It is tempting to relax in a resort next to a real Roman fortress! We are talking about the seaside village of Gonio in Georgia and sharing our personal impressions. Find out what beaches, hotels, prices for food and entertainment are here.
Resort experience
Gonio is a southern suburb of Batumi, which is located 11 km from the city, across the Chorokhi River. The first time we passed through it by bus, on the way to Sarpi. The Georgian resort seemed to us quite large. It turned out that almost 3,000 people live here. In the center, next to the highway, the battlements of the ancient fortress rise, and nearby are the apartment buildings of local residents. There are many tourist hotels in the southern part of the village. There is a huge cross on the green mountain - a wonderful observation deck from where you can see the entire coast.
podruga10k: "What can be seen from the observation deck" Cross "in Gonio? The sea, the sea, the mountains, Batumi, Gonio, Kvariati and a little bit of Turkey. We hung for almost an hour. At first I frantically photographed everything - this is indescribable beauty, suddenly I miss at least a millimeter? Then wandered along the edge of a small platform. Somewhere I sat down, dangled my legs over the edge and looked, breathed in the wind and enjoyed my vacation and temporary freedom. "
What sea and beaches
Gonio has a pebbly coastline, it is not as wide as in Batumi. The sea water is cleaner than in the city. The depth begins 3-5 m from the coast, and the current is noticeable along it. You need to be careful when swimming with children!
The resort has built a new embankment - a wide concrete path with lighting and a long row of palm trees. In addition to changing rooms and renting sun loungers, there is no other infrastructure on Gonio beach yet.
Yulia: "After a week in Tbilisi, we were specially looking for a quiet place on the sea, it seemed to us that this was an ideal option. Falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the surf is priceless. A stunning view, you can admire the sunsets endlessly. You can go to Batumi for entertainment. We are very pleased, the pros outweigh the cons. "
Hotels in Gonio
It's nice to see Gonio transform into a fully fledged seaside resort. There are guest houses, mini-hotels and hotels in the Georgian village. There are no all inclusive offers in Gonio.
Prices for holidays in Gonio are slightly lower than in Batumi. In high season, a double room with a private bathroom costs 750-1000 rubles per day, a double room in a 3 * hotel - 1300-1500 rubles, and in 4-5 * hotels with breakfast - 4700-4900 rubles. There are few elite hotels. Look for hotels in Gonio na Hotelluca, the best according to tourist reviews:
- Hotel Georgia - from 989 ₽ / day
- Twins Hotel - 865 ₽ / day
- Captain - from 1113 ₽ / day
- Gonio Inn - from 3981 ₽ / day.
Food prices
Truckers from Turkey constantly drive along the highway to Gonio, so there are many cafes, bars and restaurants in the resort. We liked the fast food restaurant "Izmir", which is located on the outskirts of Gonio towards Batumi. Here they prepare dishes of Georgian, Turkish and international cuisine.
The average bill for two in an inexpensive restaurant is 20-30 GEL. Ojakhuri costs 10 GEL, phali - 6 GEL, chikhirtma - 7 GEL, Adjarian khachapuri - 7-10 GEL, a glass of Georgian wine 5-7 GEL, and bread-shoti - 1 GEL.
Find out what to try in Georgia.
coffee b: "Dedani Restaurant is the best place where we dined. Wonderful cuisine, authentic interior, everything was so great that we came to them more than once to taste Georgian hospitality."
What to see and do
The main attraction of Gonio is a powerful Roman fortification and the excavation sites in it. The territory behind the fortress walls occupies 4.5 hectares. The entrance costs 10 GEL. We advise you to go up to the observation deck "Cross" and visit the waterfall of St. Andrew the First-Called, which is located between Kvariati and Sarpi.
From Gonio, tourists willingly go on excursions to the Makhuntseti waterfall, mountainous Adjara and national parks. One-day tours start at $ 30. Find out what to see in the vicinity of Batumi.
Boris: "The fortress of Gonio-Apsar is a Roman fortress of the first century. It not only guarded and defended the entrances to the river gorge, but also was the center of the Eastern part of Rome. Of the 22 towers that once existed, 18 remained relatively intact."
Tatiana: "When you enter this fortress, you are greeted by beautiful nature, flowering trees, neat benches where you can sit. The Gonio fortress is the oldest fortress in Georgia. There are two mini-museums on the territory."
Vacation with children
Gonio is an ordinary village by the sea, there is no entertainment for children, so a child can quickly get bored. In our opinion, it is much more comfortable for parents with children to relax in Batumi or on the sandy beaches of Ureki and Shekvetili. It is interesting for older children to show the fortress in Gonio, but this is easy to do during an independent trip or on a guided tour.
Vladimir: "There were 4 families with children in Georgia. It is better to visit the Gonio Fortress with guides, but at worst you can read the signs. Children climbed the walls, chased lizards and were generally happy. In hot weather, take water with you. , you will not regret".
When is the best time to go
Due to the mild subtropical climate, the beach season in Gonio lasts from May to October. To a temperature of + 25 ... + 27 ° C, sea water is heated from July to mid-September. According to reviews, the best time for a seaside holiday in Georgia with young children is June, early July and September, when there is no extreme heat.
Is it worth going
It is much quieter in Gonio than in Batumi. An ideal place for a lazy holiday by the sea! This Georgian resort is popular with aged tourists, married couples with children and everyone who likes to enjoy relaxation by the sea. Here are just few entertainment, but you can always take a tour of the sights of Georgia.
