In this article we will tell you in detail how to get to Abkhazia and what you can see there in each of the cities. We will also write about housing, food, medicine and safety! In general, we will answer all the most frequently asked questions!
Attention! Each place was personally researched by the editorial staff (many of whom are true fans of Abkhazia)!
How to get to Abkhazia
Let's look at ways to get to Abkhazia from Sochi without a car.
- Bus. You need to get to the stops “Cossack Market” (57, 100, 125, 117), “Checkpoint Psou” (125P, 173), there cross the pedestrian border between Russia and Abkhazia and transfer to a minibus to the city you need (they are signed in large letters ), and the drivers won’t let you “miss.” It is impossible to get lost on this path: move along with the general flow. Minibus cost: Gagra, Pitsunda – 100 rubles, Sukhum – 200 rubles, Ochamchira – 250 rubles.
- Electric train. The Adler-Sukhum-Adler train runs from Adler railway station twice a day. The fare is 140 rubles to Gagra, 200 rubles. to Sukhum, travel time - 4 hours. The advantage of traveling by train or train is that there is no need to get out of the carriage and stand in lines at customs control.
- Train. There are several long-distance trains: Moscow-Sukhum, St. Petersburg-Sukhum, as well as several trailer cars from other Russian cities.
How to cross the border with Abkhazia
During the “high season”, crossing the border between Russia and Abkhazia can take up to several hours due to the large number of tourists. Stock up on drinking water and hats. At night and early in the morning the flow of tourists is much less.
Citizens of Russia only need to have a Russian or foreign passport. There is a visa-free regime between Abkhazia and Russia.
A child under 14 years of age must have a birth certificate. If the child is accompanied by one parent and the parents are not married, then the permission of the second parent for the child to leave is not required.
If a child travels without parents, then the person accompanying him is obliged to provide notarized consent of the parents for the child to travel abroad.
Advice: do not be rude to customs officers, fulfill their requests without contradicting them, do not try to joke - this is out of place here and can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Relax on the beach
The main resort town of the country is called Gagra. Here you can see the most interesting sights. A huge number of tourists come here every year. Guests of the resort appreciate its infrastructure, where everything is well located and contributes to a comfortable stay. It is impossible to overestimate the wonderful natural conditions. This is, first of all, the cleanest sea and comfortable beaches. The climate in the city is very pleasant, and the air is rich in oxygen.
What to see in Gagra with children?
Abaata Fortress. Located within the city, admission is free. It was built around the 5th-6th centuries to protect the approaches to the city, but, of course, it was not preserved in its original form. The fortress has been almost completely restored; during the restoration, only a few original ancient elements remained: fragments of masonry, loopholes. On the territory of the fortress there is the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mount Mamdzyshkha. The mountain offers a magnificent view of the coast of Abkhazia, including Cape Pitsunda. You can get to the top by car or taxi; the height of the peak is 1870 m. As you climb, pay attention to the change in the vegetation landscape: trees are replaced by grass. Be sure to bring windbreakers with you.
Gagra colonnade. A colonnade that no tourist in Abkhazia will ever pass by. She became famous thanks to footage from the film “Winter Evening in Gagra.” Now in the evenings the colonnade is beautifully illuminated. But it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to take a beautiful photo here: the area in front of the colonnade is completely lined with cars. But you still need to visit here and at least try tap dancing! And also drink delicious oriental coffee!
Restaurant Gagripsh. It has been a faithful symbol of the city for more than a century. The Gagripsh restaurant was purchased by the founder of the Gagra resort, Prince A.P. Oldenburgsky at the beginning of the 20th century at the World Exhibition in Paris. The wooden house with the clock was delivered to Abkhazia disassembled in 1902 and reassembled without a single nail. If you are lucky and the restaurant is not closed to serve a magnificent Abkhaz wedding, then here you can touch the legend, admire the magnificent view from the balcony (which, by the way, Chekhov, Gorky and Chaliapin admired), and also try a real Abkhaz khachapur boat.
Gagra water park. Quite a large open-air water park with many pools and water attractions. Cost: adult ticket 1000 rubles, children’s ticket – 800 rubles. Children under 3 years old are free.
For lovers of stalker tourism: we recommend visiting the castle of the city’s founder, the Prince of Oldenburg. It is visible from almost every point of Gagra and is located on the mountainside. The building is incredibly beautiful - this is obvious, even despite the fact that the building is in absolute ruin. You can't go inside, just look from the outside. Although some especially brave “stalkers” managed to bypass the guard and have a super photo shoot inside the castle. And by the way! Of course, there is a ghost living in it!
