Bordered by Türkiye to the east and Iran to the south, Armenia is often described as sitting at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia due to its location in the South Caucasus.
While the country has everything from “pink city” buildings made of natural volcanic tuff stone to the majestic Mount Ararat and UNESCO-listed mountain monasteries, Armenia has not yet taken off as a viral tourist destination, even as more and more Western tourists seek out new and off-the beaten-path places.
The vast majority of the 2.26 million international tourists who came to Armenia in 2025 were from Russia and Iran — as a result, the country’s government is making a concerted effort to boost tourism from more countries by scrapping previous visa requirements.
You can travel to Armenia visa-free until July 2026
Envisioned as a pilot program in place from Jan. 1 to July 1, 2026, the new rules grants citizens of 113 countries that would have previously needed to apply for either a full or electronic visa up to six months of visa-free entry.
The list of included nations includes the United States, Canada, and the countries making up the European Union, as well as Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia and Oman. Those who are not citizens but hold a valid residency permit from any of these countries can also enter Armenia by showing it alongside their passport.
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“Foreigners enter the territory of the Republic of Armenia through border-control points,” the Armenian government writes of the changed requirements on its website. “For entry, a foreigner must have a valid passport, entry visa or a document of residency status unless Armenian laws or international agreements define no other procedure.”
These types of entry rules, which look not only at citizenship but also residency issued by other countries, are highly unusual on the global scale. It significantly opens travel to Armenia by citizens of less wealthy nations in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean who would have otherwise needed to apply a visa.
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Why you should make Armenia your next travel destination in 2026
In June 2025, the World Bank also approved Armenia’s plan to pour $100 million into building infrastructure in, and promoting tourism to, regions including Goris, Jermuk, and Dilijan, as well as other parts of the country outside the Yerevan capital.
Due to its lower number of tourists, Armenia is also a very affordable destination.
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According to an analysis by travel booking platform Kayak, the average four-star hotel in the capital of Yerevan averages less than $100 USD per night, while daily dining and entertainment costs can easily fall under $40 for those watching their budget.
With the country embracing Christianity in 301 CE, Armenia is also often the destination of choice for those interested in religion, as it is home to countless ancient sites of great religious importance.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral just outside the capital is widely considered to be the cradle of Apostolic Christianity and one of the oldest existing Christian temples in the world.
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