Where in Pitsunda. What is the beach in Pitsunda

In chapter Policy to the question are there ticks in Abkhazia? and is the ANTI-TICK insurance from ASKO valid there? given by the author Milena the best answer is Actually, tick season has passed, but just in case, you can get vaccinated. Inexpensive and safe.

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: are there ticks in Abkhazia? and is the ANTI-TICK insurance from ASKO valid there?

Answer from Alkion alef[guru]
The overall security situation in the country is very ambiguous, although no more complicated than in any of the southern regions of Russia. On the one hand, the friendliness of local residents and certain efforts of the authorities have largely normalized the once very criminal situation in Abkhazia.
In this regard, the rule that is quite common for the entire Caucasus applies - if a tourist has a friend, guarantor or respected person from the locals, he should not expect any special problems. The country is small, everyone knows each other. The truth depends a lot on the guest himself, since Abkhazian traditions are still somewhat different from those familiar to us.
The sun is very strong in Abkhazia. You can get sunburned even “out of season” without sunbathing on the beach. It is highly recommended to use sunscreen at any time of the year.
In nature, ticks and snakes can be dangerous.

Answer from Inna Bilalova[active]
Igor, are you kidding? Tomorrow we are going to Rizza, and then walk 5 km to some lake. I'm worried about ticks

Holidays in Pitsunda (Abkhazia) will appeal to lovers of silence, huge parks and clear seas; excellent combination of price and service offered, living conditions. The legendary resort of Abkhazia, which has not yet received large investments. At the same time, being located on the territory of a large reserve promises good prospects for the development of local business. For now, there are no new luxury hotels, but there is an inexpensive private sector in Pitsunda with everything you need and walking distance to the sea, shops and other infrastructure. Here you can book excursions around Abkhazia - there are really a lot of them. The embankment has many attractions, cafes and restaurants to suit any budget, even the most modest.

The price for the private sector of Pitsunda is affordable, the choice of objects is sufficient. There are houses within walking distance from the beach where you can relax for very little money in these days. The page shows prices as of 2019 for guest houses, the private sector, without intermediaries.

Do you want to have a good rest by the sea with full board? Large hotels, for example, “Boxwood Grove”, “Apsara” are at your service.

How to get there

The city is located on Cape Pitsunda, which forms the Pitsunda roadstead, closed from high water. In the western part, the Bzyb River flows through the city, which, spreading into several branches, flows into the Black Sea. On the cape there is a system of relict lakes, the largest of which is Inkit. From the Russian border to the city is about 40 km. The capital of Abkhazia, Sukhum, is 70 km, and Gagra is about 25 km.

There are three main ways to get to Pitsunda:

• get to Adler in any convenient way by train or plane, then by minibus to the border crossing, which you cross on foot, and then take a local vehicle going along the coast of Abkhazia;
• by rail on the Moscow-Sukhum train (No. 305/306 or No. 036 trailer car) get to Gagra, and from there by minibus to Pitsunda. This is more convenient, especially if you are eating with children;
• by sea. During the holiday season, a catamaran runs from Sochi and Adler to Gagra, and from there, again, by minibus or taxi.

general information

Pitsunda officially became a city only in 2007, having previously been a resort village. The indigenous population here is no more than 4,200 people, although the city is quite large in area. True, a significant part is occupied by boarding houses and holiday homes, as well as nature reserves with rare varieties of trees. In addition to its “beach” orientation, the city is also considered a medical and health center. There is no industry. The service infrastructure is quite highly developed. Holidays in Pitsunda can be recommended to any social group of the population.

The history of the city dates back to the 6th century BC, when the first settlements appeared on the territory. Then the Greeks came here and founded the port city of Pitiunda, the name of which was eventually reduced to the modern Pitsunda. More accurately, this word is translated from ancient Greek as “pine.” Then the city passed to the Romans, Abkhazians, then the Turks, until in the 19th century it became Russian, and after 1991 again Abkhazian.

Things to do

Holidays in Pitsunda can be safely called quite eventful. There are a lot of interesting places and attractions that you will want to see. The first and main thing is local relict pine groves. Pitsunda pine is considered one of the noblest and most ancient trees of the Caucasus. And it is here that its largest reserve is located, bordering the entire cape. Nearby you can also find relict lakes, the largest of which is Inkit, which is more than 3,000 years old. Next, go to the Bzyb River, and best of all, to its source on the famous Lake Ritsa. Perhaps this is the most unique alpine lake in the Caucasus. There, history buffs can see the famous Stalin's dacha and Brezhnev's dacha. Since the 6th century, Pitsunda has been the center of Christianity in the Caucasus. In its very center is the unique Patriarchal Cathedral of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, built during the period of the Abkhazian kingdom. And there are a lot of similar places here.

