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 with students all over the world — some of them still keep in touch. He’s also been a researcher: he studied ornamental patterns from cultures around the world and earned a PhD. He first came to Dilijan 14 years ago — it’s his wife’s hometown, and every summer the two of them would escape the city for the cool forests of Tavush. Friends who knew how much he loved Armenia kept asking him to help plan their trips — that’s when Evgeny realized he’d found the thing he wanted to do every day.
The Voice of the City
On his tours, Evgeny weaves together historical facts, legends, and stories: old man Kyaram, the origin of the city’s name, the ancient khachkar in Haghartsin. But his favorite moment on the tour isn’t a fact — it’s a smell: he lets guests sniff a Soviet-era cologne he found among old ruins. It almost always stirs up nostalgia — people remember their childhood and start sharing stories that seemingly have nothing to do with Dilijan at all.
Evgeny’s Picks
If you have an hour: a walk through the old quarter with its balconies, a small museum, and mountain herbal tea at the Tufenkian restaurant
Hidden gem: the valley around Fioletovo, 15 minutes from the city — a Molokan village where descendants of 19th-century Russian settlers still drink tea from a samovar and cut grass with scythes, keeping the same way of life alive for five generations
Tip for first-timers: take a guide — the city stretches across three gorges and splits into several disconnected centers, so it’s easy to get lost and waste time without one
Dilijan in 10 Years
In 10 years, Dilijan will be a comfortable, beautiful city for locals and visitors alike — if urban planners, investors, local government, and local business owners work together to make it happen.