DANIEL ULIKHANYAN
< Guide · 5 years in the profession · co-founder of Ulikhanyan Travel “Dilijan is proof that paradise on Earth exists.” Journey Daniel grew up in the forests and mountains around Dilijan. At some point he wanted to share that beauty with others — to show guests the city, its nature, and its history. Today […]
Read MoreOleg Umnov: “If Dilijan were a person, he’d be a psychologist”
Oleg Umnov moved to Armenia from Kirov with his wife and daughter. Here he makes and restores furniture. He spent three years living with his family in Yerevan before relocating to Dilijan. We talked to Oleg about how his pace of life has changed, why the neighbors feel like family, and what he thinks the […]
Read MoreDilijan from Above: 3 Scenic Viewpoints Worth the Climb
Dilijan from Above: 3 Scenic Viewpoints Worth the Climb Dilijan has one special quality: the higher you climb, the better you understand the town. From above, it reveals a completely different side of itself—cozy neighborhoods gradually disappear into the dense forests of the national park, while mountain slopes embrace the valley from every direction. If […]
Read MoreСоветский Дилижан: места, которые стоит увидеть
Дилижан чаще всего ассоциируется с зелёными лесами, старинными улицами и монастырями. Но если присмотреться, город хранит ещё один интересный слой своей истории — советскую архитектуру. Во второй половине XX века Дилижан развивался как город-курорт, культурный центр и место отдыха творческой интеллигенции. Многие здания и памятники того времени сохранились до наших дней. Одни продолжают выполнять свою […]
Read MoreEvgeny Gilevic
Guide · 3 years in the profession · previously an art teacher and researcher “I love Dilijan because it’s like a movie! You never know what’s waiting around the next bend — a sunset over the mountains, wild horses in the reserve, or a Tesla Cybertruck.” Journey For over ten years, Evgeny taught art, working […]
Read MoreDilijan Without a Car
Where to Stay, Eat, and Walk You can spend a full weekend in Dilijan without a car — walking routes around town, no sense that you’re missing anything. Here’s how to get there, and when you’ll actually need a taxi. Bonus: a ready-made 48-hour route at the end. Getting there Minibus ~1500 AMD 1.5–2 hours […]
Read MoreDilijan in August
Weather, Food, and Things to Do August in Dilijan means shifting weather, a forest full of fruit, and good food to match. There are also trails for every pace, and a packed calendar of festivals this month. Here’s a quick rundown of the essentials. Weather The average temperature this month is around 19°C. Daytime highs […]
Read MoreWhere to Drink Coffee in Dilijan
Dilijan takes its coffee seriously. But choosing where to go rarely comes down to the cup alone. Some spots pair it with wine at sunset. Others, fresh bread — or good company to catch you up on what’s happening in town. All six pour good coffee. What happens next is different every time. Lumen Coffee […]
Read MoreNew in Dilijan
Dilijan keeps changing. We’ve picked out the most interesting new spots — save the list and stop by whenever you’re nearby. Cabinet meetdilijan.com/restaurants/cabinet-cafe-restaurant https://www.instagram.com/cabinet.dilijan/ Cabinet is set in a restored 1930s building that once served as a government residence. The restaurant takes its name from the minister’s office on the third floor — it’s still […]
Read MoreHaveli: a little India in the old Dilijan house
Dilijan has never struggled to feed a visitor. There are barbecue grills, family kitchens, cafés for long coffees and tables that seem to appear wherever the mountain air becomes particularly convincing. But until recently, there was a gap in the town’s culinary map: a place built around the spices, colours and slow hospitality of India. […]
Read MoreBefore the menu: what people used to eat in Dilijan
Before the menu: what people used to eat in Dilijan Ask what to eat in Dilijan today and the answers arrive quickly: khash, khorovats, gata, tolma. All are worth trying. None, however, tells the whole story of how people here actually ate. The older food memory of Dilijan is less photogenic. It lives in braids […]
Read MoreThe forest has good acoustics: how Dilijan became Armenia’s creative retreat
Long before coworking spaces, artist residencies and creative-tech labs appeared in Dilijan, poets, composers, painters and filmmakers were already coming here to work. The tools have changed. The reason to come has not. In June 1908, the composer Komitas wrote to poet Hovhannes Tumanyan about a problem familiar to anyone who has ever tried to […]
Read MoreWhy is Dilijan called Dilijan? A legend, a traveller and a name with no certain origin
A woman walks through a dark forest, calling for her missing son. “Dili, jan! Dili, jan!” Her voice disappears among the trees, but the words remain. According to Dilijan’s best-known legend, this desperate call eventually became the name of the town. It is a beautiful explanation – perhaps too beautiful. The story has everything a […]
Read More5 places to have a picnic in Dilijan
