Layover in Yerevan

Armenia has become a convenient country for layovers for Russians traveling to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Flying to Yerevan takes only 3-3.5 hours, and then a wide range of flights opens up to all parts of the world. What you need to know about the airport, how to get to Yerevan, and where to spend time during a night layover – we've figured it all out and are now telling you.

About the airport

The first thing to know about Zvartnots is that this airport is quite compact. So don't expect a welcoming jet bridge or even a couple of buses. You'll have to walk from the plane to the airport building. Keep this in mind when packing your hand luggage and everything else you can take into the cabin.

The arrival zone is on the first floor, and the departure zone is on the second. It's convenient to move between floors by escalator, especially if you have a short layover and need to hurry.

From Zvartnots International Airport, there are flights to Paris, Milan, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Marseille, Cologne, Larnaca, Doha, Brussels, Thessaloniki, Athens, Budapest, Hurghada, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Vienna, Dubai.

Airlines flying here include Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Arabia, Air France, Armenia Airways and Armenian Airlines, Azimuth, Belavia, China Southern Airlines, FlyDubai, Lufthansa, Pobeda, Qatar Airways, Red Wings, S7, UTair, WizzAir, and others.

How to plan your layover

Upon landing in Yerevan, you will most likely need to collect your luggage. Most Russian airlines no longer have cross-sharing agreements with foreign companies. So, allow time for this step between flights to avoid being late. It will take 40-60 minutes to clear passport control and collect luggage. However, if you have all your boarding passes in hand, the transfer will be quicker. You should allow a minimum of one and a half to two hours for it. More if you are concerned about delays with your first flight.

For those flying with low-cost carriers like FLY One or WizzAir, we recommend thoroughly checking the airline's rules, as check-in may be paid. Also, weigh your luggage: you'll have to pay extra for overweight bags. And consider the card situation: foreign Visa and MasterCard will work, but Russian ones will not. In this case, you will be issued a payment receipt and sent to the carrier's office. They are located on the upper floor. There you will receive a check, with which you will return to the counter and then collect your boarding pass.

What documents are needed to go into the city

Your internal or international passport. That's all! No visas, tests, forms, and so on. Fast, simple, convenient. Passport control officers work efficiently, and there are generally no complaints from tourists traveling through Yerevan. You won't have to spend much time in queues.

How to get from Yerevan airport to the city center

When talking about what to see in Yerevan, we already mentioned the simplest ways to get to the city from the airport. Nothing fundamentally new has appeared in this matter. Taxi drivers will still meet you at the exit, and the Yandex Go service still operates.

Bus

A trip on bus No. 201 (Elitebus) will be cheaper. Buses run from 07:00 to 22:00 every 30 minutes. The cost of a trip from Yerevan to Zvartnots Airport or Zvartnots Airport to Yerevan is 300 dram.

Additionally, route No. 100 has appeared, which runs from 06:50 to 22:00 every 30 minutes, and from 22:00 to 06:50 – every hour. You can pay for the fare via the TelCell app, through TelCell terminals, or with a Visa or MasterCard directly on the transport. Four TelCell payment terminals are located in the public area of the arrival and departure halls. The route goes directly to France Square, from where it's just a couple of minutes' walk to the Yerevan Opera Theatre and the Cascade. The ticket price is 500 dram.

Car rental

On the first floor in the arrival hall, you'll find offices of rental companies Carwiz, GoMotion, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, SIXT Rent a car, and Hertz.

What to do during a layover

If you only have two or three hours between flights, it's not worth leaving the airport: check-in for the next flight opens exactly two hours prior. So, after collecting your luggage and passing through all control zones, you will enter the waiting area where you'll have time to rest a bit.

Four hours is enough time to visit Etchmiadzin. Travel time is 20-30 minutes. Here you'll find the city's main attraction and the spiritual center of Armenia – the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as Saint Gayane Church and Saint Hripsime Church.

With a layover of more than five hours, you can already head to Yerevan. But always keep in mind that traffic jams, road closures, and other unforeseen circumstances can affect travel time, so allow more time for the journey.

What to do at the airport

Of course, Zvartnots cannot compete with major global hubs like Dubai Airport or Beijing, in terms of the number of amenities. There's no full-fledged hotel here, no contemporary art galleries, swimming pools, or domed gardens either. However, it has all the most important things for tourists – a pharmacy, Duty Free, travel goods stores, luggage storage, and a baggage wrapping service.

Dining

Seven cafes operate in the airport building. Not many, but they are open 24/7. On the first floor in the arrivals hall, there is the food court Esperanto, in the VIP lounge – ArleAm Aero, at the boarding gates – Segafredo and Square one, on the second floor in the departures hall – Paul le Cafe, Lavazza and Pascucci. Passengers particularly praise the latter two.

Rest

In the departures hall, there is a business lounge, which can be accessed three hours before the flight's departure. Inside, you'll find complimentary snacks and drinks, shower cabins, a relaxation area, a baby changing room, and a smoking room. Passengers flying business class and members of various loyalty programs, such as Dragon Pass, Lounge Key, Priority Pass, RusPriority, and others, can use the business lounge services. The cost of staying in the business lounge is 20,000 dram if paid online or by credit card, 25,000 dram if paid in cash on site.

Currency exchange

24-hour exchange points are available in the departure zone. They exchange rubles, dollars, euros, drams. A simple way to get a couple of Armenian coins as a souvenir if numismatics is your thing. They won't even ask for your passport for exchange. There's a VTB ATM on the first floor.

Internet

There is a free open Wi-Fi network – Zvartnots Public. The provider will not ask for any personal data, only to view an advertisement and accept the terms of use. The signal is stable, but the connection will need to be refreshed periodically. Power outlets are located throughout the airport, which can be used to charge phones, tablets, and any other portable devices. Offices of mobile companies Team, VivaCell MTS, and Ucom operate in the arrivals hall.

Night layover in Yerevan

Sleeping between flights is always a good idea. Here's a life hack on how to nap for free at Zvartnots Airport: go into one of the cafes in the departures hall, order something to eat/drink (the kitchen is open 24/7), and make yourself comfortable on the soft sofas. The staff is understanding of such night visitors.

A more comfortable option is a capsule hotel. Zen Capsules is located on the first floor in the arrivals hall and operates 24 hours. The cost per hour of stay is 5,000 dram. Disposable sheets and pillowcases will be provided, plus a locker for luggage storage.

If sleeping in a capsule isn't for you, then you'll have to leave the airport building and head to nearby hotels. We found four such hotels: Otyak, Port Plaza EVN, KA-EL, and Star Zvartnoc. All of them are located 5 minutes from the airport. Check-in is standard after 14:00, check-out by 11:00 or 12:00. In the first three, the reception desk operates 24/7, which is especially important for a night layover in Yerevan. The cost per night for one person starts from 4,500 rubles.