Abkhazia is a fabulous country, thoroughly imbued with ancient myths and legends. Every lake, mountain, temple or medieval building will tell tourists a wonderful and instructive story. Armed with a map, you can explore the sights on your own.
Local residents are famous for their warm hospitality. They impart special warmth to children.
They will also tell you where to go best with your child, how to get there and what to see. There will be no problems with knowledge of the language, since Abkhazian and Russian are spoken in the country. This is where a family with children should go on vacation in 2022, for at least 3 days.
When going to Abkhazia, you should stock up on cash rubles. You won't be able to withdraw funds from your card or pay with it in a store.
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).
Tips for organizing a holiday
Each country has its own nuances, and you need to organize your vacation taking into account all the details and characteristics of the country:
- A loss of water and electricity can become an obstacle to a relaxing holiday. However, utility services deal with this problem quite quickly, and not everyone is inconvenienced by them.
- Medicine in Abkhazia is not bad, and there are medical institutions, but if you plan to vacation in remote villages of the country, it is better to pack a good first aid kit.
- In some areas of the country, cases of theft have become more frequent, so it is worth taking better care of things and documents.
- Intestinal infection in the country is as common as in many other cities on the Black Sea coast. You should be careful and if symptoms appear, contact your local hospital immediately.
- Traveling with infants should be planned especially carefully, as severe climate change can cause serious stress for infants’ bodies.
Otherwise, a holiday in Abkhazia will not cause any problems. Almost all locals speak Russian and will be able to help tourists. Also, the Russian ruble is used here, so you don’t even have to change the currency.
How to get to Abkhazia
There are several ways to get from Russia to Abkhazia. Unfortunately, there is no direct air connection between the countries, so you can only fly to Adler, the closest populated area to the Russian-Abkhaz border. You can get from the airport to the border with Abkhazia by bus in literally 10 minutes.
You can get to the city of Sukhum directly by train. You can use railway transport in this direction from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara and other cities. The cost of a reserved seat from the Russian capital to the Abkhaz capital is approximately 2.5 thousand rubles one way per person.
Catamarans depart from Sochi to Gagra every day. Just an hour and a half boat ride - and you will find yourself in Abkhazia. The cost of an adult ticket is 500 rubles, and a child ticket is 250.
The most convenient way is to get to Abkhazia by car. The only difficulty is waiting in lines at the border, which are quite long during the high season. For this reason, it is better to plan to cross the border early on a weekday morning.
How much money will be needed
Many travelers are interested in the cost of an all-inclusive trip to Abkhazia for two with a child. It should be noted that the price will depend on many factors:
- season;
- room class;
- child's age;
- star rating of the hotel.
In most cases, small children are accommodated free of charge without being provided with a seat. Sometimes paying for the child's meals may be a prerequisite.
The minimum average cost of a double standard room is 2,500 rubles, the maximum can reach 10,000 or more.
Prices for holidays in Abkhazia also depend on the resort. Accommodation in such popular tourist cities as Gagra, Sukhum, New Athos will cost a little more than in such settlements as Gudauta, the village of Tsandripsh, etc.
The most economical option is rooms in guest houses with all amenities (from 1,200 rubles). The minimum cost of an apartment per day is 1,500 rubles, and cottages are rented from 2,000 rubles.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Required Security Measures
In any country (in Abkhazia too) a tourist is a welcome guest as long as he is willing to pay. Therefore, you should not count on the selfless help of local residents. It is recommended to be polite and friendly with Abkhazians: they easily become angry when rude or arrogant.
Women traveling around Abkhazia with a child, but without a man, should be prepared for the intrusive attention of the opposite sex. The most common crimes in the country are fraud and theft. It is recommended to carefully check all receipts and monitor the scales and calculations in the market.
When traveling in a personal car in Abkhazia, you should take care of the safety of your personal belongings. They should not be left in the car. It is important to remember: the products offered at the tasting and those sold after it differ, and not for the better. This is one of the options for fraud in Abkhazia.
Important nuances for crossing the border with children
A trip to Abkhazia will not cause any special problems. Adults do not need a foreign passport, only an internal one. For children, you need to take a birth certificate and, if the trip is not made by the whole family, then a power of attorney from the second parent, or from both if the child is traveling with a grandmother, aunt or other relatives. It is also worth taking a compulsory medical insurance policy - it is valid on the territory of Abkhazia.
It is advisable to make copies of all documents, as anything can happen on the road.
