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If you are looking for a hidden gem on the Black Sea coast, look no further than Tsikhisdziri. This small town with only 2500 inhabitants lies halfway between the tourist town of Kobuleti and the city of Batumi. Tourists only make a stop here to visit the archeological site of the Petra fortress but this time offers so much more! Read this guide to learn about the best things to do in Tsikisdziri, where to stay, and where to go for fantastic food.
Tsikhisdziri village
Tsikhisdziri is a small town by the Black Sea coast located about 5 kilometers south of Kobuleti and 20 kilometers north of Batumi. It is a part of the Kobuleti municipality and the broader region of the autonomous republic of Adjara.
A lot of tourists only make a stop here to admire the archeological site of the Petra fortress but this little village has a lot more to offer. Tsikhisdziri is a great place for travelers who like to discover hidden gems, travel locally and consciously, and have a heart for unspoiled natural places.
Do note that there are only a handful of accommodation options in Tsikhisdziri and only a few restaurants. Tsikhisdziri is for travelers who like to get off the beaten path. If you like beaches with lots of facilities and an abundance of restaurants then you are probably better of in Batumi.
Tsikhisdziri beach
Tsikhisdziri is a small village of only 2500 inhabitants so you can walk around the town and explore the beaches in one or two days.
Tsikhisdziri is however also a nice place to base yourself for a week or more to explore everything the Adjara region has to offer. Here is a selection of the things we liked best during our stay in Tsikhisdziri.
Petra Fortress
The Petra Fortress is located on the coast, near the southernmost beach of Tsikhisdziri and the beach of the adjacent town of Bobovkati. It is situated on a hill from which you have a beautiful view across the Black Sea.
It was built in the 6th century and was of significant strategic importance for military and economical purposes during that time and later on. The archeological site consists of a citadel, a basilica, and the remains of an urban settlement.
A newly built museum serves as the entrance to the site and a ticket costs 5 GEL.
Views of the interior of Tsikhisdziri
While the beach seems more alluring, exploring the village of Tsikhisdziri is equally rewarding. Here, you can enjoy authentic local Georgian life and discover some great views over the interior of Tsikhisdziri and the broader Adjara region.
Unwind while you walk the narrow streets of the village and get greeted by locals who will be curious about where you are from. There are two small supermarkets in town where you can buy fruit, vegetables and bread.
You have to cross a railway to reach the beaches of Tsikhisdziri
If you like to discover hidden beaches then this will be the best part of your trip to Georgia. There are a few different beach areas in Tsikhisdziri. All of them will require you to hike/walk through a maze of small pathways, forested roads, and bamboo trails and to cross a working railroad.
Don’t worry if you get lost. That’s the beauty of it all. The Best way to navigate the area between the main road of Tsikhisdziri and the beaches is to download the app Maps.me. It will come in handy to see your exact location but do note that only a fraction of the pathways is shown in the app.
The southernmost beach of Tsikhisdziri
To help you a bit, I will explain to the best of my knowledge, how to reach these beaches. There are three different beach areas. They are all connected by the railroad but you can also reach them separately from the main coastal road.
In this section, I will try to explain how to get to the southernmost and the northernmost beach.
concerning the railroad: This is a working railroad that connects the capital of Tbilisi with Batumi. Be careful when you walk this train track, however, machinists are aware that people walk on the tracks to get to the beaches. They will blow the horn before they reach the beach areas so you will know when you need to get off of the tracks. They also drive extremely slowly.
Bamboo beach, Tsikhisdziri.
This is another beach in Tsikhisdziri that lies between the northern and southern beaches. I wanted to give this beach a special place in this post because it is extremely scenic and, while it is located by the sea, it is not really a beach but mostly a rocky area backed by a small banana plantation with bamboo walkways.
In the area near the sea, you can find a wooden structure where you can sunbathe and laze away the day. Locals have told us that the platform turns into a small club at night.
Lazing on a wooden deck by the beach.
