Yerevan to Lake Sevan: quick and cheap ways to get there

Yerevan to Lake Sevan

If you’re in Armenia I think Lake Sevan and its peninsula is really worth your visit. It happens to be one of the largest lakes in the region and makes up about one-sixth of Armenia’s territory. Amazing, right? We, locals, treat it like our sea, ocean, or whatever you want to call it but it’s what we use for recreation 🙂 It is a really nice place to visit and relax, especially during summertime.

There are multiple options to get from Yerevan to Lake Sevan. You can take the bus, train, taxi, rent a car and even take a private transfer. Private tours to Lake Sevan from Yerevan are also regularly organized. Among these options, the time spent on the road and costs differ.

Now, let’s dive deeper into each option and decide which one is the best for you. Also, get to know why you should visit Lake Sevan during your visit. If you manage to visit Sevan make sure to tell me which option you chose and what you liked or disliked about it on Instagram or Twitter with #ArmeniaTravelTips. Looking forward to reading all of them!

How to get from Yerevan to Lake Sevan: options

It would be nice to organize your trip to the lake in advance. But, even if you are a last-minute planner the distance between Yerevan and Lake Sevan is only about 70 km (43.5 miles). So, it’s also perfect for organizing an unplanned trip when you’re in Yerevan and want to get away from the heat in the summer. At the end of the day, the spontaneous trips are what we remember the most 🙂 Either way, it’s never too late to visit Sevan so, let’s get into the options to get there.

Bus

Taking the bus is the second cheapest option here on the list. It’s also the one that will probably require the most effort from you. You can take the bus from Yerevan Northern Bus Station which is located on the outskirts of the city. However, the bus will only take you to Sevan city and not directly to the lake. But, it is not a problem as you can take a taxi to take you wherever you want near the lake.

How long it takes to get there: It will take you 10 min by taxi to get to the Northern Bus Station from Yerevan city center. And, your journey on the bus will be about 1 hour 15 min.

Cost: Expect to pay $3-$4 for an on-demand taxi to get you to the Northern Bus Station. And, from there the bus will cost $1-$2 to take you to Sevan city, located near Lake Sevan.

Train

If you decide to take a train to Lake Sevan, know that it’s going to be a long ride. But, the good part is that it’s the cheapest of all. You can take the train from Almast Railway Station located in Yerevan at 08:30 AM. However, the train doesn’t leave every day so please check the availability before going to Sevan. It is also good to know that you can take some baggage with you if you need it.

How long it takes to get there: About 2 hours.

Cost: The train ticket costs $1-$2.

Taxi

The fastest option out of all is probably a taxi that can take you to your desired exact location in Sevan. It is also pretty comfortable to travel by car especially when taxis are not that expensive in Armenia compared to other countries. There are many alternative apps to Uber in Armenia. Make sure to download some of those apps as you’ll probably need them a lot during your trip.

How long it takes to get there: It will approximately take 50 min from the Yerevan center to Lake Sevan if you take a taxi.

Cost: The cost might range from $15-$18. But, you might spend more money depending on the tariff and added comfort level of your ride, depending on which car you choose.

Car rental

If you like taking rides in different countries by yourself or with friends then renting a car would be your go-to. Sometimes you want to make stops wherever you want and enjoy the country a little longer. You really get the freedom to drive to nice destinations in Armenia that are close to Sevan. And as you explore our beautiful country you might change your mind and stay a little longer in Armenia 🙂 But, I suppose it will be helpful to learn about driving in Armenia before you decide to rent a car.

How long it takes to get there: It will take about an hour depending on how you drive 🙂

Cost: It depends on the type of car you will rent but the average cost will be around $100. For more info, I’ll suggest you check out my separate posts on cheap and luxury car rentals available in Yerevan. You’ll find everything you need on car types and prices there.

Private transfer

If money is not an issue and you like having comfortable rides then taking a private transfer from Yerevan to Lake Sevan would be another viable option for you. You will have Wi-Fi on the board and the car will take you from/to your desired destination. The vehicles are comfortable and you will have a safe transfer. You can see the details here.

How long it takes to get there: It takes about an hour.

Cost: It usually starts at around $34 per group.

Available tours to Lake Sevan

Taking a tour will definitely take a lot of planning off your shoulders. Well, you basically hand the job of planning your trip to a third party. Besides, many of the tours not only include Lake Sevan but also offer more places to explore on the way to the lake. I believe this is great news as you’ll explore a lot more for the given price and also have a guided experience. Here is one example of a private tour you can take to Sevan and Dilijan (“Armenian Switzerland”) and its monasteries. It will last about 9-10 hours and cost you about $21 per person.

What you should know before visiting Lake Sevan

The weather in Sevan is cooler than in other parts of Armenia. That’s because it is located in a high mountain area. So, you might want to take warm clothes with you as it might also get windy. The average temperature is about 5°C (41°F). And, it can reach 16°C (60°F) during summertime. Whenever you decide to visit, be in a great mood to enjoy to the fullest.

You can also taste the best fish in Sevan as that’s from where we get our fish. It is really delicious no matter where you try it. There are also several nice coasts you can visit. When you’re in Sevan I’d recommend you check out some of the 7 spots to really relax and chill. You can also watch this video to see what experience these two travelers had in Sevan.

Final thoughts

Obviously, there are multiple ways to get from Yerevan to Sevan and it’s really just a matter of time and money. But what’s most important is to enjoy the scenic views and relax at the nice beaches. At the end of the day, you care more about the experience you had than the money you spent.

I am sure you will have a fantastic time in Armenia and would want to extend your days here. If you manage to do that you can also visit the most beautiful cities in Armenia. You will be impressed! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about your trip to Armenia. That’s why you can share your reactions and pictures with me on Instagram or Twitter with #ArmeniaTravelTips. I am looking forward to it!

Featured image credit: Taken on Pixabay

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