New or old ghagra. Abkhazia, Gagra - “Gagra - only useful information! (where, how and who should vacation in Gagra, and why it’s even worth vacationing there).” Let's start with Old Gagra

Beaches of Gagra is a coastline of pebble and sand beaches more than 10 kilometers long.

Black Sea beaches of Gagra

The sea in Gagra surprises tourists with its blue - it is not as transparent here as in Pitsunda, nevertheless it is one of the cleanest on the Black Sea coast. Since Gagra is the warmest place in Abkhazia due to the proximity of the mountains, the sea here is also warm: it does not have time to cool down during the winter, but warms up very well in the summer. The warmest water in the sea in Gagra is in July, August and early September.

Basically, the beaches of Gagra are unequipped and publicly accessible, however, some of them offer rental of beach equipment: umbrellas and sunbeds. The most popular beach in Gagra is approx. holiday homes Abkhazia And boarding house Energetik.

Beaches of Old Gagra

Beaches in Old Gagra- these are large, medium and small pebbles. The beaches of Old Gagra are not so crowded, since in this part of the city there are practically no private and multi-apartment buildings, and there are also no large number of private hotels: there are mainly boarding houses and sanatoriums from Soviet times.

For those who are looking for privacy and a relaxing beach holiday, we recommend relaxing in Old Gagra.

Beaches of New Gagra

Beaches New Gagra - the most visited and crowded beaches resemble the beaches of Greater Sochi. Mostly the beaches are small pebble with sandy stripes. Some city beaches are equipped and operate at boarding houses and holiday homes in Novaya Gagra.

On the equipped beaches of Gagra during the season there are a variety of water activities:

banana ride,
scooter riding,
paragliding,
boat trips,
rental of catamarans and boats.

In total, the length of the coast of Abkhazia is approximately 400 km. There are both public and private beaches, wild and equipped, rocky and sandy and pebble. Less commonly you can find beaches strewn with small pebbles.

This article will describe one amazing resort owned by the Republic of Abkhazia - Gagra.

The beach is essential for all vacationers when choosing a place summer holiday. Therefore, we will take a closer look at the recreation areas of this resort, especially since the beaches of Staraya Gagra and Novaya have some differences.

A little about Abkhazia

The entire territory of Abkhazia is located between the two and Ingur) and Caucasian ridge. The total length of the coast is 210 kilometers. The best resorts are considered Sukhumi (capital), Pitsunda, New Athos and Gagra.

The climate in these places is subtropical and summer lasts more than 6 months from average temperature July about 25-27°. Below we will take a closer look at some of the features of one of the resorts and find out whether Gagra has sand beach.

Features of the beaches of Abkhazia

The descent into the water is gentle almost everywhere.
The beaches are mostly pebble, a little less often - pebble mixed with sand.
The water warms up quickly, the water in the sea is clean.
Magnificent surrounding nature and good ecology.
Many small streams and rivers flow into the sea, and therefore in some areas of the water area the water temperature is lower than usual.
The same rivers bring a lot of garbage after rainfalls, but all this is quickly cleared by coastal currents (only in the Sukhumi and Gudauta bays this process takes longer).

Gagra

One of famous resorts, located on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia, is Gagra. Central Beach is the most popular among locals and vacationers.

All Gagra recreation areas extend along a beautiful and calm bay, just 35 km from Sochi airport. Conventionally, Gagra is divided into 2 parts - New and Old, with total length coastline approximately 56 kilometers. Compared to the beaches of Sukhumi, the entrance to the sea here is steeper.

In general, it fully corresponds to the concept of a relatively inexpensive budget vacation resort town Gagra. Of course, you can't compare it with beautiful resorts coasts of Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and other European countries. The infrastructure and services here are much less developed, but there is the main advantage of these places. This is an amazing and unique charm of the surrounding nature and quite affordable prices. Thanks to all this, the flow of tourists to the beaches of this resort is growing.

Gagra is a magnificent and cozy place to relax. Almost any beach is surrounded by evergreen palms and oleanders. Most of them at the resort are unequipped and free, but some of them have the opportunity to rent umbrellas and sun loungers. The most popular beaches are located in areas near the boarding house "Energetik" and near the holiday home "Abkhazia".