Beaches

There are many beaches in Pitsunda, and they are quite different. It all depends on the location. The most popular and equipped is the Central Municipal Beach. The beaches of the association of boarding houses are also recommended. Here the sea is quite calm, unlike the suburbs further away from the cape. But the outskirts are not so crowded. The beaches are covered with pebbles. In many of them, pine and boxwood groves approach the water, which gives the air a strong therapeutic and prophylactic effect. If you want a sandy beach, it is better to go to the village of Ldzaa, which is not far from the bay. In addition, there are quite picturesque places there.

The small town of Pitsunda, located on the cape of the same name on the coast of Abkhazia, attracts tourists, first of all, with its unique nature. There are few historical buildings here, but nowhere else will you find such a mixture of sea and mountain air, flavored with the aromas of endemic plants.

There are places to go in the city itself and in its surroundings during your free time from a beach holiday. To make it easier for you to navigate, we have prepared a detailed list of interesting things in and around Pitsunda.

Attractions marked on the city map:

Attractions in the city

Central beach of Pitsunda

The resorts of Abkhazia and, in particular, Pitsunda, are known to Russians thanks to the health resorts and sanatoriums built here during the Soviet era. Now there are so many hotels and holiday homes here, but Pitsunda has not lost its glory as a picturesque seaside resort.

The city beach stretches along the entire coast of Cape Pitsunda, and looks different in different parts of the cape. The central part is crowded and noisy, tourists are offered a lot of entertainment here, and the beach itself is covered with pebbles. If you go further west or east, you can find more secluded stretches of sandy beach.

The water in Pitsunda Bay is warm and pleasant throughout the entire tourist season. Here the full-flowing mountain river Bzyb flows into the Black Sea, which makes the water on the coast incredibly clear: the bottom is clearly visible even at a depth of 3 meters. Another interesting feature of the bay is that no algae grows at the bottom.

Embankment street Pitsunda

Like every seaside town, Pitsunda has an embankment. This is a wide (40 m) street that stretches for 5 km along the shore of Pitsunda Bay. At the end of it, at the intersection with Gitsba Street, there is a famous sculpture "Divers". This is a three-meter composition consisting of several arches on which figures of diving people and sea animals are fixed.

On the embankment there is a lot of entertainment for city guests: attractions, competitions, a cinema. You can take a photo with a monkey or parrot. Throughout the entire tourist season, groups performing Abkhazian national music perform on the street.
The Pitsunda embankment is especially beautiful in the evening and at night, in the warm light of the lanterns.

Address: st. Gitsba, 5

This lighthouse was installed at the beginning of the 20th century and for many years it illuminated the way for ships entering Pitsunda Bay. After many years, the lighthouse body began to rust due to the humid sea air, and it had to be strengthened with supports.

It is located at the western end of the Pitsunda embankment among the buildings of the Mayak boarding house. One of the buildings now has a modern floodlight, and the old tower continues to attract tourists and appear on postcards depicting the city.

Address: Gitsba street
Telephone:
Operating mode: every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
Price: 50 rubles (photo and video shooting allowed).

This cathedral is located on the territory of the ancient village of Pitiunt. It was founded in the 10th century from brick and stone, has a cross-domed structure and is not at all similar to the Orthodox churches that are familiar to us.

The cathedral has a rich history. Starting from the 10th century, the Abkhaz Catholic see was located here, which appointed Catholicoses and bishops. In the 17th century, there was a threat of an attack on Pitsunda by the Turks, and therefore it was decided to move the department and the temple was abandoned. In 1975, an 11-meter German organ was moved here, and since that time organ music concerts have been held in the cathedral concert hall.

During its existence, the Patriarchal Cathedral underwent many restorations, due to which many frescoes and other details of the interior decoration were lost. Now the frescoes on the dome and in the altar have been preserved, as well as a tomb with two tombs: the apostles Andrew the First-Called and Simon the Canaanite.

Organ concerts are held in the cathedral regularly. The schedule is posted on a stand at the entrance. The International Classical Music Festival in Pitsunda takes place annually from September 9 to 11.

Historical and architectural reserve "Great Pitiunt"

Address: Gibtsa street, 2.
Telephone: +7 (84023)49-29, +7 (84023)75-49.
Operating mode: every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
Price: 50 rubles (photo and video shooting is allowed except for the chapel).

“Great Pitiunt” is an ancient city that has been influenced by many civilizations. First, the ancient Greeks founded the city of Pitiunt on this site. Then, in the 2nd century, the Romans came here and built a fortress here, which later, together with the city of Sebastopolis (modern Sukhum), formed a powerful outpost of the Byzantine Empire. Later, Pitiunt became part of the Abkhazian kingdom, and then of Georgia. And each culture left its mark here.

