Many people associate Abkhazia with the romance of the Soviet resort. In those days, the palm trees were greener and the Black Sea was cleaner. The flavor of the beach holidays of the last century has been preserved here in many ways: the familiar architecture and the branded retro train from Sochi contribute to this. In the article we will figure out how to relax in Abkhazia with taste and bring an even tan from the trip.
Contents
- How to get there
- Beach holidays in Abkhazia: what you need to know
- Gagra
- Pitsunda
- Tsandrypsh
- Gudauta
Main
- Currency: Russian ruble.
- Visa: Russians only need an internal passport to travel to Abkhazia.
- Bank cards: Russian MIR cards are accepted in the country. But it’s better to stock up on cash so that you don’t run out of money in case of something.
How to get there
By train. By railway you can get from different cities of Russia, but the easiest way is from Sochi. The journey from there will take only 4 hours, the ticket price starts from 537 rubles. The direct train from Moscow to Gagra takes about a day and a half. The price for a seat in a compartment starts from 9739 rubles. It is also possible to get to Sukhum and Gudauta by rail from the capital of Russia.
By car. To enter Abkhazia by car, you will have to take out local insurance. You can stand in line at the border during the high tourist season for several hours — get ready for the hype. It is 1,700 kilometers from Moscow to Gagra, and only 65 from Sochi.
You can get from different cities of Russia by rail, but the easiest way is from Sochi. Photo: Endless luck/Shutterstock.com
Beach holidays in Abkhazia: what you need to know
The swimming season starts here in mid-May, and its peak falls in July. It can be difficult to find a place on the beach at this time. The summer heat is tolerated in Abkhazia simply because of the proximity of the sea. The beach holiday season ends in mid-October.
Many tourists note that the sea in Abkhazia is cleaner than in Sochi. There are fewer roads and industries, as well as much fewer residents and vacationers, so it is believed that the local ecology wins against the background of the Russian Black Sea coast.
How to go to the sea and not go broke
We have collected life hacks for an inexpensive vacation on the beach in the style of “cheap and angry” in this article.
Gagra
The city is divided into Old and New Gagra. Beaches also belong to these two areas, their total length is about 50 kilometers. Pebbles prevail: public or at boarding houses. As a rule, the latter allow those vacationers who did not stay with them to their beaches.
The beaches of Old Gagra are quiet and not as crowded as in the new part of the city. There are more entertainment, cafes and other joys of modern life in Novaya Gagra — there are also more vacationers here.
- Vacation in Gagra — where to stay, what to see, pros and cons
The beaches of Old Gagra are quiet and not as crowded as in the new part of the city. Photo: Sergei Afanasev/Shutterstock.com
Where to go and what to do
The Gagripsh restaurant is especially popular in Gagra. The prince and founder of this resort, Alexander Oldenburgsky, bought this building in disassembled form, brought it here and assembled it in 1902 — its architecture has reached our days almost in its original form.
Bring dried persimmons as souvenirs — they can be found in abundance on the Gagra market. It is located near Novaya Gagra.
Where to stay
- Prince Hotel Gagra is right on the beach, where the sea almost touches the panoramic windows of the rooms. You can book them for a period of two nights or more. The cost of two days starts from 23,000 rubles.
- Gega Hotel is located closer to the mountains, not far from Gagra railway station. Surrounded by greenery and with an on-site swimming pool, the hotel is suitable for a more secluded holiday. The price for a double room with a view of the park starts from 5,900 rubles.
- Boutique Hotel Oldenburg is 300 meters from Prince of Oldenburg Park. The beach is a couple of steps away. From 5000 rubles per room.
- Old Gagra is on the first line with its own beach. You will have to look for available rooms for the summer and autumn, but they are there. The price per night is about 8000 rubles.
- Mini-hotel “Jason” in the village of Alakhadzy with spacious rooms and sea views from the second floor. A night costs from 5,500 rubles.
Prince Hotel Gagra is right on the beach, where the sea almost touches the panoramic windows of the rooms.
Pitsunda
It is believed that the water in the area of the Pitsunda Bay is the purest on the entire Black Sea coast. The city itself is located on a promontory, the beaches here are sandy and pebbly. There are seven skyscrapers along them, which are an unspoken symbol of Pitsunda and are part of the resort of the same name.
Where to go and what to do
Pitsunda is a very small town, only 4,000 people live here, but there are enough attractions for a leisurely beach holiday. To recharge yourself with the energy of nature, go for a walk through the boxwood grove. When you want to dilute your beach vacation with an inspection of antiquities, you can visit the Patriarchal Cathedral in honor of the Apostle Andrew the First—Called – it was built more than a thousand years ago.
