As you know, the peak of popularity of visiting countries washed by the waters of the Black Sea falls on the summer. The coasts are filled with people who come for beach and sightseeing holidays. However, the Black Sea resorts can be no less interesting in winter. Abkhazia is one of such destinations, which we recommend considering for a vacation in the low season. Picturesque mountain landscapes, bright ripe tangerines, evergreen trees and the rolling sea leave an indelible impression of being in the region during the cold period.
Where to rest in winter
Rest in Abkhazia in winter means sightseeing walks in the city environs, visits to architectural and cultural attractions, as well as the implementation of medical procedures in local boarding houses and health resorts.
The country is famous for its hot springs. Many tourists deliberately plan their trips in winter due to the possibility of swimming in the thermal warm water in the fresh air. Fans of extreme pastime go to the Abkhaz resorts in the cold months to conquer the snow-capped peaks of the mountain ranges.
Reviews of winter Sukhum presented on travel sites make it the best among other resorts. All tourist infrastructure facilities are accessible all year round in the city: hotels, cafes and restaurants, shops and entertainment establishments operate. Public transport continues to operate actively. Unlike the high season, Sukhum in winter it becomes poorly populated. Tourists can freely walk along the streets, spend time in solitude on the embankment, enjoy the sea views over a cup of coffee.
Many travelers organize their holidays so as to celebrate the New Year in Sukhumi, but for this you need to start planning your trip now. During the holiday, restaurants offer guests a special menu with unusually tasty dishes and put on shows. Mass festivities are becoming especially comfortable: thanks to the warm weather, you can stay outside all night.
Winter holidays in other popular resorts - New Athos, Gagra and Pitsunda is more restrained: catering establishments and entertainment centers are closed in autumn (they remain open only at hotels). But natural attractions appear in all their glory; due to the absence of a large number of people, visiting significant sites becomes more comfortable. It is these three areas that we advise to choose for a relaxing holiday alone with nature.
For your information
Abkhazia in winter is replete with a harvest of exotic fruits. Alleys of trees can be seen right on the street; ripe kiwis, lemons, feijoa, persimmons, pomegranates and tangerines grow at arm's length.
Weather in Abkhazia in winter
When planning a trip, it is important to take into account the climatic features of the area. Knowing what the weather is in Abkhazia in winter, you can choose the best time for a trip.
Abkhazian resorts surrounded by mountain ranges are protected from strong winds, so winters here are mild and relatively warm. The most favorable periods are December and the first half of January. The weather at this time is clear and sunny. If we talk about how many degrees in winter in Abkhazia, then in the daytime the air warms up on average to 12-15 ° C, at night the thermometer drops to 8-10... Cooled down to 7-8 ° C the sea is not suitable for swimming, however tourists continue to stroll along the coast, breathing in the healthy salty air. The highest temperature is in Gagra - the resort can warm up in winter up to 20 ° С; the water in the Black Sea reaches 15-degree mark.
In December, family trips become popular: parents bring their children to resorts to improve their health. The mildness of the Abkhaz winter makes it easy to acclimatize, and the humidity of the Black Sea coast has a beneficial effect on the respiratory and other systems of the body.
Unpleasant weather changes begin in the second half of January and last until early spring. The clear sky is increasingly overcast, the days are windy, and the amount of precipitation is gradually increasing.
According to travelers' reviews, Abkhazia in January is quite changeable. However, due to the warm climate (until the end of February, the temperature remains above zero), vacationers continue to go for walks, wearing sweaters and jackets.
Snow can only be seen in the mountains. The outskirts of the resorts and the coast of Gagra are rarely snowy in winter; if precipitation falls, it quickly melts under the influence of high temperatures.
On a note
The winter months in Abkhazia are the warmest compared to other regions of the Caucasus. At the end of February, you can already admire blooming mimosa and roses on the streets.
The cost of rest in winter
The cost of a winter vacation in Abkhazia consists of such components as flight, accommodation, meals and travel. A third of the budget will be spent on excursions, they are inexpensive, but exciting.
How much money to take with you with a flight from Moscow. We have calculated the costs that you can safely navigate when planning a trip (December, this is the most popular month among tourists).
- Train tickets - 19,300 rubles for one seat in the compartment there and back
- Food for standard 7 days - 12 300 rubles per tourist
- Accommodation: 28 thousand rubles for a double room in a 4-star hotel for 7 nights. A private apartment for a week will cost less, about 15 thousand rubles
- Transport in Abkhazia - 4400 rubles
- Entertainment - 3400 rubles
- Purchase of souvenirs - 1500 rubles
- Local calls and communication for 7 days - 600 rubles
Flight
Prices for air tickets from Moscow to Sukhum (with a transfer in Adler) start from 4000 rubles. Sometimes carriers arrange promotions, offering to deliver to the capital for 3000 rubles. To spend winter holidays in Abkhazia, you will have to pay about five thousand one way.