Now open to tourists, the “Great Pitiunt” complex is an ancient city protected by a powerful one and a half meter stone wall. Inside you can see the barracks, the commander's palace, Roman baths, wells, as well as a beautiful ancient Christian temple with skillfully executed floor mosaics.

On the territory of the reserve there is a museum of the history of Pitsunda, which introduces visitors to the rich history of this region. It contains elements of the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called, moved here during reconstruction.

Pitsunda pine grove

Relict Pitsunda pine is endemic to the region. This ancient long-coniferous tree, listed in the Red Book of Russia, existed at the end of the Tertiary period, which means that Pitsunda pine grew in these places 2 million years ago.

This tree has surprisingly long needles: 12-18 cm. It produces resin abundantly, which, when heated under the sun, releases phytoncides. They make the air of Pitsunda so healing.

The grove stretches along Cape Pitsunda along the coast for 7 km and has an area of ​​more than 200 hectares. All pine trees are numbered and carefully protected. Some trees in the grove are over 200 years old, and the long-lived patriarch has been growing on the Black Sea coast for more than 500 years.

A short video about Pitsunda and its pines:

Neighborhoods of Pitsunda

Microdistrict "Rybzavod"

Address: Gagra district, Lidzava village (Ldzaa)
How to get there by car: along the Lidzavskoe highway northeast of Pitsunda
By public transport: Buses and minibuses run regularly to Lidzava. The cost of travel by bus is 8 rubles, by minibus - approximately 20 rubles.

To fully experience the leisurely atmosphere of the Abkhaz coast, visit the Rybzavod microdistrict in the village of Lidzava not far from Pitsunda. The fish factory itself has long been closed, all that remains is its name.

The famous Pitsunda pine grows everywhere here, the smell of which envelops the entire eastern coast of the cape. This aroma, combined with mountain air and the smell of the sea, has a healing effect and benefits people with respiratory system diseases.

Holidays at the “Rybzavod” involve accommodation in the private sector, where you can see livestock walking on the streets, and you can buy homemade products inexpensively from local residents.

How to get there: There is no public transport to Ritsa; you can get to the lake by excursion bus as part of an organized excursion or by your own car. A road leading from the M-27 highway leads to the lake. If you are moving from Sukhum, you need to get to the bridge over Bzyb and then drive 1 km. If you drive from Gagra, then the landmark will be the traffic police post, after which you also need to drive only 1 km.

The beautiful mountain lake Ritsa is located north of Pitsunda at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. This lake is relatively young: it was formed after a mountain collapse about 250 years ago. The water there is icy even in summer, but even this does not stop tourists from wanting to take a dip.

There is a developed infrastructure around Lake Ritsa, offering a lot of entertainment:

• suspension rope bridge over the Bzyb River
• horseback riding
• ethnic shepherd camp
• paintball
• archery
• cafes with national cuisine and souvenir shops

Near the lake are the Ritsinsky relict national park and the Ritsinsky state reserve. On the banks of the Ritsa there is one of dachas of I.V. Stalin, and nearby - country house of N. S. Khrushchev.

If you have not yet chosen where you will live and want to save money when booking, we recommend using the RoomGuru service. Firstly, it contains hotels, apartments and guest houses from many different booking systems, so you won’t miss out on a worthwhile option. Secondly, you can immediately compare prices for one place in different services and book where it is cheaper (this is not always Booking!).

Pitsunda is one of the most interesting places in Abkhazia. The nature here is favorable for relaxation: the gentle, gentle sea is located at the foot of the cold mountain peaks. The vacation program is very rich, since the ancient history here coexists with modern hotel buildings and inns. There are so many attractions on the territory of the resort city, and the entertainment is so varied that you want to come back here again: touch the multifaceted history, bask in the gentle southern sun, wander through museums, try Abkhazian cuisine, take home souvenirs reminiscent of beauty and wealth this region.

