By air
Zvartnots International Airport (EVN), ~1 h by road
Europe · Armenia
Lake Sevan, Armenia
A high blue lake ringed by monasteries
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September — the swimming season
Don't miss
Sevanavank
Noratus cemetery
Hayravank
Sevan National Park
Things to do
Swimming
Visiting monasteries
Boat trips
Picnics on the shore
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Alexxx1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear, warm layer for evenings, sunscreen
A quieter corner
The field of carved khachkar stones at Noratus
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lake Sevan?
June to September — the swimming season. What to pack: Swimwear, warm layer for evenings, sunscreen.
How do I get to Lake Sevan?
Fly into Zvartnots International Airport (EVN), ~1 h by road.
What is there to do in Lake Sevan?
Swimming, visiting monasteries, boat trips, picnics on the shore. A quieter find: The field of carved khachkar stones at Noratus.
What should I eat in Lake Sevan?
Grilled ishkhan trout and whitefish from the lake, crayfish, lavash and herbs.
About Lake Sevan
- Lakeside
- Mountains
Where it is
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia, lying high in the mountains in the east of the country, about an hour's drive from Yerevan.
History
The monastery of Sevanavank was founded in the 9th century on what was then an island. In the Soviet era the lake was drained heavily for irrigation and hydropower, lowering its level so much that the island became a peninsula. Efforts since then have aimed to raise and protect the lake.
People
The towns and villages around the lake are Armenian-speaking communities that live from fishing, farming and summer tourism, when families from Yerevan come to the beaches.
Known for
- Sevanavank on its peninsula
- Swimming beaches in summer
- Fresh lake fish
- Medieval khachkars
Did you know?
Lake Sevan is one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the world, at roughly 1,900 m above sea level.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.