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| Thursday, November 21, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Getting In & Out | Bus | Yerevan
There are officially two avtokayaner (av-to-kai-an-NER; bus stations) in Yerevan, but it may seem just about on every corner you will see buses lined up ready to roll to points both near and far. One of the results of the breakup of the Soviet Union has been a loosening of the regulations where buses must stop at the end of their journeys. Consequently passengers are as often dropped off in the center of town as at one of the more distant bus stations. We will cover the most common bus stops.
The two official bus stations are the Yerevan Central Bus Station on Admiral Isahakov Avenue (Istanbul, Aleppo, Georgia and most regional buses), and the Kanakeri Bus Station on the Tbilisi Highway on the Northern outskirts of Yerevan (Northeastern regions and Gavar). Other places to catch both international and regional buses are at the Central Train Station (Tbilisi, Sadakhlo and Ararat Valley).
Buses to Iran originate and terminate in front of Hotel Erebuni, next to Republic Square. GEORGIA, TURKEY, SYRIA, ARTSAKH FROM YEREVAN: YEREVAN CENTRAL BUS STATION The Central Yerevan Avtokayan (af-to-kai-YAN; Bus Station) on Admiral Isahakov Avenue (B: #18, 46, 113 TB: #20) is located one kilometer from the central Shuka on Mashtots Ave. (go South on Mashtots past the wine factory, turn right and cross Hakhtanak Kamourch (hakh-ta-NAHK ka-MOURCH; Victory Bridge) to the cognac factory, then left on Admiral Isakov Ave. about 700 meters). The station is a large A-frame building that looks like a giant KOA campground office. It is worn at the edges but full of activity as passengers and buses vie for right of way. Enter the bus station on the left side of the building as you approach the A-Frame, through the bus parking lot. There is a door about 2/3rd of the way along the platform. The dispatcher staff is friendly and helpful (they refused to let us go without a cup of coffee and some local gossip), and they were full of talk of opening a "VIP" section for tourists. Don't expect it to begin anytime soon. They do promise to insure any tourist will be given a seat on a bus, no matter how much overflow of passengers there may be. The station works 24 hours a day. Across the street from the main station is a parking lot with buses and vans that can take you to the surrounding areas of Yerevan. Tickets (îàØê: Toms) The Tomsarkegh (îàØê²ðÎÔ: Ticket office) is located within the main lobby, as are all other services. There are no signs in English to guide you, but the layout is fairly simple. Most of the activity seems to be on the boarding platforms outside the building, as when we were there, inside it was quiet, there was plenty of room to sit, with just a few passengers dozing while waiting for their bus. The dispatcher's office is on the right as you enter the station from the platform. Food: There is a buffet in the station (open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which offers full meals for between 1,000 AMD and 2,000 AMD for kebab or Khorovatz, all the dressings included. Coffee is 50 AMD. The tables and decor aren't the cleanest we've seen, but the service and gossip is good. If the lobby door is closed, enter through the boarding platform to the side entrance. Spend The Night: We found a place even cheaper than the train station at the avtokayan. Though the bus station doesn't have a hotel per se, they have room enough for up to ten people in a private building next to the station. They charge 500 AMD ($1.20) per bed, dormitory style sleeping. If your stuck arriving in the middle of the night, this is a good place to crash until you can move on. Communal toilet, communal sleeping, communal gossip, but they have a shower. Ask at the Dispatcher office. Left Luggage: Marked by a Russian Kamera Khranenia (ÊÀÌÅÐÀ ÕÐÀÍÅÍÈß), the left luggage is located in the main lobby. 50 AMD per day per item. 24 hours a day service. Exchange Office: One of the more reasonable exchange rates we have seen in Yerevan is at the exchange office in the Bus Station lobby. It is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other: There is both an emergency aid office and pharmacy located next to the buffet. They are open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Run down, but very clean, and the staff are skilled doctors and nurses. Advance purchase tickets (nakhnakan: nakh-na-KAN) are 100 AMD more per ticket. All prices at time of writing, all times fluctuate. Note baggage allowance is 20 Kg. Excess baggage costs $0.50 per Kg.
ISTANBUL - YEREVAN Cheap ($50) and scenic, the bus between Istanbul and Yerevan take about 41 hours, with 6 stops on the way: Sansun, Riseh, Trabson, Btumi, Tbilisi, Sadakhlo (reverse on the return trip). The buses are large, but it is a 41 hour bus ride. Note you have to pay a $10 "entry fee" at Batumi, and you should have a transit visa for Georgia (your Armenian visa is not recognized. Avoid the hassle at border and have one ahead of time). You can get Armenian visa at border for $30. FROM ISTANBUL Buy tickets and get information departure from EMNIYET KESEBIRLER TURIZM, Kucuk Langa Cad. Emniyet Oto Gari No.5/A Aksaray-IST
The cost is comparable to the Yerevan to Istanbul fare ($50 + $10 at Batumi). You will also need a transit visa through Georgia. FROM YEREVAN Buy ticket by Wednesdays (3 days before), they will give the time of departure then. Ticket agent: EMNIYET KESEBIRLER TURIZM, Hotel Erebuni office side, 3rd Floor, room 21A They can arrange hotel stay in Istanbul with advance notice. TBLISI, SADAKHLO YEREVAN YERKATGITZI BUS STATION At the Yerevan Train Station there is a bus that travel daily to and from Tbilisi and Sadakhlo. The schedules are a little erratic (they wait until the bus is full before they leave), but they start filling at 07:00. Cost to Tbilisi is $20, to Sadakhlo $7. Tickets (îàØê: Toms): The Tomsarkegh (îàØê²ðÎÔ: : Toms-ar-KEGH; Ticket office) is located in a small white metal building on the far left of the parking lot as you approach the train station. There are kiosks next to it. Open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If it is closed, the drivers can get you a ticket. They seemed anxious to encourage tourists to take their buses, so you might be able to negotiate a bit on price. Food, Other: See Yerevan Central Train Station. Often used by people conducting import/export business between Armenia and Iran, there are two buses a week traveling between Tehran and Yerevan in either direction. Tourists can take the bus, but you must have a valid visa for Iran before going. Check at the Iranian embassy first. To Tehran: The bus to Tehran can be caught in front of Hotel Erebuni (M: Hanrapetoutyan Heraperak B: # 1, 32, 35 TB: # 7, 11, 22). Hotel Erebuni is located behind the arch by the central Post Office on Hanrapetutian H'raparak (Republic Square), opposite the singing fountains, across the park from Hotel Armenia. The bus leaves every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 09:00. Cost is $35 equivalent in AMD. Tickets and bus information can be found in the Persian bus office on the second floor of the Hotel lobby ( Passengers going to Tehran will be dropped off at the Russian Bazar in Tehran. From Tehran: The bus to Yerevan originates at the Tehran Central Bus Station. The bus for Armenia is managed by the Central Cooperative #15 bus company. The price should be about the same as from Yerevan to Tehran, in Iranian currency. The bus leaves every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and Sunday at 13:00. |
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+3741- 540 756).
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