Current information
At the beginning of April 2016, fighting broke out in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Travel to the conflict region Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian-occupied districts of Agdam, Füsuli, Jabrayil, Sangilan, Kubadli, Ladschin and Kalbadschar in the south-west are still strongly advised against.
Since January 2016, an increase in the activity of influenza viruses, especially of the H1N1 type (so-called swine flu), has been observed in Armenia. Especially for travelers with chronic illnesses, possibly also for healthy people, it can be useful to have the vaccination against flu checked and refreshed. The current flu vaccine also protects against H1N1. In addition, the general hygiene rules must be observed (see also: External link, opens in new window www.rki.de).
Country-specific safety information
In northeastern Armenia, the M16 road (via Noyemberyan in the direction of the Armenian-Georgian border crossing Bagratashen / Sadakhlo) runs near the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since there have been repeated exchanges of fire on this part of the border in the past, the situation should be closely monitored and – as far as possible – alternative routes to the Armenian-Georgian border should be used. The road to the west via Vanadzor and Alaverdi, however, cannot be used for an indefinite period due to repair work.
When staying in Yerevan, it is also recommended to avoid demonstrations and crowds, especially protests in front of government buildings.
Travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict region (including the occupied territories)
Travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh region is strongly discouraged. The Federal Government does not recognize the so-called “Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh” under international law. Travelers who go to Nagorno-Karabakh or the surrounding areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia cannot receive consular help or assistance from the embassy in Yerevan or the embassy in Baku At the armistice line there are repeated exchanges of fire and there is also a risk of mines. Travelers whose passports contain visas and / or entry stamps from the so-called “Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh” will not be granted a visa to enter Azerbaijan. In principle, this regulation is also applied if the Azerbaijani authorities become aware of trips to Nagorno-Karabakh or the surrounding Azerbaijani areas occupied by Armenia by other means.
General travel information
Communication
According to the information on their websites External Link, opens in new window www.beeline.am/ and External Link, opens in new window www.vivacell.am/, the Armenian mobile phone providers Beeline and Vivacell have concluded roaming agreements with the following German providers: E-plus, O2, O2-3G, T-Mobile and Vodafone (Beeline); E-plus, T-Mobile and Vodafone (Vivacell). You can find out from your German mobile operator whether you can use roaming functionality with your mobile phone in Armenia; Roaming may have to be activated first.
For longer stays, an Armenian prepaid SIM card can be bought for a few euros, but this must be registered. It is also possible to make international calls from post offices or internet cafés.
Money, credit cards
More recent US $ notes and euros can be exchanged. When exchanging local currency for euros, the euro notes should be carefully checked, as counterfeits are said to be in circulation. You can find information on detecting counterfeit euro notes here:
Businesses and service providers are not officially permitted to accept foreign currencies, so payment must be made in the Armenian national currency “Dram” (AMD). Some shops that offer high-quality goods have their own exchange offices and accept credit cards (usually Master / Visa card).
There are numerous ATMs in downtown Yerevan. The money supply – also via EC / Maestro card – is possible.
Outside of Yerevan, cash dispensers are not available nationwide; there are ATMs in the provincial capitals. It is therefore recommended that you only travel outside the capital with sufficient cash reserves. The locations of ATMs in the Visa and MasterCard / Maestro networks can be found on the following websites:
Some restaurants, shops and hotels for high demands accept major credit cards. However, there are occasional technical difficulties, especially outside the capital. in these cases only cash payment is possible.
Emergency money supply
You can have money transferred from Germany in the following ways:
- Since the end of August 2008, Armenian banks no longer participate in the “Western Union” money transfer system. Alternatives include: “MoneyGram” “Anelik”, “Unistream” and “Private Money”.
- by SWIFT transfer to an Armenian bank (duration approx. 2-3 days) Almost all banks in Armenia are connected to the SWIFT network. You should find out beforehand at the receiving bank whether money can be transferred to you there and what information is required (including SWIFT address, also known as BIC).
Road traffic
According to youremailverifier, traffic rules are often ignored in Armenia, the risk of accidents is considerably higher than in Germany. The Armenian motor vehicle liability insurance only has coverage of approx. € 3,000 for property damage, so that accident victims can usually not expect to receive adequate compensation. Travelers should therefore ensure that they have adequate insurance cover (accident, comprehensive insurance). It is also advisable to drive extremely carefully and defensively.
Although the roads are slowly improving, especially in Yerevan, there are still many sources of danger across the country. These include defective traffic lights, missing manhole covers, inadequate signage, missing guard rails and landslides, which can occur especially in the winter months after rainfall, as ditches or sewers are mostly missing, especially on mountain roads. Rockfall warning signs should be taken seriously. The national emergency number is 911.
Crime
So far, Armenia has stood out as a country with a comparatively low level of violent crime.
Natural disasters
Armenia lies in a seismically active zone, earthquakes can occur at any time.