HISTORY OF PITSUNDA

The history of Pitsunda dates back to the 2nd century AD. The first building here is considered to be a fortress built by the Romans to house the command. It had a rectangular shape with watchtowers at the corners. The tower was also located at the gate. Christian legend says that here at the beginning of the 6th century, after the adoption of Christianity, mass baptism of Abkhazians took place. From here religion began its march throughout the Caucasus. Apostle Andrew the First-Called preached in Pitsunda.
This fortress, saving the inhabitants, was repeatedly attacked, which only led to the strengthening of the walls of Pitsunda. In the 4th century, additional towers were built and houses for retired soldiers appeared, where they lived with their families. This is how the fortress looks today: ancient brick walls, and inside there are various outbuildings and residential buildings. It is located in the greenery of gardens on a cape, with Lake Inkit nearby.
Until the 13th century, the city was the strongest center of the Christian religion. In the Middle Ages, the buildings were destroyed. In the middle of the 19th century, the construction of military fortifications began: they were attached to the ancient wall. And the end of the century was marked by the construction of outbuildings of the New Athos Monastery. At the beginning of the 20th century, when Soviet power came to Abkhazia, the construction of cultural and recreational facilities began in Pitsunda, as a result, it became known as a resort town.
Literally everyone went here on their summer vacation. Pitsunda was a very popular resort due to affordable prices for accommodation. This has survived to this day. After a recent lull due to the military conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia, the number of tourists has decreased, but now the resort has become in demand again. The infrastructure is expanding, hotels are being built. The city lives and receives tourists. There are more and more people wishing to touch ancient history every year.

REST IN PITSUNDA

Rest in Pitsunda quite diverse, and literally everything bears the stamp of local color. For those who like an active pastime, there are hikes in the mountains or descents into gorges, and you can also visit nature reserves. If you need a relaxing holiday, then it is suggested to go to the sea. The water there is warm, children feel very good here. The resort attracts with its rich history. There are many architectural attractions over which time has no power. Even the ruins of ancient buildings can create an atmosphere of involvement in great historical events.
Now there are more than ten resort facilities in the city. The private sector attracts tourists with its uniqueness. The tourism services sector is being revived. Vacationers will find a lot of interesting things to see here: from the walls of ancient temples to modern entertainment. Pricing policies vary - from economy class to luxury holidays. Vacationers will be greeted by:
- boarding houses "Boxwood Grove" - ​​a wonderful place to treat the nervous system, respiratory tract and stomach, "Kudry" - offers the best course of massage and hydrotherapy, "Pine Grove", "Apsara", House of Creativity "Literary Fund" (physiotherapy course);
- Sanatorium "Sana" (offers treatment of the cardiovascular system using its own hydropathic clinic);
- "Pitsunda Resort", offering sanatorium and spa treatment.
Every year in August, vacationers enjoy participating in the procession at the Neptune Festival. The events are organized on the seashore; the cleanest air has a beneficial effect on human health. Sea water, saturated with microelements, is always clean and calm and also has a healing effect.

Museums of Pitsunda

There are many museums in Pitsunda, each of them opens up to visitors pages of the city’s distant past.
The private Museum of History and Ethnography on the edge of Pitsunda contains many unique exhibits telling about the past of the indigenous people. It was founded by folk craftsman Georgiy Khetsuriani, who spent his entire life collecting folk items, but died in 1994.
The Museum of History contains finds made by archaeologists on the territory of the village. The antiquity of the found objects suggests that the area was inhabited already in the Stone and Bronze Ages. Among the exhibits are the most ancient tools, glass and ceramics, sarcophagi, fragments of frescoes, coins, and details of mosaics from the times of Ancient Rome and Greece. One of the main items is the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The museum complex is located within the boundaries of the archaeological reserve unit "Great Pitiunt". The exhibition is displayed in a monastery building from the 19th century.
Pitsunda was created by merchants - they were revered people here. While trading with other countries, traders delivered necessary products and items here. As a result, a unique museum was created in Pitsunda - "The Merchant's House". Here is a collection of all kinds of things that speak about the past of this people. Tourists can see here models of various buildings, photographs, postcards, tools, and handicrafts.

Temples and churches of Pitsunda

In the southwest of the Pitsunda fortress there was an ancient basilica church - this is one of the most famous parishes of Christianity in the Eastern Black Sea region. Its shape is rectangular, the apse (the adjacent protrusion of the building) has seven sides and is framed by columns. On the floor of the sacred structure one could see a rich mosaic of geometric ornamental figures between plot compositions depicting the Christian world. The color range of this mosaic is different: from white to black, including all contrasting colors. The name of Bishop Stratophilus is associated with the temple. During the 13-year war between the Byzantines and the Persians, the religious building was destroyed to the ground and then rebuilt. The new basilica delights with the splendor of a pentagonal apse with rectangular pillars inside.
A little further north of the settlement you can see the ruins of another Pitsunda monument - this is the Two-Hall Church, which has two six-sided asps. Historians date its construction to the 6th-9th centuries. The vault of the building was made of stone, supported by two arches and pilasters.
Among the greenery, white walls and domes are visible - this is the famous Pitsunda Cathedral, one of the largest churches of medieval Abkhazia. During its construction, stone blocks and bricks were used, laid out in alternating rows: at the bottom the blocks are thicker than the brick, and vice versa. The apse is triangular. Frescoes have been preserved in some places on the plastered walls. Once upon a time, festive and solemn services were held here. The temple is interesting for its tomb, built in the 16th century, with richly decorated walls. In the 17th century, it ceased its activities, but people still came to its walls. At the end of the 19th century, researchers flocked here. The question of the time of construction of the structure still remains open: they are called VI, XI-XII, but most agree on the VIII-XI centuries. In the second half of the 20th century, a museum functioned here. Then restorers worked here for a long time. A concert hall with an organ housed in it was opened in the building. Now majestic classical music sounds within the walls of the ancient temple, attracting crowds of tourists to these places. In the historical and architectural part of the museum there are exhibits in which you can recognize the ancient Pitsunda.