Lodging
Accommodation prices in winter are much lower than in other seasons. From December to February, a daily stay in a hotel will cost 800-2700 rubles, and in a guest house - 600-1500. The most expensive are hotels in Sukhum: the cost of a day can go up to six thousand.
According to tourists' reviews about rest in Abkhazia in winter, two factors are of great importance in setting prices: distance from the city center and heating features.
When choosing where to stay, you should keep in mind that on the outskirts you can face the problem of public transport, the work of shops and cafes. When looking for a guest house on the coast, we advise you to carefully examine it (due to the humidity in the premises).
Most homes do not have a central heating system, so owners install fireplaces, electric heaters, or steam heating equipment. The split system is not suitable for creating the required room temperature in winter, which is important to consider when choosing a home.
As vacationers write in their reviews, the level of service in the country is low, so you should not expect an exquisite interior and a high level of service. We recommend looking for good housing options through Booking, they have the widest possible base of housing in the private sector.
Food
Coming to rest in Gagra, Novy Afon or Pitsunda in winter, you will only be able to eat in canteens at hotels (other catering establishments are closed). While in Novaya Gagra, you can buy food yourself at the Kontinent shopping center (the cost is the same as in Russia).
Gastronomic gourmets are advised to go to Sukhum, where restaurants and cafes work as usual in cold months. You can dine in one of them for 200-400 rubles.
The winter season is rich in seafood, so most restaurants offer delicious dishes from flounder, mullet, horse mackerel, sea bass, etc. Fresh fish, fruit and wine can be purchased at low prices in the markets. So, 1 kg of tangerines will cost only 30 rubles, and a bottle of wine 170-240.
All data on the cost of food in restaurants and food in stores, we brought in a pivot table.
| Prices for food in a cafe and restaurant | |
|---|---|
| Average bill in an inexpensive cafe | 800 rubles for one |
| Average bill in a restaurant | 1300 rubles per one when ordering three courses |
| Food prices in shops in Sukhumi | |
|---|---|
| 0.5L water bottle | 38 rubles |
| Local beer bottle 0.5 l | 70 rubles |
| Imported beer bottle 0.5 l | 90 rubles |
| Beer on tap for 1 liter | from 90 to 150 rubles |
| Wine 0.75 liters | 270 rubles |
| Rice 1 kg | 45 rubles |
| Milk in a package 1 liter | 45 rubles |
| Tomatoes for 1 kg | 65 rubles |
| Bread 600 grams | 34 rubles (private bakeries) |
| Bananas 1 kg | 85 rubles |
| Oranges 1 kg | 105 rubles |
| Apples 1 kg | 65 rubles |
| Private owner's potatoes 1 kg | 35-50 rubles |
| Pork (ham) 1 kg | 350 rubles |
| Beef 1 kg | 400-450 rubles |
| Chicken 1 kg | 240 rubles |
| Cheese 1 kg | 450-600 rubles |
| Chicken egg 10 pcs | 55 rubles |
Information about all prices in the resorts
Movement
Depending on the length of the journey, the fare on the bus or minibus will be 50-150 rubles. When using the services of private carriers, it should be borne in mind that taxi drivers greatly inflate the cost for vacationers.
Those who often prefer to move around the cities and environs, come to Abkhazia in winter by car. For those who do not have their own transport, we recommend renting a car. The cost of daily use with a weekly rental will be about 1,700 rubles. for a passenger sedan (Hyundai Sonata 2006); if you take it for a short time - more than two thousand. Car rental is well developed, you can rent a car through advertisements from private traders or through a rental company, the cost is almost the same, in the second case there are fewer problems with the return.
Things to do in winter
Many are wondering whether it is worth going to Abkhazia in winter. Definitely yes! The country is known not only for its Black Sea beaches. Many interesting natural places, culturally significant objects and health institutions are concentrated here.
What to see from the sights in Abkhazia
Thanks to the warm and sunny weather, rest in Abkhazia in December, according to tourists, is favorable for excursions. Arriving in Sukhum, travelers can stroll through the Botanical Garden, see the local lighthouse, Bagrat castle (10-11 centuries), Sukhum fortress and Besletsky bridge. Younger guests will love the monkey nursery.
Among the historical, architectural and natural sights of Abkhazia in winter in Gagra are available:
- Stalin's dacha, 200 m above sea level;
- The Gagra Colonnade is a multi-arched structure of a semicircular shape, the length of which is almost 60 m;
- the castle of the prince of Oldenburg, built in the Art Nouveau style at the beginning of the 20th century.
New Athos is known for the largest Orthodox church (New Athos Monastery), as well as a cave that is millions of years old. In January-February, visitors are allowed to visit half of the underground halls, inspect lakes and stalactite palaces.
In Pitsunda, vacationers have the opportunity to visit the Patriarchal Cathedral - an ancient religious building that houses the relics of Saints Simon the Canaanite and Andrew the First-Called. There is also a concert hall where you can listen to organ music.
