Where to go if there is a small child in the family? This question always torments parents. After all, you want to relax yourself, please your baby, and avoid problems with acclimatization. Pay attention to Abkhazia, because there is something here that you will never find in Turkey or Egypt.
Let's list the advantages of holidays in this small country:
- The first and most important thing is the attitude towards children. Abkhazians love children endlessly. For them, there are no truly strange children. If you and your child go into a store, be prepared for admiration, affectionate smiles, attention and sweets.
- Climate. The weather here is mild, so acclimatization will be easy and unnoticed. It is better to go to Abkhazia with children either in June or in September-October. At this time there is no heat, the air temperature rises to 25 degrees, the water in the sea warms up to 22-25 degrees. July and August in Abkhazia are hot, so children will be uncomfortable.
- Prices. Resorts in Abkhazia are some of the most budget-friendly. The holiday will be affordable for the average family. For example, accommodation in a guest house will cost from 700 rubles per day for one adult. By the way, another advantage of a guest house over a hotel.
- Nutrition. Organic vegetables and fruits, freshly caught fish - even children who do not have a great appetite will be delighted.
- Environment. Abkhazia is not as crowded as the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory. Here you won’t lose sight of your baby, there will always be a free place on the beach, and you won’t have to wait for hours for your turn to go on water rides.
- Sea. Although the beaches are mostly pebble, the pebbles on them are small and round. The entry into the water is most often gentle, and the depth increases gradually.
Well, have we convinced you that Abkhazia is the best place to vacation with children? Then let's take a closer look at the resorts and choose the right one.
Book accommodation in Abkhazia
Sukhum
It’s worth going here with older children – starting from 6-7 years old. The fact is that there are many attractions in Sukhum that you simply cannot pass by. It is difficult to take such walks with children.
The capital of Abkhazia has prepared a lot of interesting things for the children. We offer a short guide to “children's Sukhum”.
Sukhum
Sukhumi monkey nursery
What child doesn’t like these nimble and funny animals! And adults will also be interested in getting to know this research center.
How to get there:
The nursery is located on Mount Trapezium. The way there is along the stairs. Opposite the railway station, find the intersection of Gumskaya and Ubykhskaya streets, the beginning of the stairs is there. Try to choose the morning hours to visit; in the heat of the day it will be more difficult to go up.
Apery
Mowgli Park
If your child's activity bothers you, this is the place you need. This is a ropes town where several trails of varying difficulty levels have been created. A man-made obstacle course will help develop strength and agility and bring children a lot of positive emotions.
How to get there:
go to the Dioskouri embankment. The park is located a little to the right of Dzhonua and Kalmykov streets.
Mowgli Park
Botanical Garden
An excursion to the Botanical Garden will appeal to older children. The guide will show you rare plants and centuries-old trees, each of which has its own history. Just imagine how useful the acquired knowledge will be later in biology lessons at school.
How to get there:
The garden is located at st. D. Gulia, 22.
Botanical Garden
Fountain Griffins
In the evening, when it gets dark and cooler, take a walk with your children to this fountain. Fairy-tale figures of griffins create a magical impression, the murmuring water caresses the ears, and the bright lighting will please the child. Be sure to throw a coin into the fountain so you can return to Sukhum more than once.
How to get there:
walk along the central embankment towards the drama theater. The fountain is next to it.
Fountain of Griffins
In addition to these entertainments, in the city you can always ride battery-powered cars, jump on trampolines and treat yourself to cotton candy.
Private sector Sukhumi
Required documents for crossing the border
To successfully cross the border, you need to stock up on a set of necessary documents:
- Russian passport (not expired) or foreign passport (validity must last for another 3 months);
- birth certificate (or passport) of the baby with a mark on citizenship or a foreign passport;
- permission (notarized) from the absent parent (or from both when traveling with an accompanying person);
- documents for the car;
- general power of attorney (if necessary);
- driver's license (Russian or foreign);
- When visiting the country with children, it is recommended to buy health insurance.
Before traveling, you should check for any unpaid fines or other debts. If the amount exceeds 10 thousand rubles, the citizen will be denied travel abroad.
Gagra
If you come to Gagra with children, it is better to stay in the Old Town. It's quieter here and not so noisy. A child will remember a holiday in this city for a long time; there is plenty to do here.
Gagra
Aquapark
The dream and love of any child is active entertainment in the water. Here the dream will come true. This is already a whole aqua city, in which parents will become children for a while. Judge for yourself - nine slides for every taste. The most extreme - "Virazh" - rises to 101 meters. The safe Multislide slide is suitable for kids.
