Dilijan

Aghavnavank Monastery

12th-13th century monastic complex. The church is a small structure with the dome in the center and its depositories. It is built with yellowish polished stone. Hood of the dome and roof were covered with polished slabs, but only few of which preserved. Shaped stones of cornice fell down. There are also numerous constructions remained to the south of monument, which most probably constituted logistical and residential premises of the church congregation.

Bar & Grill "Flying Ostrich" by Dolmama

Fancy bar & restaurant with nicely decorated interior. Live music played at some of the evenings.

Cafe #2

A large, modern cafe overlooking a lake, with food options, free wifi, and space to work.

Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow·US$1 to 10

Cafe Dili

Inexpensive small family restaurant with 6 tables serving Armenian food and some other fast food options. Owners assure they use only local organic ingredients for cooking and indeed it tastes really good. Portions are of decent size. WiFi. No alcohol except beer. There is adjacent bakery cooking nice cakes and cookies, which can be taken away or eaten in the cafe.

Mains 500-2,000 dram

Copper jewelry and batik

Organised by Buduart Studio. As painters and jewelry makers, Arman Badeyan and Margarita Malkhasyan the couple founded Buduart studio, a gallery which combines a space for guests to explore their creative side. At the Buduart workshop and gallery, artists, art lovers and craft enthusiasts may gather to make jewelry or paint batik in a relaxing friendly environment under Arman and Margarita’s guidance.

Classes are available 7 days a week, from 10:00 to 22:00. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.

Dilijan National Park

This park surrounds Dilijan town. Most popular activities in the area are here, i.e. hiking, because the town is compact and the surrounding countryside is beautiful and best experienced at low speeds. Some trails can also be done by bicycle—inquire at the national park HQ. It has marked trails and you can discover some lesser-known monasteries, a lake, forests, springs and wildlife. Though, it can sometimes be a "hassle" to pay the entrance, as there is usually no-one on the route who can accept the payment—it may be necessary to pay in the tourist office or the national park HQ.

500 dram

Ecokayan Ponds

Set in a beautiful valley formed by the Kayenajur rivulet, a left tributary of Argstev river. Very charming landmark for the nature lovers, hikers and peoples to escape from the hustle–and–bustle of the cities. You may go horseback riding and fishing in the ponds, shoot an arrow in the archery, rent a summer house or even book a room in the nearby Ecokayan Dilijan hotel. You may enjoy Dilijan traditional food at the nearby Riverbend Dilijan restaurant - night club.

Open now · open 24 hours·0

Getap Restaurant and hotel complex

Great traditional wooden eating booths outdoors, some of them over the river serve as the perfect setting for fresh fish, meat or vegetable barbecues. There is also children's playground, table tennis. Wi-Fi.

About 3,000 dram per person. Housing: one room flat 15,000 dram, two room flat 20,000 dram

Goshavank Monastery

Goshavank monastery is surrounded by a traditional village. There is a groundskeeper who opens the main church building up for visitors and can give a tour. This is the one church in all of Armenia where entrance to one of the chambers is not free. The chamber is nice, but you can certainly enjoy the rest of the complex without it, especially since it may not be offered in English. There are excellent carved details and khachkars here, but the "lacework" khachkar at Goshavank is one of the most impressive in the world.

Haghartsin Monastery

One of Armenia's most popular monasteries, Haghartsin is nestled in lush forested mountains about a half hour drive from Dilijan. The monastery is in good condition and has a resident priest who sometimes gives tours. There are a few different churches, a large gavit, a huge dining hall, khachkars and a massive hollow tree. A slightly sweet bread is often being baked in an old oven.

Haghartsin restaurant-hotel-bar complex

It's a pleasant and quiet place near the road from Yerevan to Ijevan with large car parking. It's possible to taste national cuisine in a modern restaurant hall or cozy gazebos among trees.

round-the-clock·US$10-20

Haleb Restaurant

Syrian-Armenian cuisine, friendly staff. Restaurant consists of a detached private houses-cabins. Good reviews.

10:00–00:00

Kchuch

Fantastic Armenian cuisine for a great price. Almost everything is slow cooked in ceramic kchuch in a traditional way.

US$8

Lake Parz

Parz lich

This clear lake is a dream, a miraculous vision. As poet Gevorg Emin says: “Go to Lake Parz, I urge you to go. One last time I tell you to go as long as the magic is there.” The lake's altitude is 1,350 m, length – 300 m, width – 70-80 m. Water temperature reaches 15.5°C at summertime. There is a restaurant overlooking the lake.

Lake Tzrka

A long time ago, leeches were bred here for traditional and non-traditional medicines. There are no longer leeches now, but the lake is called Tzrka by their name. It is better to travel by foot rather than by car to enjoy the beautiful wildlife surrounding the lake.

