Best Time to Visit Yerevan

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

April and May are lovely. Days are warm without being heavy, and the apricot and cherry trees flower. May is the rainiest month here, with showers on 16 days, but they're usually short. Pack a small umbrella and carry on. Cascade, the giant staircase of the city's art complex, is great for a slow walk in this weather.

October is our top pick. Afternoons are warm, nights are cool, and the rain is light. It's harvest time, so markets like GUM Market fill with grapes, pomegranates and dried fruit. September and November also rate Excellent. September is hotter, while November is crisp and quiet. Day trips to Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery and Khor Virap, with Mount Ararat behind it, all work well in these months.

Summer: hot and dry

July and August are the hottest months, tied at 36°C. They're also the sunniest, and the air is dry. Afternoons on Republic Square or in the Cafesjian Center for the Arts are better spent indoors. Evenings are when the city wakes up. Cafés fill, and the Dancing Fountains in Republic Square run into the night.

June is easier. It's hot but not punishing, and it's a good month for the hills around Dilijan or the shores of Lake Sevan, where it's cooler. Summer is also when diaspora families (Armenians who live abroad) visit, so flights and hotels can be busier. If heat bothers you, base yourself in Yerevan only for a night or two and head up to higher ground.

Winter: cold, quiet and cheap

From December to February, days are cold and grey, with only a few hours of sun. Nights drop below freezing. Snow is possible, and the city feels calm. This is low season, so you'll often have museums such as the History Museum of Armenia nearly to yourself. Rain is light, so the cold is the bigger issue.

Winter does have its charm. Around New Year, Republic Square gets a big tree, lights and a market. Armenian Christmas is on 6 January, which is a quieter, church-focused day. Skiing at Tsaghkadzor is about an hour away by road.

Events through the year

April has Genocide Remembrance Day on the 24th, when thousands walk to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial. Expect a sombre mood and some closed venues. In May, Museum Night and Victory Day events fill the city. Late summer brings the Vardavar water festival, usually in July, when people soak each other in the streets. Bring a change of clothes. The Golden Apricot Film Festival is held in July, and the Yerevan Wine Days festival in autumn suits an October trip.