The best things to do in Sevan, including major sights, local experiences, practical visitor information and places actually worth your time.
Things to do
What deserves your time in Sevan
Major attractions matter, but so do timing, price, accessibility and whether an experience actually deserves part of your trip.
01
Monastery
Sevanavank
Two ninth-century churches of dark stone standing on a promontory above the lake, reached by a long flight of steps. It was founded on what was then an island; the water level dropped substantially during the Soviet period when the lake was drained for irrigation and hydroelectricity, turning the island into a peninsula. The view from the top back across the water to the surrounding mountains is the reason most people come to Sevan at all.
Booking: Free to enter. Arrive before mid-morning or in the late afternoon to avoid the coach groups. The steps are exposed and the wind at the top is stronger than at the car park.
Accessibility: A long, steep staircase is the only route to the churches, with no alternative access. The lower car park area has views but not the monastery itself.
Time
40–60 minutes
02
Medieval khachkar field
Noratus cemetery
The largest surviving field of Armenian khachkars, with over nine hundred carved cross-stones standing in a working village cemetery, the oldest dating from the tenth century. Each stone is individually carved and no two are alike. It receives a fraction of Sevanavank's visitors and is, for many travellers, the more affecting of the two sites.
Booking: About 10 km south of Sevan town near Gavar. No entry fee. Local women sometimes offer informal guiding and sell knitted goods at the entrance. There is no shade, which matters in summer.
Accessibility: Open ground with rough grass, uneven footing between stones and no paths. Difficult with wheels; the outer edge is viewable from the entrance.
Time
45–90 minutes
03
Shoreline and swimming
The lake shore and beaches
Sevan's shoreline runs from developed beach clubs with loungers and bars on the northwestern side to long stretches of empty gravel and sand elsewhere. The water is exceptionally clear and, in the right light, an unusual deep blue that comes from the altitude and depth. It is a high mountain lake, not a resort coast, and the difference is obvious the moment you get in.
Booking: Beach clubs charge for entry or loungers in season and mostly close outside July and August. Public shoreline is freely accessible year-round. There are no lifeguards on most stretches.
Accessibility: Developed beach areas have the most level access. Undeveloped shore is loose gravel and awkward underfoot.
Time
Half a day
04
Monastery
Hayravank
A small ninth- to twelfth-century monastery on a rocky outcrop above the western shore, with khachkars in its grounds and a view over the lake. It is far quieter than Sevanavank and takes a fraction of the time, which makes it a good pairing with Noratus on the same drive.
Booking: On the western shore road between Sevan and Noratus. Easily combined with Noratus by car; no useful public transport.
Accessibility: A short but uneven and rocky approach from the parking area, with steps into the church.
Time
20–40 minutes
05
Landscape and quiet shoreline
The eastern shore
The far side of the lake is emptier, wilder and less developed, with long open shorelines, small villages and mountain backdrops. It is the part of Sevan that day-trippers never see and the clearest reason to have a car or to stay overnight.
Booking: Requires a car; public transport around the lake is slow and infrequent. Note that some governments advise against travel in areas east of Vardenis on the far southeastern side because of border proximity; the northern and eastern shores covered by normal touring routes are not affected. Check current advice before planning a full circuit.
Accessibility: Undeveloped throughout, with rough tracks and no facilities. Practical only from a vehicle.