Lan Wandered

“Garni Temple is one of the most stunning Historical structure and the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia”

Have you heard about the Garni temple in Armenia? If not, then, you should consider visiting this amazing pagan temple located in the Kotayk region of Armenia. It is one of the most fantastic structures you will ever see when traveling to this country. It is situated 30 km from Yerevan, about 45 minutes’ drive, and accessible to tourists. So, what are you waiting for? Include it now on your bucket list, and don’t ever miss visiting this place.

About Garni temple

Garni Temple

Garni temple was presumed to have been erected in the 77 AD and believed to be dedicated to the sun God named Mihr. The temple is located at the edge, surrounded by mountains, in the village of Garni. According to a Greek inscription, it was established by Tiridates I of Armenia. After that, when King Tiridates III adopted Christianity in 305 AD as a state religion, all the pagan places of worship were extinguished. And, only the Temple of Garni was left standing, recognizing it as the only pagan Hellenistic and Greco-Roman structure to have survived. There are also studies conducted by some scholars saying that the structure was not a temple but rather a tomb, hence endured the destruction of pagan structures.. Today, Garni Temple is one of the most popular tourist destinations and is considered a Historical Place in Armenia.

How to get to Garni Temple?

DIY, Public Transportation: Take a Bus or minibuses in Yerevan going to Garni Village, via Gai Bus Station. The fare is about 1 USD. By the way, to reach Gai Bus Station, you can ride a taxi from Yerevan Center. Overall, this option mostly takes around 45 minutes to one hour, so allocate your time properly.

Alternatively, the second option for public transportation is to ride a taxi from Yerevan directly to Garni Temple, which costs around 5 to 6 USD.

Private Vehicle: Drive from Yerevan going to Garni Village for about 45 minutes. If you are unsure of the location, use Google Maps for an accurate route guide.

Renting a Car in Armenia:  There are many cars for rent to select in Yerevan, Armenia and most of them have air conditioning, allowing you to travel comfortably. This option is great if you are planning to explore many places in Armenia and would like to travel at your own pace and time.

Tours with transfers: For convenience, join a day trip from Yerevan available at any travel agency tours offering this experience to reduce your cost.

Depending on the season, this package tour is normally partnered with Geghard Monastery, Tsaghkadzor, Echmiadzin, Zvartnots, Lake Sevan and Symphony Stone.  This way, you can save money and be able to visit many places in one day without worrying anything. The cost is around 40 USD. You also have the option to do a private tour for 100 USD.

By the way, I visited here in the month of February, still in winter. So, I opted to book a private tour with a transfer. The package includes a day tour to Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Tsaghkadzor ski resort and lastly, Lake Sevan. I highly recommend this one, especially if you are traveling solo and want to wander alone, otherwise join a group tour.

If you are curious, I booked my tour with G7 Euro Travel & Tours, known in the Filipino community as Kabayans and Pinoys in Tbilisi, Georgia, highly recommended. It’s my second time doing a transaction with them, so I can confidently say that they are one of the best Travel & Tour agency providers in Georgia & Armenia.

How many days required to visit Garni Temple?

A day trip from Yerevan is enough to explore and wander in Garni Temple.

When is the best time to visit Garni Temple?

Garni Temple can be visited all year round, but there are much fewer group tours in the winter. Depending on your choice of view and ambience, you can choose from different seasons in Armenia.

December to March– It is the winter season in Armenia and provides a magical atmosphere in the surroundings of the Temple.

April to May– If you want to see Garni temple with blooming flowers like cherry blossoms around, then visit during this month.

June to September- Peak season in Armenia is usually during the summer season. If you want to visit Garni temple with lush green surroundings, then visit this month.

October to November-  Autumn is a colorful month in Armenia, giving a yellow and reddish vibe to Garni Temple.

As for me, Since I am a Filipino who lives in a country with a tropical climate, it has been a dream of mine to experience snow during the winter. Hence, I opted to visit here in the month of February.