The beaches on the territory of New Gagra are more comfortable and therefore more crowded. A big plus is that the shores are covered with smaller pebbles than the beaches of Old Gagra.

Traditional water activities for resorts are also widely represented here; there are rental points where you can choose any equipment. In terms of their specificity, the local beaches are similar to the beaches of Sochi, but they are not so crowded, and the hotels here are mostly represented by boarding houses of the Soviet era.

New Gagra has several beaches:

Central Beach is a publicly accessible strip of shore approximately 40 meters wide and about 300 meters long, perfectly landscaped for recreation. There is a water park on its territory. It's pretty here developed infrastructure: bars, cafes, supermarkets, attractions, tennis courts, etc. There are rental services for catamarans, boats, boats and other equipment. The beach is pebble, covered in places with sand, with a gentle entrance. Some areas are shallow.
Energetik beach is located 50 meters from the boarding house. On the clean, well-maintained shore there are umbrellas and sunbeds for the guests of the hospital. You can use paid water slides and attractions (catamarans, banana boats and pleasure boats) and equipment rental services.
The small clean beach area of the Gagripsh boarding house is closely adjacent to the complex (located only 40 meters away). Sun loungers are located on the pebble shore, where there are attractions for children during the day. There are several cafes nearby.

Of all the coastal areas of the Novaya Gagra region, a sandy beach can be found in the central part of the city.

Old Gagra

This part of Gagra is calmer, less noisy, not crowded, and, naturally, the infrastructure here is less developed. good in its own way: a huge amount of exotic greenery and an abundance of numerous historical attractions that are of interest to lovers of excursions.

This area is perfect for those who like to relax in peace and privacy. Here you can perfectly combine beach holiday with cultural education. This part of the city also has more vegetation: cypress trees, oleander, palm trees, etc.

Old Gagra is unique and notable for its numerous boarding houses and sanatoriums with their own small clean beaches, restaurants and cafes. One of the most famous and popular such establishments is the famous Gagripsh restaurant.

The most popular recreation areas in the Old Gagra region:

Beach "Gagripsh" with free entry and canopy and sun lounger rental services. The boarding house of the same name and the beach are located near the main attractions of the city.
The Mahito beach is located near the grill bar of the same name and not far from the city colonnade. The beach area is landscaped, pebble, and open to any visitor. Sun loungers and umbrellas in free access. There are equipped tennis and volleyball courts. The inventory is free. Very a good place holidays for families with children. Nearby is the café of the Mahito restaurant with discos and beach parties.
The beach area of the Kolkhida boarding house is also publicly accessible, well-maintained and located next to the pier. The coastal strip has two zones covered with small pebbles and sand. There is a well-developed entertainment infrastructure: rental of sun loungers, umbrellas, etc. There is a dance floor and a summer cafe on the territory. The beach is convenient for youth and family recreation.
Free beaches are located near the Seaside Park and the Abaata fortress.

Conclusion

Anyone who has been here will certainly want to return to these amazing Beautiful places. Beautiful Abkhazia, Gagra, beach, Black Sea, bright sun, clean air - all this will be remembered for a long time.

For every tourist, a beach holiday has its own value. Some people love the amazing nature of places, some like beaches, and some come here to improve their health.

The beaches in Gagra are suitable for tourists with any preferences and tastes.

In my review of Gagra there will be no repetition of general phrases about the beauty of this town and the wonderful local flora: all this is in abundance in tourist brochures.

I'd rather tell you as an ex local resident and a guide, where and how best to relax in Gagra, and why it’s worth vacationing in Gagra at all (or they also say - Gagra, in the old way. This also happens, why - I’ll explain later).

Gagra is definitely for you if you:

Young and active, and looking forward to making new acquaintances from your vacation

Gagra is secretly considered the “party” of Abkhazia. Young people from all over the country flock here every evening to rock out in local cafes to the hits of this season, and perhaps find their soulmate!

Love disco bars and fun

There is a great variety of entertainment here. In addition, the only water park in Abkhazia is located in Gagra (a significant plus for vacationers with children)

Personally, I love Gagra very much, perhaps as much as Pitsunda. These two places in Abkhazia are somehow special. The air there is, perhaps, not the same as everywhere else...

