Gift guide

What to buy in Yerevan: souvenirs and gifts worth the suitcase space

Most lists of Yerevan souvenirs stop at brandy and a fridge magnet. Both are fine, but the city has much more worth carrying home. We make handmade décor here, so we have strong opinions about what is actually good, what travels well and what ends up in a drawer. Here is our honest guide: the classics, where to find them, and a few pieces of our own that fit in a suitcase.

Start with what Armenia does best

Three things make a good souvenir from Yerevan: it is made here, it is made well, and it will be used. Armenia has deep traditions in a handful of crafts, so the best gifts are the ones that lean on those skills rather than on a printed logo. Keep that rule in mind and the stalls become much easier to read.

Food and drink

• Armenian brandy. The classic. Buy it from a shop rather than a market stall, keep the receipt, and remember liquids go in checked luggage.
• Wine. Armenia is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Look for Areni, the local red grape, and for whites made from Voskehat.
• Dried fruit and sujukh. Sun-dried apricots, peaches stuffed with walnuts, sheets of fruit leather and sujukh (walnuts dipped in thickened grape juice, nothing to do with sausage). They are light, they keep, and they are what Armenians bring each other.
• Gata and coffee. Gata, the sweet layered bread, is best bought the day you fly. Ground Armenian coffee is cheap and easy to pack.
• Herbs and spices. Dried mountain herbs for tea, and spice mixes from the covered market stalls.

Check the rules of the country you are flying to. Dried fruit and sweets are rarely a problem; cured meats like basturma often are.

Crafts from the Vernissage and beyond

The open-air Vernissage market, a few minutes' walk from Republic Square, is where most visitors shop. It is busiest at weekends and sells everything from carved backgammon boards to old cameras. Go for the things with a real tradition behind them:

• Carpets and rugs. Hand-knotted Armenian carpets are an investment and a serious piece of heritage. Buy from a reputable dealer with a certificate, and ask about export paperwork for anything old.
• Ceramics. Hand-painted plates and bowls with pomegranates, birds and letters of the Armenian alphabet.
• Silver and obsidian. Armenian silversmiths have centuries of history, and black volcanic obsidian from the hills shows up in jewellery and small carvings.
• Duduk. The apricot-wood instrument that gives Armenian music its sound. Even as an object it is beautiful.
• Apricot wood and khachkar carvings. Boxes, spoons and small carved crosses.

One thing to know: antiques, artworks and carpets of a certain age may need an export permit to leave Armenia. For anything that looks old or valuable, ask the seller before you pay.

Modern Armenian design

Beyond the traditional crafts there is a newer scene of small studios in Yerevan making contemporary design by hand: ceramics, textiles, jewellery and home décor. These are the pieces that fit a modern flat as well as they fit a suitcase, and they are what we make. Our studio works in papier-mâché and cast cement, shaping lamps, bowls and vases by hand in Yerevan, in warm, earthy colours. A papier-mâché bowl weighs almost nothing; a small cement lamp is heavy for its size but needs only a little padding. Both are made to order, so we can also ship a piece home for you from Yerevan rather than you carrying it, and most designs can be made in your own colour.

Pieces from our studio that travel well

Everything below is made by hand in Yerevan. Prices are in Armenian drams.

• Papier-mâché Bowls — 12 × 8 cm — 3,000–7,000 AMD
• Concrete Coasters — Set of 4 — 5,000 AMD
• Cement Table Lamp — 7.5 × 9.5 cm — 8,000 AMD
• Wabi-Sabi Bowls — Set — 3,000–6,000 AMD
• Striped Papier-mâché Vase — 25 × 35 cm — 10,000 AMD
• Cordless Mushroom Table Lamp — 19 × 20 cm — price on request

We take orders by message rather than in a shop, so if you are in Yerevan, message us on Instagram and we will arrange how to get the piece to you, or ship it to your home address later. Our guide to handmade gifts from Armenia has more ideas, and if you are shopping for family abroad, this guide explains shipping, plugs and customs.

Packing and flying home

Dried fruit, sujukh and coffee go anywhere in your luggage. Brandy and wine go in checked bags, wrapped in clothes. Ceramics and glass need bubble wrap; ask the seller to pack them, and carry anything fragile on board if you can. Papier-mâché is light and more robust than it looks, but keep it dry. Cement is nearly indestructible but heavy, so weigh your bag. Keep receipts for anything valuable, and for carpets or antiques carry the export certificate with you.

A short list, if you only have an hour

A bottle of brandy or Areni wine, a box of sujukh and dried apricots from the covered market, one hand-painted ceramic piece or a pair of silver earrings from the Vernissage, and one piece of modern Armenian design that you will actually use at home. That covers the classics, supports people who make things here, and fits in a carry-on.

Frequently asked questions

What is Yerevan famous for buying?
Armenian brandy and wine, dried fruit and sujukh, hand-knotted carpets, hand-painted ceramics, silver and obsidian jewellery, duduks and apricot-wood carvings, and a growing scene of modern handmade design.

Where is the best place to buy souvenirs in Yerevan?
The open-air Vernissage market near Republic Square for crafts, the covered markets for dried fruit and sweets, wine and brandy shops for bottles, and small design studios for contemporary handmade pieces, many of which take orders by message.

Can I take Armenian brandy and dried fruit through customs?
Brandy and wine travel in checked luggage within your country's alcohol allowance. Dried fruit, sujukh and sweets are rarely a problem, but cured meats such as basturma often are. Check the rules of the country you are flying to.

Do I need a permit to export a carpet or antique from Armenia?
Antiques, artworks and carpets of a certain age may need an export permit. Buy from a reputable dealer, keep the receipt and ask about paperwork before you pay.

What handmade décor can I bring home from Yerevan?
Papier-mâché bowls and vases are very light and pack easily; small cast cement lamps and coasters are heavier but sturdy. Our studio makes both by hand in Yerevan and can also ship a piece to your home address.