Sev Berd, or Black Fortress, is a round structure made of black stone and sits upon a hilltop. It lies five miles from the Turkish border, built in response to the Russo-Turkish war. Today the imposing fortress can be observed from the outside as it is under renovation to become a concert hall.

This small district is the oldest part of Gyumri, composed of over a thousand buildings dating back to the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. The history of the district can be seen across the various architectural styles from Neoclassical to modernist and immense Soviet boulevards and squares.

Gyumri’s open-air shuka, market, is worth a look for those in town. It is among the largest in Armenia, crammed with stalls hawking piles of fruit, coffee grinders, cognac bottles, cheeses and cured meats, bread, and more. Along the pedestrian-only Ryzhkov street, local artists sell their paintings, wood carvings, and tufa stone carvings, while art and jewelry can be found at the gold market on Aragats street.

It is hard to miss the Mother Armenia statue which stands proudly in the western part of the city, yet can be seen from anywhere in Gyumri. Built of bronze in 1975, this statue holds aloft a bushel of wheat in contrast to the similar Mother Armenia statue in Yerevan which wields a sword.

This large central town square features several fountains, statues, and benches for people watch. The square is ringed by numerous buildings including Gyumri City Hall, the Church of the Holy Savoir, and the October Cinema Hall, as well as a handful of restaurants and cafes. Notably, Pope Francis delivered a Holy Mass at the square in 2016.