Vanadzor

Vanadzor (Armenian: Վանաձոր) is the capital of Lori Marz, in the North Central part of Armenia.

Understand
Vanadzor is Armenia's third largest city, with a population of about 105,000 people. There are a few old churches, however big part of the city has been built during the time of the Soviet Union with a grand central square, a humongous old Soviet chemical factory which has been idle for decades, and a river running through the somewhat narrow valley, surrounded by hills.

Most of the attractions in Lori are along the Debed River canyon to the north, or around Stepanavan, and although Vanadzor can be used as a base to explore these due to its perfect transport connection, finding a place closer to them might be preferable.

By train
The city lies on the railway connecting Tbilisi and Yerevan.

By bus


Specific connections:
 * Tbilisi – 4,000 dram (updated August 2018) (14 Georgian lari), daily at 08:30, arrives in Tbilisi at 12:30-13:00.
 * Yerevan – Marshrutkas are inexpensive (1,200 dram), and will take you to Vanadzor in a couple of hours. They depart from Kino Rosia, above the Zoravar Andranik metro station, across from the national cathedral in Yerevan.
 * Ijevan – 1,000 dram
 * Gyumri – 500 dram
 * Stepanavan – 400 dram
 * Alaverdi – 500 dram
 * Dilijan – 500 dram. From Dilijan at 09:30, and 11:30.
 * also from/to Byrd, Akhtala, Odzun, Spitak, Tashir, Noyemberian

By taxi
Shared taxis in Yerevan leave from the same spot as marshrutkas, and are a bit more comfortable, fast and a little more expensive. Virtually any taxi in Yerevan will take you there for 100 dram/km, which adds up to about 12,500 dram, unless you're a good negotiator.

On foot
The center of the city where lies almost all main attractions is quite miniature and walkable. You'll need to get a transportation if heading to some outer monasteries or perhaps to Botanical Garden (which is about 1.5 km from the center).

By marshrutka
Always available.

By taxi
Available and practical for visiting sites in the nearby area. The majority of the taxis are equipped with a meter, but you might want to agree on the price beforehand to avoid being scammed, but it's close to impossible here. Taxis running on gas are less expensive than those on petrol. Expect to pay about 100 dram per km plus a starting fee of 500 dram (2015).

Laundry
There is only one laundry in Vanadzor.



While the cheapest option could be if you stay in "Gugark" Hotel, where you can ask for laundry service. Cost depends on negotiation, but could be as little as around 500 dram for one washing machine.

Go next

 * Alaverdi
 * Dilijan
 * Gyumri