The oldest shoes and the oldest winery in the world have been discovered here. And despite the fact that the country is located in three climatic zones at once, most of the Yarmians live outside of it. Welcome to Armenia! From the article you will learn about the most popular souvenirs, the most famous shopping centers, the most popular bazaars, share and interesting facts. Let’s go!
- Top 5 tips for shopping in Armenia
- Sales in Armenia
- Clothes and shoes
- Leather goods
- Natural cosmetics
- National jewelry
- Traditional carpets
- Ceramic products
- Edible souvenirs
- What else can you bring from Armenia?
- Where to change money in Armenia?
- How does the Tax Free system work in Armenia?
Top 5 tips for shopping in Armenia
- In Armenia, pay attention to local supermarkets like “Yerevan City”, “Parma”, “Sas”, “Rock Four”, “Nor Zovq”, “Moskvichka Supermarket”, “Carrefour”, ‘Kaiser’, “Zambyugh market”, “Einar Supermarket” and other stores with food and non-food items. In “Parma” market there are more and more local Armenian products, in ‘Carrefour’ and “Moskvichka Supermarket” boutiques there are goods from European countries, and in “Yerevan City” network there are also familiar dumplings, pickles, pies, dairy products – a whole section is given to Russian products.
- It is unlikely that you will be able to get an additional discount in hypermarkets, but in bazaars and souvenir shops bargain – persistently and at the same time kindly. Imagine, some buyers are so lucky that their goods are twice as cheap. Can you do that?
- The working hours of Armenian markets are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; on Saturdays and Sundays bazaars are closed after lunch: at 3:00-16:00 p.m. Traditionally, shopping centers and local supermarkets operate from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. The latter, by the way, most often work until late evening or around the clock.
- The national currency of Armenia is the Armenian Dram. You can change dollars and euros in Yerevan, Gyumri, Ijevan, Dilijan and Alaverdi at every corner. For example, in a bank, in exchange offices in stores or at train stations. In the text, the prices of goods will be indicated in Armenian currency.
- And now what concerns the bans on export of Armenian products. The prohibition lies, let’s say, on coins, precious stones, unfinished paintings, manuscripts and other undated (the term of limitation should not exceed 76 years) and cultural values and works of art. It will not be possible to take home wine and spirits in plastic containers. The tourist is also obliged to declare currency at the entry and exit if it exceeds 10 000 dollars, but local Armenian dramas are strictly prohibited to take out of Armenia and import into the country. It will be possible to bring into the country no more than 50 kilograms of luggage, the total cost of which should not exceed $ 1,700.
Sales in Armenia
And now about sales: Armenia looks towards Europe and smoothly passes to sales with two seasons of discounts. In winter, prices drop right after the New Year holidays, while the summer price drop can be felt from July through August. You will be able to buy shoes, clothes, cosmetics, perfumes and traditional carpets at a profit of up to 70 percent.
What can I buy in Armenia?
Earrings with obsidian, leather jacket, carved chess, a saber made of high quality copper, cream based on Caucasian herbs, churchkhela with cinnamon. And this is not the whole list of traditional souvenirs. There are also high-quality ceramics, expensive carpets, decent alcohol… But let’s talk about everything in order.
Clothes and shoes
In Armenia not only sales are held in the European manner, but also European brands of clothes and shoes are presented in the stores. Premium collections (“Tom Tailor”, “Kenzo”, “Dolce Gabbana”, “Marc Jacobs”, “Escada”, “Barberry”, “DKNY”, “Giorgio Armani”, “Ralph Lauren”, “Dior”) and mass-market brands (“Vero Moda”, “New Balance”, ‘Zara’, “Miss Sixty”, “Sasch”, “Bershka”, “Nike”, “H&M”, “Mango”, “United Colors of Benetton”, “Puma”, “Sisley”, “Trussardi”, “Adidas”, “Koton”, “Levi’s”, ‘Mexx’, “New Yorker”) are mainly exhibited in the shopping centers of Yerevan. For example, in “Dalma Garden Mall”, “Yerevan Mall”, “Tashir Trade Center” and others. You will also find mass brands in smaller cities: in Ijevan, Dilijan, Gyumri. In terms of prices: jeans will cost 20,200 Armenian drams, a summer dress – 15,300 Armenian drams, sneakers – 28,500 Armenian drams, and a pair of leather shoes will cost you 24,000 Armenian drams.
