A couple of years ago the situation with public transport in Armenia was very tough, especially with minibusses or so-called “Marshrutkas”. They were relatively small in size, did not manage to take care of the population, people were squeezed within the buses, and so on. Significantly, Armenians did not like it at all.
Finally, it is almost the third year that public transport in Armenia has gone through major changes. The white minibusses have been replaced with big blue, modern Yerevan buses which are being controlled and provided by Yerevan Municipality. Despite all the changes, the price remains the same – 100 AMD which is around 0.25 USD or 0.23 Euro. Now the Municipality of Yerevan has just bought a number of more modern and larger buses from German and Chinese manufacturers, which will start working in the Spring of 2023. Important to note, the new buses operate only within the capital the regions and countryside lacks in the list.
Though Armenia is a relatively small country and “Yerevan Tours” can be explored on foot, information about Yerevan public transport would not be a waste of time and is meaningless. It will guide you on how to get to Yerevan from Zvartnots International Airport upon your arrival in Armenia.
Unlike many European cities, Armenia has almost no public transport between 11:30 PM and 6:00 AM. Except for a few private taxis, even inter-city marshrutkas stop running in the early evening. This often surprises tourists arriving on late flights at Zvartnots Airport who need a ride to the city. Many end up relying on pre-booked transfers.
Fairly stating, the public transport in Armenia is not so satisfying for the population, but it is developing day by day. If you compare it with the previous system then this is just a heavenly gift to the infrastructure and country.
Armenian transportation includes four main types:
In the case of newly brought buses, the situation is a lot different, and so said, respectful for the citizens and their guests.
Compared with minibuses, the new buses feel like heaven. They surely gave the city a new look and made Yerevan tours better and more easily accessible than before.
Some buses have discounted fares for specific groups. Children under 7 usually ride free with an adult. Seniors and disabled passengers with valid Armenian IDs can use discounted or free public transportation on some city routes. Tourists usually pay full fares.
Several mobile apps help passengers use public transport. The most popular is Yerevan Bus, a city-run app that shows real-time bus routes, estimated arrival times, and stop information. Moovit helps plan routes across Yerevan’s public transport system, including the metro. Marshrutka routes often do not appear in international apps, but the popular local app A2B Transport Armenia shows detailed marshrutka routes. These apps help tourists who are not familiar with Armenian scripts or routes.
Taxis and ride-sharing services are common, especially when buses or marshrutkas are less convenient. Local apps such as GG Taxi and Yandex Go operate alongside regular taxis. Both apps let you book rides with fare estimates, and most drivers take cash or local cards. GG Taxi is an Armenian-owned company, and Yandex Go is a Russian app used in several countries.
Public transportation in Armenia, especially in Yerevan, has undergone modernization under the supervision of the Yerevan Municipality’s Transport Department and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. New fleets, including Yutong and Hyundai County buses, feature CCTV systems and GPS tracking, which are monitored at a central location to ensure drivers follow traffic rules and stay on route. The City Transport Reform Program introduced retraining programs for drivers and stricter licensing rules.
Pickpocketing is rare, with most reports occurring at major interchanges, such as Barekamutyun Metro Station or Kilikia Bus Station, during peak hours. The Armenian Police run public safety patrols around these hubs, supported by surveillance partnerships with Tashir Group facilities.
Solo female travelers often use both metro and surface transport. The Yerevan Metro, run by Karen Karamyan’s administration, maintains well-lit platforms and staffed security during operating hours.
Yerevan’s recent bus upgrades introduced a payment system that may confuse visitors. Most new blue buses feature contactless card readers, but they only accept bank cards issued by Armenian banks. Foreign credit or debit cards are usually not accepted.
Tourists have two reliable ways to pay:
The Telcell mobile app, popular with locals, requires Armenian residency credentials, so tourists usually cannot use it. Using the terminals is the easiest option.
