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Spitak
ℹ️Practical info — Spitak
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Spitak was rebuilt after the 1988 earthquake; a visit to the earthquake memorial gives a profound insight into local history.
- Since it's a smaller town, bringing some cash in Armenian Drams is highly recommended for small purchases.
- Summer evenings can get cool due to the elevation; pack a light jacket.
- Public transport is limited; arranging a local taxi in advance is best if you want to explore the surrounding hills.
🍽 Food
Try it at the roadside barbecue stands or family-owned taverns near the town center.
Look for bakeries on the main road where you can buy it straight from the tonir (clay oven).
Often sold by locals at small roadside stalls just outside the city.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Great for fresh produce and seasonal fruits from the surrounding region.
Pick up basic supplies and Armenian snacks before heading out to the mountains.
A quiet green space in the center, first-rate for a peaceful afternoon walk.
A solemn, quiet area on the hillside for reflection.
Water temperature…
Spitak lies in north-western Armenia in Lori Province at around 1,560 metres altitude, about 95 km north of Yerevan on the Pambak River. The name means 'white' in Armenian, alluding to the snow-covered slopes of the Bazum and Pambak ranges. On 7 December 1988 the devastating Spitak earthquake of magnitude 6.8 virtually levelled the town: more than 25,000 people died across the region and around 90 percent of buildings in Spitak collapsed. Reconstruction involved some 110 countries; whole districts were built in the 1990s by foreign teams, Italians, Swiss, Norwegians, Estonians, who brought their own architectural styles, leaving names such as the 'Italian village' or 'Norwegian quarter' that survive to this day. Spitak now has around 12,000 inhabitants and lives from food and wood industries, a modern dairy and its role as a railway junction on the line to Gyumri.
- Location: Armenia
- Nearby: Stepanavan (19 km)
- Population: ~13.574 (2025)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jul–Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -5 | -3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 2 | -3 |
| Rain mm | 23 | 19 | 29 | 55 | 64 | 57 | 32 | 30 | 23 | 38 | 24 | 23 |
Geography
Facts
- Epicenter of the December 7, 1988 earthquake.
- The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8.
- The city was completely rebuilt.
- Located in the Lori Province.
- Population is approximately 13,000 people.
- Officially known as Hamamlu until 1949.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Spitak (1)
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