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Voykit pocket guide · Armenia
Spitak
Սպիտակ
Spend a half‑day in Spitak to see the earthquake monument and museum; stay only if you need a rest stop between Gyumri and Vanadzor.
Spitak is a small town on the Pambak River, rebuilt after the 1988 earthquake. Its main sights are the ethnographic museum, the Metal Church cemetery and the earthquake monument. The town is walkable and reachable in about 45 minutes by marshrutka from Gyumri or Vanadzor, making it a brief stop on a north‑Armenia itinerary.
- Country
- Armenia
- Local name
- Սպիտակ
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (mild summer, low snow)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (very cold, possible road closures)
- Stay
- 0 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 AMD 5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid AMD 8,000–12,000 excl. bed (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
- 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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Marshrutka ride (Gyumri‑Spitak) | AMD 800 |
| Coffee at a local café | AMD 300–500 |
| Snack (baklava, etc.) | AMD 200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LWN · Shirak International Airport (Gyumri)
- ≈45 min by marshrutka
Typical fares
- Gyumri → Spitak marshrutka
- about AMD 800, 45 min (check)
- Spitak YMCA double room per night
- AMD 20,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is small; explore on foot. Marshrutka connects Gyumri and Vanadzor (≈45 min, AMD 800).
See and do
Known for
- 1988 earthquake monument
- Metal Church cemetery
- Ethnographic museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gyumri | Marshrutka from Gyumri station, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
| Vanadzor | Marshrutka from Vanadzor station, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
Sleep
- Spitak YMCA
- Basic double room, AMD 20,000; 10‑15 min walk to centre
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ՆերեցեքNerets'ek |
| Thank you | ՇնորհակալությունShnorhakalutyun |
| How much is it? | Քանի է?K'ani e? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Որտե՞ղ է զուգարանն?Vortegh e zugarann? |
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
- Limited evening train service; plan alternative transport.
- Earthquake remnants may be unsafe to climb; stay on marked paths.
Spitak is generally safe for tourists; main risks are cold winter weather and occasional after‑shocks in old buildings – ask locals before entering.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Spitak yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- 1988 earthquake monument
- Metal Church cemetery
- Ethnographic museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Spitak official site: spitak.am/
- Wikivoyage: Spitak, revision 5188812 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5188812
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/spitak). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.