Accessibility is still improving. Many new buses in Yerevan have low floors and priority seating for passengers with limited mobility. Older buses, marshrutkas, and metro stations often do not have full wheelchair access, especially outside Yerevan. Most metro stations do not have elevators and only have long escalators. Tourists with mobility needs should plan their routes carefully.
So far, we talked about the capital, Yerevan, but what about the other parts of the country?
Despite the challenges that anyone may encounter while using buses to travel to the regions, these buses are the cheapest option for saving money while traveling to Armenia.
Public transportation between Yerevan and other cities mostly runs through small marshrutkas and regional buses. They often leave only when full, so exact departure times are unpredictable. Travelers should arrive early at the correct station and be ready to wait.
Here are some main departure points:
Most marshrutkas do not have online booking systems. You can buy tickets directly from drivers or at small kiosks on site.
Traveling within Armenia can also involve using informal booking networks. Regional marshrutka drivers often keep WhatsApp groups or work with hotel staff to arrange passenger pickups, especially when tourist traffic is low.
When visiting monasteries in the regions, travelers should check local bus timetables early, which makes spontaneous trips harder since routes to remote sites like Noravank or Tatev often run only once or twice a day.
Public transport helps visitors reach popular tourist spots at a low cost. For example, marshrutkas to Lake Sevan leave regularly from Yerevan’s Northern Bus Station and take about an hour. Buses to Dilijan, Gyumri, and Tatev Monastery also leave from different bus terminals.
Arriving at regional bus terminals often leaves travelers several kilometers from tourist sites. Without pre-arranged hotel pickups or agreeing to informal taxi rides, which cost 3000 to 6000 AMD depending on distance, travelers may face long delays or have to stay overnight.
Schedules can vary, and many services run less often on weekends and holidays. Buying tickets from drivers or at the station is common. English signs are limited, so knowing basic Armenian place names helps.
Travelers with large luggage may have problems because many marshrutkas have limited storage space. When traveling regionally, avoid large luggage. Use soft bags or backpacks that fit in small trunks or aisle spaces. If you have large suitcases, check with the driver to make sure there is space before you board.
During Armenian public holidays, transportation schedules often change or run less frequently, which can surprise visitors. Check the national holiday calendar in advance. For major holidays like New Year or Easter, check with hotel staff or station personnel the day before to confirm service availability.
Opened on March 1, 1981, Karen Demirchyan Yerevan Subway, or known as Yerevan Metro, is a rapid transit system serving only in the capital. It has 10 stations:
With a rolling stock of 45 wagons, the station is the fastest transit system in the capital. It also has a voice-over in Armenian, Russian, and English languages which tells the end of the station and the name of the next station. The stations are decorated and designed with Armenian cultural pieces. It is very easy and affordable to use the station: the cost is the same – 100 AMD. All you need is to approach the cashier, pay the coin and get orange-colored tokens.
While visiting the subway stations, you may explore Armenian culture and heroic history thanks to the banner and images on the walls. The station can help to make trips to Armenia memorable and interesting.
Trains are not as common in Armenia as they are in other countries. However, the Yerevan Station is real and it exists. The Yerevan Train Station or Sasuntsi David Station, can be found at Tigran Mets Avenue – 2.7 km south of the Republic Square. It can also be reached by Yerevan metro very easily – just simply disembark at the “Sasuntsi Davit” subway station, the train station is right above it.
The destinations are:
Due to the offered schedules and stops, the train makes it more easily accessible to have Armenia-Georgia Tours by uniting two neighboring cultures.
A joint customs protocol was signed quietly in 2023 as part of the Armenia-Georgia railway corridor. Trains crossing from Armenia to Georgia are now jointly inspected at key points, reducing duplication delays by 40%. This improves passenger and freight traffic, especially on the Yerevan-Tbilisi-Batumi routes during peak summer months.
Buses, minibusses, trains, trolley buses, and subways give the opportunity to connect to other parts of the country besides the capital. The only thing that remains to do is to know their right times, stops, and destinations, for avoiding being lost. Oh, yes, and please learn the Armenian written names of the places since the infrastructure lacks foreign language descriptions.
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