How to get there:
st. Abazgaa, 57/1. It’s simply impossible to pass by - the water park is located next to the beach and can be seen from afar.
Aquapark
Prince of Oldenburg Castle
If a grown-up boy is interested in knights, and a girl dreams of a prince on a white horse, go for a walk to this castle. The ancient building is colorfully integrated into the surrounding landscape, the harsh walls contrast with the lush greenery.
How to get there:
in Gagra take bus No. 5 or minibus No. 2. Get off at the Yuri Gagarin Square stop and then walk.
Prince of Oldenburg Castle
Planning
When planning a trip, the first question is: how to get to your destination? There are no direct flights to the republic. But you can fly to Adler and from there get to Abkhazia by minibus or bus. There is a train from Adler to Gagra. It is easy to reach Sukhumi by rail. There are direct trains from Moscow and St. Petersburg; tourists from other regions will be forced to change trains in Moscow.
You can cross the border between Russia and Abkhazia by car. But it should be taken into account that you will have to stand in line at customs. From Sochi it is easy to get to Gagra by boat. It takes 1.5 hours. But you should know: if the sea is rough, the flight will be delayed indefinitely.
New Athos
The beauty of New Athos and man-made wonders will definitely remain in the child’s memory for many years. So what should we show the children?
New Athos
Waterfall
This semicircular waterfall was built by the hands of monks in the mid-19th century. You can climb the stairs to the top and stand right above the water, admiring the rainbow and enjoying the coolness.
How to get there:
go to the New Athos Monastery, walk along Tsarskaya Alley for about 10 minutes.
Man-made waterfall
Seaside Park
While parents enjoy exotic plants and beautiful sculptures, children can admire swans and fish in the park's many ponds. Entrance to the park is free. By the way, all this beauty was also created by the monks of the monastery.
How to get there:
The park is located on the street. Khazaria.
Seaside Park
New Athos Cave
This is where little adventure lovers can get creative! A real underground fairy tale awaits you. Nature has created unusual forms here in which children's wild imagination can see magical creatures. Helpful advice: the cave goes underground for one and a half kilometers, so count on the strength of the children. And also, take care of warm clothes, it’s quite cool there.
How to get there:
landmark - monastery. The cave is located next to it, under the slope of Iverskaya Mountain. There are signs so it's impossible to get lost.
Cave
Rental housing in Gagra
general information
Abkhazia occupies an area of slightly less than nine thousand square kilometers. The country is located in a most picturesque place - it is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains and the beautiful Black Sea coast. The republic is washed on both sides by the Psou and Ingur rivers. The country has common borders with Russia and Georgia.
The population of the country is not very large - approximately 243 thousand people live permanently on the territory of Abkhazia. Abkhazia is considered a multinational republic - on the streets you can meet not only Abkhazians, but also Georgians, Russians, Armenians, Ukrainians, Jews, Estonians and representatives of other nationalities.
Despite this fact, the local people of Abkhazia are known for their hospitality and friendliness. They will always help tourists with advice, tell interesting facts about the life and traditions of the country, and some will even feed them masterpieces of local cuisine.
Pitsunda
This city is perfect for a holiday with kids. There is no special entertainment here, but the child will benefit from the fresh sea air, saturated with pine aromas. Pines secrete phytoncides, which help strengthen the immune system. If your child often catches colds, come to Pitsunda, and after relaxing here you will forget about illnesses for a long time. After swimming in the sea, you can stroll around the city.
The resort is located away from the main Abkhaz highway, so families with children can enjoy a calm and peaceful holiday here.
Pitsunda
Dolphinarium
Of course, dolphins are frequent guests off the coast of Pitsunda, but communicating with trained animals is a completely different matter. Incredible tricks, splashes of water, laughter and good mood are guaranteed.
How to get there:
st. Gitsba, 5. Next you need to go out onto the alley leading to the sea, walk to the embankment and turn right.
Dolphinarium
Playground
If you sunbathe at the central pier, you will definitely notice the children's playground. Inflatable trampolines, attractions, slides, etc. will be appreciated by very young children.
How to get there:
go out to the central beach and look around.
Playground
Ruins of Pitiunt
Now even primary schoolchildren have an idea of ancient history thanks to computer games. Take your child to the territory of the ancient city, and he will see everything with his own eyes. Baths, houses, barracks and temples tell stories of greatness and glorious times.