Sights of Pitsunda

While vacationing in Pitsunda, you should definitely visit the Pitsunda Pine Grove nature reserve, which is famous for its centuries-old trees. It stretches along the seashore for 4 km. The cleanest air of the resort is saturated with the pine aroma of relict trees growing on an area of ​​more than 200 hectares. One of the pine trees is more than 5,000 years old, its diameter is 1.5 m, and its height reaches 40 m, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. One of the therapeutic procedures at the local health resorts is walking between the pine trees along the sea. The “Boxwood Grove” adjoins the reserve, which numbers about 27 thousand pine trees.
39 km from Pitsunda there is the high-mountain Lake Ritsa - this is a unique natural site that is also worth a look. No less interesting will be a visit to Lake Inkit. It is small, shallow - only a little more than 3 m deep, relict. Its waters are clean and transparent. Initially, the reservoir was fresh, but as the level dropped, sea water began to flow here. About ten species of fish live here, and birds nest along the banks. One of the legends says that the ships of Alexander the Great once stood here.
If you climb the mountains, you can see waterfalls called “Girl’s Tears” and “Men’s Tears”. The first one is located on the road to Lake Ritsa, unusual for its small streams of water, like tears shimmering in the sun. There is a tradition of tying ribbons near this source to make a wish come true. The second is located nearby and its flows are more powerful than the first. Milk Falls is known for its healing water, which tourists bottle and take home.
The attractions of Pitsunda are its famous sculptures. They are located, for the most part, on the city embankment. Near them, against the backdrop of the azure Black Sea, beautiful photographs are obtained.
One cannot help but admire the famous “Divers” created by Irakli Ochiauri, a famous Georgian sculptor. A naked man and woman froze on a pedestal. They are located in the depths of the sea, and sea inhabitants are depicted near them. Among them is the conger eel, which indicates the hardship of pearl divers, who have to dive very deep.
Another interesting composition is “The Sea,” depicting two dolphins emerging from the water. Since 1969, when the sculpture was opened, tourists have always come to it to admire the power and beauty of these sea inhabitants.
In the park on the Embankment, the “Stone Girl” sits on a pedestal. She clasped her knees with her hands and tried to peer into the sea through the rich foliage. Waiting for someone or thinking...
But the sculpture of Medea has been protecting the Black Sea coast on the southern outskirts of Pitsunda since 1980. She peers into the sea, and children huddle in horror at her feet. Sculptor Merab Berdzenishvili brought to life the legend according to which Medea killed the children born from her beloved Jason because he cheated on her.
On the way to the beach, vacationers encounter an unusual monument - a huge clock. They are made of iron, they show the correct time only twice a day, because they are broken: there are not enough hands, and those that are there are frozen in one place. This brings to mind the saying that “happy hours...”, but no, vacationers know for sure that the time to say goodbye to the sun and the gentle sea will come quickly. But you can come back next year and visit places where you couldn’t this time, because there are a lot of interesting places here.
There are many dolmens in Abkhazia, and there is one in Pitsunda. It is located on the territory of the Great Pitiunt nature reserve; guides are sure to tell the story of its appearance here.
If you head from the temple to the sea, then along the way you can come across a memorial to the soldiers who did not return from the fields of the Great Patriotic War and died in the Georgian-Abkhaz war of the late 20th century. All this is a tribute to the memory of modern Abkhazians to their ancestors and defenders.
An important attraction of Pitsunda, attracting crowds of multinational guests, is the lighthouse. For a long time it performed its direct function - it gave signals to ships. Now the complex is closed as an active facility and remains only an ancient navigation monument. Its young brother, equipped with all modern means, is located on the roof of one of the boarding houses.
There used to be a fish factory in the city, but it is now closed. There is only a microdistrict with this name left, with clean and comfortable beaches. It is very calm and uncrowded here; pets roam the streets. You can buy fresh food from local residents and buy something as a gift.

