Visit the Garni Temple

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A 40 minute drive from the capital Yerevan in Armenia you will find the Garni temple. This spectacular building was built in the first century BC and was dedicated to the sun god Mihir. Because the Armenians saw the building as a tomb, it was spared during the total destruction of other pagan buildings. The temple is unique in the former Soviet Union and built on a breathtaking location along the Azat river and the Gegham mountains.

Unfortunately, the temple was destroyed mostly during an earthquake in 1679, but was reconstructed in 1975. The temple has been rebuilt so accurately that it has received an UNESCO award. In contrast to the many old churches and monasteries of Armenia, you have to pay a small entrance fee to visit the temple, but we still recommend a visit.

If you have more time in Garni, you can also take a long walk in the Garni gorge. Or visit Yerevans National Art Gallery, the Opera Theatre and the Geghard monastery.

Khachkars in a wall in Geghard Monastery complex

Where to stay

Close to the Garni Temple we found HyeLandz Eco Village Resort. This place is a perfect for everyone who loves nature and animals.


It is situated in the small village of Geghadir on Yerevan-Garni highway 15 km southeast of Yerevan and only 25 minutes drive from the Yerevan.

Best time to visit

We recommend visiting the Garni temple from May until October. The average maximum temperature lies around 23.0°C (73.4°F) in May. It gets very warm in July with an average maximum temperature of around 32.0°C (89.6°F). For more information we recommend to visit our Garni climate page.