THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE YOU ARE IN YEREVAN

It is not obligatory to have your passport or any other identification card with you at all times. The police do not require you to show your passport, nor do any currency exchange points, unless the sum is more than $1000.

In Yerevan, you can smoke practically everywhere. In fact, non-smokers will have a hard time finding a restaurant with a no-smoking section. Both men and women smoke, but you will rarely see a woman smoking in the street. It is more common for women to smoke in cafés, restaurants, or at home.

In taxis and in minibus, women do not usually sit next to the driver. Also, it is considered common courtesy in public transportation to give seats to women and the elderly.

At the airport, don’t be surprised if the number of people greeting or seeing off their loved ones greatly exceeds the number of passengers on a given flight. Arrivals and departures are a whole ritual.

Most people in Armenia understand and speak Russian. Most young people can speak at least basic English.

Friends and acquaintances often kiss each other when saying hello or goodbye. In contrast to Europe, here they kiss once.

When you visit someone’s home, you are not expected to take off your shoes.

If you go to dinner at a restaurant with friends, you are not expected to “go Dutch”. As a rule, the person who has invited the others takes the bill. Sometimes, friends share the cost. Women generally do not pay.

#Thingstokeepinmind