The Temple of Garni is the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded temple in Armenia. The Garni Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve states that it is open every day from 10 am to 9:30 pm, with a ticket at 1,500 drams (AMD), free for children under 12. This page brings together the official opening hours and prices, the history of the temple, sunset time compared with closing time, and how to combine the visit with Geghard Monastery.
Most visitors see Garni as a day trip from Yerevan. For the rest of the country, see our Armenia travel guide.
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Temple of Garni at a glance
- Opening hours Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 9:30 pm (checked 11 November 2026 on garni.mus.am)
- Ticket 1,500 AMD; 750 AMD for children, retirees and students; free for children under 12
- Guided tour 3,000 AMD in Armenian, 5,000 AMD in a foreign language; the museum asks you to register in advance
- Ticket booking the official website does not mention online booking for entry
- Safety Kotayk province; see the safety notes under « Getting to the Temple of Garni » below
- Combine with Geghard Monastery, further up the Azat valley
The Temple of Garni in brief
The temple stands at the edge of a gorge, inside the grounds of a former fortress. According to the museum, the site is closed off by 180-metre (591 ft) walls linking two rocky spurs. A Greek inscription found on the site attributes the construction to King Tiridates I and dates it to AD 76 or 77. The museum presents the temple as dedicated to Mihr, god of light and the sun; historians note that this attribution is still debated.
According to the museum, after the adoption of Christianity King Tiridates III ordered the destruction of pagan places of worship; Garni is the only building from that period to survive. A strong earthquake in 1679 almost entirely brought the temple down. It was rebuilt between 1966 and 1976 from its original blocks, under the direction of the architect Alexander Sahinian.
What to see on the site
The temple
Built of grey basalt blocks in the Hellenistic style, the temple is preceded by a flight of nine steps running the full width of the façade. The museum counts 24 columns and sees in them a symbol of the 24 hours of the day. Walk around the building for the view over the gorge.
The baths and their mosaic
Next to the temple, the Roman-era bath keeps a mosaic floor. The museum describes it as “a great attraction” and says it is made of natural stones in 15 colours; a Greek inscription appears on it.
The palace and church remains
According to the museum, the site also included a royal summer residence and a 7th-century church, of which the foundations remain. Allow time to walk around the plateau: most visitors see only the temple.
Geghard Monastery, to combine with Garni
Further up, at the entrance to the Azat valley, Geghard Monastery is partly carved into the rock. The Armenia Tourism Committee notes that it was founded in the 4th century, took on its present form in the 13th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name means “lance”: the monastery long kept the relic of the lance said to have pierced the side of Christ.
Tickets: official vs resellers
The official website publishes the prices but does not sell entry tickets online. The many tours sold online from Yerevan may or may not include entry and the guided tour: check what the price covers, and compare it with the official prices (1,500 AMD for entry, 5,000 AMD for a guided tour in a foreign language, according to the official site, checked 11 November 2026). Official reductions: 750 AMD for children, retirees and students (bring proof); free for children under 12.
Opening hours and best time to visit
The official website gives opening hours of 10 am to 9:30 pm every day. Our own cross-check: comparing these hours with sunset calculated for Garni shows that in summer sunset (8:31 pm in mid-June, 8:29 pm in mid-July) comes before closing time, so you can watch the sunset from inside the grounds. In winter the sun sets around 5:36 pm: come in the early afternoon instead.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:21 am | 5:59 pm | 9 h 38 min |
| February | 7:54 am | 6:36 pm | 10 h 42 min |
| March | 7:13 am | 7:07 pm | 11 h 54 min |
| April | 6:23 am | 7:39 pm | 13 h 15 min |
| May | 5:46 am | 8:09 pm | 14 h 23 min |
| June | 5:31 am | 8:31 pm | 15 h 01 min |
| July | 5:44 am | 8:29 pm | 14 h 45 min |
| August | 6:12 am | 7:58 pm | 13 h 47 min |
| September | 6:41 am | 7:10 pm | 12 h 29 min |
| October | 7:11 am | 6:22 pm | 11 h 11 min |
| November | 7:45 am | 5:44 pm | 9 h 59 min |
| December | 8:15 am | 5:36 pm | 9 h 20 min |
Climate: Garni sits a little higher than Yerevan. Month-by-month normals for the Yerevan station are given in our Armenia travel guide; note that in July and August the capital has more than 26 days a month at 30 °C (86 °F) or above, so the evening is the most pleasant time to visit.
Getting to the Temple of Garni
Garni is east of Yerevan, in Kotayk province. You can get there by car, taxi, minibus or organised tour, often combined with Geghard. Check the government advice before you go: the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 1 March 2026) advises avoiding driving outside cities and towns in the dark because of poor road conditions and lack of lighting, and the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated September 10, 2026) says primary roads are frequently in poor condition and advises avoiding travel at night. If you stay for the sunset, arrange a driver. The FCDO advice that applies to the border with Azerbaijan does not cover Kotayk province. See entry requirements for Armenia and our Armenia travel guide.
Accessibility
The museum’s official website does not publish any information on access for visitors with reduced mobility. The temple is raised and approached by steps, and the plateau has uneven ground: ask the museum (phone numbers are listed on garni.mus.am) before you come.
Common mistakes
- Relying on opening hours and prices from unofficial websites: they differ from one site to another; only garni.mus.am is authoritative.
- Forgetting to book the guided tour: the museum asks you to register in advance.
- Seeing only the temple and missing the mosaic in the baths.
- Planning to drive back at night in a rental car on roads you do not know.
- Forgetting proof of eligibility for the reduced student or retiree rate.
Nearby
- Yerevan: Matenadaran, Cascade, Tsitsernakaberd
- Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery
- Khor Virap, on the Ararat plain
Frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of the Temple of Garni?
Every day, from 10 am to 9:30 pm, according to the official website of the museum-reserve, checked 11 November 2026.
How much does it cost to enter the Temple of Garni?
1,500 AMD; 750 AMD for children, retirees and students; free for children under 12. Guided tour: 5,000 AMD in a foreign language.
Do I need to book?
The entry ticket does not require a reservation according to the official website, but the guided tour must be booked in advance.
When was the Temple of Garni built?
A Greek inscription dates it to AD 76 or 77, under King Tiridates I. Brought down by the 1679 earthquake, it was rebuilt between 1966 and 1976.
Can I combine Garni and Geghard?
Yes, it is the classic day trip from Yerevan: Geghard is further up the Azat valley.
Can I see the sunset at Garni?
Yes, from May to August: the sun sets before the 9:30 pm closing time (for example at 8:29 pm in mid-July, according to our NOAA calculation).
Our sources
- Garni Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, official website (garni.mus.am): opening hours, prices, guided tours, presentation of the site, checked 11 November 2026
- Armenia Tourism Committee, armenia.travel, Geghard page, checked 11 November 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of the Temple of Garni (15th of each month, year 2027, local time UTC+4, clear horizon)
- Wikipedia article “Temple of Garni” (Greek inscription, 1679 earthquake, restoration, coordinates), checked 11 November 2026
- UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Armenia (GOV.UK, updated 1 March 2026), read on 12 November 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Armenia country information (travel.state.gov, last updated September 10, 2026), read on 12 November 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Opening hours and prices may change: check the official website before you travel.