But seriously, Gagra is really different from others settlements Abkhazia. The barkers in Gagra don’t lie - if they say that their housing is a five-minute walk from the sea, then it is so, because almost EVERYTHING in Gagra is located five minutes from the sea - it itself is like a string stretched along the shore.

This is perhaps the most significant advantage of this place. (so, I smoothly move on to the story of WHY you should vacation in Gagra):

1. Proximity to the sea

Gagra has an excellent location - essentially, it is a narrow strip of land, sandwiched on one side by mountains, on the other by the sea. Wherever you find yourself in Gagra, you will definitely be surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Walking around Gagra is a real pleasure, because no matter how long you No matter how you walk, your path will continue to stretch along the seashore. Well, the air in Gagra, accordingly, is all saturated with sea salt - the unique air of Gagra!

Gagra is also lucky in that it is located

2. close to the Russian-Abkhazian border

Literally half an hour. Any minibus coming from the border will take you to Gagra.

If you bought a ticket to a sanatorium (hotel-hotel, of which there are a great many in Gagra - you just have to look on the Internet), then you can skip this and the next points - after all, you will probably be met by the hotel’s transport.

But if you are traveling for the first time and are “savages”, it will not be difficult to get there and not get lost, and also

3. easy to rent accommodation

Without exaggeration, on every house in Gagra there are “housing for rent” notices.

It’s very simple - we go into the yard and ask. If you’re happy with the price, ask to see the property.

The options may be different: from an apartment in a high-rise (I don’t recommend it, why - I wrote in a review about Abkhazia in general)

to a bed in a private house.

Gagra is perhaps the most developed in terms of tourism infrastructure city of Abkhazia, so here it is easiest to choose a housing option for every taste.

I personally recommend staying in the private sector:

and exotic (drinking coffee in the morning with figs - where else in your native Nsk can you try this?),

and live communication with the local population (and often helpful information),

and discounted wine, honey and nuts, excursions and much more!

Just don’t be afraid to be polite and friendly, express interest in the country you’re visiting)

and of course, the price is much nicer than all other options.

What to look for when choosing housing

Is there an autonomous water supply (water pump and heater). This is important, believe me! When you come from the sea, you will really want to take a shower and wash off the salt, and it will be extremely unpleasant to find that the water has been turned off in the entire city or the owners have run out of water in the tank, so it is important to immediately make sure that there are no interruptions in hot and cold water will not be.

Is there a kitchen, toilet and shower on the floor?

Air conditioning in the room (in my opinion, it is unimportant, and in some cases even harmful - for example, with children who often catch colds from temperature changes), but for some it is important. As a rule, housing in this case is more expensive

Is food included in the price (also depends on the taste and color. Some people prefer to cook themselves, while others prefer to eat in a cafe).

Is it possible to pay for 3 days, and the rest of the amount later (in case of force majeure and unforeseen relocation: for example, you find that the owners sing Buddhist chants at night or your neighbors turn out to be passionate newlyweds-rockers, and you want to move out).

Locals are very reluctant to rent out housing for a short period of time, but you can try to convince them.

How to look for housing

Suppose you are already on the border of Russia and Abkhazia. Take a minibus to Gagra. Of course, you will be asked: where to stop? and you will think: where, really?

Stop at the first house you come across, thinking: ah, Gagra is small anyway, and you will be wrong.

Gagra is big, and at the same time different! Consider your tastes and vacation plans when choosing a location!

Gagra is divided into 2 parts: Old and New, so this town is also called Gagra in the plural (remember, I promised at the beginning of the story to explain where this name came from?)

Old Gagra is the historical part of the city.

Most of the city’s attractions are located there (the famous colonnade, the Gagripsh restaurant, Putin’s dacha, Prince of Oldenburg Park and much more),

This part of the city is also less active in terms of entertainment. Adults who want a relaxing holiday will feel more comfortable here.

New Gagra begins after a small river, or after a local traffic police post.

In New Gagra there is a market, a supermarket "Continent" (one of the landmarks in Gagra, remember, it will come in handy), a campsite and the central bank "Gagra".

And - most cafes, bars and restaurants.

