CityBuddy
Ararat Brandy Factory
Best time to visit
Late afternoon visits let you catch golden light filtering through the tasting room windows. Weekday mornings are quieter, with fewer tour groups crowding the cellars.
Budget tips
Standard tours with a tasting of 3-5 brandies start around 8,000 AMD ($20). Spring for the premium tasting at 15,000 AMD to try the 20-year-old and 30-year-old reserves that never leave Armenia.
Recommended for
Spirit and whisky enthusiasts, History buffs interested in Soviet-era memorabilia, Couples looking for a sophisticated date experience, Solo travelers who enjoy immersive cultural experiences
Plan your visit
1.5-2 hours
About
Quick facts: The Ararat Brandy Factory ages over 600,000 liters of brandy in a vast underground cellar carved beneath Yerevan. Winston Churchill received a yearly case of this brandy by personal request from Stalin, who famously declared it the finest in the world.
Highlights: Behind a heavy oak door in the oldest cellar, you'll find casks labeled with the names of Russian tsars and Soviet leaders who personally ordered their own private reserves. The tasting room lets you sample a 10-year-old next to a 50-year-old in one sitting, a contrast that tastes like the difference between a shout and a whispered secret.
Insider tips
- Skip the gift shop and buy your bottle at the factory's own store next door, where prices are lower and selection is wider.
- Ask your guide to point out the cask marked '1950' in the VIP cellar, it was sealed the year Stalin died.
- Photography is allowed in the tunnels but the flash reflects off glossy cask labels, turn it off for better shots.
- Book the tour with the 'Sherry Cask' tasting option, it's the only place in the world offering that exclusive cask finish.
Where to Stay in Yerevan
Selected by City Buddy based on guest reviews and proximity to top attractions
Search all hotels in YerevanPowered by agoda
Have you heard of free walking tours?
After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.
Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.
Local guide, 2-3 hours
Major sights, hidden gems, local stories
100% tip-based
Guides earn only tips, so they give their absolute best
You tip what feels right
At the end, just tip whatever you feel is right
I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Yerevan, Armenia, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.
More attractions in Yerevan
All attractions in Yerevan →
Most popular itineraries!
Browse trip plans created by other travelers