Cafes, restaurants

Pitsunda is a small village, with a resort system of organizing life. Public catering places are mainly located in boarding houses or directly in the center. There are many cafes and restaurants where live music is played all season long: pop and national groups show their creativity. The cuisine is mainly Armenian and Georgian, but European dishes are often offered. Here are the most interesting establishments in the city:
- you can taste traditional dishes in the “Abkhazian Cuisine” cafe, where they will offer mamalyga with shish kebab, khachapuri, cheese and herbs;
- mixed cuisine is a distinctive feature of the Abaata bar; the design here is attractive - the twilight and coolness of a medieval castle will pleasantly surprise you after the southern heat;
- near the Pitsunda temple there is a cafe "Eliza", where you can pleasantly accommodate a group of friends and order beer with a snack offered to it;
- the Blues cafe near the city administration building will surprise you with a wide selection of drinks and will delight you with an original approach to serving dishes;
- the Teremok cafe can be found near the administrative center, it really looks like a fairy-tale tower, it is open until late at night, offers a large selection of first and second courses, salads, desserts and coffee, they also serve excellent wine and “live” beer;
- the restaurant "Golden Fleece" is one of the famous in Pitsunda. It is famous for its exotic cuisine: bamboo salads, special meat and fish dishes. The barbecue and grilled trout, generously seasoned with spices and seasonings, are especially good here. There is a wide selection of desserts: baklava, pastila, honey, fig jam and other southern fruits. Guests are often served the best wines.
Of course, these are not all restaurants and cafes in Pitsunda. There are a lot of them, the service is good, the prices are also affordable.
In any cafe or restaurant you can order traditional Georgian dishes, here are the most delicious and interesting:
- Akudrtsa is in demand among tourists - bean soup, very spicy and satisfying, solyanka, thick and rich, generously flavored with spices, aromatic lamb soup;
- meat dishes are widely represented: smoked liver sausages, meat and fat tail fat, offal with nut mass, pate, lamb and kid on a spit, boiled tongue and, of course, shish kebab;
- Numerous fish dishes are also tasty: fried, in foil, smoked, on a spit;
- a lot of salads, vegetable and fruit, dough products, cheeses, sauces and seasonings are offered;
- the traditional dish khachapuri can be tasted almost everywhere; it is a delicious flatbread in the original with Imeretian cheese;
- in almost any cafe you can order very tasty and filling eggplants with nuts, they are usually served with real Georgian wine, and children are offered juice and fruit;
- corn is sold everywhere in different varieties, it is tender, aromatic, ripened under the hot southern sun;
- Of course, you will be pleasantly surprised by locally produced alcoholic drinks and juices made from fresh fruits. Traditionally Abkhazian wine from Isabella grapes, a honey-based drink, compotes from pears, quince, dogwood, feijoa.

Shopping in Pitsunda

From any trip you want to bring souvenirs. In Pitsunda there are a lot of opportunities to buy something as a souvenir. What attracts you most about local shopping is the low prices. Even with a small amount, you can have a good rest and bring wonderful souvenirs with you. It is also necessary to note one feature of local shopping: there are practically no modern retail outlets here, everything is sold in markets and in small retail shops.
In the center of Pitsunda there are market stalls for fresh vegetables and fruits, where real abundance reigns. Among the many tangerine and orange stalls you can see the feijoa fruit, which grows here. It has a lot of useful properties.
You should definitely visit the Great Pitiunt shop. It is located within the walls of the reserve. It successfully combines the functions of a souvenir shop, a small art gallery and a church shop. After listening to the guide, you can buy an item that will remind you of the history of this place.
All the souvenirs that are put up for sale here have views of Pitsunda, Abkhazia, the main attractions are small paintings, decorative plates, figurines, and magnets. The prices are quite reasonable, you won't be able to haggle.
Wicker crafts are very good as souvenirs; they are made here from wicker, bamboo, and boxwood. They retain the aroma of trees soaked in fresh sea air. Local merchants also sell sea souvenirs in the form of shells or beautiful stones, jewelry made from shells and sea pebbles.
Local sweet desserts are in demand as gifts. The main one is churchkhella, which is a delicacy made from nuts in grape juice; it does not spoil for a long time and withstands the road well. Tourists often buy Suluguni cheese, mountain honey with nuts added to it, a set of spices, local hot adjika, Abkhazian tea, and dried figs.
Of course, almost every vacationer will take home a bottle of real southern wine or chacha, which can be drunk undiluted or in cocktails. A good gift for loved ones and friends would be an Abkhaz cezve or dagger, jewelry or handmade clay figurines. In general, the choice is very large!

Pitsunda is a real gift for tourists; it is a small and therefore quite calm town. There are very comfortable beaches with clean and warm sea water, which warms up to +27 degrees. The holiday season lasts quite a long time, from the end of April until October. If you need a relaxing holiday, you can find it here, on the coast with an excellent healing climate and good ecology. Entertainment is mainly concentrated on the Embankment, where there are numerous cafes, restaurants and attractions. Prices are quite low. The local population lives off tourists, so they welcome every visitor!

