The short version
Armenia’s currency is the dram, code AMD. We have not checked an exchange rate, so this page does not give one. We also have not verified where cards are accepted or how many cash machines you will find, so carry some drams and treat card payments as a bonus rather than a plan.
This is an independent guide. For anything official, check the sources linked on the page.
The dram
The dram is issued by the Central Bank of Armenia. It was introduced on 22 November 1993 and replaced the Soviet rouble. Wikipedia gives the symbol as ֏ and the abbreviation as դր. Its ISO code is AMD.
One dram is divided into 100 luma. Wikipedia says the luma is now rarely used, so you are unlikely to meet it.
Wikipedia also gives the numeric ISO 4217 code as 051, which you may see on some forms and receipts.
Notes and coins
Wikipedia lists the following as in frequent use.
| Type | Values in frequent use |
|---|---|
| Banknotes | 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 drams |
| Coins | 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 drams |
The 100,000-dram note is rarely used. Our getting there guide quotes fares in dram for the same reason.
Exchange rates
We have not checked a current rate and do not state one, because any figure we gave would go out of date. Check a rate close to your travel date. Fares and fees paid locally are quoted in dram on this site, so look up a rate yourself before you go.
ATMs and cards
GOV.UK advises using ATMs carefully, especially after dark. Its safety page lists occasional pickpocketing and bag-snatching, so use cash machines with care. Its Armenia advice says nothing about card acceptance, and we found no dated source on it.
So the honest position is this. We have not verified card acceptance or ATM availability in Yerevan, at Garni or at the other sights on this site. Carry some cash for small payments and for the day trip itself. If a tour or hotel tells you it takes cards, ask before you rely on it.
Paying for the airport bus
Two buses connect Zvartnots International Airport with central Yerevan, according to the airport’s transport page. We checked it on 25 October 2026.
- N201 (Elitebus): the fare is 300 AMD per person per ride, paid in cash. It runs both ways from 07:00 to 22:00, about every 30 minutes.
- N100: the one-way fare is 500 AMD. You can pay with an electronic QR ticket from the TelCell app, a paper QR ticket from TelCell terminals in the arrival and departure halls, or Visa or Mastercard on board. It runs about every 30 minutes from 06:50 to 22:00, then hourly overnight.
Fares and timetables change. Check the airport page before you travel. It also lists taxi desks in the arrivals hall, including Carwiz and Eco Taxi.
What we have and have not verified
We have verified the currency details above from Wikipedia, which is a secondary source, so treat the notes and coins list as a guide and expect to see what is actually in circulation when you arrive. The airport bus details come from the airport’s own page.
We have not verified any of the following, and we do not state them:
- A current exchange rate, or the best place to change money.
- Where cards are accepted, in Yerevan or at Garni.
- How many cash machines there are, or what they charge.
- Entry prices at sights, which you should check with the official site for each.
If you need an answer to any of these, ask your accommodation or check the operator’s page before you rely on it.
What to carry for a Garni day trip
- Some drams in small and medium notes, for minibus fares and small purchases.
- A card as a backup, with the understanding that we have not verified where it works.
Choose your base in Yerevan using our where to stay in Yerevan page, and read practical information for the other basics. Our Is Armenia safe? page covers the GOV.UK taxi advice.
