A view over Armenia’s pedestrian-friendly capital city, Yerevan (Shutterstock)

Armenia’s easygoing, charming capital is easily navigable by foot. Stroll the cafe-lined boulevards, pretty parks, smart shops and elegant squares, and follow the river valley that wraps a green belt around the city centre.

Yerevan’s street culture is an exotic mix between Marseilles and old Beirut, with a good sprinkling of Soviet influence. It’s a curious mix. Don’t be surprised by such sights as an aged Lada scooting casually past a glossy Gucci store.

A good spot to survey the city from is the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts, a new contemporary art museum by Cascade, with a sculpture and flower garden featuring a huge flight of stone steps.

Geghard monastery (Shutterstock)

Many of Armenia’s medieval churches and monasteries are set in stunning remote mountain settings. So, they’re doubly interesting for hiking enthusiasts and those with a passion for history or an interest in religion.

Armenia is actually touted as the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion, in the year 301 AD. Today, 95% of its population is thought to be Christian.

So, there are many places to explore. If you have to narrow it down, see the Etchmiadzin Cathedral and churches in the city of Vagharshapat (formerly Ejmiatsin), which is a short drive from Yerevan. The Haghpat and Sanahin Byzantine monastery complexes founded in the 10th century are also well worth viewing.

Don’t forget the grand Geghard Monastery nestled in the gorgeous Upper Azat Valley, a possible jam-packed day trip from the capital. Walk from Garni Temple alongside the Azat River to reveal striking basalt column cliffs with tube-like rock formations, too.

The impressive geological point of interest Symphony of the Stones, near Garni (Shutterstock)

The village of Garni, approx 23km away from the capital, has a first century Hellenistic-style temple to discover.

A hike from the temple below the village along a path alongside the Azat River, where it meets the River Goght, reveals astounding well-preserved basalt column cliffs that feature tube-like rock formations, known as the Symphony of the Stones.

On your stroll, you’ll also see an 11th century bridge and pass a number of pretty waterfalls.

Fioletevo is the village of the Molokans in Armenia (Shutterstock)

The village of Fioletevo is home to around 3000 Molokans, a highly religious sect regarded as outside the traditional Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic and Protestant denominations of Christianity.

They abide by the words of the Bible quite literally: they do not pray in front of a cross because it was made by human hands, or worship saints or icons. They follow centuries-old rules, such as only being allowed to marry other Molokans, men being bearded, men dressing in dark trousers and a white shirt, and women wearing headscarves and long dresses.

If you’re interested to see beyond the typical visitor spots of Armenia, you can visit Fioletevo through tour companies such as Ayastour.

Homes in the Kond District (Dreamstime)

This post-Soviet country has much poverty and you will be struck by the number of beggars on the streets of central Yerevan.

Whilst the smart city centre may indicate a certain level of wealth for many citizens, a five minute walk up a hill to the Kond neighbourhood, on the western edge of the city, may suggest otherwise.

One of the capital’s oldest areas, dating back to the 17th century, Kond’s winding passageways are reminiscent of a Brazilian favela. It’s safe to walk around during the day, and gives an insight into the day-to-day lives of many Armenians.