Driving in Armenia is not for the faint-hearted. Lanes are merely suggestions, motorists in Yerevan are aggressive, and windy roads across mountainous countryside can get treacherous in spots. Some roads mapped on Google aren't even paved, but driving does give the greatest freedom to experience Armenia at your own pace.

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If I haven't scared you off yet, great! Rent a car and hit the road. Economy Bookings offers competitive rates from both international & local rental companies. You don't need an international driver's license either; most foreign licenses are valid in Armenia. I highly recommend renting a manual 4x4 SUV for added safety and accessibility; they navigate Armenia's rugged terrain best. If you only drive automatic, just remember to engage low gear down steep grades so that your breaks don't burn out. Purchase full coverage insurance at the time of pickup as well for peace of mind. Cars in Armenia drive on the right-hand side of the road.

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Be mindful of speed cameras (they're everywhere) and speed limits to avoid getting pulled over.

-In town: 60 km/hr (marked by town/city limit signs)

-Out of town: 90 km/hr

-On highways: 110 km/hr

Some zones may have lower limits; just pay close attention to traffic signs. In fact, take a look at them here to get familiarized with what each one means.

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Most rental cars in Armenia run on standard petrol ('benzine'). A liter of benzine costs about ֏450 ($0.94), which equates to roughly $3.55/gallon. That's fairly expensive even for American standards, which is why locals tend to convert their cars to run on natural gas ('gahz') at a quarter of the cost instead. But the key takeaway here is that the word gas in Armenia is interpreted as gahz ('natural gas'), while benzine is understood as gasoline. There are separate stations for each, so make sure you pull in to the right one. Both are fully serviced; just hand the amount you'd like to fill over to the attendant assisting you. Try to keep fuel levels above quarter tank at all times; Armenia has long stretches of road that you wouldn't want to get stuck with an empty tank on!

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Public street parking in Yerevan is designated by dotted red lines. It costs ֏100 ($0.21) an hour or ֏500 ($1.05) a day. To pay for a spot anywhere in the city by the hour, text your license plate number (00xx000) to 1045. For a full day, text it to 5045 instead. Funds are withdrawn from your cell phone balance, which can be filled with cash at multi-purpose payment terminals across the city.

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Noravank, 11.2019