History and Culture
Free

St. John the Baptist Church (Surb Hovhannes) in Abovyan

Abovyan

Soak in the spiritual atmosphere and learn the story of St. John the Baptist Church, one of the most beautiful churches in Armenia

Price: free

About

The magnificent St. John the Baptist Church (Surb Hovhannes) stands in Abovyan, a satellite town of Yerevan in Kotayk Province, 19.2 km from central Yerevan. The church took 7 years to build and opened in 2014. It is 50 meters tall and made of traditional Armenian stone — tuff. 40 craftsmen worked on the stone carving. The chief architect was Artak Ghulyan. Specialists consider it one of the most beautiful churches in Armenia. The patterns and ornaments were taken from copies of images from medieval churches, including the Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island (Lake Van, present-day Turkey). The place is well suited to a photo session, including a wedding shoot.

Practical

Price and tickets: Free
free

Hours: MonTueWedThuFriSatSun9:00–19:00

Car (your own or rental): In short: before renting, decide whether you actually need a car for your route, season, and driving experience.

What to consider: city traffic vs mountain and winter sections; insurance and deposit terms; where to park near your destination. There are many cameras on the roads; check fines and payment against the rental rules and local regulations — don't put it off "until you leave the country" without checking the contract.

A common mistake: renting a car "just in case" without checking the season and the return trip from a remote location.

Next: between cities.
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Guided tour: A guided tour can help you see places in context and save time on putting together an itinerary. Check the format, group size, and route when choosing a tour.
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Taxi: In short: around the city it's convenient to order a car through an available app. For a remote place, plan your return in advance.

What to do: agree on the wait, the trip back, and the price before you set off; have a backup way to pay.

Common mistake: going "one way only" with no plan for how to get back in the evening or without a signal.

Next: between cities.
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On site

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Nearby

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Radius 5 km

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Church of St. John the Baptist1 m · History and Culture

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St. John the Baptist Church (Surb Hovhannes) in Abovyan