Armenia is a small country on the map of tourism, but it can overwhelm tourists with the abundance of souvenirs.
The center of the souvenir industry is Vernissage, where tourists can buy enough interesting goods at affordable prices. They reflect the old and modern culture of our country.
What souvenirs do people take from Armenia? There are a wide variety of choices to make in our country, starting from the most popular souvenirs of Masis (Mount Ararat), pomegranates, Garni-Geghard, Lake Sevan, and Khor Virap on magnets to elite barbeque skewers, backgammon boards carved out of wood, electric “tonirs” (tandoors), handmade carpets, and silver jewelry.
You may think that magnets are available in almost every country, but the ideas of Armenian “magnet creators” exceed their imagination. They can put the entirety of Armenia on one magnet.
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The price of magnets in our country, like in some countries, starts at 500 AMD, which is about $1.
Tourists have different preferences. However, as souvenir vendors said in an interview with Aravot, people do not leave Vernissage empty-handed. The main consumers of elite barbecue skewers and wooden backgammon boards are compatriots from Russia and the USA. By the way, these have become the most popular souvenirs over the past several years. Armenians living in Europe also buy skewers as souvenirs, but they get more casual ones without an eagle head or a crown.
Vernissage is also known for its handmade souvenirs. Silk scarves, wooden boxes, handmade silver jewelry, clay glasses, costumes with handmade items, handmade dolls, etc. are sold here.
Handmade Armenian crafts, clay items, national costumes, wallets, and hats are mostly admired by European tourists. Russians, as a rule, prefer handmade silver jewelry. Valuable souvenirs for Russian tourists are brandy and wine depicted with pomegranates. Tourists from the Philippines, China, and India buy beads, bracelets made of natural stones, necklaces, and other jewelry as souvenirs.
The prices at Vernissage are not final; you can bargain with the vendors.
Tourists also prefer coins with Tigran the Great on them, Soviet medals, embroidered tablecloths, and silver cups.
The selection of chess boards is also large. It likely became a souvenir after it became a subject in school.
Lusine Budaghyan