In addition to foreign companies, there are also local Armenian companies. Pay attention to the following companies. Structured and deconstructed closet items from the brand “z.G.e.s.t.” can transform from shirts to dresses, from pants to skirts, from jackets to trench coats, miracle! The youth brand “Light Affect”, founded by Levon Lalayan, amazes with non-trivial inscriptions, ambiguous drawings, national patterns used in a new way. Agree, young guys and girls need it. The epathetic brand “Soncess” allows you to look both a decent woman and a flighty girl after a searing night, and all at the expense of a dress – one – whose sleeves are unbuttoned, and even very interesting. Ara the Rat’s sweatshirt prints include Mount Ararat, the Armenian alphabet, local soccer and the Blue Eye for the evil eye. Modern Armenian brand “Ruzane” has a zest, or rather, every gray dress of this company has a zest – with a smell, with a bright spot or with asymmetric sleeves. And “Artuyt” brand works exclusively with scarves, designers print pictures of Armenian artists on polyester or silk headscarves. You can wear it on your head or around your neck, hang it on the wall or put it on your bag, the main thing is to find a use for modern Armenian art. What about handmade knitted items? Warm, soft sweaters are produced by Loom Weaving. Some more conceptual asymmetrical dresses – this time from “Ariga To” brand.
Do you want to look like a real Armenian mountaineer or a mountaineer’s wife? Then buy an Armenian national costume, it costs a lot, within 50,000 Armenian drams. But how colorful, beautiful and ethnic it is. Remember: a man’s garment consists of an open caftan “Chuha”, a shirt, pants, pants, sharovars, a belt decorated with coins, coarse leather “Treh” boots, as well as a cotton or knitted skullcap or fur papakha. The women’s version includes a dress, a sleeveless shirt, a vest, an apron, a Posha headdress, warm Golpa socks, and Chmushk shoes with a long curved toe. Traditional attire can be found in souvenir shops in Yerevan, Gyumri, Alaverdi, Ijevan or Dilijan. However, you should still choose a costume at the exhibition and sale of national costumes in Yerevan on fashionable Northern Avenue on July 11.
Leather goods
It can be a shoe, jacket, raincoat, bag, rucksack, barset, purse, clutch, wallet, belt or any other accessory. Leather goods from Armenia are characterized by quality and originality. Excellent things are produced by the factory-shop “Armos”, which is located in Yerevan on Northern Avenue, 5. Most of the presented shoes are handmade, they meet all the requirements of quality and comfort. Take a closer look at other companies as well, for example, “Alex” salon on 17 Kievyan Street, “Pati Boutique” store on 2 Hakob Hakobyan Street, “Ermenegildo Zegna” gallery on 5 Northern Avenue, ‘Castoria’ department store on 7 Komitas Avenue or “Boutique Fashion Armenia” store on 36 Pushkin Street. All the listed boutiques are located in Yerevan.
As for prices, local leather products are quite affordable. For example, a shopper will cost AMD 10,200, a clutch – AMD 18,700, a reticule – AMD 20,650, a backpack – AMD 26,700, a bag – AMD 34,100, and a valise will be yours for AMD 55,550. If you consider snakeskin or crocodile leather, the price tag will be six figures.
Natural cosmetics
Armenian brands emphasize healing herbs and flowers that grow in ecologically clean mountainous areas. We advise you to take a closer look at “Nazeli” company, which uses only natural components: beeswax, pomegranate extract, salicylic acid, camphor, cocoa and avocado oil, as well as olive oil. Usually in branded cosmetic boutiques before buying a buyer fills out a special questionnaire with questions, thus recognizing your skin type. And already based on the results of the questionnaire and after consultation with a dermatologist, a personalized recommendation on the selection of cosmetics is made. What an approach! Prices start from AMD 12,000 per product.
“Nairian“ brand positions itself as ”a brand of 100% Armenian origin”. Ara and Anahit Markosyan decided to revive the long-forgotten practice of herbal medicine, so they took herbalism as the basis of the DNA of their beauty brand, they combined traditional knowledge in the field of phytotherapy and modern scientific methods to create cosmetics. There are over 50 products in the Nairian range, from soaps to anti-aging creams. Prices start from AMD 14,500 per product.
“Aloe Lab” brand, which is no less popular, is gaining a more and more confident niche both in Armenia and abroad. But not so long ago, in 2013, businessman Karapet Avagyan resumed aloe cultivation in the village of Gai, bringing seedlings directly from Iran. Today there are more than 40 skin care products in the collection. Prices start from AMD 7,000 per product.