When you want to dilute your beach vacation with an inspection of antiquities, you can visit the Patriarchal Cathedral in honor of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Photo: ovbelov/Shutterstock.com
Where to stay
- Guest House”Alashara” near the Pitsunda nature reserve — a forest area jutting into the cape. This is not the first line of the sea, but the beach can be reached slowly on foot in 8 minutes. The cost of a double room for 1 night starts from 3300 rubles.
- The Lastochka Guest House is located closer to the mountains, but its windows offer stunning views of the sea. There are rooms with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. The price for 1 night in a double room starts from 4,500 rubles, breakfast is included in the price.
- The Costa d’Ora Hotel is located right by the sea — the beach is just a stone’s throw away. There is an arboretum park “Boxwood Grove” and a cinema nearby, so there will be something to do after swimming. The price per night in a junior suite with a balcony starts from 14,500 rubles.
- Primavera apartments (from 4000 rubles per night without meals) near the relict grove and Pitsunda beach.
- Mini-hotel “Teremok and Green Hills” near Pitsunda is convenient for those who travel by car (you will have to drive to the beach). The room costs from 2500 rubles per night without meals.
The Costa d’Ora Hotel is located right by the sea — the beach is just a stone’s throw away.
Tsandrypsh
The nearest Abkhazian resort to the border with Russia from our selection. Tsandrypsh is a very small village, but with an ancient history: life has been boiling at this place for thousands of years, finds indicate that people settled here already in the I millennium BC. And the settlement on the site of modern Tsandrypsh has been known since antiquity. Until the sixth century, it was the capital of the principality of Sanigia. Even the monumental ruins of past centuries have been preserved.
Holiday-makers chose Tsandrypsh in the Soviet years. Nearby is Stalin’s dacha “Cold River” — it is believed that this was one of his favorite vacation spots.
Modern vacationers are waiting for a clear sea and a long coastline — it stretches right from the border of the republic with Russia. The local beaches are great for families with children — the entrance to the water is gentle.
Nearby is Stalin’s dacha “Cold River” — it is believed that this was one of his favorite vacation spots. Photo: Dan-Rus/Shutterstock.com
Where to go and what to do
When you decide to take a break after swimming, go to explore the ancient ruins. The remains of the Tsandrypsh Basilica have been preserved here — this unique building was built during the early Middle Ages. Now you can see the monumental thousand-year-old stones that have passed through the centuries.
The White cliffs by the beach, beloved by tourists, invite you to take beautiful photos and enjoy the genius of nature. You can bring a swimsuit with you, because the rocks are located right on the pebble beach.
Where to stay
- Guest House In a Quiet harbor is located near the Lapsta River, closer to the Sukhumi highway. The beach is a 15-minute walk away. The price per night in a double room starts from 1,440 rubles.
- The Saria Hotel is next to the sea — it is a 10-minute walk away. The rooms are bright, the cost of a double room with a balcony starts from 4,400 rubles, breakfast is included in the price.
- Eco-hotel “Sholokhov”: wooden houses in a 10-minute walk from the beach. The price per night in a double room with a balcony starts from 7,300 rubles, breakfast is included.
- Boutique Hotel Aluar is a fashionable place by the sea near the border with Russia. Cost: from 7,300 rubles with breakfast included.
- Brand new Eco Life with a heated swimming pool and a green area. Rest here costs from 11,000 rubles with meals.
Boutique Hotel Aluar is a fashionable place by the sea near the border with Russia.
Gudauta
It is believed that this small town has the mildest climate in the country. Therefore, it is often chosen for family holidays. There is no special entertainment here, but you can enjoy nature: the sea, beaches, sun, forest and mountains. Drink smoothies and catch sunsets.
Where to go and what to do
If you get bored in Gudauta, go to the neighboring New Athos. There you will see the famous New Athos Monastery — it was founded in the XIX century.
Here you can also visit the Anakopian fortress, which was built more than a thousand years ago. Its reconstruction was completed in 2008.
If you get bored in Gudauta, go to neighboring New Athos. Photo: Idea Studio/Shutterstock.com
Where to stay
- Boutique hotel “ASKALA” between the parks — through them you can even walk to the sea to brighten up the road. The price per night in a double room starts from 4050 rubles.
- The An-Tey Hotel is close to the park and within walking distance from the sea. Here you can easily combine a cultural holiday with a beach holiday. The cost of a night in a double room with a balcony starts from 4,300 rubles.
- The Grace Faors Hotel is located on the first line. Some rooms have a sea view. Especially gorgeous landscapes can be caught from rooms with a balcony. You can stay here for 6060 rubles for 1 night.
The Grace Faors Hotel is located on the first line.
The beaches of Abkhazia are an excellent choice for those who do not want to be in the epicenter of a large tourist flow in Sochi and at the same time want to save money. Come splash in the clear sea, enjoy nature and explore the thousand-year-old ruins of bygone eras.
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Cover photo: shtopor7/Shutterstock.com