Review of the best sights of Abkhazia
Improvement of the body
A winter trip to Abkhazia can be combined with health improvement and visiting hot springs, of which there are about 170. The most famous are located in the villages of Primorskoye, Kyndyg and in New Gagra. The first two thermal complexes with healing water and mud are located in the open air, the last one is on the territory of the boarding house.
Because The weather in Abkhazia in winter in January is rainy, you can visit the indoor health resorts that operate in all resort cities. Each specializes in the treatment of diseases of certain systems.
Leisure
Fans of active rest Abkhazia attracts as a ski resort. The best bases are located in Sukhum and Novy Afon; less equipped are the slopes of Gudauta. Professionals are advised to choose the extreme slopes of Arabica, Auathara and Mamzishkhi.
Arriving in Abkhazia in winter, fishermen go to numerous lakes for carp, carp and crucian carp. By renting a boat, you can go to the Black Sea, generously sharing your gifts (mullet, perch, red mullet, etc.).
Information on the topic:
- Full overview of New Athos
- Full review of the trip to Gagra
Excursion routes
If you don't know what to do in Abkhazia in winter, you can order ready-made excursions to the main attractions. We definitely advise you to consider the following programs from private guides on the Tripster:
- trips to the high-mountainous lake Ritsa with a stop at the picturesque waterfall "Maiden's Tears", to the Yupsharsky canyon and the Blue Lake; the excursion often includes lunch, wine and honey tasting;
- walks around the capital, during which they examine the place where the city was founded, the Colonnade, the park. B. Shinkuba, Park of Glory and other significant objects;
- acquaintance with shrines: one of the routes involves visiting thermal springs and visiting temples (Sukhum Cathedral, Temple of St. Elijah the Prophet, Bedia and Ilor temples, etc.); during another, guests will be told about the New Athos Monastery, offered to climb the mountain to the ruins of the Anakopia fortress;
- visiting the most beautiful waterfalls of the Tsebeldin valley and healing springs.
The most interesting excursion programs in Abkhazia can be found on the Tripster website (here routes are offered by locals who know their country and history well, do not compare these walks with those offered by a tour operator or a street agency. We definitely recommend using the services of guides).
Rest in Abkhazia in january and february changeable weather can spoil, so we recommend taking warm clothes and raincoats on excursions.
Where to stay in Abkhazia
In the low season, you can find good housing in the country, while paying a small amount. After analyzing the reviews on the Booking website, we have selected several worthy options that we recommend to consider in the first place, especially when traveling with children.
Sukhum
If you are interested in an all-inclusive vacation in Abkhazia, you should choose hotels in Sukhum. However, in winter, the chances of finding such service are extremely rare. Therefore, for those who are used to not bothering themselves with cooking, we recommend paying attention to hotels with restaurants. One of them is Leon Boutique, located 3 minutes. walk from the sea. For 3500 rubles. guests have a kettle in the room, toiletries in the bathroom, hairdryer and other nice little things. The hotel also has a bar and a tour desk.
Another, no less worthy accommodation option in the capital, is the Moscow House hotel, where you can rent a room for 1900 rubles. The convenient location (in the city center) makes available a large number of shops and restaurants, and you can walk to the embankment in 5 minutes.
Hotel "Leon Boutique"
Gagra
Those arriving with children in order to breathe in the sea air can stay at the Amran Hotel, located 100 meters from the coast in Gagra. It is quiet and peaceful, the hotel area has a playground and an outdoor pool open all year round. The cost of living is 1400 rubles, breakfasts are prepared for an additional fee. In terms of location and level of service, the Arda hotel is an alternative to Amran, where you can stay for only 1200 rubles.
Hotel "Amran"
New Athos
For those planning a trip to New Athos, we recommend booking a room at Sunset Rock. The hotel regularly receives high marks on the Booking website. Due to its location on a hill, the windows offer gorgeous views, which is mentioned by almost all guests. “The hotel is super, one of the best places in Athos.View from the window for a million "(Andrey, 13.10.2019). Anakopia Mountain and Lake Psyrtskha are at a distance of no more than half a kilometer. Accommodation prices start from one and a half thousand per night.
For a small cost (800-900 rubles), you can stay at the Inzhir guest house, which is equipped with a terrace and a barbecue area. This place is ideal for lovers of secluded walks - there is a river, the sea and a park with a reservoir nearby.
Double room in "Sunset Rock"
Pitsunda
You can relax at the resort at a reasonable cost (1500 rubles) in the apartments on Agrabah 3/1 "Apartment in Pitsunda by the sea". They are equipped with a kitchen, dining area, bath and all the necessary utensils. There is a playground for children in the courtyard of the house; in the immediate vicinity - grocery stores and the coast.
"Apartment in Pitsunda by the sea"
As the warmest region of the Caucasus, Abkhazia receives guests not only in the high summer season. Winter, despite the impossibility of swimming in the Black Sea, is also attractive for tourists. It is at this time that the opportunity arises to taste ripened exotic fruits, visit ski resorts, get extraordinary sensations from hot springs and indulge in secluded relaxation under the sound of waves.