From Gagra it is convenient to get to such attractions of Abkhazia as Lake Ritsa and the Auadhara spring (located above Ritsa). Lake Ritsa , although it is considered the most “pop” attraction of Abkhazia, it cannot be ignored. It's really incredibly beautiful there! But we don’t recommend going to Auadhara with children: the road is very bad and winding. At the top you will find a famous spring with healing mineral water, as well as alpine meadows.
Gudauta resort area
Previously, this resort was held in high esteem by lovers of regular health treatments for the body. Gudauta was famous for its medical sanatoriums for the military. Today it is not so popular, although it is being actively built up. There are not many tourists here, which can be a plus.
According to reviews from vacationers, the local beach is clean and the entrance to the sea is conveniently equipped. There are entertaining boat trips that will appeal to both children and adults, swimming pools with slides where the younger generation will have fun, and adults can ride a banana boat.
The resort's infrastructure is very weak, despite the presence of bars and cafes, there is no water park or any attractions. It is better to go on a guided tour to get to the attractions. Gudauta is suitable for passive relaxation. Almost all hotels in the resort area are marked by tourists as “economy class”, but among them you can find good options suitable for families with children.
What to see in Pitsunda?
Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called 10th century
Touch the antiquity: this temple is unique. Ancient frescoes and a tomb with the tombs of St. Andrew the First-Called and Simon the Canaanite have been preserved here. The church has housed a German organ since 1975, and organ music concerts are regularly held. You can't miss this! The International Classical Music Festival in Pitsunda takes place annually from September 9 to 11.
Honestly, we can’t recommend any more interesting places in Pitsunda, but you should definitely take a walk along the embankment, there you will find a relict Pitsunda pine (hug a tree - there are so few of them left!) and interesting sculptures.
From Pitsunda it is convenient to visit such sights of Abkhazia as Lake Ritsa, the village of Myussera (where Stalin’s dacha and Gorbachev’s palace are located), the village of Lykhny (an ancient village where you can visit the ruins of an ancient temple of the 6th century, an Abkhaz tea factory).
What to see in New Athos
In our opinion, this is the most “fertile” city for a holiday in Abkhazia, since it combines many attractions. This is a monastery, a cave, waterfalls, a fortress... First things first.
New Athos karst cave
Paradise for young speleologists! Children absolutely love this place! Here they will ride an underground train, see stalactites and stalagmites, and hear plenty of legends. Dress warmly. Cost of visiting: 500 rubles, children under 8 years old – free. During the winter, the cave has many days off - Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
And what a market is located on the square in front of the cave! We highly recommend it to hunters of souvenirs and authentic items!
New Athos Monastery
The domes of the monastery are visible from afar. To climb to the monastery (as to any truly holy place) you need to climb a steep mountain. It's worth it: the site offers a magnificent view. The building of the monastery is very shabby, but no less majestic (the monastery was built in the Byzantine style).
Cell of Simon the Canaanite
You need to get to it along a winding path, follow the signs. You will find yourself in a real grotto of the holy apostle.
Anakopia fortress
And we climb up again! The fortress is located on Mount Anakopia, it was restored from ruins that date back to the 7th century. The climb to the top is quite difficult and is not recommended for small children.
New Athos waterfall
An artificial, but very picturesque waterfall is located not far from the cave and the monastery - it is very difficult to pass by. There are also many different joys for a tourist: photos with animals, Abkhaz delicacies, souvenirs... Walking further from the waterfall, you will find yourself at the picturesque Lake Psyrtskha and an abandoned railway station.
Swan Lake
A fabulous place: almost tame black and white swans live here; you can feed them from the shore or from the bridge. Or you can also rent a boat, then the fabulousness of the moment will simply go off scale! There is a restaurant on the lake that serves incredibly delicious kharcho soup.
We recommend visiting the Guada restaurant, and if you have already tried all the Abkhaz cuisine, then order pizza and white wine here. You will not regret!
From New Athos you can go to Kamany, where there is a very beautiful monastery that once kept the relics of John Chrysostom, and now many other shrines. Also in Kamany you can swim in the spring of the Holy Great Martyr Basilisk (be sure to read his story first) and look in the spring for magic stones sprinkled with his blood. Well, get inspired by the history of the construction of a wooden temple (it was built by the father of a seriously ill girl who was cured of her illness after visiting these holy places). You definitely need to go from Athos to Sukhum (half an hour by any transport).
Where is the best place to stay?
You should stay in Abkhazia where all family members will feel comfortable. You should take into account the possibility of free parking, preparing food for children or the availability of a children's menu in the canteens.
