Family Outings in Gyumri

Families visiting Gyumri get the most from a slow, indoor-leaning day: a morning at a museum, a puppet show, a break outside and an early dinner. The city has few rides or attractions built for children, and there is no zoo to visit, so the plan below leans on a theatre, a model of the old town and clay painting. Costs are in Armenian dram (AMD) and may change.

A day that works with children

  1. Morning: the Dzitoghtsyan Museum, which opens about 11:00.
  2. Midday: a snack and a rest in Central Park.
  3. Afternoon: the Puppet Theatre, or the Aslamazyan Sisters Gallery for older children.
  4. Evening: dinner early, since cold air arrives quickly at this altitude.

Puppet Theatre

The Gyumri Puppet Theatre, named for Stepan Alikhanyan, stands at 133/6 Abovyan St. Founded in 1935, it is described as Armenia’s first puppet theatre. Its page on mus.am lists opening from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00, and tickets of 500 to 1,000 AMD. Performances are in Armenian, and the puppets carry the story visually for toddlers and young children. Ask at the desk what is playing that day.

Dzitoghtsyan Museum

At 47 Haghtanak Ave, this 1872 merchant mansion holds a scale model of 19th-century Alexandropol that children can study for a long time, plus craft displays. Children under 12 enter free. An adult ticket of about 1,500 to 2,000 AMD also admits you to the Merkurov House-Museum next door.

The gallery at 242 Abovyan St charges foreign adults 1,000 AMD, and under-sixes go free. Clay and tile painting workshops for children have been offered there at about 3,000 to 5,000 AMD each; ask in advance about dates and booking.

Central Park

Central Park was laid out in the late 19th century as the town garden and sits between Gorki and Sayat-Nova streets. Use it as a break point between indoor stops.

Staying comfortable

  • The city sits at about 1,550 m. Summers are hot and dry with strong sun, so pack hats and water; winters are cold and snowy.
  • Cobblestones are uneven and stone steps are slippery when icy, so choose shoes with grip.
  • For taxis, use Yandex Go or GG and agree the fare before you set off.
  • Gyumri’s military base is next to the Black Fortress, and photographing military sites is not allowed, so choose the museums and park for the camera instead.

A note on listings

A private zoo in Gyumri closed in 2016, and its animals were moved to Yerevan Zoo and a wildlife refuge. Listings that still show it as open are out of date.

Read more: Walking tours in Gyumri for a flat, short route that suits families.

Booking help

Family-sized city tours can be compared on Viator .