In New Gagra, music does not stop until late at night, and the entire coast lives a bright, young life.

So, the choice is yours!

Now you will know where to ask the minibus driver to stop.

Let's return to the question of how to look for housing.

You got off the minibus. You went into one house, another - you didn’t like it.

Don't lose hope, you will definitely find what you are looking for!

There is no need to take a taxi anywhere throughout the city, just circle along one street: in after all, in There are about 50 houses in one block, one of them will definitely be yours for the next 10-14 days!

Ufff. Finally, housing has been found, you are a full-fledged vacationer.

Forward! on the sea, on excursions, walks around town!

Here I think my tips are not needed...

I'd rather focus on this point:

4. where is the best place to eat in Gagra?

This, again, if you are relaxing on your own or food is not included in the price of your trip.

There are 3 options:

Get up to the mistress's allowance

Cook by yourself

Eat in public catering

Choose the third option. But - not in restaurants-pretentious cafes, but in ordinary canteens, of which there are also many in Gagra (ask any local on the street, they will show you!)

The portions will be huge, the dishes will be tasty and familiar to the Russian stomach, and the prices will be ridiculous.

I don’t recommend cooking it yourself, because the prices for food here, alas, are Moscow prices.

In addition, cooking will take energy and time, which is already so scarce on vacation.

Eating the housewife's food - perhaps she will cook it deliciously, but what if not? local kitchen very different from the one you are used to.

It seems that we have discussed with you the main practical aspects of a holiday in Gagra.

I hope my advice will be useful to you if you decide to relax in this wonderful place!

The largest resort town in Abkhazia, stretching along the sea coast for 20 km. The center of the westernmost region of Abkhazia. Shortly before the birth of Christ, there was a settlement called Triglit, then the Roman colony of Nitika appeared. In the Middle Ages there was a Genoese trading post Khakara (Kakara), the name of which comes from the local Abkhaz surname Gagaa. In the 16th century, the Turks came here and engaged in the slave trade here for several decades. Then, for several centuries, the Gagra region was a bone of contention between neighboring mountain tribes. In 1830 - 20 years after the formal annexation of Abkhazia - Gagra was captured by the Russian army. Decembrist A.A. served here. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky. Passes through Gagra Railway. Within the city there are the points of Abaata (on the bridge over the Zhoekvara River), Gagrypsh (Gagra Pavilion), Atskhyda (near the Continent supermarket) and Gagra itself (station). The M-27 highway passes through the city - along Nartaa Avenue. Certain sections of the bypass road are in effect because they provide connections with some quarters of Gagra located on the mountain slopes; There is a large overpass at the Sukhumi exit and two tunnels.

Old Gagra

Located between the Zhoekvara River (northwestern end of the city) and the Tsykherva (Zykhvertskoy) River, sandwiched between the sea and the mountains, stretched along Nartaa Avenue. Tsykherva crosses Nartaa between the Three Barrels restaurant and the sanatorium named after. Chelyuskintsev. All the historical sights of the city are concentrated in Old Gagra. In the depths of the Tsikherva gorge there is big cave of the two halls - the cave of St. Evpatiya (Euphrates). It is very difficult to find; barely noticeable paths run along both banks of the river from the bridge on the bypass road (between two active tunnels), and this river dries up in some areas in the summer (goes underground). On the left bank of the Joekvara, right next to the road, is the Abaata fortress, founded in the 5th century and operating until late XIX V. It was partially destroyed, partially rebuilt. In the middle of the fortress there is a small temple built from rough-hewn stone blocks in the VI-VII centuries. IN Soviet time There was a weapons museum inside, but the church is now closed. An underground passage to the seashore begins from the side porch (it’s only a couple of hundred meters away). Up the gorge, along the right bank of Zhoekvara, from the Abaata railway platform (it is located right on the bridge over the river, between two railway tunnels) there is a street of Russian Volunteers. On its right side (if you go from the sea), on the border of two personal plots, the ruins of the so-called. Towers of Marlinsky - Russian fortification of the 19th century. In Old Gagra, very much has been preserved beautiful building restaurant "Gagripsh" with a clock on the pediment (early 20th century); it is clearly visible from the Primorsky Park. This is one of the symbols of the city. The park itself was founded by the Prince of Oldenburg, the founder of Gagra (the resort was founded in 1901). This park is home to many tropical plants brought specially for it from other countries. In Old Gagra you can see several ancient buildings - these are the first sanatoriums Black Sea coast Caucasus. In the center of Old Gagra, where Nartaa Avenue comes especially close to the sea, there is one of the most famous places in Gagra - the Colonnade (a picturesque arcade in the Moorish style, enclosing a platform with a fountain in a semicircle). One of the most interesting sights of Old Gagra is the house of Nestor Lakoba, the leader of Abkhazia in 1921-1931. This old mansion on the mountainside, built by the Prince of Oldenburg for the masseuse who served his wife; Lenin subsequently allowed Lakoba to “privatize” this house. After Lakoba’s death, party bosses rested in his house, receptions and other events were held. For the last 20-odd years, an old Russian woman has been living here with her son (a crazy guy with a huge beard); At first she was just a cook, during the war she saved the mansion from looters, and now she continues to live in it and rents out rooms to vacationers. In Old Gagra there is the Gagra-Pavilion railway station; on the station building there is a banner with a beautiful inscription: “Give peace to the Caucasus and do not look for earthly paradise on the Euphrates - it is here. A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky." The background is the state flag of Abkhazia.

