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Gyumri (Armenian: Գյումրի, [a] pronounced [ɡjumˈɾi]) is an urban municipal community and the second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country.
- Best Things to Do in Gyumri
- When Is The Best Time to Visit Gyumri?
- How to Get to Gyumri
- What to Do in Gyumri
- What to See in Gyumri For History Lovers
- Cultural Things to Do in Gyumri
- Other Cool Places to Visit in Gyumri
- Where to Eat in Gyumri
- Where to Party When Visiting Gyumri
- Where to Stay in Gyumri
Located in the Northern part of Armenia’s Shirak province is the picturesque city of Gyumri. As the cultural capital of Armenia, Gyumri’s traditional architecture and rich history will make any tourist fall in love with this city. The city faced devastating consequences from the Spitak earthquake at the end of the 1980s, but through the perseveranc...
The best time to visit Gyumri is during the summer and spring. If you don’t mind the cold, it’s quite beautiful during autumn as well. Unless you really enjoy the cold, winter is not the best option for visiting Gyumri as it can be blistering cold during that time of year. However, don’t write off Gyumri as a place to visit in Armenia during winter...
The best way to get to Gyumri depends on where you’re coming from! If you’re flying in from Europe, the city just received flights with Ryanair from Memmingen, Germany, and Athens, Greece. These two flights will give Spitak Airport a boost and will put this city on the map!
This guide contains a variety of things to do in Gyumri. It will group them into different areas such as historical, culinary, etc. If we left something off or you are a new business, reach out to us so we can stop by next time we visit Gyumri!
1. Go to the Black Fortress
Built by Russian Emperor Nicholas I with black volcanic tuff in the 19th century, the Black Fortress, or as the locals call it, Sev Berd, is one of the most interesting constructions of Gyumri and all of Armenia. The round-shaped fortress was built to protect Alexandropol from Persians and Turks from different times of Russian wars with those countries. Nowadays, the historic gem has an amphitheater inside where many concerts and events have been hosted. It’s a must-visit place for anyone who...
2. Take a Gyumri Architecture Tour with City Research Center
Don’t miss the wonderful opportunity to discover and learn more about Old Gyumri’s Kumayri district with the City Research Center in Gyumriwhere Ashot Mirzoyan, the founder, will guide you to and through different unknown corners of the city! Ashot, an accomplished architect, knows every stone and detail of 1,500 historic buildings in Gyumri and will tell you the story of them during this tour. It really makes you stop and appreciate the structures as opposed to just passing on by. It’s fasci...
3. Visit the Kumayri Historic District
One of the most remarkable and historical places in Gyumri is the old Kumayri district located in the heart of the city. Mesmerizing with its architecture, the first settlements in Kumayri date back to the 5th century BC. Walking through the Kumayri district will definitely impress you with the cozy and charming streets that are full of hidden cafes and historical buildings from the nineteenth to twentieth centuries that are made from rare volcanic black and red tuff rock. The city has very c...
7. Visit the Museum of the Aslamazyan Sisters
The Aslamazyan Sisters Museum is a one-of-a-kind gallery that you don’t want to miss. Born at the turn of the 20th century, Mariam and Eranuhi Aslamazyan traveled around the world and documented their experiences through paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. During this period, it wasn’t common for women to travel or pursue creative careers. The work of these artist sisters was quite unusual for Soviet times, especially their focus on the female character and form found in many of their works....
8. Stop by the Alikhanyan Puppet Theater
I had a great and interesting opportunity to visit an 80+-year-old puppet theater in Gyumri. The authentic theater building, to my surprise, was an old brewery converted into the present-day Alikhanyan Puppet Theater. The Alikhanyan Puppet Theater is not the most well-maintained one in Gyumri but it still played a really important role in the history of the city. Nowadays, the staff that worked decades with the director of the theater, Armenuhi Manukyan, are trying to give a second breath to...
9. Go to the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life
A unique museum that’s located in the center of the old town in a historical old mansion, the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life is the most visited museum in Gyumri. With a strong historical atmosphere, it tells about the life of old Alexandrapol. The mansion was built in 1872 by the rich trader Petros Dzitoghtsyan. During the Soviet Union era, the mansion became a house for families, and in 1980, it finally became a museum. There are displayed compositions from the urban life of...
20. Get Creative at Gyumri Loft
If you’re in Gyumri and need a good coworking space, then Gyumri Loft is the place to go! It’s not only a coworking place but it’s also a cool spot where you can hang out with the locals, relax, play some games, cook for yourself in a comfortable kitchen, and meet with new people. The Gyumri Loft concept is simple: you pay for the time you spend there and you can do what you want to do. When you’re there, you do whatever you want. Something that really sets Gyumri Loft apart from other places...
21. Visit Armenia’s Oldest Barbershop
Sorry ladies, but this place is for men only. For over 80 years, this barbershop has operated almost like a men’s club and stands as Armenia’s oldest barbershop. You can find this establishment near Vardanants Square. All the inventory and aesthetics is from the original shop from back in the day. There is a master barber, Khanan Aristakesyan, who has been cutting hair there for decades. If you are a male visiting Gyumri, you definitely need to experience this place and get your hair cut ther...