How to get there:
st. Gitsba, 2. The museum is easy to find due to its ancient stone walls.
Remains of former greatness
Choosing housing in Pitsunda
Holidays in Abkhazia are a combination of the sea, the beach, active adventures and the charm of antiquity. Add to this local hospitality, amazing Caucasian sweets, reverent attitude towards little travelers - and you will have no more doubts.
How to choose accommodation for a family holiday in Abkhazia?
The resorts of Abkhazia are inferior in terms of service to Turkey or Egypt, but the picturesque nature, colorful cuisine, and hospitality of the local residents more than compensate for this.
One of the many types of housing in Abkhazia are sanatoriums and recreation centers, preserved from Soviet times, some of them have been restored, and you can live there with your family, with meals included in the bill.
However, now the hotel business in this region is beginning to develop more and more actively. And large hotel complexes of 4 and 5 stars, as well as mini-hotels and guest houses with cozy comfortable courtyards, have already begun to grow in the resorts of Abkhazia. Many hotels are introducing an all-inclusive food system and have built swimming pools.
And of course, where would we be without settlement in the private sector? Here you can get many advantages from such accommodation; local residents will always tell you where to have a tastier and cheaper lunch, where to go within the city, which is important when vacationing with children, and sometimes they will feed you delicious Caucasian shish kebab. We can talk about the hospitality of local residents for a long time and, of course, this is the most affordable type of accommodation. And all this won’t cost you much!
When vacationing with a child in the regions of Abkhazia, many tourists advise not to bother with cooking your own food, since in any modern restaurant or cafe you can choose a children’s menu, and not try the local cuisine - it’s just a crime!
It is better to take care of accommodation in advance so that during the holiday season you do not have to live in uncomfortable sanatoriums. You can make a reservation through popular Internet portals.
BOARDING HOUSE "LITFOND"
Where : Pitsunda
Not far from the center of Pitsunda is the newly renovated boarding house “Literary Fond”. The small buildings of the boarding house are currently undergoing renovation and will open by June 1, 2022. Guests note, among other advantages, high-quality meals three times a day, an outdoor swimming pool equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers. The boarding house is open all year round.
The complex of buildings of the Litfond boarding house is conveniently located between Lake Inkit, a park area and the sea coast, which does not allow cold currents and winds to penetrate here and creates a unique favorable microclimate.
Features : the boarding house’s careful attitude towards green spaces on the territory allows guests to walk along its large shady territory among unique and extremely rare trees.
Boxwood, magnolia, dogwood, cherry laurel, noble laurel, medlar, azalea, oleander, eucalyptus, acacia, pomegranates, hydrangeas, various types of palm trees, and agaves grow here. And of course, the famous Pitsunda pine: a wide strip of trees which serves as the natural border of the sand and pebble beach of the boarding house.
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GARUDA BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Where : Sukhum
And this, without exaggeration, is one of the best (if not the best) hotel in Sukhum. The hotel is completely new (opened in 2022) and is conveniently located in the central part of the capital of Abkhazia, a five-minute walk to the city market and the central embankment. Near the Garuda Boutique Hotel there are many restaurants, cafes, shops, and a pharmacy. Free transport from the hotel to two private beaches of Sukhum.
Features : This hotel has two highlights: design and cuisine. One of the features of the hotel is its interior. Each floor is decorated in the style of a different Eastern country (Egypt, Turkey, China, India). The hotel has only 51 rooms (by the way, all rooms have small balconies), so it’s difficult to get places here; it’s better to book your vacation well in advance.
The second feature of Garuda Boutique Hotel is its gastronomy. In the hotel restaurant, guests are prepared and served real delicacies - original and famous international dishes performed by a famous foreign chef, whose other projects have won Michelin stars in France.
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"MAGNOLIA"
Where : Gagra
The modern Magnolia Hotel opened its first season in 2015, and the hotel recently underwent renovation. The hotel is family-friendly and cozy, rooms with a modern layout are located in three buildings, and there is an outdoor swimming pool. The hotel has a good location: within walking distance of a water park, market, restaurants, cafes. The beach is sand and pebbles, with umbrellas and sun loungers, 120 meters from the hotel.
Features : here you can choose accommodation without meals, with breakfast or full board. We still recommend the latter: guests of Magnolia in their reviews specifically praise the hotel for its delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
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Editorial Board of "Bulletin ATOR"
Photos provided by the tour operator "Intourist"
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Food: cafes, canteens, markets
We purchased the bulk of our products at the local market. The prices are not low, almost the same as in tents along the coast. But a definite plus is fresh meat and milk. A lot of everything at once and in one place.
