- Drive from Yerevan, according to Armenia's tourism committee
- About 1.5 hrs
- Area of Dilijan National Park
- 240 km²
- Year the refectory at Haghartsin was built
- 1248
What it is and whether it is worth the trip
Dilijan is a town of about 16,000 people at roughly 1,500 metres, in Tavush Province, according to Wikipedia. It sits inside Dilijan National Park, and it became a mountain resort in the second half of the 19th century. The tourism committee sometimes calls it the Switzerland of Armenia.
The appeal is forest and quiet monasteries, not a headline monument. If your priority is the single most famous sight, Garni is the stronger choice. If you want greenery and a gentler day after Garni and Geghard, Dilijan suits you.
The park covers 240 square kilometres. Wikipedia says it began as a state forest reserve in 1958 and became a national park in 2002, and that woods cover 94% of its territory.
What to see and how long to allow
Haghartsin Monastery is the main target, about 13 km from Dilijan by road. The complex dates from roughly the 10th to the 13th centuries. Wikipedia and the American University of Armenia’s guide agree on St Stepanos from 1244, the refectory from 1248 and the large church of St Astvatsatsin from 1281. Wikipedia says a paved road leads to a large car park, with a gift shop and a bakery.
Goshavank has a different feel: a group of churches and chapels, with a ruined school, founded in the 12th century by the scholar Mkhitar Gosh, the tourism committee says. Wikipedia adds that an earlier monastery on the site was destroyed by an earthquake in 1188. Look for the carved 13th-century khachkar (cross-stone) near the smallest church. A hilltop church and Mkhitar Gosh’s mausoleum are about a 15-minute walk away.
Old Dilijan is Sharambeyan Street, pedestrian-only, with 19th-century buildings, craft shops and galleries.
Lake Parz is small, about 2 hectares and 1,400 metres up, per Wikipedia. The committee mentions a zip line and ropes course there.
Walking. Parts of the Transcaucasian Trail pass through the park. The committee says a 3 km hike links Goshavank to Lake Gosh, and that Jukhtakavank and Matosavank, both 12th-century, are best reached on foot.
For a full day on your own, Haghartsin, Goshavank and the town centre is plenty. On a tour, expect brief stops.
Distance and travel time from Yerevan
The tourism committee says to allow about 1.5 hours by road. Many people see Dilijan alongside Lake Sevan, and the itineraries we opened show how different the same day can be:
- Eurasia Travel: about 8 hours including transfers, via Sevan and Sevanavank, then Dilijan, Goshavank and Haghartsin.
- OneWay Tour: 10 to 11 hours, with Haghartsin, Lake Parz, Goshavank and Old Dilijan.
- Armgeo: 11 hours, with a walk in Dilijan, both monasteries and a wine and brandy factory in Ijevan, after Lake Sevan.
Entrance fees and meals are not included on the OneWay tour. Check each tour’s list before booking, because they vary.
Opening times and fees
Checked October 2026: the tourism committee’s Dilijan guide lists no general fees or opening hours for the park or the monasteries. We found no official figures, so we have given none. The Goshavank page says the main church is active on Saturdays and Sundays, when visitors can join the liturgy, so expect services at weekends.
One practical tip
Compare stop lists, not just durations. A tour with a wine factory stop spends time you might prefer in the forest, and a longer day is not always a better one. Decide whether you want the monasteries, the lake or the town, then pick the route that gives most time to that.
How it fits with a Garni day
Dilijan is a separate trip from Garni and Geghard, in a different part of the country: Tavush Province, rather than Kotayk. None of the itineraries we opened combines them in one day.
A sensible plan for several days is Garni and Geghard first, using our main guide and day tours page, then Dilijan with Lake Sevan on another day. For a single day with Ararat in view, see Khor Virap.