Hotels
When staying in a hotel with a baby, you should consider the availability of:
- private beach with swimming area for children and sunshades;
- children's playground;
- children's room with staff (if you plan to make excursions on your own);
- a crib, a high chair in a restaurant, a stand under the sink.
Many hotels in Abkhazia operate on an all-inclusive basis. You should ask what dishes for children are on the menu.
Accommodation options: boarding houses and sanatoriums
Before choosing a boarding house or sanatorium in Abkhazia, you should ask what program the administration offers for vacationers.
If there are daily discos until the morning, the baby is unlikely to like such conditions.
If the site specifies hours of silence (from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.), then such a place should be considered in more detail. It is recommended to consider:
- the possibility of free access to the territory for those who do not live in the boarding house;
- the presence of a private beach with shade canopies and a children’s bath;
- children's menu in the dining room.
You should inquire about the availability of a child's bed in the room.
Tent camps, camping
This holiday is not for everyone, although it is very attractively priced. There are plenty of campsites and tent camps in the republic. But when staying with a child, you need to know some details:
- is there water on the territory (at least technical);
- are there equipped places for tents and cars;
- Is it possible to rent equipment (tiles, tent);
- is the area fenced;
- Is the beach cleaned?
Before entering the territory, you must study the evacuation rules in case of emergency.
Private sector
At the moment, the most pleasant type of accommodation for tourists with babies in Abkhazia. The apartment can be booked in advance (Booking help). Many owners do not even take advance payment.
Before choosing an apartment, you should check:
- availability of an additional (children's) bed;
- Are there shops and markets nearby?
- how long does it take to get to the sea?
Some rental companies in Abkhazia will organize a transfer to the bus station for an additional fee.
What to see in Sukhumi
Capital of Abkhazia. The magnificent bright and clean embankment of Mahadzhirov, buried in oleanders. A rotunda, a drama theater with a fountain, a presidential palace... There is no such splendor in any city in Abkhazia.
Botanical Garden
The greenest place in the already green Abkhazia. There is always something blooming and fragrant here. In hot weather it is always cool here under the shade of bamboo thickets or Caucasian linden. Come collect the herbarium and photograph turtles! Cost: adult – 250 rubles, children – 50 rubles.
Sukhumi monkey nursery
Let's not lie: the place is quite depressing, like all zoos. But still, it will be interesting for children to watch so many monkeys and observe their behavior in a flock. Here you gain respect for the monkeys: after all, thanks to them, vaccines against polio, typhoid, smallpox, hepatitis and other diseases were discovered in the nursery. Feed the monkeys - you can do it here! Cost: 150 rub.
Museum of Local Lore
This new and highly interactive museum will help you get to know Abkhaz history and culture better. There is a real dolmen at the entrance. The guide will tell you about it. Inside you will find a model of an Abkhazian courtyard - very cozy and life-like. You can look at it for half an hour! And of course, here you will find utensils, dishes, decorations, and Abkhaz costumes, and believe me, they will impress you. Cost: 150 rub.
Sukhumi market
The most colorful market in Abkhazia! Bundles of churchkhella and dried persimmons, towers of cheese rounds, ruins of the freshest herbs, vegetables and fruits, bags of tea, nuts and corn, barrels of adjika, colorful counters with all kinds of spices, and the smells... It's something incredible! Take with you exactly as much money as you intend to spend, otherwise you risk buying up half the market.
We recommend going a little deeper and finding stalls selling pickles. Be sure to try pickled bamboo and corn cobs (they are pickled whole), and of course, turshu (beans). Don’t pass by the fig and walnut jam – people here know how to make it and love to make it, and the prices aren’t too bad. And be sure to try the giant Greek olives!
Queen Tamara Bridge (Besletsky Bridge)
Within the city there is a unique attraction - the Queen Tamara Bridge, built in the 10th century. The bridge is legendary, and the most favorite legend, of course, is that the cement is mixed with chicken eggs. The place is very picturesque: green and quiet, here you can have a wonderful rest and have a picnic on the shore of Besletka.
eat in Sukhum at the Nartaa restaurant (which Lena Letuchaya gave five marks on all points except the toilet), at Ertsakhu (considered the best restaurant in the city), as well as at the Turkish restaurant Barista.
From Sukhum we recommend going to Chernigovka (a magnificent place: a restaurant right in a gorgeous gorge with a mountain river and waterfalls), a trout farm in Drandy (the prices are very reasonable, they won’t charge you for fishing or fishing rods, and the caught trout will be cooked for you right here or given to you fresh). The village of Kamany is also conveniently located to Sukhum.
