Things to Do and Tourist Places to Visit in Gyumri

Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia after Yerevan. It is also the capital of the north-western province of Shirak. Till the 19th century, Gyumri was known as Alexandrapol as it was under Russian rule. The name of the city comes from Armenian name Kumayri, it was transformed to Gumru under the Turkish rule and Alexandropol under Russian rule. During the time of of Vladimir Lenin, Gyumri was renamed Leninakan. Gyumri finally got its current name in the year 1992. Owing to its storied history, there are several historical places to visit in Gyumri. Being a major gateway to the naturally rich north western regions of Shirak province, there are numerous nature exploration things to do in Gyumri as well.

The old district of Gyumri is still known as Kumayri. It is one of the best places to go for a walk for Gyumri sightseeing of old buildings, houses and shops. Despite their age and two earthquakes, this district stands strong as one of the most popular places to visit in Gyumri. Leisurely walks and enjoying street food are things to do in Gyumri in Kumayri district. Another nice place to go for a walk for things to see in Gyumri is the Vartanants Square. The same goes for the Independence Square, which a popular picnic spot for the locals among Gyumri attractions.

The Black Fortress or Sev Berd is the most popular things to see in Gyumri. This fortress was the guard of the region during Russian rule against the Ottoman Empire. It is also a great place for Gyumri sightseeing as it overlooks the city from above the mountain. There are a few museums among Gyumri tourist attractions. There are several churches as well among Gyumri attractions for tourists. The Russian Church is another popular black stone structure among things to see in Gyumri. Though the primary church of the city is the Holy Martyrs Church. Different places to visit in Gyumri depict different eras in the life of this city. If you want to see the remnants of the Lenin’s rule during Gyumri sightseeing you can visit buildings which are categorized as Brutal Architecture. These buildings feature a raw and mundane facade & interior. It is a reflection of a difficult time where the bare minimum was considered sufficient.

One of the best place to shop for local items in Gyumri is the open-air market. This market on Ryzhkov Street is among the best places to visit in Gyumri for shopping. Here you can shop for local produce, spices, and dried fruits. Tourists also like to take away regional fruits & vegetables on Gyumri travel. Shopping for souvenirs at the open air market is popular among things to do in Gyumri. You will find several shops selling interesting souvenir items in this market. But do remember to bargain for best prices. This place is a Gyumri attractions for artists and craftsmen as well. You can get your own painting made by the local artists or buy one of their paintings as well. Carved wooden items & carved stones are also popular Gyumri tourist attractions to take home with you. You will need to bear substantial weight for these. But people from Europe & Asia do buy these & have them shipped. Gyumri is also well-known for its craft of jewelry. The Gold Market located on the Aragats street is the best place to shop for gold and jewelry items. You should double check the customs limit in your country as well as in Armenia for carrying gold on your person. The style of jewelry is truly unique in Armenia. If not for buying, include it among things to see in Gyumri.

Being the second largest city in Armenia, there is a huge variety of food items you can try on Gyumri travel. The local specialities include soups, rice dishes, meat dishes, and deserts. One of the most popular dishes to try among Gyumri tourist attractions is called Pilaf. It is a preparation of spiced rice or wheat prepared in a variety of ways. Among soups to taste on Gyumri travel is Khash. This soup is prepared with parts of meat, vegetables, and vodka. This soup is the among the best things to do in Gyumri during winters to beat the cold weather. If you are looking for a more simple taste palate, you can try the pasta variant of Armenia known as Tatar Boraki. If you enjoy barbecue food you should try khan barbecue when on Gyumri sightseeing. Among deserts to try on Gyumri travel are pakhlava, yaghali, and shakar lokum. The desert and sweet dishes can be found near many places to visit in Gyumri on street stalls and small shops. Gyumri is also a great place for beer. The Gyumri Beer Company is the largest producer of beer in Armenia. You can try the local brands of beer, which themselves are Gyumri attractions. You can visit Gyumri brewery among Gyumri tourist attractions to see how the local beer is prepared. It is also one of the oldest beer factories in Armenia. You will get to taste a variety of beers here as well among things to do in Gyumri.

You should take out at least 2-3 days for Gyumri travel. As there are several places to visit in Gyumri and even more tourist attractions in the northern area of Shirak province. There are also beautiful places among things to see towards the Armenia-Turkey border as well.

The northern region is great for Gyumri sightseeing of natural wonders. There are some nice Gyumri attractions to explore in the smaller towns around the city. You won’t run out of things to do in Gyumri, even if you plan to stay for 5 days or even a week.

Things to do in Gyumri, Armenia

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Gyumri, Armenia

1. Black Fortress
2. All Saviours Armenian Church
3. Museum of National Architecture & Urban Life
4. The Gallery of Mariam & Eranuhi Aslamazyan Sister
5. Mher Mkrtchyan Museum
6. Marmashen Monastery
7. Minas Avetisyan House Museum
8. Vartants Square

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Places to Visit in Gyumri, Armenia

1. Gyumrii Lerrner Mountain Peak
2. Techkan Waterfalls
3. Lake Arpi National Park
4. Lake Arp
5. Mount Kaputkogh

Shopping in Gyumri

1. Shirak Mall
2. Souvenir Shop
3. Antique Shop
4. Gold Market
5. Gift City
6. Ryzhkov Street
7. Gorki Street

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Gyumri, Armenia

1. Drinks World
2. Food Style
3. Nor Aleppo
4. Chaikhana Restaurant
5. Noon Lunch
6. Florence Restaurant
7. Herbs & Honey
8. Havlabar Restaurant
9. Ponchik Monchik
10. Old Armenia
11. Ani Restaurant
12. Green Canyon Restaurant
13. Zemlyanka Restaurant
14. Cafe Kalinka
15. Kilikia
16. Faeton
17. DarVino Wine House
18. Poloz Mukuch Restaurant
19. Vanataur Restaurant

How to Reach Gyumri, Armenia?

By Air

The nearest airport for Gyumri travel is the Shirak International Airport, located just outside the city. If you wish to explore things to do in Gyumri, after Yerevan, you can also catch a flight to the Shirak International Airpot for Yerevan Airport. Then you have the option of road travel for places to visit in Gyumri. Most tourist do combine a visit to northern regions of Armenia with things to see in Gyumri. Once, you land at either of these airports, road is your best friend for most Gyumri tourist attractions.

By Road

Gyumri sits at the intersection of Motorways M1, M7 and H32. You can use either of these routes for Gyumri sightseeing. You can also catch a train from Yerevan for Gyumri travel. Both the road & the train will treat you with beautiful sights of mountains and valleys on your way to Gyumri attractions. These sights make road trips in Armenia memorable, otherwise the condition of the roads is quite questionable. You will also find many interesting things to do in Gyumri road trip as there are small lakes, river bridges, and waterfalls along the road. If you are looking for such an adventure, you should go for a private car or a rented car for Gyumri travel.

By Water

Gyumri is a landlocked city with no waterbodies around it. So land and air are your only options for Gyumri travel. Otherwise you will have to wait for an overwhelming flood in the balkans to have a water route for places to visit in Gyumri. You should be satisfied with the road as it offers many beautiful things to see in Gyumri along the way.