The Pitsunda resort was an elite resort at all times of the former Soviet Union. Even Gagra could not boast of so many high-ranking vacationers. Thanks to its unique climatic conditions and magnificent nature, this resort was most revered among the party elite. In addition, it was in Pitsunda that foreigners vacationed; the resort was something like “Artek” for adults. In the summer, it was out of the question for even a mediocre party official to get to Pitsunda - only at the end of the holiday season (in late autumn or winter, together with leading production workers). Now the resort is publicly accessible to any category of the population, but only vague memories remain of its “eliteness”.

Everything around is stuck at the turn of the 80s. Since independence, nothing has been done for the resort. What can I say, the Abkhazians could not even save what they had.

They call themselves “proud people,” but strangely enough, all their pride lies in banal laziness. Nobody wants to work - they sit proudly and drink homemade wine, discussing how bad life has become around them. There is chaos and devastation all around. It’s a pity that with their boundless laziness they “poiled” such a magnificent resort.

The “best” place where you can at least have a more or less decent vacation is the association of boarding houses of the military industrial complex “Pitsunda”.

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Weather in Pitsunda by months:

*This table displays weather averages collected over more than three years

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Prices for holidays in Pitsunda. July 2018.

tour cost

There were four of us on vacation: three adults and one child 6 years old. We traveled by train from Chelyabinsk to Adler. Adult reserved seat ticket - 4898.9 rubles, children's ticket - 1804.6 rubles. From Adler to the village. The Alakhadzes ordered a transfer through the owners of the guest house where they were staying. The driver met us at the railway station, took us to the border, met another person at the border, who went through the checkpoint with us and took us from there to the guest house. All this for 2500 rubles. Quadruple room in a guest house in the village. Alakhadze for 13 days cost 32,500 rubles. The driver took us back to the border for 1000 rubles, and from the border to the train station we took a taxi for 500 rubles.

There are stands with excursions at literally every step. Travel agencies are different, but the prices and destinations are the same. It is advisable to sign up for excursions in advance, at least a day in advance. When registering, an advance payment is made, and the final payment is made on the day of the trip before boarding the transport. The price range for the most popular excursions is approximately as follows: High-mountain Lake Ritsa 900 rubles. adult/ 650 rub. children's New Athos (with caves) 1000 rub. adult/ 900 rub. children's Abkhazian feast (Lykhny village) 1500 rub. adult/ 1200 rub. children's Sukhum 1150 rub. adult/ 950 rub. children's Gegsky waterfall, lake. Ritsa (jeeping) 1400 rub. adult/ 1000 rub. children's Alpine meadows (jeeping) 1600 rub. adult/ 1350 rub. children's Children under 8 years old without a main seat are free, children's ticket for children from 8 to 12 years old.

Food and products

In average cafes, prices for almost all soups are 120 rubles, main courses - from 200 rubles. Feijoa compote, tangerine juice - 50 rubles each, Adjarian khachapuri (famous “boats”) 150 rubles, no less famous honey cake in those parts - 100 rubles. Dishes on the grill are paid by weight, so prices per 100 grams: pork kebab - 200 rubles, lula kebab 150 rubles. You can also buy smoked trout from traders - 150 rubles per fish. Homemade compotes 300-350 rubles for a three-liter jar. Alcohol was purchased only in stores and from the owners of the guest house. Wines from the Sukhumi winery (Apsny, Lykhny, Chegem, etc.) 250-270 rubles in stores and on the market in the branded department. All beer costs 80 rubles, whether imported or local. Everyday goods in small shops. Alakhadze is about 20% more expensive than in Adler.

Cost of services and entertainment

Prices for public transport are unpredictable and depend on the driver’s mood. We paid 100 rubles for the four of us on the minibus, and 100 rubles for each. It is useless to find out anything. If you're dissatisfied with the fare, get out. If you need to go to another locality by car, you can negotiate with one of the locals, the fee is 1000 rubles.

Total money spent on vacation

Helpful information?

Why is it better to vacation in September?

By September, the number of vacationers is noticeably reduced, housing, entertainment and food become significantly cheaper. A special bonus is that by autumn the harvest of local fruits begins to ripen in Abkhazia, which cannot be said about July: in the middle of summer there is absolutely nothing to eat there.

Family holiday

Families will be interested in visiting various excursions, enjoying the warm and clean sea, and uncrowded (compared to the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory) beaches. Extreme lovers can paraglide from Mount Mamdzyshkha. You can while away the evenings with a glass of Abkhazian wine, which, by the way, costs 2 times cheaper there than in Russia.

