In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Armenia
Goris
Spend 2 nights in Goris to see the town, Old Khndzoresk and nearby monasteries; day‑trip to Tatev is doable.
Goris is a gateway to southern Armenia with stone‑pyramid rock formations, museums and easy access to Khndzoresk, Bgheno‑Noravank and Tatev. Two nights let you explore the town and make a short day‑trip without rushing.
- Country
- Armenia
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, snow)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AMD
- Money
- Armenian dram (AMD, ֏): cards are widely taken in Yerevan; carry cash for taxis, markets, small cafés and anything outside the city.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₾5,000–8,000 excl. bed (check) · Mid ₾8,000–12,000 excl. bed (check) · High ₾12,000+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Team (ex-Beeline), Viva and Ucom sell SIMs with a passport; cheap and fast.
- Emergency
- Police 102 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 103 · General 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European plugs fit.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Check for a service charge; otherwise 10%.; Drivers and guides: AMD 2,000–5,000 a day.
- Water
- Tap and fountain water in Yerevan is generally drinkable (check); bottled is cheap.
- Toilets
- Cafés and malls; basic at monasteries.
Get in
By air
- EVN · Zvartnots International Airport
- —
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable. Marshrutkas run from the market on Siunik street to nearby villages. Shared taxis from Yerevan cost 4,500 dram per person (4½ h).
See and do
Known for
- Old Khndzoresk cave village
- Stone‑pyramid rock formations
- Aksel Bakunts Museum
- St Grigor Lusavorich Church
- Bgheno‑Noravank Monastery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Old Khndzoresk cave village | Bus from Goris market, 30 min ride; walk down to the gorge. | ≈1 h total |
| Bgheno‑Noravank Monastery | Drive or taxi 16 km (9.9 mi) south; about 20 min.Drive or taxi 9.9 mi (16 km) south; about 20 min. | ≈45 min total |
| Tatev Monastery | Bus from Goris at 07:30 or 14:30, 700 dram, 1 h ride.Bus from Goris at 7:30 AM or 2:30 PM, 700 dram, 1 h ride. | ≈2 h total (bus + cable car) |
Sleep
- Tree House & Camping Goris
- Camping with tree‑house, basic facilities, wifi; 3,000 dram per person, 22,000 dram for a tree‑house.
- Aregak B&B
- Central B&B, 5,000 dram per night, breakfast included.
- Khachik B&B
- Long‑stay B&B, hosts arrange Tatev taxi; dinner 4,000 dram.
Language
Armenian is an Indo-European language on its own branch, written in the alphabet created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405. Russian is widely spoken; English is common among young people in Yerevan and in tourism.
- Barev dzez (hello), shnorhakalutyun or merci (thank you), inch arzhe? (how much?).
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Refusing hospitality
- Churches: Light a candle; cover up; avoid: Loud talk
- History: Listen and ask; avoid: Turkish or Azerbaijani framing of the genocide or Karabakh
Scams and watch-outs
- Border proximity: check current safety advice before visiting the wildlife sanctuary near the Azerbaijani border.
- Bus seats fill quickly in summer; book marshrutka tickets in advance (3,000 dram, 4–5 h from Yerevan).
- Some museums close on Mondays; verify opening hours.
Generally safe; monitor border‑area alerts and keep updated on local advice before visiting the wildlife sanctuary.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Goris yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Old Khndzoresk cave village
- Stone‑pyramid rock formations
- Aksel Bakunts Museum
- St Grigor Lusavorich Church
- Bgheno‑Noravank Monastery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Goris official website: goriscity.am
- Wikivoyage: Goris, revision 5293812 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5293812
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/goris). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.