Republic Square

Yerevan's central square with musical fountains

Area Yerevan
Type City landmark
Time needed 30m

Republic Square is Yerevan's ceremonial centre, an oval of tuff-faced buildings arranged around a fountain pool in front of the History Museum. It is where the city's main avenues converge, and where most visitors start working out the shape of Yerevan.

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Getting there

The square is the city centre itself, so from a Yerevan base there is no drive at all and it is walkable from most of the Kentron district.

What you see

The stone is the point: the surrounding buildings share the same pink and ochre tuff and the same arcaded rhythm, which is what makes the oval read as one composition rather than five separate blocks. The History Museum's curved frontage closes the open end. The paving is laid in a pattern meant to echo an Armenian carpet, which is easier to see from the museum steps than from ground level.

What to pair it with

Combine it with the History Museum and National Gallery, which open off the square, and a walk up Northern Avenue towards the Opera.

When to go

Early morning gives you the architecture without the traffic; summer evenings bring the fountain show with music and lights, which does not run in the cold months. [VERIFY — confirm current details]

What is hard about it

It functions as a traffic roundabout as much as a square, and reaching the centre means using the pedestrian underpasses. In daylight it is a large, hot, largely shadeless open space.

Common questions

Is there really a fountain show?

Yes, in the warmer part of the year the fountains are set to music and coloured light in the evening. Season and timings change from year to year. [VERIFY — confirm current details]

How long should I allow?

Half an hour covers a walk round the oval and a proper look at the buildings. Add time if you are waiting for the fountains.

Can I go inside the buildings on the square?

The History Museum and the National Gallery share an entrance and are open to visitors. The government buildings and the hotel are not open to sightseers.