My journey going to Garni Temple

One of the tourist attractions that really captures my attention when looking for the best tourist’s spot in Armenia is the temple of Garni. It reminds me of Parthenon in Greece, which I only see in photos. It was also the reason why I chose Armenia for my winter trip. I remember that in 2023, I had the chance to visit the northern part of Armenia during the autumn from Georgia. However, I felt like I hadn’t fully experienced Armenia since I just visited the country for a 1-day tour. So, this time it’s a different vibe since it’s winter, and I really enjoyed this trip.

Mt. Ararat View

By the way, I am an Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia, so from Dammam International Airport, I traveled to Yerevan, Armenia. After a day of rest spent in my hotel, I traveled in the morning on a private tour going to Garni Temple. It was our second stop after seeing the magnificent view of Mt. Ararat. Be sure to inform your driver to stop here, it is really one of the most beautiful spots to see the amazing Mt. Ararat covered with snow. I only have a driver with me, luckily, he also has experience as a tour guide, thus making my trip comfortable. He speaks english fluently, so our trip was more about conversation and sharing stories about places in Armenia. On our way, He told me the story about Garni Temple and its long history as the only pagan temple and Greco-Roman structure to have survived.

I really enjoy the road trip, as the view outside is stunning. After 45 minutes of travel, we reach Garni Village and park near the temple entrance. Initially, my driver assisted me in going to the front of the Temple Gate to pay the entrance ticket, and I paid 1000 Armenian Dram. After that, I went inside, and upon entering, I saw an inscription of history written in the stone. Then, as I walked going to the temple, I was really amazed by the view. It was a magical feeling. Just seeing the Temple from afar makes me even more excited. I enjoy the scenery while walking to the Garni Temple. Since it was winter and also weekdays, only a few tourists were on the site. I took lots of photos and videos, and I would say that it was really one of the wonderful decisions I made for my travel journey in Armenia. I feel like If I miss visiting this place, my trip to Armenia will be incomplete.

Travel Tips when planning to visit Garni Temple

Here are some tips you should consider when heading to this wonderfully temple.

• Be updated with the weather forecast when planning your visit to Garni Temple
• If you are planning to visit Garni Temple with only a few tourists in winter,I suggest visiting here in the month of February. The mountain around the temple is still covered with snow, but it is almost a sunny day and the sky is clear, which is great for taking videos and photos.
• Remember that summer is the peak season in Armenia, so it is best to schedule your trip on weekdays to avoid crowds. 
• Join a group tour if you want to reduce your cost. This way, you will visit not only Garni Temple but also other popular tourist spots like Geghard Monastery, which is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites of Armenia.
• Please note of the opening hours: Summer is from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., while, winter is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Please note that there are parking facilities near the entrance of Garni Temple that cost 100 AMD.

• Take only memories, leave only footprints. 
• Bring bottled water to stay hydrated.
• Be a responsible traveler, take your trash with you, and help keep Garni Temple clean.

Budget in Garni Temple

The cost of traveling to Garni Temple is considerably budget-friendly, especially if you join a group tour. Based on my experience, most tourists spend around 40 to 50 USD from Yerevan if you join a group tour including the food. This is already a package tour.

If only Garni Temple, and you do it DIY. You might spend only below 20 USD if you follow the public transportation option.

Suggested Itinerary to Garni Temple

Day 1

9:00 am – Travel from Yerevan to Garni Village

9:15 am- Make a stop at the beautiful spot of Mt. Ararat View. (Otherwise, if bus, just take a photo from the window)

9:30 am- Start traveling going to Garni Village

10:00 am- Wander and roam around Garni Temple

10:40 am- Return back to Yerevan, otherwise if you are in a group tour, go to Geghard Monastery

Essential things to bring.

• Money in Cash (Armenian Dram)
• Comfortable shoes depends on the season you will visit
• Sunscreen for summer season
• Bottle of water
• Sun glass
• Light Snacks
• Cap for head & face sun protection
• Jacket

Tip: “Be at the moment”. Use this time to enjoy and reconnect with your friends, or if traveling solo, relax your mind and make the most of the time to reassess your own life. You can also bond with new people if you are joining a group tour and build friendship.

So, have you been to Garni Temple? Please share your thoughts and experience.

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