Mantash Fortress

Ashot Yerkat Fortress, Mantashberd

It was built under the Arab rule and was one of Armenia's invulnerable fortresses. Ruins of the fortress has two entrances, the doors of which were made of large stones. The passable parts of the mountain are fortified with walls that have pyramid-shaped towers on top.

Molokan Villages

If you take the highway toward Vanadzor, a few of the villages you pass will be those of the Molokans. A Russian old believer sect, much like the Amish in Pennsylvania, they grow beards and shun technology.

Museum of Folk Art after V. Sharambeyan

The building used for this museum was built at the end of the 19th century and served as a summer house of Princess Mariam Tumanyan. Works of contemporary folk masters and self-taught artists are collected here, as are significant ethnographic exhibits.

Tue-Sat 11:00-18:00, Sun 11:00-16:00·300 dram

Old Dilijan historic complex

A little cobbled street with the traditional buildings. Created in 1979 by artist Hovhannes Sharambeyan. The aim of the historic center was to present the history of Dilijan, its lifestyle, and the interest of the people who live there. Here instead of the previously established workshops and houses, 16 studios were opened where you could see items used in everyday life as well as handmade works of Dilijan craftsmen and artists. In 2005 the territory was leased by American-Armenian businessman James Tufenkian, who has already had a list of hotel complexes named “Tufenkian Hospitality” Ltd.

Restaurant Mimino

Quite cheap restaurant with exceptional Georgian cuisine. Big portions. Khingali dumplings are 2 or 3 to the US dollar... and they are not small. Decorated in a theme of old Soviet movie "Mimino". There is an outside take away grill place preparing bratwurst sausages.

Rundown theme park

Remains of a Soviet-era theme park. Consists of a few lanes with trees and rundown roller coasters. There have been some rumors that it will be renovated by the owners of United World College Dilijan and turned into a local Disneyland, but no exact dates are given for when this would be done.

Shawerma

A modern shawerma fast-food joint, with rotisserie meat served in a pita or lavash sandwich. Cheap and fast food.

US$3

The Geological Museum and Art Gallery of Dilijan

Here are some excerpts from the "Page Info" page of this small museum's Facebook site: "The Geological Museum and Art Gallery of Dilijan which was founded in 1950... provides a comprehensive view of the history of the Dilijan Region, the historical development of the local people, their way of life, material culture monuments, historical and geographical conditions.""[The land of Dilijan was so rich in archeological relics] that it... was able to provide museums of the... city with [items that are] more than 3,000 years old.... The rare pictures stored here also make the Geological Museum of Dilijan a treasury." It contains works by Armenian and Russian painters, "Dutch, Italian and French painters of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries", etc.Following your guided tour of the museum, you can participate in a hands-on workshop The Art of Printmaking which will help you discover and differentiate among the artistic processes and practices of printmaking. The workshop will also teach you the specialized technique of transferring images from a matrix (e.g., a metal plate, block of wood, stone, linoleum) onto another surface, such as paper or fabric. All necessary materials and equipment are provided to create your own print based on already-incised images on different matrices. At the end of the workshop, you will be able to take home your new artwork.

Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00; during summer till 21:00

Tufenkian Restaurant

Haykanoush Restaurant

Restaurant with rustic modern Tufenkian furniture and upscale Armenian menus and prices. Although it looks fancy, the food isn't particularly good. There is also a traditional bakery on the first floor of the restaurant facing the promenade street; however, it seems to work only during high tourist season (i.e. summer months).

Mains from 2,000 dram

Aghavnavank Village – Redwood Grove

An easy hike suitable for a family. From tourist information center take the road north to Ijevan, after 16 km turn right (there will be a sign for Gosh & Chambarak). Drive another 11 km. Then after a bridge there will be green sign marking the trail beginning.

Dilijan National Park Office – Waterfall

National park office is 500 m away from tourist information center following the road north to Ijevan.

Dilijan – Ayridash area/Astkhakar Peak

From tourist information center drive 2.5 km along the road towards Vanadzor. Turn left to Shamakhyan village. At the highest point in the village there will see a green sign indicating the beginning of the trail.

Dilijan – Dilijan Mountains loop

This circuitous trail bringing visitors to the one of the highest peaks in the area.

Dilijan – Matosavank and Jukhtak Monasteries

A 60-120 min hike. From tourist information center take the road to Vanadzor, after 3 km turn right (there will be brown road signs for Matosavank and Jukhtak Monasteries). Travel down the dirt road for 3 km, after that Matosavank will be on the left and Jukhtak on the right.

Dilijan – Natural mineral spring Ttu Jur – Parz Lich Lake

Take the right fork 200 m after the town square—this is the beginning of the trail.