Dilijan

A forested mountain town known as 'Armenia's Little Switzerland,' with the medieval monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank hidden among the trees; hiking around Parz Lake is cool and refreshing.

Dilijan lies in Tavush Province in northeastern Armenia, in the mountains of the Aghstev River valley at an elevation of about 1,500 m. Surrounded by oak, beech and hornbeam forests, it was a famous Soviet-era resort and earned the nickname 'Little Switzerland of Armenia.' The town itself is small, and its heart is the restored Sharambeyan Street old quarter, where 19th-century stone houses with wooden balconies now hold craft workshops and small cafés. On the outskirts lies Dilijan National Park, dotted with medieval monasteries and mountain lakes.

The classic outing is a one-day loop. In the morning, visit Haghartsin Monastery, about 13 km north of town. Then head east to Parz Lake for boating or a zipline, and walk the roughly 8 km forest trail (part of the Trans-Caucasian Trail) from the lakeshore to Goshavank Monastery, with a detour to see the small Gosh Lake. To the west are two small forest monasteries, Jukhtak and Matosavank, good for a half-day hike. About 35 km northeast, near Ijevan, is Makaravank, famous for its exquisite stone carvings.

Getting there: from Yerevan North Bus Station or near the airport, take a minibus for about 1.5–2 hours (via Lake Sevan; Sevanavank Monastery is typically covered by Yerevan itineraries). The sights are spread out, so take a taxi or hire a driver, as local drivers often quote half-day rates. The best season is June–October. Summer is cool and ideal for escaping the heat, and in October the forests turn to autumn colors. Winters are snowy, and some forest paths are hard to pass. Plan to stay 1–2 nights. Bring waterproof shoes for hiking, and dress modestly when visiting the monasteries.

Top sights

• Dilijan – Known as “Armenia’s Little Switzerland,” this forest town offers a restored Sharambeyan old street, mountain lakes and a cool climate ideal…
• Lake Parz – A small lake in the Dilijan National Park forest. “Parz” means clear, and visitors can go boating and hiking, with a zip line and other act…
• Goshavank Monastery – A monastery founded in the 12th–13th centuries by the scholar Mkhitar Gosh, famed for the most exquisite “lace” khachkar in Armenia.
• Haghartsin Monastery – A complex of 10th–13th-century monastic buildings hidden in a forest valley within Dilijan National Park, known for fine stone carving and…
• Dilijan National Park – Extensive mountain broadleaf forest surrounding Dilijan, where monasteries, mountain lakes and several hiking routes are all hidden within…
• Jukhtakvank – Meaning “twin monastery,” two 12th–13th-century small churches stand side by side at the edge of the forest west of town, quiet and rustic.
• Matosavank – A 13th-century small monastery hidden in dense forest, half-hidden among moss and tree roots. It can only be reached on foot, which adds to…
• Lake Gosh – A small forest lake above Goshavank, seldom visited, and a worthwhile detour on the Lake Parz–Goshavank trail.
• Makaravank – A 10th–13th-century monastery on the Pazvast mountain slope, where the relief carvings on the main church altar are among the finest in Arm…
• Dilijan Local Lore Museum and Art Gallery – A small museum in the town center displaying Tavush folk artifacts and archaeological finds, with a European and Armenian oil painting gall…

Where to eat

• Kchuch (Clay Pot) Restaurant – Dilijan's best-known family restaurant, where every dish is cooked in a wood-fired brick oven. Signature items are clay…
• Ker u Sus Restaurant – A highly rated Armenian-Georgian restaurant in Dilijan. One portion of its namesake stew is enough for two when ordered…

Itineraries

• Northern Armenia Slow Travel by Public Transport – Connect Lake Sevan, Dilijan, the Debed Canyon, and Gyumri using marshrutkas and trains.
• Grand Armenia Loop – From Tatev in the south to Debed and Gyumri in the north, cover all the main regions of the country in one loop.
• Caucasus Overland: Baku to Yerevan – Fly into Baku, travel overland through Sheki into Georgia, continue to Armenia, and fly out of Yerevan.
• Georgia & Armenia Combo – Head north from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, cross the border into the Debed Canyon, and travel south to Tatev.