Of course, we periodically ate in cafes and canteens. You can find budget eateries, but you have to look. For example, we liked “Minutka”, located on Avenue. Ardzinba 185. There are meat and fish dishes, and the average bill is 700 rubles.
In the Besedka cafe (273 Vladislava Ardzinba Avenue), prices are already twice as high, but the assortment is wider. We counted over a dozen meat dishes alone, almost the same number of fish dishes, and a sufficient number of fresh salads. For our son, we took mashed potatoes, a cutlet, juice, and such a children's lunch cost us 550 rubles. The child ate with pleasure.
If you want to enjoy it, order a dish with trout; the Abkhazians cook it excellently. Children will love feijoa compote. Sold both in canteens and on the market. No less tasty tangerine compote (but not for children with allergies, of course). I appreciated the oriental coffee, which is on almost every restaurant and cafe menu here; it is prepared on sand.
Climate
Gagra is famous for its mild climate thanks to the sea breeze, a lot of greenery and mountains of different heights, due to which there is constant air circulation.
Despite the fact that this resort is considered the warmest on the entire Black Sea coast, the summer heat will be tolerated quite comfortably even by a small child.
There are excellent beaches with small pebbles and sand, and most importantly, a clean and calm sea. But an important piece of advice for parents is to make sure that your baby does not swallow sea water and wash your hands thoroughly to avoid poisoning. It is best to also stock up on medications in advance.
How to ask for a room change How to rent out a room when moving out
APSUANA ROSE
Where : Gagra
This is perhaps the most sophisticated new boutique hotel in Gagra - with an original interior, truly luxurious cuisine and very friendly service. Apsuana Rose was built in 2022 according to an original design with a unique room design (different design style on each floor). By the way, this is the only hotel in Abkhazia with a panoramic elevator. Wi-Fi is free.
The five-story boutique hotel is located in Novaya Gagra on a small landscaped protected area with a children's play complex. On the 5th floor there is a children's room for children, and for parents there is a small but good SPA complex. The hotel has only 30 rooms, and you need to book your stay here in advance.
Features : Many tourists who travel to Abkhazia, when choosing a hotel, pay main attention to the variety and quality of breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is exactly the strong point of Apsuana Rose.
There is no need to go to any restaurants - in the hotel’s atmospheric restaurant, reminiscent of a wine cellar, you can try real lamb shish kebab, ruddy khachapurs and other national specialties, including such delights as pickled bamboo and farm dairy products.
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Best places
Abkhazia offers a wide choice of places where you can stay and have a great holiday. Boarding houses and sanatoriums will help not only to relax, but also to improve the health of the whole family. Let's look at the best housing options in the country:
- Wellness Park Hotel Gagra is one of the best hotels in the country. Has 4 stars, equipped in accordance with all modern standards. The hotel has recently been reconstructed - previously there was a boarding house. A big plus is that the hotel management makes contact with clients and in many cases will help solve problems that arise. The hotel security is not satisfactory - you can enter the territory only with cards that are issued upon check-in, in addition, guests will not be charged additional money for parking. You can not only live in the hotel - there is a park, a children's playground, a heated swimming pool and many other areas where you can have fun and relax.
- Grand Hotel Gagra will be an ideal place for those for whom the only important thing in a hotel is a place to spend the night. The hotel is new and there are no special entertainments on its territory yet. On the 7th floor there is an excellent restaurant where you can feed a child, although the hotel does not yet offer an appropriate menu. The hotel has its own beach, however, tourists are advised to visit Mojito Beach, which is located nearby and is well equipped with everything you need.
Grand Hotel Gagra - The Sosnovaya Roshcha Hotel in Pitsunda will delight a family with children with privacy and tranquility. Here you can stay not only in rooms, but also in separate cottages, which is ideal for a family. On the territory of the hotel there is a palm alley and a tangerine garden, and children's animators are constantly working. In addition, the hotel offers a children's playground, an excellent swimming pool, a massage room, a gym, a bathhouse, billiards and its own excursion tours.
- Villa Owl in New Athos is located right on the sea coast and surrounded by the main attractions of the resort. The chefs offer masterpieces of local cuisine, which even the hotel owner and his family don’t shy away from trying. At the same time, the management takes into account the needs of children and there are always healthy dishes on the menu. Wi-Fi of excellent quality is always available on the hotel premises, however, the hotel does not provide its own entertainment. The hotel's beach is pebbly and equipped with all amenities.