22. Gwoog Gastrohouse
A lovely restaurant near the Gyumri train station offering delicious local cuisine, Gwoog Gastrohouse was recently opened by repatriated Armenians from Canada with a mission to cook forgotten traditional Gyumri dishes and keep their traditions alive. The place has a comfortable and warm atmosphere where the friendly owners serve the food themselves and get to know their patrons, making them immediately feel like part of the Gwoog family (I can attest to this!) All of the ingredients are organ...
23. Chalet Gyumri
If you like to try local traditional dishes or experience cooking classes when you’re on the road, then you have to visit Chalet Restaurantwhich is located 10 minutes away from the city center. When you enter Chalet Gyumri, you will feel like you are entering a small museum, not a traditional restaurant! Founded in 2012 by Karine Tumanyan and her family, Chalet is a place where it is possible to try local traditional dishes and take cooking classes for special dishes called “Chanakh” or “Pokh...
24. Herbs & Honey Teashop
This newer teashop and cafe in Gyumri has an interesting concept of local herbs transformed as the main ingredients of many dishes and decorations inside. And, of course, they use local herbs for their delicious teas. Herbs & Honey Gyumrihas quickly become a beloved spot by locals and tourists alike. The cozy atmosphere and good food will make your Gyumri experience even better… trust us! We have been there on several occasions and throughout more than one trip to Gyumri. They also sell many...
30. Hayat Music Hall
Located next to Gyumri Loft is Hayat Music Hall, a small concert hall and facility with a bar and stage that comes to life in the evenings. They offer good concerts and delicious cocktails. The music hall is also a family gathering spot with spacious tables and space for large groups. During the week and especially on weekends, various bands will take to the stage and perform different genres of music from jazz to blues to rock and beyond. Heading to Hayat Music Hallis definitely one of the b...
31. Amigo Pub
Note: Amigo pub is permanently closed Amigo Pub is one of the most popular venues in Gyumri and a great place to hang out and chill with the locals and friends. They, too, have live concerts regularly and will host bands that are local or from afar. The drinks are also extremely affordable and they have a variety of cocktails and beer. You can find Amigo Pubat Sayat Nova 9 in Gyumri.
32. Garage Club
This beautifully renovated garage is the place to get down and dance if you enjoy such paired with live music and concerts. Garage Club hosts local and foreign bands all year round and they have weekly concerts. After a long day of exploring Gyumri, find your way there and get lost in the music for the rest of the evening! You can find Garage Clubin the Gyumri Commercial Center.
Gyumri has so many options for accommodation inside of the city center and outside of it, as well. However, we do highly recommend staying in the city center if your budget allows as it is more convenient for sightseeing in Gyumri. Here are some of our top recommendations for Gyumri hotels, hostels, and guesthouses. Hotel Plaza Viktoria (Luxury) Lo...
- Vartanants Square. If Yerevan is known as the Pink City, Gyumri should be called the Black City. The first thing you notice about Gyumri is its striking architecture.
- Amenaprkich (HOLY SAVIOUR’S CHURCH) Occupying pride of place on the square, the Apostolic Holy Saviour’s Church was built between 1858 and 1872 based on the designs of the famous Armenian architect Tadeos Andikyan.
- Yot Verk Church. Yot Verk, the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, is the smaller of two churches that sit on Vartanants Square. Constructed from charcoal-coloured tuft, it serves as the seat for the Diocese of Shirak, the local wing of Armenia’s Apostolic Church.
- Sev Berd (The Black Fortress) Sev Berd is one of the most curious military structures I’ve ever visited. Made of black and apricot tuff, the fortress is a perfectly round circle with small external openings and one access point via a drawbridge.
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- Walk around the historic district. Kumayri is the oldest part of Gyumri, boasting some unique architecture that dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Visit the Black Fortress. Officially known as Sev Berd, the Black Fortress is a massive abandoned Russian Imperial fortress that sits on the western edge of the city.
- People watch at Vartanants Square. This massive town square sits in the centre of Gyumri right next to the Kumayri district. The square is surrounded by numerous buildings, including Gyumri City Hall, the 19th century Church of the Holy Saviour and the October Cinema Hall.
- Wander around the museums. There are a number of fabulous museums in Gyumri, some of which are house museums of well-known Armenians, like sculptor Sergey Merkurov and poet Avetik Isahakyan.
Gyumri, city, western Armenia. It is believed to have been founded by the Greeks in 401 bce, but it did not have a continuous existence. A fortress was constructed on the site by the Russians in 1837, and in 1840 the town of Alexandropol was founded nearby.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Our favourite things to do in Gyumri Armenia. Including a map so you can go on a self guided walking tour!
Gyumri is Armenia’s second-largest city and its cultural capital. Dating back at least 5,000 years, Gyumri was part of multiple empires and was known throughout its history by different names, including Kumayri, Alexandrapol and Leninakan. The charming city boasts the best-preserved 19th century architecture in Armenia.
