A DAY IN GYUMRI: 17 MUST-SEE PLACES

 

Are you visiting Gyumri this year and would like to know what to do while in town? You’ve come to the right place.

 

Gyumri was a very special visit; it is not to be skipped especially if you are going to Armenia. It is ideal for a day trip. Art generally plays a big role in Armenian culture and Gyumri is the epicenter of Art in Armenia and it has always been that way throughout history.

If you’d like to check out my guide for Armenia before getting into my Gyumri itinerary, you can do so, but make sure to come back!

 

This blog post is all about how to spend a day in Gyumri, Armenia. You cannot miss Gyumri, especially if you are visiting Armenia.

 

A LITTLE ABOUT GYUMRI

Gyumri was a well populated city, a center for Arts in Armenia until the earthquake shook the city in 1988 – you can still see some remnants of the earthquake as you explore the city. Many of the old Armenian movies were shot here. It is very beautiful, the entire city is built with volcanic tuff stone, giving it an ashen color. It is still home to many museums and centers of Art.

Gyumri is full of water fountains and remember me when you stop for a drink, it is unlike anywhere else. I honestly prefer water fountains in Armenia over any water bottle. So don’t panic if you’re not carrying a water bottle with you. You will be fine.

 

HOW TO GET TO GYUMRI

You can take a bus or taxi to get to Gyumri, but it is one of the few cities that has a train directly from Yerevan. You can take the subway to the Sassountzi Tavit Railway (or a taxi), and then take the train to Gyumri. Try to go over the weekend (Friday through Sunday) as they have express trains, which look nicer and take only two hours instead of three. The express trains cost 2500 AMD each way and 1200 AMD for the regular trains.

Don’t forget to check out David of Sassoun/ Sassountzi Tavit’s statue at the Sassountzi Tavit Railway: It is located right in front of the train station, very hard to miss it. David of Sassoun is known for his heroic act in the 8^th century when he fought the Egyptian invaders. The monument is out of this world, a beautiful site to see as you go in and out of the train station. His sword happens to be pointing in Turkey’s direction (west), creating unnecessary controversy at the time of unveiling.

The express train Yerevan-Gyumri.

 

TRANSPORTATION WITHIN GYUMRI

Once in the center part, you can walk anywhere, however you can also take a taxi (GG taxi and Yandex apps operate here as well) to save some time, rides are even cheaper than Yerevan, around 500 AMD to go from one side of the city to the other.

Train station in Gyumri.

 

HOW TO FOLLOW THIS ITINERARY

I have listed the places you need to see in Gyumri with the intention that you follow the sequence on your visit. I purposefully walked from the train station to the center of the city to explore and get a feel for the city, which took me about 20 mins. You can easily get a cab and they can drop you off at your first stop, or Vartanants square.

 

NOW LET’S EXPLORE GYUMRI

#1 CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD (YOT VERK)

My first stop was this cathedral that was built in 1885 and renovated after the earthquake. This is a beautiful old church, made with the same volcanic tuff stone that the city of Gyumri is made with. Its architecture is beautiful yet very humble. The church gets a lot of visitors and can be busy. A 10-20 min visit should suffice here.

 

#2 QUICK BREKKY AT ARGAK BAKERY

I tried their croissant, which was the most practical option as I needed something on the go. I couldn’t find a more typical Armenian breakfast option that I could pick up quick, which would have been even better. The breakfast options are more European here, the croissant was not the most authentic, but not disappointing and quite filling.

 

#3 STATUE OF KIRK KERKORIAN

You may recognize the name as the owner of MGM. Kerkorian was an Armenian American businessman and investor, and founder of the Lincy foundation, which donated Gyumi $220 million to rebuild its infrastructure, and housing. He is regarded as a national hero, which is why there is a statue of him on Abovyan street. This is a quick stop.

 

#4 THE GALLERY OF MARIAM AND ERANUHI ASLAMAZYAN SISTERS

The sisters were prominent artists throughout the Soviet Union. This is a two-story townhouse turned into museum, filled with art made by the sisters. The museum starts off with information on women who served time in jail for not turning in their husbands who joined the resistance against the Soviet Union. It set a strong feminist mood right away from the beginning. You can also learn about the sisters and their milestones throughout their career and life. This is a must if you go to Gyumri. Entrance is 1000 AMD. You can spend 45 mins to an hour in here.

 

#5 MHER MKRTCHYAN MUSEUM

Mher Mkrtchyan was a famous actor during Soviet Armenia. The museum displays some of Mkrtchyan’s costumes, props, personal items, photographs and paintings of his portrait by other artists. If you are not familiar with his work, you may not find the museum super interesting, but I still think it will teach you something about Armenian art and film during the 60’s and 70’s. Entrance is 1000 AMD. A 10-30 mins visit should suffice depending on your interest.

 

#6 VARTANANTS SQUARE

This is the central town square in Gyumri. Standing in the square, you can see the major sites and two churches. The square itself is a memorial of a battle that took place in 451, under Vardan Mamikonian, considered the first in defense of the Christian faith. It’s a busy location, especially on the weekend when families with kids come out to play. You can spend as much time as you want here, there are many benches that you can sit on. A 10-15 mins walk should suffice to take it all in.

