Museums in Yerevan cover a broad range of interests, from Armenia’s history and manuscript heritage to modern and fine art. The History Museum of Armenia, Matenadaran, the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan and the National Gallery of Armenia each offer a distinct reason to visit.
- Armenian history: History Museum of Armenia; founded in 1919, with about 400,000 objects.
- Manuscripts: Matenadaran; its museum is open Tuesday through Saturday.
- Modern art: Modern Art Museum of Yerevan; main-exhibition tickets are available at several price levels.
- Fine art: National Gallery of Armenia; its collection includes more than 42,000 exhibits.
Map data places 26 museum locations within 6 km of this Yerevan hotel, so you can choose by collection and plan a visit around the opening pattern.
Choose a museum by subject
Choose a Yerevan museum by the collection you want to spend time with: history, manuscripts, modern art or fine art.
The History Museum of Armenia focuses on the country’s past and culture, while Matenadaran is the choice for manuscript heritage. For art, the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan concentrates on modern works, and the National Gallery of Armenia holds Armenian and world fine art as well as decorative-applied art.
If you want to compare more than one subject, look at the opening patterns before deciding on an order. The history museum and National Gallery share a Tuesday-to-Saturday opening window, while Matenadaran’s museum also opens on those days. The modern art museum closes on Mondays and has a different admission structure.
History and city collections
The History Museum of Armenia traces the country’s history and culture from the Paleolithic period to the present through a collection of about 400,000 objects.
Founded in 1919, the museum is a strong fit if you want a wide historical overview rather than a visit focused on one art form. Its permanent-exhibition ticket costs 2,500 AMD. Eligible Armenian pensioners and refugees, Armenian students, and Armenian schoolchildren over age 12 pay 1,250 AMD.
Guided tours are offered in Armenian or Western Armenian for 4,000 AMD, and in Russian, English or French for 5,000 AMD. Armenian citizens have free admission on the last Saturday of every month.
For a day that also takes in the memorial and museum at Tsitsernakaberd, check how the museum’s hours fit your plans. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 17:15.
On Sundays it is open from 11:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:15. It is closed on Mondays, national holidays and memorial days.
Manuscripts and Armenian heritage
- Ticket
- price page provides ticket information
Matenadaran’s museum is the option for a visit centered on manuscripts and Armenian heritage.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 17:50. Matenadaran also has a library, open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, and a reading room, open on those days from 10:00 to 21:00.
These are separate spaces with different hours, so check which one you plan to visit before setting out. The museum’s ticket-price page provides ticket information; confirm admission details directly with Matenadaran.
Art museums and galleries
Yerevan’s art museums offer a choice between a modern-art focus and a wider collection of Armenian and world art.
Modern Art Museum of Yerevan
The Modern Art Museum of Yerevan is at 7 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, Yerevan 0002. Main-exhibition tickets cost 1,500 AMD for adults, 1,000 AMD for students and 500 AMD for schoolchildren.
Guided tours cost 2,000 AMD in Armenian and 4,000 AMD in English or Russian. The museum is closed on Mondays, national holidays and memorial days, and closes one hour earlier on pre-holiday days.
National Gallery of Armenia
The National Gallery of Armenia was established in 1921. Its collection includes more than 42,000 exhibits of Armenian and world fine art and decorative-applied art.
The gallery is at 1 Aram Street, Yerevan 0010. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Mondays, and the booking office closes 45 minutes before the museum.
Check hours, admission and access
Opening patterns and admission differ between museums, so confirm the details for your chosen visit before you go.
For the History Museum of Armenia, plan around its Sunday closing time and last-admission cutoff, or choose another open day. At the National Gallery, remember that the booking office closes before the museum itself. Matenadaran’s museum, library and reading room also keep different hours.
If you are combining a museum visit with other stops, a one-day Yerevan route from the hotel area can help you think through the order. Admission details are available for the History Museum of Armenia and the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan above. For Matenadaran, confirm ticket prices with the museum. Check the official site before you go.
FAQs
Which museum in Yerevan focuses on Armenian history?
The History Museum of Armenia covers the country’s history and culture from the Paleolithic period to the present, with about 400,000 objects.
When is Matenadaran’s museum open?
It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 17:50. Its library and reading room have different hours.
How much is admission to the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan?
Main-exhibition tickets cost 1,500 AMD for adults, 1,000 AMD for students and 500 AMD for schoolchildren.
Is the National Gallery of Armenia open on Mondays?
No. The gallery is closed on Mondays; its listed public opening days are Tuesday through Sunday.