Best Things to Do and See in Gavar, Armenia
Gavar is surrounded by Gegham mountain range. It is the administrative capital of Gegharkunik. Gavar used to be called Nor Bayezet, named after the Armenian town of Bayazet. The name Gavar was given to the town in 1995. It means country in the Armenian language. One of the most popular places to visit in Gavar is the cemetery and the Chantry of St. Stephonas. The Chantry is located on top of the hill overlooking the town. More than the chantry or the cemetery itself, this attraction is popular for Gavar sightseeing. It is one of the most photographed spot among Gavar tourist attractions. Another popular church among places to visit in Gavar is the Holy Mother of God Church. It is the largest church in the town and can be easily spotted from almost anywhere in the town.
A very curious place to visit in Gavar is the St. Hovhannes Chantry, which is also known as the chapel in the rock. The names comes from the fact that it is a chapel built inside a huge rock. It is one of the most interesting things to see in Gavar.
If you are interested in learning about the history of the region, then you should head to Gegharkunik Museum of Local Lore. The museum depicts 5000 years of history of the region with interesting artifacts from different periods in history and from different civilizations which inhabited the region.
On the banks of river Tzaghkants is a very unique thing to do in Gavar. People come here to taste the sour bubbly water from the Tut Jar Water Fountain. This water comes from the mountains and is heavy in minerals resulting in its unique taste.
If you are looking for a bit of nature exploration, you can follow the hiking trail from the town leading to Gri Dzor among adventurous things to do in Gavar. Gri Dzor is one of the lesser known hiking trails near Gavar. So you won’t find many people crowding the trail. The path is great for Gavar sightseeing. There are many small waterfalls along the hike trail of the Gri Gorge to stop for some fun or a photo session.
You can miss out on all places to visit in Gavar, but you should not miss out on the food. Two items in particular are major tourist attractions in Gavar. First is the traditional baklava at the express bakery and the second is Kyavari Kyufta. If you didn’t try any of these dishes on Gavar travel, then you have wasted your visit completely.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Gavar, Armenia
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Gavar, Armenia
- St. Stephonas Chantry
- Cyclopean Fortress Ruins
- Holy Mother of God Church
- St. Karapet Church
- St. Hovhannes Chantry
- Gegharkunik Museum of Local Lore
- Chapel in the Rock / St. Hovhannes Chantry
- Hayravank Church
- Noratus Cemetery
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Places to Visit in Gavar, Armenia
- Geghama Lerrnashght’a
- Gri Dzor
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Places to visit in Gavar, Armenia
- Tut Jur Water Fountain
Sightseeing in Gavar, Armenia
- Gavar Central Square – Gavar
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Gavar, Armenia
- Express Bakery – Gavar
- Kyavari Kyufta / Gavar Qufta – Gavar
How to Reach Gavar, Armenia?
By Air
The closest airport for Gavar travel is the Zvartnots International Airport located in national capital city of Yerevan. Once you get to Yerevan, you have to rely on the road to reach the places to visit in Gavar. It is quite a journey from Yerevan to visit Gavar tourist attractions. You will find many attractions along the road to gave as well. Though you can get transport options for gave sightseeing from the airport itself, it inadvisable to look for transport options in Yerevan city. The prices at the airport are far higher compared to the city. You will find cheaper alternatives for Gavar travel from within the city.
By Road
You basically have 3 ways to reach Gavar by road. First is by bus, second by a cab, and third by a renting a car. You will get public transport bus for Gavar travel from most of the major towns and cities in Armenia. If you are traveling from a smaller town, you may have to use connecting route to reach Gavar attractions. The bus will take you to the bus station sitting right in the middle of the town and you can continue for Gavar sightseeing from then onwards. You other option is either a cab or a rented car; both of these provide more convenience in terms of freedom of movement as compared to public transport. A private vehicle is also helpful to visit Gavar attractions near the town. Some of these are located at quite a distance from the town and buses won’t take you to these places to visit in Gavar. You can also reach Gavar town by a bus and get a cab from the town to visit nearby tourist attractions.
By Water
Being a landlocked town, there are no water routes for Gavar travel.
