Some say there are two types of people in the world: beach people and mountain people. Thankfully, Georgia has on offer whatever your heart desires (even if it’s both). For mountain resorts see here. Georgia’s Black Sea coast is dotted with several resort towns and beaches across the regions of Adjara, Guria, and Samegrelo. While there are many options, there are a few coastal gems you should consider. For our top 5 sea resorts in Georgia for this summer, read on...

TOP 5 SEA RESORTS

Georgia’s Black Sea coast is dotted with several resort towns and beaches across the regions of Adjara, Guria, and Samegrelo. While there are many options, there are a few coastal gems you should consider.

Batumi

• By far Georgia’s most popular summer vacation destination, Batumi is more than a sea resort. The city is famous for its unusual architectural mixture, vibrant summer nightlife, luxurious hotels and casinos, long pebble beach, bicycle lanes along the seaside boulevard, and outstanding local cuisine. Batumi boasts dozens of excellent (mostly seasonal) restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. There are also plenty of opportunities for shopping and sight-seeing if you get tired of sunbathing. While the beaches are rocky, you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas. The wider Adjara region is packed full of things to do – you can easily spend a week here. A stroll down the beach-side boulevard is good any time of year, as is the Dolphinarium, Mtirala National Park, Green Cape & Botanical Garden, Gonio Fortress, numerous museums (see Where.ge for more details) and more. That’s not to mention the nightlife and seaside-city buzz. You’ll definitely be back for more!

Kobuleti

• Less than an hour’s drive from Batumi, many Georgian holiday-makers choose to stay in Kobuleti for the quieter, cleaner beaches while still being able to pop down to Batumi for nightlife and excursions. Kobuleti impresses with its vast beaches and sunny summers. Its promenades and parks are filled with tourists sunbathing as long as possible. Crowded mostly with Georgians and Russians, the coastline receives more and more Turkish and Arab tourists by the year. The recent discovery by Western media outlets has also lead to a spike in British, American, and German tourists.

Ureki

• Ureki is a tiny town in the Guria region whose black, slightly magnetic sand has made it popular among tourists. Many believe that the sand has healing properties. Located 60km north of Batumi and about 300km west of Tbilisi, Ureki’s sandy shores are a must-see – even if they don’t end up healing you or swallowing up your loose change, the sand’s very existence is a rare commodity, against most Georgian beach towns’ rocky shores. Nearby, you can visit Kolkheti National Park and Paliastomi Lake, the ruins of the Jikhnajiri fortress in the eponymous village, the historic city of Vashnari, the Church of Chekhedana, Khino Cathedral – one of three Epharchial Centers of Guria, and Konchkati Church and Castle.

Shekvetili

• Another Black Sea resort of the Guria region, Shekvetili is located between Kobuleti and Ureki, about an hour’s drive north of Batumi. Shekvetili became a port town during Ottoman rule and has recently gained attention on the Black Sea resort scene due to the construction of the 10,000-seat Black Sea Arena and neighboring luxury hotel Paragraph. Shekvetili has the same black magnetic sand beaches as Ureki, along with a lovely pine tree grove to get lost in during the mid-day heat. The shallow water makes it a good choice for young children. Another thing kids will love is the Tsitsinatela (firefly) theme park that offers more than 40 different attractions.

Anaklia

• Anaklia is a city on the rise – quite literally. The construction of a new deep-sea port in Anaklia began in late 2017, and with it a new city is being carefully developed. For now, it remains a sleepy beach town for most of the year. Its mix of rocky and sandy beaches offers something for everyone, and there is a nice selection of excellent hotels to spend your evenings in. For a week every August, Anaklia explodes into a colorful array of party goers from all walks of life at GEM Fest – the Georgian Electronic Music Festival – which has received international recognition. Zugdidi is just a 25-minute drive away if you’re craving a change of scenery, but with the beautiful, unspoiled Black Sea views, it’s unlikely.

By Samantha Guthrie

Main image source: Lodian/wikimedia