استپاناکرت

Understand

There is some dispute whether the first settlement in this area was started by Armenians in 5th century and thus was called Vararakn ("rapid spring" in Armenian) or by a Karabakh khan in 18th century, and was thus called Khankendi (Turkic for "the khan's village").

The city was renamed in 1923 to Stepanakert to honour Stepan Shahumyan, ethnic Armenian leader. It also became the capital of the newly created Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Shortly after that municipal authorities adopted a new city layout designed by the prominent Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian, which is still in use.

During the war, the city suffered immense damage from Azeri bombardment which continued from 1992 to 1994.

Get in

thumb|Stepanakert Airport thumb|Central Bus Station Tourists must obtain an Azerbaijani visa, see Azerbaijan#Get in for more details.

Get around

There are several city bus lines. The price was 100 dram in March 2015.

There are lots of taxis ranging from a very old cars to a brand new Mercedes. Taxi prices are a bit higher than in Yerevan and increase if you leave the city for the countryside. Drivers tend to be honest, but using a meter is always a good idea.

See

thumbnail|Garabagh University thumbnail|Fountains at the Shahumyan square

You should also visit some government buildings and universities.

Do

There are many museums that show the history of the region. There are also a lot of parks, many of them are brand new with nice statues and memorials. People are very friendly and will be happy if your children play with their children.

Buy

There are many souvenir shops. A very nice one can be found in the lobby of hotel "Armenia".

Stepanakert boasts of a number of art galleries and rug shops.

Eat

There are so many cafes throughout the city.

Sleep

thumb|Hotel Armenia thumb|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Budget accommodation (about US$5) is easily available as there are many guest houses. Try to speak with locals about that or ask marshrutka driver which drove you to Stepanakert.

Connect

The tourist office kiosk is located opposite to the parliament building in the 20th February street/Renaissance square. They offer many nice brochures with information about the main attractions. Website.

There are several spots with free WiFi. These spots are in parks and around sights and monuments. Look for the signs of WiFi from Karabakh Telecom.

There are several Internet cafés in the city and also the restaurants offer free WiFi.

Stay safe

The locals are friendly and helpful towards foreign visitors. Anything can be discussed freely, including the war and current events. But you should always have a valid visa and keep your distance from the line of contact. Be aware that there is a large military presence here and taking photos of them as well as soldiers or government buildings without permission may not be received kindly. Asking beforehand is a good idea if you are unsure.