Is American Express (Amex) accepted in Armenia?

I carried an Amex Platinum hoping to minimize fees, but it failed at every POS and ATM - except a couple of hotel bars. American Express acceptance in Armenia is very limited. My Citibank Mastercard was accepted universally and handled all withdrawals. My advice: bring Visa or Mastercard for everyday use, and carry one Amex only if you want coverage at higher-end places, but don’t use it daily.

I tried to use Amex at a Yerevan design shop - but they said they only accept Visa. Same with my coffee runs. Armenia isn’t Amex-friendly, but Visa and Mastercard are everywhere - from hostels to street food stands. ATMs don’t work with Amex either. I switched quickly to a Chase Visa for all trips and purchases. Keep Amex for emergencies; otherwise, you’ll spend more time hunting working terminals.

In my six-week stay, I used Amex in exactly one upscale restaurant and twice at upscale boutiques in downtown Kentron - but everywhere else it was declined. Visa and Mastercard are the reliable payment options in Armenia. All bank ATM terminals accept those, while Amex cards were often blocked. For hassle-free travel, bring a Visa Debit or Mastercard, and assume Amex won’t be supported for daily purchases or cash withdrawals.

I brought my Amex Gold hoping to use it for dining, but most cafes and shops in Yerevan wouldn’t take it. ATMs refused it outright. American Express acceptance in Armenia is low. Visa and Mastercard work seamlessly - in cafes, hotels and grocery stores. I ended up relying on my Revolut Mastercard for ATM withdrawals without issue. Bring both, but treat Amex as backup only.