 

#7 ST ALL SAVIORS CHURCH

This church was constructed in 1872 with black stones and orange ornaments, it has a very unique architecture. Its design is derived from the Ani Cathedral (now in Turkey). The church survived the earthquake, one of the bell towers fell in its entirety during the earthquake (still preserved behind the church), it was replaced. You probably need 20 mins here to take it all in.

 

#8 GYUMRI EARTHQUAKE MEMORIAL

The 1988 earthquake really shook this city, as I’ve mentioned before. It has been reported that the death toll was close to 50,000, and Gyumri was never the same. You can read more about it before your visit, if you’re interested. Charles Aznavour (French Armenian prominent singer) gathered French artists and produced the song ‘Pour Toi Arménie’ in commemoration of this earthquake. You need 5-10 mins here to get an appreciation.

 

#9 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL (in Gyumri)

Right next to the earthquake memorial is the Armenian Genocide memorial, which unfortunately I could not reach as there was construction in this area and certain parts were closed off to the public.

 

#10 LENINAKAN 60 MONUMENT

This monument was built in 1984 in the 60th anniversary of changing the city’s name form Alexandropol to its Soviet name Leninakan in 1924, now Gyumri. Few minutes will suffice here.

 

#11 JIVANI STREET

Walk up north towards Shiraz St and walk south towards Van Cheraz Street. This is a street filled with many buildings made of the volcanic tuff stone, very iconically Gyumri and beautiful. There is a famous restaurant called Florance Gyumri in the area, it was unfortunately undergoing renovation during my visit and I couldn’t see it. 20 mins will be enough here.

 

#12 CENTRAL PARK (in Gyumri)

This is a beautiful park to spend some time in. It’s very clean with a modern layout with many benches to sit on and take a break from all the walking you did. You can spend as much time as you like here.

 

#13 MOTHER ARMENIA MONUMENT

I chose to walk all the way to Mother Armenia, it took me 30 mins. I wanted to walk and explore the town, but the road isn’t that scenic so you don’t have to, you can take a taxi instead. After I got there, I hiked up the stairs and got a real nice view of the monument up close (it’s massive) as well as the city of Gyumri. It takes 10 mins maybe less to hike up depending on your speed and you can spend as much time as you like.

 

#14 BLACK FORTRESS

This black fortress was built as a military base but never used in war. It has now been transformed into a venue for events like concerts and performances. It is built with the same volcanic tuff material. You have a clear view of it from Mother Armenia, you can also walk all around it with great views of Mother Armenia and the city. You can spend another 15 mins here soaking in the views and the architecture of the Fortress.

I then took a cab and was dropped off all the way to The Berlin Art Hotel, which is located a little south east to the Vardanants Square.

 

#15 BERLIN ART HOTEL & GALLERY 25

The lobby of the Berlin Art Hotel is Gallery 25. If you are staying for a night in Gyumri. I highly recommend staying here. The Gallery itself is funded by the German embassy with a very interesting permanent collection of art work. They also have events and exhibits for local artists. I was just amazed by the modern art and the amount of art work this gallery had. There is also s bookstore inside. All proceeds from the hotel and gallery are dedicated to funding the healthcare costs of locals, as part of a non-profit organization’s efforts. Such a great humanitarian effort. You can spend 20-30 mins in here.

 

#16 GYUMRI MARKET (aka Open Market)

This is an outdoors market on Tsulukidze St, with many vendors selling souvenirs, dried fruits, produce, cheese and meat. It isn’t just a tourist attraction, locals shop here. But something to note is that, when you shop in markets anywhere in Armenia, you have to be able to negotiate as everything is marked up for tourists. I bought some dried fruits here, something called sujukh (walnuts that are covered in grape paste) and real ‘fruit loops’ made from black cherry (quite tart). Vendors will give you samples so you can try anything before you buy them. If you have ever had dried fruits or nuts in Armenia, you know that the taste and quality are unmatched. I would buy and stock up on things you like.
You will also find similar items in Yerevan, if you are headed there. But it’s also a good idea to support this city and Yerevan tends to get more tourists.

 

#17 DINNER AT PONCHIK-MONCHIK

I guess late lunch or early dinner, I ate before catching the train back to Yerevan. I got a table at Ponchik-Monchik outdoors facing the St All Saviors Church, which is probably one of the most iconic locations in Gyumri. The architecture is out of this world and the colors so unique. I ordered a Khatchapuri, capucchino, and Jermuk (mineral water). It was a great meal and the service was super quick. The menu is full of photos of every meal, so you know what you’re getting even if you don’t understand the language.

 

If you are spending the night in Gyumri, I recommend the Berlin Art Hotel, in case you skipped that section above.

 

This blog post is all about how to spend a day in Gyumri, Armenia. You cannot miss Gyumri, especially if you are visiting Armenia.

 

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this content interested you, you might want to follow my Instagram account @girlontheues

 

See you next time,

Girl on the Upper East Side

Xx

If this blog post interested you, you might want to read my Paris, Nice & French Riviera, and London Itineraries.