Municipalities of Abkhazia
The Black Sea region boasts unique natural beauty, a subtropical climate, and a rich historical heritage.
Gagra with its cypress-lined alleys, the New Athos Cave with its underground lakes, and the palm-lined Sukhumi embankment—all of this is Abkhazia, which remains difficult to access for most tourists.
Entry into the region is only possible from Russia.
Abkhazia attracts visitors with its combination of seaside resorts, mountain lakes, Soviet resort architecture, and the unique atmosphere of a border region.
🏖️ Gagra Municipality
Gagra is one of the most beautiful resorts on the Black Sea coast.
The Prince of Oldenburg’s colonnade, a castle among the rocks, cypress alleys, and the clear sea.
In Soviet times, it was the most fashionable resort in the USSR, and its atmosphere can still be felt in the architecture.
Gagra Municipality (Abkhazia)
🕌 Gudauta Municipality
Gudauta Municipality is home to New Athos, with its ancient monastery on a cliff and the famous New Athos Cave, one of the largest in the world.
Underground lakes, stalactites, and a route on an underground train make it unforgettable.
This municipality is especially interesting for those who want to combine a seaside holiday, pilgrimage sites, and impressive natural locations.
Gudauta Municipality (Abkhazia)
🏛️ Sukhumi Municipality
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, with a rich history.
A palm-lined promenade, an old botanical garden, ruins of Soviet sanatoriums, and the warm sea.
The city preserves traces of different eras, from an ancient Greek colony to a Soviet resort.
Sukhumi Municipality (Abkhazia)
🌿 Gulripshi Municipality
Gulripshi is located in a subtropical zone between Sukhumi and the mountains.
A mild climate, eucalyptus groves, and old dachas stand amid lush southern greenery.
In Soviet times, people came here for tuberculosis treatment because the air was considered so clean.
Gulripshi Municipality (Abkhazia)
🌊 Ochamchire Municipality
Ochamchire is a port town on the Black Sea coast.
Around it are subtropical forests, mandarin groves, and quiet villages.
A special slowness of life can be felt here, characteristic of all post-war Abkhazia.
Ochamchire Municipality (Abkhazia)
🌾 Gali Municipality
Gali Municipality borders directly on the main territory of Georgia.
Historically, this area was home to a Megrelian population.
Rice fields, the Inguri River, and a borderland atmosphere make this district distinctive.
Gali Municipality (Abkhazia)
🗺️ 5 Frequently Asked Questions from Tourists About Abkhazia's Regions
💬 Abkhazia is administratively divided into six districts: Gagra, Gudauta, Sukhumi, Gulrypsh, Ochamchira, and Gali. The most popular resorts are Gagra, Pitsunda, New Athos, and Sukhumi; these are where 95% of tourists head, while the southern districts have virtually no tourist infrastructure.
💬 Russians can travel to Abkhazia by direct flight to Sukhumi from Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, as well as by the Sochi retro tourist train, which runs daily to Gagra. Documents are checked on the train, and a ticket costs around 890 rubles. ⚠️ Entering Abkhazia from Russia violates Georgian law—re-entry into Georgia through Georgian checkpoints after visiting Abkhazia is prohibited.
💬 Not far from Gagra are the famous Lake Ritsa, Blue Lake, Gegsky Waterfall, alpine meadows, Prince Oldenburg Castle, and the Tsandripsh Basilica—a route that encompasses both mountains and history. Gagra is Abkhazia's most popular resort, suitable for families and young people: it boasts a water park, a promenade, restaurants, bars, and discos.
💬 The Gudauta district is home to New Athos, one of the most visited places in Abkhazia, with its ancient Anakopia, the capital of the Abkhazian Kingdom, and thermal springs. In Gudauta itself, try the famous Abkhazian boats—a traditional local dish—at a traditional cuisine café overlooking the sea. Nearby, there's a monument symbolizing the ship that transported highlanders to Turkey in the 19th century.
💬 Sukhum will take at least a full day to explore: it's home to the Abkhazian State Museum, over 100 years old—the largest in the country, with exhibits on the history of the Caucasus, Ancient Greece, Egypt, Byzantium, and Abkhazia; admission costs 400 rubles. Sukhum is one of two resorts with a developed tourist infrastructure: it has decent beaches with sun loungers and umbrellas, something practically unheard of in other parts of Abkhazia.