Armenia has an extensive bus and marshrutka (minibus) network, inside Yerevan and out. But navigating it can be intimidating. And since public transport data isn't available on Google Maps in Armenia yet, I highly recommend using Journey Planner. This new and much-needed tool searches for lines that serve your desired route anywhere in the country. Note that the tool doesn't recognize specific addresses or landmarks, so it won't recommend stations nearby either. Use the 'Show map' feature to visually select your origin and destination stations instead.

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In Yerevan

The standard fare for a ride anywhere in the city on a bus or marshrutka is just ֏100 ($0.21) and you pay the driver directly in coins (exact change preferred) upon exiting. Track your GPS location on Google Maps along the way to know where you are relative to your destination. Passengers are friendly, so don't be shy to ask for help if you're not sure where to get off or don't speak Armenian. Drivers occasionally do not stop at empty stations, so feel free to shout 'kangarrum kangneq' ('stop at the station') when yours is approaching. Don't worry, I'm not trying to embarrass you. You'll actually hear it often if you listen in. Intimidating enough yet?

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Intercity

Public transport is a great alternative to getting out of town on a budget if you're traveling solo or don't care for the comfort of a private driver. Buses and marshrutkas connect almost every corner of the country to Yerevan and fares vary based on distance.

 

The three stations ('avtokayaran') in Yerevan that serve all intercity routes are:

-Northern Bus Station ('Hyusisayin Avtokayaran'),

-Kilikia Bus Station ('Kilikia Avtokayaran'), and

-Sasuntsi Davit Bus Station ('Sasuntsi Davti Avtokayaran') (behind Yerevan Railway Station).

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Each station serves different clusters of routes, so use Journey Planner to determine which one serves yours. To do this:

1) select Yerevan as your origin (don't worry about specifying a station),

2) select the town/city nearest to your final destination, bearing in mind that you may need to take a taxi from there to wherever you're headed (say a neighboring village in the countryside),

3) select an estimated departure date/time and click 'Search,' then

4) click 'Details' of the option you prefer.

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Your departure station will be noted on the page that follows. Longer routes (southbound to say Goris or Kapan) usually depart in the morning (7:00 - 10:00 AM), so if the route you're searching yields no results, try an earlier time.

 

Plan to arrive at your station 45 minutes prior to departure. These Soviet-era stations are quite the spectacle and operate more like bazaars, so finding your way around may take a good ten minutes. If you don't read or speak Armenian, look for your bus/marshrutka number; they're displayed across the vehicle's windshield or side windows.

 

Most intercity routes are served by marshrutkas, which seat 15 - 18 passengers. Tickets are not sold in advance and seating is first come, first served, so choose your favorite. You'll pay your driver directly for your ticket in cash as you take your seat. 

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Boarding a bus or marshrutka in Armenia is an experience in and of itself, so give it a try at least once while you're there.

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Dilijan, 10.2019