Where to go on vacation in the summer of 2021 - to Gagra or Pitsunda? Let's compare holidays in two popular resorts of Abkhazia. Prices, hotels, reviews, climate.
In Soviet times, a trip to Abkhazia was something out of the ordinary: everyone could not afford a vacation in Gagra and Pitsunda, the Soviet elite loved to relax in Abkhazia. Now the Land of the Soul is open to everyone, you just need to buy tickets and plan your trip. For those who are going to go to Abkhazia, we have collected information relevant for 2021 about two popular resorts of Abkhazia - Gagra and Pitsunda: prices for food and hotels, pros and cons of rest, reviews of tourists.
Book hotels in Abkhazia on the Hotellook service - there you can find very comfortable accommodation at any price! For example, a room in a guest house can be found from 1000 rubles per day.
Look for housing in the private sector on Airbnb is a good alternative to hotels. We wrote in detail about the private sector of Abkhazia here.
Holidays in Gagra in the summer of 2021
Ancient Gagra, whose history begins in the 1st century BC. e., attracts primarily with its mountain landscapes and turquoise sea - of course, this is one of the most beautiful corners of Abkhazia. Thanks to this, Gagra "appeared" in such famous Soviet films as "Merry Guys", "Winter Evening in Gagra" and "Dark Nights in the City of Sochi".
In Gagra, in addition to a beach holiday, there is something to do: there are many attractions - from the traditional castle of the Prince of Oldenburg, the Gagripsh restaurant and Lake Ritsa to various waterfalls, lakes, caves, groves and parks. Unfortunately, during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, the city was seriously damaged, but this did not lose its charm. Holidays in Gagra in the summer of 2021 can also be diversified by visiting neighboring cities: Alakhadzi, Pitsunda and Gudauta, and there it is already close to New Athos and Sukhum.
Fans of extreme sports in Gagra will also like it in the summer: in Abkhazia you can go diving and speleodiving, jeeping, rafting and fishing. In addition, all the beach entertainment familiar to tourists is presented in Gagra.
The advantage of Gagra over other resorts of Abkhazia is that you can quickly and inexpensively get to it: all buses and minibuses that follow from the border pass through Gagra, and, in principle, the city has a developed system of public transport. Gagra also compares favorably with other cities of the republic with a developed tourist infrastructure, but every year there are more and more tourists: beaches and hotels are sometimes overcrowded, which is a significant disadvantage. The bulk of tourists stay in the private sector in New Gagra, and Old Gagra, where all the sights are located, is calm and majestic.
Prices for holidays in Gagra in the summer
The prices for holidays in Gagra in summer are quite moderate, but in general they are higher than in other resorts of Abkhazia, which affects the popularity among vacationers. You can dine in the canteen for 200-500 rubles per person, in a cafe, of course, the average check is higher - from 1200 (and more - it all depends on your preferences). Local fruits in the season are quite cheap, but the prices for groceries in stores are the same as in Russia, and sometimes even more expensive. It is better to buy fruits and vegetables in the markets early in the morning.
You can find a room in a guest house on the Hotellook for 600-1000 rubles, and if you search on the spot and bargain with the owners, then even cheaper. Of course, the price will depend on the comfort of the property and the distance from the sea. In general, there are many housing offers in Gagra, as the demand for them is great. There are many boarding houses, sanatoriums, guest houses and hotels - for every taste and budget. Apartments - from 1000 rubles (depending on the conditions and number of rooms), cottage - from 1700 rubles per day for two. We recommend booking accommodation in Gagra in advance. Private accommodation without intermediaries is best found and booked on Airbnb.
Holidays in Gagra in the summer of 2021 with children
In Gagra, it is comfortable to relax with children both in summer and in winter: the city is surrounded by mountains, which protect it from the winds, so in winter the air temperature can reach + 20 ° С. Gagra is considered one of the warmest places on the Black Sea coast. The climate here is humid subtropical: in summer the air warms up to + 35 ° С, and the water - up to + 33 ° С.
People come here to relax with children from the bustle of the city and enjoy the unforgettably beautiful views. A water park has been built for young vacationers. Children can also be taken to the local zoo, taken on an excursion to Lake Ritsa and waterfalls, or just walk with them in the mountains.
The climate of Gagra is extremely favorable for both children and adults: the mountains surrounding the resort protect it from cold winds, and the breeze brings coolness. During the daytime, the air temperature in Gagra in summer reaches + 30 ° С, and at night - up to + 20 ° С. Swimming is also comfortable: the water temperature is up to + 25 ° С.
Reviews about the rest in Gagra in the summer
Basically, reviews about the rest in Gagra in the summer are positive: the lush wildlife in the vicinity, beautiful architecture, clear sea and a fairly developed tourist infrastructure (in comparison with other resorts) overlap such disadvantages as "soviet" and some bustle of the city. Vacationers in their reviews especially note the good location of the resort, the favorable climate and the proximity of attractions.
Find out about the rest in Gagra.
Did you knowthat vouchers to Abkhazia can be purchased from only 15 thousand rubles (for example, a tour for two for 7 nights from Moscow)? And even cheaper during the promotional period! The tour price includes: flight, accommodation, transfer, insurance and meals to choose from. Last Minute Tours for the best prices, you can search on the Level.Travel service - it compares the offers of 120 tour operators and therefore is able to find the best option. You can buy a ticket online, which is very convenient.
Rest in Pitsunda in the summer of 2021
Pitsunda is another popular climatic resort of Abkhazia, where you can comfortably rest and relax. The city was founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC, in Soviet times, party leaders and heads of state rested here, as in Gagra. The film "Scarlet Sails" was filmed in the city.
Why go to rest in Pitsunda? The resort is famous for its healing pine air: there is a pine grove four kilometers long, where there is always a pleasant coolness and a delicious smell of pine needles and resin. In addition to the famous Pitsunda pine, boxwood and cypress trees grow here. And not far from the resort there is a huge Pitsundo-Mussera reserve.
Pitsunda is also known microclimate... The sun almost always shines in the Pitsunda Bay, while in other resorts of Abkhazia it can be cloudy. The air temperature in the summer in the Pitsunda area reaches + 27 ° С, and at night the thermometer does not drop below + 17 ° С. The water heats up to about the same temperatures.
The Pitsunda Bay is safe for swimming: it is quiet and not too deep, there are practically no big waves in it. Well, the water washing the Pitsunda Cape is undoubtedly considered one of the cleanest in Abkhazia.
Prices for holidays in Pitsunda in the summer
Prices in Pitsunda, as in the whole of Abkhazia, in 2021 are practically the same as in Russia. Cheap seasonal fruits and inexpensive local food, friendly people, beautiful nature, clean sea and healthy climate make Pitsunda very attractive for vacationers.
Eat a hearty meal in the dining room (first, second, compote) - up to 500 rubles per person, in a cafe - up to 1000 rubles, depending on the level of the establishment and dishes. Shish kebab costs about 120 rubles per 100 g, soups - from 70 rubles.
Prices for hotels in Pitsunda are not high: finding accommodation from 600 rubles per day is not a problem, and if you bargain, you can find it cheaper. However, there are not too many offers. We recommend looking for guesthouses, hotels and mini-hotels on the Hotellook.
Private accommodations can be searched on Airbnb (apartments or whole houses), and you can also find options locally. For example, a room in a guest house costs from 1000 rubles per day for two, apartments - from 2000 rubles per day.
Holidays in Pitsunda in the summer of 2021 with children
In the summer of 2021, both children and adults can have a great rest in Pitsunda: thanks to the shady alleys and groves, you can always hide from the scorching sun, inhaling the healing scent of pine trees. It is especially recommended to visit the Pitsunda relict park for those suffering from allergies and colds, as well as those who suffer from diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Pitsunda is ideal for families with children: the resort is calm, there is no hustle and bustle, and all the entertainment can be found on the waterfront. The sea here also deserves all praise: warm and clean, and the beach is wide pebbled. If you want almost complete privacy, go on vacation to the villages adjacent to Pitsunda, for example, to Mussera or Ldzaa.
Attractions there are very few in Pitsunda - you can see them literally in one day. In this regard, the resort cannot be compared with Gagra or New Athos. In the city, it is worth paying attention to the ancient Pitsunda temple, where organ concerts and concerts of classical music are held, the monastery and the museum of the history of the city, and outside the city - the Pitsunda relict park with its heady scent of pine, the Pitsundo-Mussera reserve, the Khetsuriani house-museum of ethnography in the village of Ldzaa and the sanctuary of Ldzaa-nyha.
Reviews about the summer vacation in Pitsunda
Pitsunda, as well as Gagra, are well spoken about: excellent climate, crystal clear sea and good beaches, low prices. The resort is quiet and calm, people come here mainly for a measured holiday with children, the resort is great for people of age. Those who seek to improve their health also come here. There are also negative reviews about the rest in Pitsunda, mainly they relate to the lack of developed infrastructure and services. Many tourists turn a blind eye to the absence of the latter, but there are also significant drawbacks in summer vacation in this Abkhazian resort, as you can read about below.
Cons of rest in Pitsunda
Pitsunda is located quite far from the Sukhum highway, and therefore tourists have problems without personal transport. If you are planning to travel actively around the country on your own, "based" in Pitsunda, be prepared for the fact that transport rarely visits this resort. In the evenings, buses and minibuses stop running altogether, so you should check the route schedule in advance. Of course, you can use the services of taxi drivers, but it's not cheap.
If you negotiate with taxi drivers in advance, then travel from the border to Pitsunda can cost up to 1200 rubles (per car), from Gagra to Pitsunda - up to 600 rubles. You should not accept the offers of zealous taxi drivers at the border: for 1200 rubles, hardly anyone will be lucky, the amount will be called much larger.
Based on this, we recommend going to Pitsunda exclusively for a quiet family vacation and for recreational purposes, and for those who wish to see Abkhazia on their own, we recommend staying in Gagra or Sukhum - there are no such acute problems with public transport as in Pitsunda.
As for accommodation, the choice of guest houses and mini-hotels compared to Gagra is also small: if in Gagra the bulk of hotels are located on the coast, then in Pitsunda many hotels are located at a sufficient distance from the sea (and often in general in neighboring villages), have in view of this and check the location of the hotel on the map.
