Nature & Lakes
Parz Lake
Dilijan National Park, east of town
A small, mirror-still forest lake and the easiest way to feel the national park without a long hike.
Visit time: 1–2 hoursExplore
Discover Dilijan
Where nature, history, and unforgettable moments come together.
Explore breathtaking nature, timeless monasteries, hidden trails, and unforgettable experiences in Armenia's green heart.
Looking for a place to stay in Dilijan? See our stays or read where to stay in Dilijan.
Explore by interest
What kind of day do you want?
Four ways into Dilijan — pick one and we'll narrow the places below.
Places
Places worth your time
Our own shortlist, written for guests — not a copy of every listing on the internet.
12 places
Nature & LakesDilijan National Park
Surrounds the town on every side
The forest that gives Dilijan its nickname — beech, oak and hornbeam slopes, yew groves, mineral springs and medieval monasteries hidden in the trees.
Visit time: Half a day to several daysExplore
Outdoor AdventuresGosh Lake
Forest above Gosh village, east of Dilijan
A tiny lake deep in the beech forest, reached only on foot from Gosh village — quieter and wilder than Parz.
Visit time: 3–4 hours including the walkExplore
History & CultureHaghartsin Monastery
Forest valley north of Dilijan, off the Ijevan road
The region's great medieval monastery: three churches, a refectory and carved khachkars in a wooded valley that feels made for them.
Visit time: 1–1.5 hoursExplore
History & CultureGoshavank Monastery
Gosh village, roughly 20 km east of Dilijan
A 12th–13th-century monastery and medieval university above a village, home to one of Armenia's most finely carved khachkars.
Visit time: About 1 hourExplore
History & CultureJukhtak Vank
Forest about 3 km north-west of Dilijan
Two small medieval churches standing a few steps apart in a forest clearing — hence the name, "pair monastery".
Visit time: 1–2 hours including the walkExplore
History & CultureAghavnavank
Aghavnavank village, south-west of Dilijan
A small 12th–13th-century church in a hillside village, next to one of the oldest yew groves in the Caucasus.
Visit time: 1–2 hours with the groveExplore
Explore the TownOld Dilijan: Sharambeyan Street
Town centre, below the main square
The restored craftsmen's street: stone houses with wooden balconies, working workshops, a small museum and good coffee.
Visit time: 1–2 hoursExplore
Explore the TownDilijan Geological Museum and Art Gallery
Town centre, near the main square
A small-town museum with a surprisingly serious collection: Armenian, Russian and Western European painting beside local history and geology.
Visit time: About 1 hourExplore
Explore the TownThe Mimino Monument
Town centre, by the central roundabout
Bronze statues of the three friends from the beloved 1977 comedy that made Dilijan's water famous across the Soviet Union.
Visit time: 15 minutesExplore
Outdoor AdventuresParz Lake to Gosh Trail
Starts at Parz Lake, ends in Gosh village
The classic Dilijan day walk: a marked forest trail from the lake to Goshavank, roughly 9 km through old beech woods.
Visit time: 3–4 hours one wayExplore
Outdoor AdventuresMatosavank Forest Hike
Forest north-west of Dilijan, beyond Jukhtak
A short, steep forest walk to a moss-covered 13th-century monastery that the trees have half reclaimed.
Visit time: 2–3 hours round tripExplore
Map
Find them on the map
Everything here is within a short drive or a forest walk of the town. Tap a place to see where it is.
Some places have no exact pin and are listed without a marker.
Plan
Plan Your Dilijan Escape
Whether you have one day or an entire weekend, discover the best of Dilijan at your own pace.
A relaxed first taste: the old town in the morning, the forest monastery after lunch, and a lakeside walk before the light goes.
Day 1
Everything on this day is close to town, so you can take it slowly and still see the essentials.
- 1Old Dilijan: Sharambeyan Street
Start with coffee and a slow walk along the restored craft street; peek into the workshops.
- 2The Mimino Monument
A two-minute detour for the photo everyone takes in Dilijan.
- 3Haghartsin Monastery
After lunch, drive out to the valley monastery. Give yourself time to wander the whole complex.
- 4Parz Lake
End the day with a loop around the lake while the forest turns gold.
A suggested order, not a schedule. Distances, road conditions and opening times change with the season — check locally and allow more time than you think.
A balanced weekend: culture and town life on the first day, a proper forest walk and the eastern monasteries on the second.
Day 1
Ease in with the town's gallery and old street, then the region's grandest monastery.
- 1Dilijan Geological Museum and Art Gallery
An hour with paintings you would not expect to find in a small mountain town.
- 2Old Dilijan: Sharambeyan Street
Lunch and crafts on the restored street.
- 3Haghartsin Monastery
Afternoon in the forest valley; stay for the quiet after the tour groups leave.
Day 2
The classic walk from the lake to the village, finishing at a monastery famous for its carved stone.
- 1Parz Lake
Morning start at the lake. Arrange a pick-up in Gosh or plan to walk back.
- 2Parz Lake to Gosh Trail
The marked trail through beech forest. Pack water and a snack; there is nothing on the way.
- 3Goshavank Monastery
Reward at the end: the monastery and its lace-like khachkar.
A suggested order, not a schedule. Distances, road conditions and opening times change with the season — check locally and allow more time than you think.
The immersive version: two days of the classics plus a third for the quiet forest monasteries west of town, or simply a slow day with nowhere to be.
Day 1
Keep the first day light: the town, the view, a good dinner.
- 1Old Dilijan: Sharambeyan Street
Old Dilijan on foot, with a stop in a workshop or two.
- 2Dilijan Geological Museum and Art Gallery
The gallery, if it is open when you pass — check locally.
- 3The Mimino Monument
Evening stroll through the centre and the obligatory photo.
Day 2
Haghartsin in the morning light, then east to Gosh, with the lake in between.
- 1Haghartsin Monastery
Go early; the complex is at its best before the coaches arrive.
- 2Parz Lake
Lunch stop and a lap of the lake.
- 3Goshavank Monastery
Drive on to Gosh village for the afternoon.
- 4Gosh Lake
If legs and daylight allow, the forest trail up to the small lake above the village.
Day 3
A quieter day west of town: two small monasteries reached on foot, and an ancient yew grove.
- 1Jukhtak Vank
A short forest walk to the twin churches.
- 2Matosavank Forest Hike
Continue on the trail to the moss-covered monastery hidden in the trees.
- 3Aghavnavank
Afternoon in the village church and its yew forest; back to town for a last dinner.
A suggested order, not a schedule. Distances, road conditions and opening times change with the season — check locally and allow more time than you think.
Stay with Welcome House
Make Dilijan your next escape
Explore our comfortable stays and enjoy everything this beautiful region has to offer.
Photo credits (13)
- Photo: Dilijan 2.jpg · NarendoN · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Jezioro Parz w Dilidżańskim Parku Narodowym.jpg · IceBerries420 · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: "Dilijan" national park.jpg · H-dayan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Gosh Lake 2020.jpg · Narek Avetisyan /Narek75/ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: DJI 0100 Haghartsin.jpg · Vahag851 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Goshavank - July 2017 - 0.JPG · Benoît Prieur · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2014 Prowincja Tawusz, Klasztor Jukhtakwank (11).jpg · Marcin Konsek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Աղավնավանք EmmaYSU.jpg · Emma YSU · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Armenia. Dilijan P8230675 2350.jpg · Alexxx1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Երկրագիտական թանգարան 2.JPG · XenonX88 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Միմինոն Դիլիջանում.jpg · Valen1988 · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Dilijan national park (620).jpg · Rob · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Matosavank (1).jpg · Soghomon Matevosyan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons