Things to do in Goris
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Goris
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Cold, snow possible, quiet town, cableway and gorge road at risk from wind and ice.
Greening valley, high rivers, May is a top hiking month, trails muddy early in spring.
Main season, warm days and cool nights, book Tatev and hotels ahead, start excursions early.
Late September and early October are the best all round window, autumn colour, then cold and quiet.
What's on
- Goris Mulberry Festival July, date varies by year
Mulberry fruit, vodka distillation and tasting, food stalls, songs and dances, from the centre toward Old Goris.
- Sheep Shearing Festival June, venue and date vary by year
Syunik shepherding festival held in past years near Tatev and Halidzor, with shearing contests and crafts.
- Vardavar Sunday 98 days after Easter, July
National water festival, expect to get drenched in the streets and keep documents waterproof.
Best things to do in Goris
Medieval Goris Cave Dwellings
Cave homes carved into volcanic rock cones above town, inhabited into the 20th century, with the best views in Goris.
Local Lore Museum of Goris
First museum in Syunik, with Bronze Age finds, weapons, costume and town history that make the cave sites make sense.
Aksel Bakunts House Museum
Childhood home of Goris writer Bakunts, kept as a house museum with his books, photos and family furniture.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church of Goris
Working stone parish church of modern Goris, a calm stop that contrasts with the cave settlement church in Old Goris.
St. Hripsime Church
Early basilica below the cave dwellings, rebuilt in the 16th century, anchoring the old settlement of Old Goris.
Goris Crochet
Workshop shop where Goris women sell crocheted animals, gloves and scarves, with money going directly to makers.
Where to stay in Goris
Central Goris, Mashtots and Syunik Street grid
first trip, no car, walkable base
Flat stone centre with museums, restaurants, ATMs and taxi help within a few streets, Old Goris a walk away.
Arzoumanyan Street and the eastern edge
views, quiet, drivers and families
Gardens and parking toward Old Goris and the Bells viewpoint, a short walk from central dinners.
Think twice about
- Within 5 km of the Armenia-Azerbaijan eastern border
Close to the Azerbaijan border, where past military action has occurred and roads can close without notice. Stay on main roads.
- Tatev village as a base for Goris
Reverses the geography, with a dark gorge drive to Goris choice and far fewer rooms, restaurants and services.
Best restaurants in Goris
Old Goris Restaurant
Town top traditional table for khorovats, dolma, Goris bean dishes, lavash and regional wine, with English spoken.
Khoreayi Dzor
Hotel restaurant open to all, strong on kebabs, stews and grilled meats, handy after a Khndzoresk day.
REDROOF Bar & Restaurant
Modern bar restaurant with European and Armenian dishes, the change of pace dinner on a longer Goris stay.
Vazoi Mot
Small homestyle kitchen for Russian and Armenian soups, cutlets and grills, filling food after a hiking day.
Takarik
Everyday favourite famous for jingyalov hats, the herb filled flatbread that is the signature dish of Syunik.
Outdoor things to do in Goris
Old Khndzoresk
Huge abandoned cave village in a gorge, reached by 400 steps and a 160 metre swinging bridge 63 metres up.
Khndzoresk Swinging Bridge
160 metre suspension bridge 63 metres over the Khndzoresk gorge, the swaying crossing into the old cave village.
Wings of Tatev
Longest non-stop reversible tramway in the world, 5,752 metres over the Vorotan Gorge in about 12 minutes.
Tatev Monastery
9th century cliff edge monastery and former university, the spiritual and architectural headline of Syunik.
Devil's Bridge
Natural travertine bridge over the Vorotan River with caves, coloured mineral walls and warm spring pools below.
Old Bells of Goris Trail
Short ridge hike from the Bells monument down past the cave dwellings into town, the best walk from Goris itself.
Syunik Legends Trail
150 km village to village trail from Goris to Kapan whose opening stages work well as day hikes from Goris.
Best hotels in Goris
Mirhav Hotel
Top hotel in Goris, with the best rooms in town, a garden terrace and a leading restaurant on Mashtots Street.
Hotel Khoreayi Dzor
Wood lined hotel toward Old Goris with a strong restaurant, parking and a quieter setting than the centre.
Goris Hotel
Central full service hotel with garden, terrace, restaurant and 24 hour desk, easy for groups and late arrivals.
Popock Goris
Small boutique guesthouse in the centre with a well liked table, run on a personal, host led scale.
Khachik's B&B
Long running family B and B with big balconies over town to Old Goris, home cooking and sociable breakfasts.
Aregak B&B
Simple, friendly B and B near the museums whose hosts arrange local tours and driving at local prices.
Is Goris expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | AMD 18,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | AMD 35,000 a person |
| Splurge | AMD 65,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Wings of Tatev: a few days ahead
- Syunik Legends Trail: a few days ahead
- Mirhav Hotel: weeks ahead
- Hotel Khoreayi Dzor: a few days ahead
- Goris Hotel: a few days ahead
- Popock Goris: a few days ahead
- Khachik's B&B: a few days ahead
- Aregak B&B: a few days ahead
- Book Wings of Tatev timed tickets days ahead in season and check the day, as Monday closure is reported.
- Book Mirhav Hotel and small guesthouses weeks ahead for peak summer weekends.
- Arrange a Tatev driver through your hotel a day ahead, not on the morning.
Is Goris safe?
- The Azerbaijan border lies east of Goris: stay away from the immediate border strip, where roads can close without notice.
- Stay on main roads and marked trails, do not photograph checkpoints or military positions, and obey closures.
- Watch for livestock guardian dogs at cave sites and villages, and treat gorge paths as slippery when wet.
Goris travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Leaving Tatev to your last day, when wind can stop the cableway with no second chance.
- Khndzoresk means about 400 steps down and back up with little shade, so take water and avoid midday in summer.
- Museum days differ: the regional museum lists weekday opening and the Bakunts museum lists Monday closure.
- Restaurant kitchens in Goris do not run late, so plan to eat by 9pm unless confirmed otherwise.
Getting around Goris: public transport and more
- Walk the flat central grid and Old Goris on foot.
- Use hotel arranged taxis beyond town and agree price, waiting and return before setting off.
- Minibuses run from Yerevan Southern Bus Station to Goris in about four hours, roughly twice daily.
- Ride hailing coverage is thin in Goris, so never rely on summoning a car at a gorge car park.
Who Goris suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Goris your trip
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