From Sukhum you can also go to the mud springs in Kindgi, to the Otap cave (it is smaller than the New Athos cave, but very authentic and colorful!), go hiking to the mountain lake Amtkyal, and visit the temple in the village of Mokva. Oh yes, in Mokva there lives a herbalist who makes decoctions from mountain herbs for various ailments, including infertility.
Ochamchira
If Gagra is the worst nightmare of a social phobe, then Ochamchira is a piece of paradise :)
It's quiet, deserted, calm and... very boring. If you want to miss the company, come here for a week. Renting accommodation and finding delicious food is not a problem here. Swimming in the sea (at the same time on a deserted beach) is the same.
But from Ochamchira you can go to the shrines of eastern Abkhazia: Ilor (a temple shrouded in legends: the priest conducts exorcism sessions there), Bedia (the temple is not active, but in such a place that it will take your breath away), as well as Tkuarchal (in the photo below, a city for stalkers) and Gal (the closest city of Abkhazia to Georgia, here are the most delicious khinkali and the cheapest Georgian wine).
Medicine in Abkhazia
This question worries many. Everyone has heard about the famous summer “sea infection” that most vacationers in Abkhazia encounter, especially in August.
We would like to reassure you a little: in all the listed cities of Abkhazia there is an ambulance and an infectious diseases hospital. The ambulance arrives quite quickly (about half an hour); if hospitalization is required, then no documents other than a passport or certificate are needed. The policy is not valid in Abkhazia; you will be accepted without it. Help for children is provided free of charge, for adults - on a paid basis (a dropper costs about 300 rubles). After the drip, as a rule, it immediately becomes better, and the patient is sent home with some recommendations.
Symptoms of infection: nausea, vomiting, loose stools. At the first signs, you need to call an ambulance or go to the infectious diseases department yourself if you know where it is.
To prevent intestinal infection, you need to know:
The peak of “marine infection” occurs in August – the hottest month in the subtropics. Sea water warms up to a temperature that is very favorable for the development of bacteria in it. Therefore, rule number 1: avoid getting sea water into your mouth.
Be sure to wash your fruit.
Don't eat in questionable establishments (adults should be careful with local wine).
Bring Enterosgel with you from Russia - the most powerful remedy in the fight against intestinal infections.
Horse rides
An equally popular entertainment in sunny Abkhazia is horse riding.
Not only is it good for health, it also brings a lot of positive emotions. Most often, one-day walks are organized in Abkhazia, during which you can get acquainted with the local beauties, visit picturesque gorges, and admire the grandeur of the mountains.
Horseback riding in Abkhazia is a great opportunity to spend time usefully in the fresh air, improve your health, get rid of depression and recharge yourself with positive emotions for a long time. Horses are magical animals. Communicating with them surrounded by picturesque beauty is the best cure for a number of diseases. Horseback riding is available to both beginners and true professionals. Each category has its own conditions. In any case, it is better to go on a hike with an instructor.
Entertainment in Abkhazia is so varied and numerous that one vacation is definitely not enough to visit all the interesting places.
Security issue in Abkhazia
We often come across the stereotypical idea that in Abkhazia a girl cannot walk down the street alone - she will be immediately stolen. This is wrong. Abkhazia is an original country, but not wild. Behave modestly, don’t walk around the city in a swimsuit or pareo, and no trouble will happen to you.
But theft, indeed, flourishes in Abkhazia. Don’t leave your bags unattended, don’t take a lot of money with you (although this is also difficult - after all, ATMs in Abkhazia are not so easy to find, and stores don’t accept cards). Do not leave cameras or laptops in cars.
In general, be vigilant, and you will have a wonderful holiday in Abkhazia!
Best dive sites
According to tourists, the most impressive diving in Abkhazia is in the following places:
- City of Sukhumi. The seabed is littered with a variety of artifacts. Underwater you can see the remains of a real ancient city, as well as ships that sank during the Great Patriotic War. This is truly a unique place.
- Lake called Ritsa. This is the resort's calling card. The reservoir never freezes, so you can dive to the bottom at any time of the year. Incredible views open up to the tourist's eye.
- Blue Lake. The bottom of this amazing reservoir is covered with lapis lazuli. This is why the color of the water is deep blue. It is quite easy to dive, so many people recommend this place for beginners.
- Pitsunda. On the seabed you can see an incredible sight - the remains of an ancient city. Now I can’t even believe that people lived there.
- New Athos. At the bottom are the remains of an ancient city.
The average cost of diving is 2500 rubles. This includes the use of all necessary equipment. A professional instructor dives to the bottom. If you wish, you can learn all the intricacies of scuba diving from him. Such an adventure will remain in the memory for a long time. Beginners should not worry about their safety.