New Gagra

Located between Old Gagra and the village of Psakhara (formerly Colchis); Most of the city's population lives here, almost all the shops, cafes, post offices, about 10 pharmacies, a market, etc. are located here. Most cafes and stalls are open only in June-September. Films can be bought and returned in just a couple of places on the main streets; orders are transported to Sochi for fulfillment. The Gagra collective farm market is a large two-level building covered with a concrete vault; Opening hours are from 7.00 to 17.00, but traders begin to actively disperse as early as 14.00. In the area around the market there are many stalls and shops that operate according to their own schedule. From the transit route - st. Demerdzhipa - to the market you need to go along narrow lanes (there are many of them, all parallel), and you will have to climb over the railway line. The street goes north from the market. Abazgov (Abazgaa) is the main highway of New Gagra (not transit), along which there are the high-rise hotels “Abkhazia” and “Energetik”, numerous cafes, and the beach is just a couple of hundred meters from the roadway. There is no traffic on this street, but there are many passers-by. If the market is located approximately opposite “Energetika”, then the nearest post office is opposite “Abkhazia”, also on the street. Abazgaa (house approximately No. 49). If you walk along Abazgaa north to the place where it makes a bend, a well-groomed square with lanterns, benches and a monument in the center will open on the right. Although the monument does not have any signs, it is clear that this is a memorial to the last war (a golden ball on a high concrete pedestal - apparently a futuristic flower as an allegory of peace). On the street Abazgaa, right opposite the market, there are usually several UAZ cars, the drivers of which invite vacationers to go on a jeep tour (to Mamzyshkha, Ritsa or somewhere else). All along the street you can see other excursion barkers. There is a small parking lot near the market minibus taxis; It’s not convenient to sit on them here, because... the most popular ring is at Continent.

"Continent" supermarket

The most luxurious store in Gagra, with automatic doors and self-service (it opened just recently). Located on the street. Demerdzhipa, which runs east of the railway, parallel to it. On the site next to it there is a ring of minibuses going to Pitsunda, Bzyb, Gudauta, Sukhum and to the Psou checkpoint. Here - bus stop, where you can catch passing transport. Next to the Continent department store there is the so-called. The tricky market is a little more expensive and smaller than the city one. Immediately behind the “Continent” there is a railway, op. Atskhyda and the folk trail to the central street of Abazgaa, which is only a 5-minute walk away. Train Station(Gagra station) is located on the street. Demerdzhipa is about a kilometer from the “Continent” (towards Sukhum). The building itself has not been renovated, but a small cement house with cash registers has been restored long distance(the Express system works here!). The Sukhum-Moscow train has a stop in Gagra. Please note that the station is difficult to see from the highway - it is behind the trees, and also at the bottom, but there are wide asphalt roads leading to it.

