Gagra - an excellent resort for families and recreation

Gagra is a popular resort in Abkhazia on the Black Sea and the most beautiful city in this region. Due to the lack of industrial enterprises in the city, the air around is saturated with oxygen, sea salts and ions, which contributes to the health of tourists. This resort is suitable for everyone - for couples with children, and for active youth.

How to get to Gagra

The nearest Russian city of Adler is located 45 km from Gagra, and the state border is 10 km from the city airport. You can get there by car, bus, train or plane.

It’s easy to get in comfort with your own car. Automobile and pedestrian border crossing points operate around the clock. There are all amenities that will allow the driver and passengers to relax a bit from the long road.

In the summer, bus tours to Abkhazia, in particular to Gagra, are organized from Russian cities. The road from Moscow will cost 3,000 rubles and will take about 1.5 days.

There is no direct train to the Abkhazian city, but you can take a direct train to Sukhumi or Adler. The Moscow-Adler train takes about a day on the way; a coupe ticket costs 4,000 rubles. And from Adler you can get to the final destination for 200 rubles. on the train.

The direct Moscow-Sukhumi train travels on the route for 1.5 days. The cost of a coupe ticket is about 5,800 rubles. The train passes customs clearance at the Russian border and costs about 1 hour, at the Abkhaz - about 40 minutes.

By plane from Moscow you can fly to Sochi in 2 hours. And from Sochi by bus or by train to get to Adler - an economical option. From Sochi airport there is a bus to Gagra, the ticket price of which starts from 2 000 rubles.

Another option to get from Sochi to Gagra is a ship or a catamaran. The road will cost about 500 rubles.

Rest in Gagra without intermediaries: private sector, boarding houses, rest houses

In this modern resort town you can stay in pensions, holiday homes, hotels or rent an apartment. There are all kinds of rooms, depending on the solvency of the vacationer. Gagra is an expensive resort.

For ordinary tourists, budget rooms are available for a cost of 10 to 15 dollars a day. A house for four people will cost 60-80 dollars.

Accommodation prices depend on the season and naturally at its peak they reach their maximum value. Before settling, it is necessary to discuss all living conditions. In some cases, children under 7 years old can stay for free.

Those who prefer a comfortable stay with all amenities, you can consider accommodation options in pensions or holiday homes. The cost of living in them starts at 1100 rubles per day.

Food Prices in Gagra

In New Gagra, in comparison with the Old City, due to its development, there are much more modern catering establishments. Restaurants and cafes serve guests here until 00:00 hours. Prices are pretty high. You can eat on a budget in the dining rooms and buffets. Lunch in such establishments will cost from 5 to 15 dollars.

In the Seaside Park of Old Gagra, it is recommended to visit the summer cafe "Araucaria". This place, popular among tourists, is located next to the Colchis boarding house. You can eat here for 15-25 dollars.

In a cafe whose interior reminds of hostilities in the state, under the name “Headquarters” you can have dinner for 10-15 dollars. Guests are welcomed by Japanese, European and Caucasian cuisines.

Cafe “Ritsa”, located on the Black Sea, is popular.Dishes are provided by Caucasian and European cuisine. Lunch per person will cost 15-25 dollars.

Lunch at the aforementioned Gagripsh old restaurant, in which social balls were previously held, will cost the visitor $ 15-30.

Attractions in Gagra

The city is divided into two parts by the Tsikerva River - New Gagra and Old Town. New Gagra is a modern city with a developed infrastructure. In the Old Town, which was built before the October Revolution, all the sights are located.

The seaside park of the Prince of Oldenburg, occupying the coastal territory of the city, is probably the most important attraction of the resort city. This park is famous for its abundance of plants brought from around the world, of which there are more than 600 species. Bananas, coconuts, dates, magnolias, candy trees, etc. grow here. There are several ponds in this park where swans and ducks swim, and sculptures of Zurab Tsereteli flaunt throughout the territory. Here is the oldest restaurant in all of Abkhazia, where Bunin, Chekhov, Gorky liked to relax. It is called Gagripsh.

It will be interesting to visit the fortress, which was built by the Romans in the IV century. It is located near the river Joecquara and is also called.

It is recommended to visit the Gagra temple. It is currently inactive. This is a massive monumental structure, in which the Museum of Abkhazian weapons is located today, where visitors can see exciting collections of daggers, swords and knives. On both sides of the path leading to the temple, tall cypress trees grow, and it itself is lined with many plates polished to a mirror shine.

The next place that guests of the spa town should visit is the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg. After the construction of this castle in 1902, the serious construction of the resort town began.

On the seashore, in the thicket of acacia, is a monument of early Christianity of Gagra and the whole of Abkhazia - the Tsandripsha basilica.

Fun and relaxation at sea

Abkhazian Gagra is a wonderful place for family and youth recreation. The beaches of this resort are surrounded by evergreen palm trees. The total length of the beaches is 53 km. They are sandy and pebble. There are paid beaches, but basically all are publicly accessible.

In Gagra there is a water park - the only one in all of Abkhazia that children really like. In the holiday season, an amusement park is established here, and there are even more attractions. The cost of visiting the water park is $ 15.

Fans of outdoor activities will not be bored - rafting, mountain excursions, horseback riding, diving, paragliding and hang gliding, the presence of tennis courts. In the mountains ski lovers are waiting for the snowy slopes.

In the Old Town, life is seething at night. Discos, bars, night clubs are waiting for their visitors on the Black Sea. Night clubs work almost until the morning.

Reviews about the rest in Gagra: advantages and disadvantages

A great advantage of a vacation in Gagra is that it is easy to get here, and if the trip takes place in a private car, the upcoming trip will bring additional pleasure from a good road surface. Naturally, the climate, amazing nature, the gentle warm sea, its favorable location add many additional points to this resort city. The city welcomes visitors with many guest houses and hotels. There are no problems with public transport in the city.

Of the shortcomings, it should be noted:

• many vacationers on central beaches;
• there is not that grooming that was in the city under the USSR;
• high prices for accommodation and food;
• frequent shutdowns of water and light;
• lack of qualified medical care.

If you would like to relax in Abkhazia, you should determine for yourself what is most important for you in your vacation. If you want to relax surrounded by beautiful nature and lie on a sparsely populated beach, Gagra are ideal for you. But if the resort is for you the main advanced service and numerous entertainments, it is worth looking for another place to stay.