Among others, we offer you shampoos, balms, shower gels and soaps from “RUSARM” company and aromatic oils from “Vaki Pharm” company. Thus, pomegranate seed oil is able to smooth the first wrinkles, its price for 100 ml is AMD 14 000, almond oil perfectly fights rashes and inflammations on the skin, its price for 100 ml is AMD 6 000, rose petal oil has a rejuvenating effect, its price for 100 ml is AMD 2 500, apricot oil perfectly warms up the skin before anti-cellulite massage, its price per 100 ml is AMD 2,000, raspberry oil fights unwanted cuticles, its price per 100 ml is AMD 2,500, lemon oil stimulates the growth of new cells, its price per 100 ml is AMD 5,700, and wheat germ oil cares for dry skin and chapped lips, its price per 100 ml is AMD 2,000.
For the above-mentioned cosmetics go to the following stores: in Yerevan – “Nairian Cosmetics” at 18 Saryan Street, “Hermosa Cosmetics & Perfumes” at 30 Hovhannes Tumanyan Street, “M. A. Cosmetics” at 30 Hovhannes Tumanyan Street. A. C. Cosmetics” on Arshakunyats Avenue, 34/3. In Gyumri – “Bloom Perfume Gallery” on Maxim Gorky Street, 44, “Just Grls” on Nikolay Ryzhkov Street, 3, “Burmunk Perfumery Chain” on Maxim Gorky Street, 73. In Dilijan – “LiuSi Art” on Myasnikyan Street, 60.
National jewelry
Armenia is famous for both gold and silver jewelry. Especially if they are decorated with stones. Garnet symbolizes eternal friendship, endless love, passion and orderliness, hematite reduces anxiety, increases stress resistance, improves the quality of sleep, rock crystal cleans the air, neutralizing viruses and bacteria, emerald is necessary for colds, and carborundum gets rid of phobias and depression. Obsidian is an extremely powerful stone energetically, and therefore useful for people who want to add activity to themselves. Even if you weren’t planning to purchase a piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones, see how useful it is.
We advise you to buy bracelets, rings, earrings, brooches, pendants, beads framed with 925 gold or silver in the “World of Gold” salon, which is located at 24 Movses Khorenatsi Street in Yerevan. There is a huge selection of jewelry and optimal prices. For example, a gold cross with diamonds will cost 80,000 Armenian drams, silver earrings in the form of a garnet and with a garnet stone will be yours for 25,000 Armenian drams, and a silver ring with malachite will be bought for 23,500 Armenian drams.
You will definitely appreciate the specialized boutique “Aldoro Jewellery Store” (21 Pushkin Street, Yerevan), jewelry store “Multi Gold” (Arinj village), boutique ‘Tateossian’ (48 Mashtots Avenue, Yerevan), jewelry gallery “Bella Gold Jewellery” (9 Sayat Nova Street, Gyumri), Jewelry“ department store (Vanadzor, Myasnikyan Street, 1a), ”Mina De Oro“ jewelry and costume jewelry store (Yerevan, Tumanyan Street, 31), ”Gold Market“ store (Gyumri, Aragats Street, 16), ”Almast” jewelry boutique (Gyumri, Paruyr Sevak Street, 7).
Armenians adore folklore items from the Pre Gomesh company. Thus, silver earrings with pearls will cost 45,000 Armenian drams, a wedding headdress decorated with precious coins will be yours for 500,000 Armenian drams, and a silver ring with green onyx will cost 18,000 Armenian drams.
If you are not attracted to precious metals, look at the most ordinary costume jewelry. A hairpin encrusted with coral or coral dust for AMD 1,600 is an option.
Traditional carpets
A hand-woven Armenian palace can be a very unusual and colorful gift. What do you think of the idea? Armenians would appreciate it, as they consider buying a carpet a great investment and a status self-expression. In general, carpet weaving in this land is considered to be the oldest traditional art.
The assortment is off the scale. Lint-free “Karpet”, with a small pile “Lambalo”, catchy and bright “Shulaveri”, with vegetal and geometric ornaments “Arhalo”, the carpet can also be considered as large and small, standard and unusual shape, woven by hand or by machine. Whatever model you like, remember, the doormat is made only from natural materials and dyes, which means that over time the thing will not burn out.
