What to Do in Goris
The beautiful and historic city of Goris in Syunik region, is a place you must visit on your travel in Armenia. It is known for the unique caves in the old Kores settlement that resemble something from a movie or outer space. In Old Kores, you will also be able to see the St. Hripsime basilica, which was built in the 4th century. The Goris gate is also a popular site for many people who want great photo ops. You may also choose to visit any of the museums located in the city.
Very close to Goris is the town of Khndzoresk, which is popular for the swinging bridge and the old medieval caves that were abandoned by the locals in the 20th century. The manmade caves were what people lived in and stored all their equipment in for centuries, since there was no level ground for them to build proper homes. Khndzoresk was, in fact, the largest village in Armenia at one point. But the people were forced to leave these caves in the 1950s because they were not suitable for living in anymore.
The swinging bridge in Khndzoresk, however, is perhaps its most popular site. Built in 2012, its main purpose is to connect to Old Khndzoresk village to the new village. And while a trip across the bridge isn’t quite something for the faint of heart, it’s a worthwhile adventure to see the stunning Armenian landscape and its history.
How to Get to Goris
Goris is a bit further away from Yerevan, so you might need to stay there overnight. But with so much to do in the city, you certainly won’t have to worry about getting bored. There are several ways to get to Goris from Yerevan, but many people who reside in the city opt for public transport as it is the cheapest option. These small marshrutkas help to make trips easier. It only costs 2500 AMD (a bit less than 5 EUR) to reach Goris via one of the buses at the Kilikia Bus Station in Yerevan. The trips are 4 hours long and depart every morning and afternoon.