The monastery is the whole reason to come. Plan 1–2 hours to walk the complex, visit both churches, and take in the views from the hilltop over the lake. The churches are small and quiet; the setting does most of the work.
In summer (July–August), the visit pairs naturally with swimming. The beach areas along the shore below and around the peninsula are busy with Yerevan families on weekends, and the combination of monastery in the morning and lake swimming in the afternoon makes an easy and satisfying half-day from Yerevan. The views from the monastery terrace — water in every direction, mountains behind — are among the best in Armenia.