Where to buy? Go to the carpet factory “Megerian Carpet”, which is located in Yerevan on Madoyan Street, 9. Here you will have a fascinating tour, learn about the centuries-old history of carpet weaving, share with you the hand-weaving technology, and also show you how the masters work – and the result of their painstaking labor. The visit to the factory is free of charge, but the master class, after which you will receive your own miniature sample of a doormat, will cost AMD 5,000. It is worth it! And here you can also buy the rarest copy or a simple enough variant. Prices start from 240,000 Armenian drams. You can also look into the salon “Tufenkian Carpets”, which is located in Yerevan on Anrapetutyan Street, 48 – here you can order a masterpiece according to your individual sketch. In the same capital at the local market “Vernisage” a machine-made carpet will cost AMD 25,000, and a hand-woven doormat starts from AMD 75,000.
Ceramic products
Armenian ceramics are also in price. By the way, making ceramic products from red clay and their further coating with glaze and decoration with ethnic patterns is also referred to the traditional craft of the local people.
It may be hard and expensive to take home a whole set of dishes, but a spice set, a small box, a frame, a statuette, a candy holder, an ashtray, a saucepan or a jug can be a successful and capacious purchase.
You do not need to go far for ceramic products. You can visit “Craftsmen’s Tsaghkadzor Restaurant House” workshop-restaurant in Tsaghkadzor at 22, Tandzahburi Street, “Tortini Armenia” tableware store in Yerevan at 54, Komitas Avenue, ‘Kamilla’ ceramic boutique in Kapan at 3, Aram Manukyan Street, or you can go straight to “Spitak Ceramics” gift and souvenir store in Yerevan, 22, Yeznik Kohbatsi Street. This is an unusual and heartwarming place. Because all the proceeds from the sale of ceramic products go to support the work of the school, whose students produce these beautiful things. For example, a jug with pomegranate ornaments is offered for 18,000 Armenian drams, a salt shaker costs 2,500 Armenian drams, and a 9*12 photo frame will be yours for 3,000 Armenian drams.
Edible souvenirs
And this is probably the most popular item because it tells about the most popular goods.
We recommend all edible purchases to be made at local markets, for example, at the Central Market in Yerevan. Otherwise, go to the city supermarkets: “Moskvichka Supermarket”, “Yerevan City”, “Parma”, “Sas”, “Carrefour”, “Zambyugh market”, ‘Kaiser’, “RockFour” or others.
What does the Caucasus smell like? Hospitality and saffron! And also fragrant pepper, tarhun, chaman, cress, rosemary, alayza, mint, cilantro, tarragon, okra, cumin, chaber, cherry, cinnamon and a hundred more herbs. You can buy a bag of spicy herbs at a shop near the road for 700 Armenian drams (151 rubles).
Spices, by the way, are added to Zizhik cheese based on sour-milk matsun. White wine and honey can be felt in the brine cheese from cow’s milk “Chanakh”, and brittle and delicate ‘Lori’ gives off buffalo milk. The cost of cheese varies from AMD 2,500 to 4,500 per kilogram. The crown meat delicacy is recognized as beef (less often horse) aromatic dried meat with spices, its name is “Basturma”. And beef sausages with mountain spices “Sujuk” are served exclusively with the famous pomegranate sauce “Narsharab” and traditional Armenian brandy.
Grapes, persimmons, peaches, apricots, plums, kiwi, apples… But the most important fruit is considered to be pomegranate, which in Armenian sounds like “Nur”. In general, the pomegranate is a national symbol for Armenians, it symbolizes freedom, fertility, prosperity and the sun – the basis of any person. The average price of a pomegranate is 1,700 Armenian drams, the cost varies depending on the variety.
