Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum

Tsitsernakaberd is Armenia's national memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, set on a hill above the Hrazdan gorge in western Yerevan. The memorial complex was completed in 1967 and consists of a 44-metre stele symbolising national rebirth, beside which twelve basalt slabs lean inward around a circular sunken area where an eternal flame burns. A long walkway lined with memorial plaques and a wall naming affected towns leads to the complex, and visitors traditionally leave flowers at the flame. Below the memorial, a partly underground museum opened in 1995 and presents photographs, documents, survivor testimony and international recognition records in a sober chronological display. Guided tours are offered, and the museum has an institute that conducts research. A visit usually takes one and a half to two hours, with the memorial grounds taking the first half hour. The site is quiet and reflective, and visitors are expected to dress modestly, speak softly and refrain from casual photography near the flame. Mornings on weekdays are best for a calmer visit. On 24 April, the annual commemoration day, large crowds walk to the memorial and access is heavily controlled. The hill also offers a wide view over the Hrazdan gorge and, on clear days, towards Mount Ararat. Entry is free, with donations welcome at the foyer box. The site is a taxi ride from the centre; a ride via Yandex Go or the GG app is the simplest way to reach it, and the return ride can be booked from the entrance.