In the north of the street. Demerdzhipa “dives” under the railway overpass, on which it is written “Gagra is our city!”, and - merging with Adygeyskaya Street. - turns into an endlessly long avenue. Nartov (Nartaa), which leads to Old Gagra. Tsar Leon Street (Apskha Leon), extending towards the sea at the beginning of the avenue, connects it with the street. Abazgaa. If you walk about 20 minutes along Nartaa Avenue to the north, you can find a working library No. 2 (house 223), buildings of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs and administration, a working cinema, the Reprua river (its length is 18 m - this is the most short river in the world, which has a name) and the main Gagrinsky post office (Nartaa Ave., 147). On Nartaa Ave. there is also a city stadium named after. Daura Akhvlediani; opposite it, among private courtyards, is hidden an Orthodox church, the only one in Gagra, which, surprisingly, was created from an ordinary house in Soviet times. Services are held only on weekends; the priest lives nearby. The most popular beach in Gagra is near the Abkhazia hotel and the Energetik holiday home; On the promenade nearby there are many small cafes and souvenir stalls; services such as scooter riding, sea fishing and a dolphin boat cruise are offered directly on the beach.

Mount Mamzyshkha

Has a height of 1866 m; rises directly above Gagra, with reverse side it is adjacent to the Mamzyshkha ridge, along which you can go down to the famous Blue Lake(see description of the Bzyb Gorge). At the beginning of the 20th century, an Alpine road was built to the top of Mamzyshkha from Old Gagra - a winding serpentine road, which under Soviet rule was mostly covered with asphalt (it was planned to create ski resort, and they were going to mount it on the slope cable car). The total length of the road is 30 km, it is quite possible to walk it in one day (you can go down twice as fast). The sign to Mamzyshkha hangs on the avenue. Nartaa, quite far from the modern city center. There is a trail that is several times shorter and does not make as many turns, but it is difficult to find without a guide. It starts in the Gorge and goes along a certain stream. On the Alpine road there are two observation decks, from where you can see almost all of Gagra, as well as the village of Bzyb, Cape Pitsunda and the Black Sea. The first site is located relatively close to the beginning of the road, where the residential buildings end, and is equipped on a grand scale - a concrete balcony over the abyss, an expensive cafe. The second site is in the middle of the second turn of the serpentine, where a certain Dzikhcha is indicated on the map; there is no longer any housing here; the bushes around the small balcony are completely hung with rags tied for good luck. Excursion minibuses bring vacationers to the Mamzyshkha observation decks to admire the sunset. Above the second site, several actively used logging roads branch off from the road. About 5 km before the top the asphalt ends; further on the narrow and dirty road can only be passed by goats.

Soon after the asphalt ends, the road will bifurcate: to the right and upward there will be a continuation of the alpine road to the top of Mamzyshkha (it’s 30 minutes away by UAZ or an hour on foot), and to the left and slightly down there will be a difficult road to Mount Arabica. UAZ cars with tourists occasionally drive along it, so it looks like it is actively used. They say that this road is quite new; it is absent from the General Staff's kilometers. The UAZ owners who are on duty opposite the market in Gagra and offer jeep tours through the mountains charge an additional 1,000 rubles for a trip to Arabica. mountain range Arabica is very extensive, it is famous mainly due to the large amount karst caves. Somewhere there is the most deep cave in the world - Krubera-Voronya, as well as some other famous cavities. In the alpine meadows of Arabica there are inhabited summer grounds of shepherds and hunters.

The peak of Mamzyshkha is already in the zone of alpine meadows. Armenian shepherds spend the summer months there (they have about two dozen booths). Besides huge amount cows, they graze their horses on Mamdzyshkha, on which they lead tourists - from the end of the asphalt road to the top of the mountain and back. Mamdzyshkhi offers stunning views of the surrounding area mountain ranges, Black Sea; below you can see Pitsunda, and at night the lights of Sochi and Adler airport are clearly visible. Cell phones work great. If you want to spend the night with the shepherds, bring/bring them bread and tea, they always lack these products. But they will feed you to your heart’s content with cheese and milk. It’s better to come to Mamdzyshkha before dark - at night the paths between the booths are hard to see, and watchdogs pose a great danger. Another danger is thunderstorms; On the mountain there is a monument to a 22-year-old shepherd who died from a lightning strike.

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