Shushi

Ghazanchetsots Cathedral

Shushi or Shusha is a city in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Understand

This fortified city has long been a cultural center in Karabakh, and has had a history of conflict. The town was mostly destroyed as a result of the Karabakh war, but more and more buildings are being rehabilitated, and comfortable western hotels have opened.

Get in

By bus

From Stepanakert there is the bus line 301, which goes every half an hour 07:00-18:30. It costs 200 dram (March 2015).

Buses to Stepanakert stop at the square at the bottom of the main town park—the far end from the Avan Shushi Plaza Hotel.

From Armenia, you will most likely pass by Shushi in your bus or taxi from Yerevan about 20 min prior to arrival in Stepanakert.

By thumb

Private cars heading to Stepanakert will often stop at the bus stop and pick up passengers for the same price the bus would charge. The opposite direction seems similar.

By taxi

Taxis from Stepanakert cost about 2,500 dram.

Get around

It is easy enough to walk around Shushi. The streets of the lower part of the town are not yet paved. Therefore, expect a lot of mud if it is wet.

The tourist information office is located in the Njdeh street at the crossing with the Vararakn street.

Taxis are usually available in the area near and east of Ghazanchetsots Cathedral.

See

Govheraga Mosque

Shushi fortress

Karkar Canyon under Shushi

• 🌍 Ghazanchetsots Cathedral. Armenian cathedral consisting of a church and a bell tower. It was built in the second half of the 19th century, and was the largest Armenian church up until recently. It was in use till the Shusha massacre in 1920, and then was used as a barn. It was restored in 1998. Interior decoration is quite modest, which is traditional for Armenian churches. (updated Feb 2015)
• 🌍 Govheraga Mosque. Construction of the mosque was started in 1768 by Ibrahim Khan and then was frozen for years until Gevhar-aga, the successor of Ibrahim Khan, completed it. The inner space of the mosque is not much different from other places of worship in Karabakh of that period. There is a two-story gallery, separated by high stone pillars, as well as traditional domed ceilings. The mosque was heavily damaged in 1992, but in 2007 and 2011 it was completely reconstructed. You can enjoy the building from outside, but it doesn't function as a mosque anymore. (updated Feb 2015)
• 🌍 Lower Mosque (around the corner of Govheraga Mosque). Some ruins that still have their towers partly intact and which allow for a great view of the surrounding area. However, they are ruins, so be cautious. (updated Aug 2019)
• 🌍 Shusha fortress. Fortress built in 1752 by Khan Panah Ali Bey to defend the northern part of the plateau, as it is geographically the most vulnerable part of the city. Fortress walls are 2.5 km long. There is also a secret exit from the fortress, leading to the gorge Karin-so. There were 3 gates: north, west and east. (updated Feb 2015)

• 🌍 Town Walls. This is where one of the old gates is in the town walls. (updated Feb 2015)

• 🌍 Jtrtuz (Karkar Canyon Viewpoint). The famous lookout of Shushi with spectacular views of the Karkar Canyon cliffs below. In case you are nut doing the Janapar, you can still have a great view of the canyon and mountainous area from here. 
• 🌍 Shushi History Museum, 32, M. Mashtots, ☏ [phone]. M-Sa 09:00 - 17:00. It demonstrates the rich archaeological finds of the Нellenistic period along with ethnographic items of the 19th century. Also one can find here a diorama of the Shushi battle. Free admission. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Kanach Zham church (slightly uphill from the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral). Armenian Apostolic Church whose name translates from Armenian as "Green Church", as its domes were painted green long ago. The church was built in 1818 at the place of the former Gharabaghtsots wooden one. Nowadays, the chapel features some unique interior decoration. (updated Feb 2015)

Outside the city

• 🌍 Zontik Waterfall (Follow direction of Janapar Trail either from Shushi or Karintak to reach it.). Beautiful huge umbrella of moss, covered with dripping water, with a space under it is appropriately named Zontik - or umbrella. Beautifully sited right above the Karkar River, under the cliffs. Only accessible by hiking in. (updated Feb 2016)

Do

• Drama theater. (updated Feb 2015)
• Art gallery, Ghazanchetsots str., ☏ [phone], ✉ [e-mail]. Exhibits works of Martiros Saryan, Pavel Kuznetsov, Minas, N. Nikoghosyan, Zhilinskiy, Safohin, Gayane Tiflisetsi, Yuri Grigoryan, Hakob Hakobyan, Galents and other prominent artists. (updated Feb 2015)

• Janapar Trail. (updated Jun 2019)

• 🌍 Trailhead to Karintak. Marked trail down into Karkar canyon, to Zontik waterfall and Karintak village. 
• 🌍 Trailhead to Stepanakert. Janapar trail to Stepanakert. 

Buy

Eat

• 🌍 Cafe. Across from the Cathedral is a hole-in-the-wall cafe. If you let them know ahead of time, you can eat very good dolma for a very reasonable price. 
• 🌍 Cafe. Large outdoor patio. Simple menu, decent food and prices. 

Drink

Sleep

B&B and homestays

• Armen and Christina's B&B, 9/35 Aram Manukian Street (in the house at the corner of the intercity marshrutka station, ask for Frantsatsi Armeni Tun), ☏ [phone], [phone], [phone]. (updated Sep 2019)
• Bella, ☏ [phone], [phone] (Oxanna). 4-5 beds. (updated Sep 2019)
• Mkhitar and Armine, ☏ [phone], [phone], ✉ [e-mail]. 4 beds. (updated Sep 2019)
• Saro (at the edge of town). (updated Sep 2019)

Hotels

• 🌍 Shushi Grand Hotel, ☏ [phone]. Very comfortable western hotel with great food, totally rebuilt to purpose. A bit off center. 
• 🌍 Avan Shushi Plaza Hotel, ☏ [phone]. Renovated high-rise Soviet hotel in the very center of Shushi. Smaller rooms often with good views. 
• 🌍 Shushi Hotel, ☏ [phone]. Small hotel right above the main Cathedral. 

Go next

• Agdam
• Stepanakert