This “beach” is often referred to as “Tsikhisdziri hidden beach”, Bamboo beach or stone beach on Google Maps. It is impossible to reach by reach by car. There are two access ways, none of them to be found on Google Maps or Maps.me.
Beautiful rocks in between the beaches
This is a magnificent off-the-beaten-path location and it embodies what travel really is all about.
Abandoned hotel in Tsikhisdziri
Located in the maze between the beaches and the main coastal road you can find this abandoned hotel. There are no guards watching the property so you can walk in and out without a problem.
It is a perfect location for urbex photographers and also just a lovely photo location to take some shots as a traveler. We were told this building used to be owned by Stalin and was his summer retreat but another local contradicted this later.
Mtirala National Park
When you get tired of maze-walking in Tsikhisdziri, you can opt to make a day trip to the scenic Mtirala National Park. Located between the Adjara mountains and the Black Sea, this UNESCO-protected park is known for being one of the wettest places in Georgia and having a high level of biodiversity.
There are plenty of activities in Mtirale National Park, like ziplining and hiking. There are two trails in the park, one of them is a 7-km loop that can be done in half a day. It passes by a small lake and a beautiful waterfall. There are restaurants at the visitor center where you can have lunch but taking a picnic with you in also a good idea.
There is no public transport from Tsikhisdziri to Mtirala National Park. To get to the park, you will first have to take the public bus to the center of Chakvi. At the center of Chakvi, you will see a road with a sign to Mtirala National Park. A few (self-declared) taxi drivers are hanging around there. You can approach them but most likely they will approach you first asking you if you need a taxi. They will ask you for 60 GEL to take you to Mtirala but it is possible to haggle it down to 40 GEL.
Batumi, Georgia.
Batumi is the second-largest city in Georgia and has a bit of a cosmopolitan feel. Although it’s quite large in size, the atmosphere of this city is pretty laid-back, despite its futuristic look. In Batumi, you can enjoy long stretches of beach, cozy streets, swaying palm trees and a lot of smart coffee shops with delicious cakes.
Batumi botanical garden
One of the main attractions in Batumi is visiting the Batumi botanical garden. The garden was established by geographer and botanist Andrey Krasnov and boasts a wide variety of flora. The large area is divided into nine geographic sections which are all connected by a number of roads and hiking trails. An entrance ticket costs 20 GEL per person.
Batumi is a wonderful seaside city and an upcoming tourist destination in Europe. It’s a good idea to visit this city now before it gets overrun by the tourist crowds.
Café Bamboo, Tsikhisdziri
There are only two restaurants in Tsikhisdziri and they are both located inside the maze between the main coastal road and the beaches.
There should also be a small restaurant at the southernmost beach at the campground but I am not sure if you can eat there without actually staying at the campground.
Castello Mare hotel & Wellness
Tsikhisdziri only has a handful of accommodation options. Luckily, there is something for everyone. options range from very basic to ultra-luxurious!
Tsikhisdziri
Tsikhisdziri is easily reachable by public bus (45 minutes) from Batumi and Kobuleti (10 minutes).
If you’re coming from Tbilisi, take a Batumi-bound Marschrutka van (35 GEL) at Didube Station and ask the driver to let you out in Tsikhisdziri. Tickets can be bought from the driver.
A more convenient option is to take the train from Tbilisi to Batumi (GEL 35) and get off the train in Kobuleti or alternatively Batumi which is a little further away. From both these places, you can take the local marshrutka or a taxi to Tsikhisdziri.
Coming from Kutaisi, you can take a Batumi-bound marschrutka van from Kutaisi’s Central Bus Station. You can find them near Mc Donalds. A ticket can be bought at the cashier’s desk and costs 20 GEL.
If you’re coming from Mestia, Kazbegi, or the Kakheti region you will likely have to transfer in Tbilisi or Kutaisi.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide to Tsikhisdziri in Georgia. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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