Holidays for the elderly

The beaches of Pitsunda are quite quiet and well-maintained, which is important for older people. In addition, it is at this resort that seaside pine trees grow, so the air there can safely be called healing.

What to take with you on vacation?

The most important thing that you definitely need to take with you to Abkhazia, in addition to traditional sunscreen and beach accessories, is a first aid kit. The situation with pharmacies there is not very good: there are few of them, they have inflated prices and a very limited range of medicines. The opening hours of pharmacies are also unpredictable, like many things in Abkhazia, so it may turn out that you will have to go to a neighboring village to get medicine. It’s also worth taking aqua shoes with you, because the beaches in Pitsunda and its surroundings are pebbly, and it’s not very comfortable to go into the water barefoot.

Where is the best place to stay?

Of course, staying in the private sector is much cheaper than staying in hotels or boarding houses. Unfortunately, there are very few modern hotels in Abkhazia. If we talk about Pitsunda, then there is a whole complex of boarding houses that have existed since Soviet times (and have not been renovated since then). You can rent an apartment or a room in a guest house. The main thing that can be recommended is to carefully consider the geographical location of your accommodation when booking. There are many small villages near Pitsunda, and on well-known services housing in the village is often positioned as housing in Pitsunda. This is how we booked a room in Pitsunda, and ended up in the village of Alakhadze a few kilometers from Pitsunda. In small settlements in Abkhazia there are problems with transport (there is a minibus to the nearest cities once a day, and then at the driver’s request) and leisure (after 7 pm, when it got dark, there was simply nothing to do, since there was nowhere to walk).

What to do at the resort?

The main things that Abkhazia attracts tourists with are its climate, natural attractions and the sea. This is what is best to devote your vacation to. There are good markets in Pitsunda and Gagra; you can go there not only for food or hotels, but also simply for local flavor.

You should definitely go to Lake Ritsa, visit the Gegsky waterfall, Yupsharsky canyon. This is a jeep ride along serpentine roads, so it will be interesting already on the road: the views around will take your breath away. One of the most exciting excursions is “Abkhazian feast”. There you can get closer to the local culture, listen to toasts and songs, enjoy Caucasian dances and, of course, cuisine.

Equipped and official beaches in Pitsunda are only on the territory of boarding houses. They try to take money from visiting vacationers to enter the territory. On these beaches there are awnings and sun loungers. On the so-called wild beaches you can also take a sunbed or rent a bungalow, but for money. All the beaches we visited were clean and uncrowded, which is a huge plus.

Shopping is not about Abkhazia at all. The level of development of trade there is the beginning of the 90s in Russia. There are no shopping complexes or brand stores in Pitsunda. Only the market and cots on the streets. By the way, cashless payments are almost never accepted anywhere.

Where can I eat?

Eating in Pitsunda is not a problem, but the majority of cafes are cafes with tables on the street, kebabs and small eateries.

About the quality of food and service

I really wanted to try something local and authentic, but apart from the khachapuri boat, there really wasn’t anything else anywhere. The menus in all cafes are very similar, and there are standard dishes that do not belong to the national cuisine. The food quality is very mediocre. We ate at the cafe every day, but tried to go to different places. During your entire vacation, you can remember literally a couple of times when it was really delicious. Service is so-so.

How much does it cost to eat? About food prices.

Soups in ordinary cafes cost 130-150 rubles, compote or fruit drink - 50 rubles, hot dishes from 300 and above, Medovik, popular in Abkhazia - about 100 rubles. Lunch for one person can cost 200 - 600 rubles.

Entertainment

The main entertainment is banana riding, cheesecake riding, paragliding, and fishing. There are trampolines on the beach for children.

Advantages of holidays in Pitsunda

Pitsunda has a good climate, a clean and warm sea, not many people, in general it is a fairly calm and quiet place. It’s worth coming here to enjoy the beauty and grandeur of nature, and to take a break from the noisy and dusty city.

Disadvantages of holidays in Pitsunda

The level of service in Pitsunda leaves much to be desired. I would like holidays in Abkhazia to be more civilized and modern, because when you get there, it’s like going back 30 years. Also annoying is the devastation that reigns everywhere and the neglect of cultural sites. Well, the organization of leisure time is so-so. In the evening there is nowhere to go, there is no park where you can walk, no well-groomed embankment.

Is it worth vacationing in Pitsunda?

You can relax in Pitsunda if you are prepared for all the nuances of Abkhazia. I would not refuse a second trip to Abkhazia, but this time I would choose Gagra as a more developed, large and beautiful city. However, if you have a goal to be closer to nature, then Pitsunda is well suited for relaxation.