A picnic in Dilijan is rarely just a picnic. It is usually lunch, a forest walk, a slightly overambitious bag of food and someone saying, “Let’s go just a little farther,” before the road turns into a proper hike. The good news: Dilijan is very forgiving. You can spread a blanket near a lake, find […]
Read More9 ideas where to go with children in Dilijan
Dilijan has space: forest, water, room to run, things to touch and stories that do not need a screen to be interesting. The best family days here are about picking one outdoorsy adventure, adding a warm drink or a pastry, and leaving enough time for the child to investigate a mysterious stick. That is the […]
Read MoreWhere to drink wine in Dilijan: a small town guide to a very good evening
Dilijan is known for forests, monasteries and people telling you that the water is excellent. All true. But after a day of hiking, driving up winding roads or politely pretending that you can identify every mountain peak, water may no longer feel like the most exciting option. This is when Dilijan becomes unexpectedly good at […]
Read MoreDilijan after dark: what to do in the city after sunset
The biggest mistake a visitor can make in Dilijan is deciding that, once the sun goes down, there is nothing left to do. It is an understandable mistake. Most itineraries treat Dilijan as a daytime destination: wake up, hike through the forest, drive to Haghartsin, stop at Lake Parz, walk along Sharambeyan Street, have dinner […]
Read MoreBeyond Sharambeyan: the streets that show you another Dilijan
Most visitors to Dilijan walk the same street. It is easy to see why. Sharambeyan Street offers wooden balconies, stone walls, craft workshops and restaurant terraces – a compact, photogenic version of “old Dilijan”. The historical district preserves the town’s 19th-century architectural character, while its modern restoration began in 2004 under Tufenkian Heritage. Sharambeyan is worth […]
Read MoreBeyond the usual route: 5 places that reveal a different Dilijan
Dilijan is often introduced through the same familiar landmarks: a walk along Old Dilijan (Sharambeyan Street), the forests around Lake Parz, and the medieval monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank. They are beautiful places and well worth visiting, especially on a first trip. But they are only one layer of a town whose history stretches far […]
Read MoreBolors
Bolors is a family café in Dilijan, created as a warm and welcoming space where guests can enjoy good food, relax, and spend time together.
Read MoreMosh
Mosh is a modern café and social space in Dilijan designed to move with the rhythm of the day - from morning coffee and focused work to evening drinks and relaxed conversations.
Read MoreCabinet Café & Restaurant
Cabinet Café & Restaurant is a new dining destination in Dilijan, created by transforming a historic brick building into a modern space for food, culture, and connection.
Read MoreMamé
Mamé is a new bakery in Dilijan built around the ideas of warmth, tradition, and the feeling of home.
Read MoreConservatory
Conservatory is a new lifestyle space in Dilijan, combining specialty coffee, natural wines, open-kitchen dining, and guest rooms.
Read MoreHaveli
Haveli is a new Indian fusion restaurant in the heart of Dilijan - the first of its kind outside Yerevan and the only one opened by a non-Indian founder - bringing Indian flavors, culture, and hospitality into a fresh dining experience.
Read MoreMonet
Monet is a new restaurant in Dilijan offering a contemporary dining experience inspired by international cuisine and local hospitality traditions.
Read MorePiccola
Piccola is a seasonal Italian café in Dilijan that reopens for the summer, offering a warm and simple interpretation of Italian dining in a relaxed setting.
Read MorePPLS Rooms Co-living
PPLS Rooms is a new co-living space in Dilijan, created for people looking for a comfortable, flexible, and modern place to stay.
Read MoreVilla3 Community Hub
Villa3 Community Hub is a new coworking and community space in Dilijan, created as a place where work, learning, creativity, and connection come together.
Read MoreCEMI by Apicius Armenia
CEMI ( Community Engagement Members Institution) is a student café to provide a dynamic experiential learning environment.
Read MoreApicius Armenia
Apicius Armenia is an innovative center for hospitality and culinary education, opened in September 2025 in Dilijan, Armenia.
Read MoreDiliDogs City
Dilijan continues to face challenges related to a growing population of stray dogs.
Read More100 Women of Dilijan
The project aims to identify, document, and showcase the stories, experiences, and contributions of the women of Dilijan to the development of their community.
Read MoreShare Your Story
Tell us about your Dilijan experience. Share your story, favorite memories, photos, or travel tips with us. We would love to hear your story. Share your experiences, favorite places, travel tips, photos, or memorable moments from your visit.
Your story can help other travelers discover the beauty, culture, and unique atmosphere of Dilijan. Whether it was a peaceful walk in nature, a cultural experience, or a local dish you enjoyed, every story is worth sharing with our community.