Safety in Armenia

Overall: Armenia is among the safest countries anywhere, and walking alone at night is unremarkable. People are helpful to the point of insistence if a visitor is stuck.
Traffic: The main hazard is unpredictable driving on mountain roads and casual speeding. Cross carefully even on a marked crossing, since giving way to pedestrians is not a strong local habit.
Drinking water: Yerevan is full of pulpulak drinking fountains delivering clean mountain water. It is entirely safe, so there is no reason to buy plastic bottles.
Mountains: Weather in the highlands turns fast even when it is hot in the valley. Carry a windproof layer and closed shoes for monastery walks, and watch where you step for snakes.
Scams: Rare, but check prices in advance at the airport and around the popular churches. Agree a taxi fare before setting off unless you are using an app.
Signal: In remote gorges and on the passes the mobile network drops out. Download offline maps before you set out, and glance at your own government's travel advisory regarding the border areas.

Armenia is one of the calmest countries in the region for a visitor, and organised scams barely exist. What remains is everyday overcharging.

Taxis at Zvartnots. Outside the arrivals hall you will be offered a ride into the centre at three or four times the real price. The GG and Yandex Go apps work well and cost very little — order from inside the terminal.

Unmetered taxis in Yerevan. Meters are compulsory, but cars waiting at Republic Square and the Cascade "forget" to switch them on. Ask immediately or walk away.

Currency exchange. Rates at exchange offices are noticeably better than at the airport or hotels. Central Yerevan has plenty of them with little difference between them, but change some money before you reach the airport.

"Guides" at Geghard and Garni. A tour is offered for a sum quoted verbally, and more is demanded afterwards. Agree the price in words and figures, ideally typed into a phone.

Casinos on the Sevan road. The Yerevan–Sevan highway is lined with casinos, and drivers sometimes suggest "stopping in for a minute". Do not.

Street theft and robbery in Yerevan are very rare: the city is safe at night, central districts included.

The border with Azerbaijan is the thing to know. Demarcation is unfinished, and in Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces the road runs close to military positions in places. Leaving the highway, wandering through border villages or climbing the heights there is categorically unsafe. Follow signs and warnings rather than the map on your phone: navigation apps route without any knowledge of the line of contact.

Photography. Military installations, checkpoints and border positions must not be photographed. In Syunik this is enforced strictly.

Drugs. The law is severe, and possession of even small amounts is a criminal offence. Cannabis is entirely illegal.

Exporting cultural property. Old carpets, icons, coins and books over fifty years old require a permit from the culture ministry. Customs check for this, and a flea-market souvenir can turn into a formal case.

Drones require clearance, and flights over Yerevan and border areas are prohibited.

Documents. Carrying your passport is advisable, though checks are rare. National driving licences are valid in Armenia; an international permit is not needed.

Vaccinations. None mandatory.

Water. One of the few countries in the region where tap water is drunk without hesitation — it is spring-fed and of very good quality. The pulpulak drinking fountains on Yerevan's streets work, and their water is safe and free.

Mountains. Lake Sevan sits at 1,900 metres and Mount Aragats rises to 4,090. Altitude sickness is unlikely on day trips, but the sun at height is harsh and the weather turns within an hour. Even in summer, take a windproof layer.

Heat. Yerevan reaches 40°C in summer; the city lies in a basin and bakes. Plan excursions for the morning.

Stray dogs. Packs occur in rural areas and on the outskirts. Keep your distance, and after any bite go straight to a clinic for the rabies vaccine.

Healthcare. Public hospitals are weak, but Yerevan has good private clinics — Astghik, Nairi, Izmirlyan — at decent standards and moderate prices. The regions have essentially no healthcare, and anything serious means a drive to the capital.

Russian is understood almost everywhere in medicine, which makes seeing a doctor considerably easier.

Since the patrol service reform, corruption in the Armenian police has fallen noticeably, though the country still sits mid-table globally.

The patrol police work on a European model: camera-equipped cars and automatic recording of offences. Settling matters on the roadside has largely disappeared — fines arrive from cameras and are paid online.

Speed. There are many road cameras and the limits are low. A speeding fine will reach the rental company and be charged to your card along with a fee.

Reporting theft. Reports are taken without fuss and a certificate for your insurer is issued. Statements in Russian are accepted and understood.

Language. Russian is widely spoken in Armenia, so there is essentially no language barrier with the police.

Border checks. Travelling to Syunik or Sevan may involve a document check on the highway. It is routine — keep your passport to hand.

Emergency number is 911 for police, ambulance and fire alike.