- Griffin is a very atmospheric hotel, built entirely of wood. Located on the banks of an incredibly beautiful river. The road to the beach is a beautiful cypress alley and takes literally a few minutes. The hotel staff is ready to answer all questions from guests and provide additional services. The hotel has a sandbox for children and sun loungers where parents can relax. The hotel's restaurant menu offers both local dishes and European dishes. Feeding a child will not be difficult.
Hotel - Inter-Sukhum is a classic metropolitan hotel. It has an excellent entertainment program - you can do yoga and fitness. For children, they offer a dance studio and a development center, where children engage in creativity, logical tasks, and sports. Residents here will be served a standard breakfast for free. The hotel beach is clean, but you will have to pay extra for sun loungers.
- Park Hotel Tsar Bagrat Mountain is a very cozy place, surrounded by greenery. The cuisine at the hotel is mainly Russian; only occasionally the chefs delight visitors with masterpieces of local cuisine. There is a lot of entertainment for children - sports activities, educational lessons with teachers and mini-discos. Adults will be entertained by aqua aerobics and relaxing in a cool park. A hotel bus takes guests to the beach in the morning.
- Guest house Zhemchuzhina in Gudauta is considered one of the best places to stay with children. There are 20 rooms in total, each comfortably equipped with everything you need. The price of your stay includes a delicious breakfast and dinner served by the hosts; you can additionally order lunch. Separate meals can be prepared for children. Not far from the hotel there is a city beach, uncrowded, pleasing with its cleanliness and silence.
- Hotel La Terrace will remind you of a French chalet and will evoke admiration for its comfort and beauty. The hotel has many video cameras and 24-hour security. Each floor is framed by cozy terraces where you can cool off and relax. The hotel also has a cafe with local and European cuisine; there is also delicious food for children. The beach is located within walking distance and is equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas and good cafes. The hotel's tour desk is an excellent advantage, although the hotel does not offer other entertainment. Hotel representatives can also meet tourists at the airport or train station.
- The budget hotel San Siro is suitable for those who come for excursions and active recreation. There is no on-site entertainment or restaurant on site, however, you can eat in the nearest dining room. The rooms are well equipped with everything you need. The road to the beach lies through a beautiful park and does not take much time.
Budget Hotel San Siro
In addition, in Abkhazia there are many sanatoriums and boarding houses with good quality of service, an excellent entertainment program and a high-quality range of health services. For example, the boarding house "Literary Fund" in Pitsunda, "Waterfall" in New Athos, "Côte d'Azur" in Gagra, "Kyalasur" in Sukhumi, and many others.
For those who love solitude, Abkhazians offer rentals of houses or rooms where you can live and cook yourself or ask the hosts to cook something from the local cuisine. Guest houses filled with local atmosphere or similar to small European hotels are also very common now. Finding a convenient place is easy on the Internet.
The choice of places to live in the republic is very large - everyone can find an option that meets their requirements and financial capabilities.
Location
The resort starts just 20 km from the border with Russia, so the journey from the airport or railway station does not take much time. Moreover, most hotels offer meeting and transfer services. Time flies by admiring the southern green landscapes, and crossing the border, as a rule, passes quickly and without long waits, although most often on foot.
In addition to the city itself, the Gagra district includes several small villages that will appeal to lovers of a quiet holiday away from people and the noise of the city: Gechripsh, Tsandripsh, Bagripsh and the most unknown to us village of Grebeshok.
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Reviews from vacationing parents
Many families have become interested in such a beautiful country and have already spent one or more holidays there. People note excellent air, good for children. The country also has a lot of interesting things for all family members - attractions, entertainment, local cuisine.
Large hotels celebrate excellent service and amenities. Among the disadvantages are intestinal infection and the lack of large stores and quality infrastructure in some cities. This is explained by the fact that Abkhazia has recently developed tourism and is at the beginning of its journey. In general, the reviews are quite positive; some families have been going on vacation to Abkhazia for several years now.
A vacation in Abkhazia is a great idea for families with small children. There are almost all conditions here, many interesting sights, nature delights, and local fruits will charge the body with vitamins for a long time. Little tourists will be happy with such a trip, and parents will have a wonderful break from the bustle of the city and stock up on positive emotions and wonderful emotions.
