Geghard Monastery — A 13th-century monastery partially carved into a cliff face, in a gorge east of Yerevan. The carved stone chambers feel ancient and mysterious. Usually visited together with Garni.
Garni Temple — The only surviving Hellenistic-era building in Armenia (and the post-Soviet Caucasus), a pagan temple dating to the 1st century AD, above a dramatic basalt gorge. The Roman bath next door has a fine mosaic floor.
Khor Virap — A monastery on a bluff above the Ararat plain, with Mount Ararat looming across the Turkish border. One of the iconic views of Armenia. Gregory the Illuminator was allegedly imprisoned here for 13 years before converting King Tiridates III to Christianity.
Echmiadzin — The world's oldest cathedral (301 AD, though much rebuilt), seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The treasury holds relics including the Holy Lance of Longinus and a piece of Noah's Ark. The nearby early Christian churches of Hripsime and Gayane are outstanding.
Haghpat and Sanahin — Twin UNESCO-listed monastery complexes in the Debed gorge in northern Armenia. Both 10th-century, both set in villages above the canyon, both excellent. Sanahin has the added curiosity of a small museum to the Mikoyan brothers, one a Soviet MiG aircraft designer, the other a Politburo member.
Lake Sevan — A vast alpine lake at 2,000 metres, covering about 5% of Armenia's total area. On a clear day the turquoise water and white beaches look improbably Caribbean. The medieval monastery of Sevanavank sits on the peninsula. The largest khachkar cemetery in the world is at Noratus, nearby.
Tatev Monastery — A 9th-century monastery perched on a cliff edge in Syunik, reached by the Wings of Tatev cable car. The setting alone is worth the drive south.
Yerevan — The capital deserves more than a transit night. The Cascade staircase and its contemporary art spaces, the Matenadaran manuscript museum, the Erebuni fortress, and the Republic Square are all worth time. The food and café scene is genuinely enjoyable. The view of Ararat on a clear morning is unforgettable.