Let’s move on to sweets. Let’s start with Armenian chocolate: the elite brand “Arcolad”, creative “Gourme Dourme” and popular candies “Grand Candy” with various dried fruits and nuts. Thus, a chocolate bar will cost AMD 700, and 100 grams of sweets, for example, truffle with apricot flavor, dark chocolate with rose petals or chocolate-covered dates – AMD 2,200. Right away we would like to recommend Armenian jam – quince, plum, dogwood, eggplant, pumpkin, fig jam or jam made of rose petals, white mulberry, walnuts. Or the local honey brand “B’Arev Honey”, which is produced at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters above sea level on ecologically clean grassy and flower-bearing meadows and glades. The brand offers truly unique samples of dessert honey, such as whipped honey with apricot, honey with cinnamon, mint, mulberry honey and much, much more. Such sweets can be purchased in Yerevan cafes “Say Cheese” and “Tea Art”, in ‘Sharan’ store in Dilijan or in “Tatevatun” restaurant near Tatev Monastery. A jar of honey will be yours for 2,200 Armenian drams. Pay attention also to churchkhela, dried fruits, sugar pears and peaches or dried melons. By the way, Armenians advise all tourists to taste the famous puff pastry “Gata” (“Gata”), crumbly outside and soft inside. This sweet has its own festival, which is traditionally held in September in the village of Khayik, Vayotsdzor region. Masters will prepare gata that would get into the Guinness Book of Records.
Armenia is rich in plants, the country’s flora has about 4,000 species of plants, 120 of which grow only here. That means that every Armenian tea is special, useful and exclusive. The most popular are hot drinks with the addition of mint, thyme, raspberry leaves and plum. Gourmets appreciate not only Armenian tea, but also Armenian coffee. The “Royal Armenia” variety is considered especially delicious for 4,000 Armenian drams.
What else can you bring from Armenia?
An original souvenir for a real man can be a cold weapon – a dirk, a dagger or a saber. Daggers and sabers here are made of a special alloy of metals, which is characterized by durability, and also each object delights with its artistic design. No matter how beautiful and practical the gift is, remember that it is a weapon. That means it will need to be declared and checked in your luggage.
Bring home something wooden, Armenian craftsmen are proud of such handicrafts. It can be a bottle holder, a picture frame, statuettes, jugs, vases, cutting boards, plates, combs, beads or earrings. Wooden models of churches and cultural monuments will be a great gift. All products are handmade and affordable. The minimum price of a wooden handicraft is 500 Armenian drams.
Don’t forget to bring a magnet or a key chain from Armenia to your friends, relatives and yourself. This accessory can depict one of the sights of the city. For example, Khor Virap Monastery, Geghard Monastery, Erebuni Fortress, Jermuk Waterfall, Noravank Monastery, Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theater, Zvartnots Temple, Sardarapat Ethnographic Museum, Sergey Parajanov Museum, Arno Babajanyan Monument, Karahunj Megalithic Complex, Goshavank Monastery, St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral or the Grand Cascade.
Where to change money in Armenia?
Bring European euros or American dollars to Armenia and exchange them for Armenian drams without any problems – it will be more profitable than with other currencies.
As for the exchange, the easiest way is to withdraw cash from an ATM. Such terminals work without breaks and weekends, and besides, they are located in tourist areas. For example, in Yerevan ATMs are concentrated on Republic Square, in Gyumri – on Abovyan Street, in Dilijan – on Sharambeyan Street, and in Ijevan – on Central Square. ATMs usually charge about two percent for cash withdrawals. You can also pay for purchases with your Visa or Mastercard, but not everywhere.
A fairly favorable option is local banks. Look for institutions named “Akba Bank”, “VTB Armenia”, “Ararat Bank”, ‘Rosselkhozbank’, “Byblos Bank Armenia”, “Prometheus Bank” or any other bank. Local institutions work Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. At the bank you will be asked for your passport, so don’t forget to bring your document with you.
What about the services of exchangers? They are standard and with bill acceptors. You can also find them in tourist areas, in large supermarkets, in restaurants, near markets, in shopping centers, in hotels or in entertainment malls. There are even ATMs that dispense drams in exchange for cryptocurrency.
How does the Tax Free system work in Armenia?
The “Tax Free” system in Armenia appeared relatively recently in 2015. Any foreign traveler can get back some money from purchases at 16.67% interest. Tourists whose stay does not exceed three months in the country can participate in the program. And 90 days are given for the tax refund.
What does it take? First, find a boutique with a signboard “Tax Free”, then buy something in it for the amount of at least 50,000 Armenian drams, then – fill out a form with the name and surname, place of temporary residence in Armenia, country of real residence, number of foreign passport, the amount and date of purchase and the amount of refund. And already in stores where there is a “Tax Free” counter, as well as in branches of “Zvartnots” and “Shirak” banks, for example, at the airport of Yerevan or Gyumri, you will have to show the receipt, unpacked purchases and the form – after the successful check the money will be credited to your account. By the way, cigarettes, medicines, foodstuffs, and some cultural valuables are not subject to VAT.