations. You'll still need some cash in dram. It's handy for minibuses and taxis from the rank, it's what people use at markets and outside monasteries, and in villages there's often nowhere to tap a card at all. I usually withdraw enough at the airport for a couple of days and use my card after that.
SIM cards are sold at operator kiosks right in the arrivals hall. Armenia has three networks: Team, Viva and Ucom. A tourist package with data for one or two weeks is inexpensive and takes a few minutes to set up with your passport. All three have good coverage on the main highways, while in mountain gorges every operator's signal drops, so download an offline map in advance.
Getting to central Yerevan
There is no train from the airport. You have three practical options: the bus, a taxi or a rental car.
Bus 201
This is the airport route into central Yerevan. The stop is by the exit from arrivals. It runs during the day and evening roughly every half hour and does not run at night. A ticket costs a few hundred dram. The way you pay for transport in Yerevan has changed in recent years (cash, bank card, transport apps), so carry both small notes and a card. The ride takes around 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.
The bus works well if you have a backpack or one suitcase and land during the day. With lots of luggage for two people it gets cramped in the evening rush hour. Route numbers, intervals and operating hours change from time to time, so check the current timetable in a maps app before you fly. If your flight lands in the middle of the night, plan on a taxi.
Taxi
The official taxi rank is by the exit from the arrivals hall. Taxis from there are usually more expensive than app taxis, including at night and to outlying districts. Private drivers may approach you at the doors offering a ride; agree on the price before you get in.
Ride-hailing apps work well in Yerevan: Yandex Go and the local gg show the fare upfront, so there's no haggling. An app ride to the centre comes to about 3,000 dram, more at rush hour and at night. A booked car usually reaches the arrivals area in 5–10 minutes.
Car rental
Rental company desks are in the arrivals hall, and cars are handed over in the car park next to the terminal. If you book a rental with pickup at Zvartnots Airport in advance, all that's left is to show your passport and licence and collect the keys.
Picking up a car at the airport makes sense when your trip goes beyond the city. Zvartnots is on the western edge of Yerevan, so from here you can head straight to Vagharshapat, to Aragats or south on the M2 without driving through the centre. For a few days in Yerevan only, taxis are usually simpler: parking in the centre is paid and traffic is heavy.
A few practical things at pickup:
- Check the fuel type. Many cars in Armenia run on gas, and your rental may be bi-fuel.
- Photograph the bodywork and the dashboard showing mileage and fuel level.
- Ask how camera fines are handled. The highways have a dense camera network, fines go to the owner, and the owner passes them on to the renter.
Comparing cost and time
| Option | Cost | Time to the centre | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 201 | a few hundred AMD | 30–40 min | Daytime, light luggage |
| App taxi | about 3,000 AMD | 20–30 min | When your mobile data already works |
| Taxi from the rank | usually more than an app | 20–30 min | At night, with children and suitcases |
| Car rental | daily rate + fuel | 20–30 min | Trips beyond Yerevan |
Prices are approximate and depend on the time of day.
Departure: how much time to allow
For an international flight it's sensible to arrive 2.5–3 hours ahead, especially for morning departures. Queues build up in three places in a row here: screening at the entrance, check-in and passport control. Each one is short on its own, but together they add up.
Online check-in saves time if you're flying without checked baggage. With a bag you'll still have to queue at the bag drop.
On a normal day the drive from the centre to the airport takes half an hour. On a weekday evening, getting out of the city to the west can stretch to 40–50 minutes, so that's when to leave with extra time.
If you're returning a rental car at the airport, add another half hour for the inspection. There's a petrol station on the highway just before the airport, and it's easier to fill up there than to hunt for one at the last minute.
After security, the departures area has Duty Free, cafés and a waiting lounge with free Wi-Fi. Duty Free sells Armenian brandy, but specialist shops in Yerevan have a wider selection at prices that are no worse.
Zvartnots Temple, 5 minutes from the airport
The airport is named after the temple, and the Zvartnots Temple itself is very close, on the same highway to Vagharshapat. These are the ruins of a round 7th-century cathedral with a colonnade and eagle capitals, and the site is on the UNESCO list.
It's easy to fit in if your flight leaves in the evening and you're returning the car at the airport: the stop takes about an hour including the small museum. On a clear day Ararat appears behind the columns. In summer there's almost no shade on the site, so go in the morning or closer to sunset.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Zvartnots Airport to central Yerevan? It's about 12–13 km. By taxi or car 20–30 minutes, by bus 30–40 minutes. In the evening rush hour the trip can take longer.
Is there public transport from the airport at night? Bus 201 doesn't run at night, and other routes' timetables change. The most reliable option if you land after midnight is a taxi, booked through an app or from the rank.
How much is a taxi from Yerevan airport? An app ride to the centre is about 3,000 dram, and you see the fare upfront. Taxis from the rank are usually more expensive, so agree on the price before getting in.
Where can I change money at the airport? There are exchange booths and ATMs in the arrivals area. The rate is slightly worse than in town, so it's fine to change enough for the first few days here and the bulk in Yerevan.
Do I need cash in dram? Yes, at least a little. Cash is used at markets, outside monasteries, in minibuses and in many villages. In the city cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Can I rent a car right at the airport? Yes. Rental company desks are in the arrivals hall, and cars are handed over in the car park by the terminal. It's convenient if you're heading straight out of Yerevan.
In short
Zvartnots is small and easy to navigate: one terminal, 12–13 km to the centre. By day the simplest way in is bus 201, at night a taxi, which costs about 3,000 dram through an app. A car from the airport is worth it when your route goes beyond Yerevan. For departure arrive 2.5–3 hours ahead, as the screening queue at the terminal entrance can be long in the mornings.
