How to get to Abkhazia by train

Abkhazia is an amazing country located on the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. Despite its small size, the territory has many sea and mountain landscapes, so every year many tourists come here to see such beauty with their own eyes. But if you decide to take such a trip, then you need to know how to get to Abkhazia. There are several ways to visit this country (by car, bus or plane), but the most common and accessible is the train. More details about how to get to Abkhazia by train will be discussed in this article.

Resorts of Abkhazia

What you need for the trip

To visit Abkhazia, you do not need lengthy preparation of documents, since you can enter the republic with a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation or with a foreign passport.

Documents required to cross the border

When crossing the border, all information about possible loan debts or alimony, as well as outstanding fines, may be revealed to customs control officers. In such cases, tourists are refused and they have to return to their homeland, saying goodbye to the opportunity to travel through the territory of Abkhazia.

Abkhazia map

If you decide to visit Abkhazia with your whole family with a child, then for his legal stay in the country you need to have a Russian passport or a birth certificate that indicates the citizenship of the baby. Also, if a child travels with only one of the parents, then written permission from the other parent is required to enter the territory of Abkhazia. Such permits must be notarized. Otherwise, the document has no legal force.

How to cross the Abkhaz-Russian border

Features of traveling to Abkhazia

The only way to enter the territory of Abkhazia legally is through the border with Russia. But here you need to be careful, since when you receive the appropriate mark in your international passport about your stay in Abkhazia, problems may arise if you then decide to visit Georgia. This is due to the fact that Georgians still consider Abkhazia to be their territory and regard visiting this region across the Psou River as illegal border crossing. This is where certain consequences may follow.

Traveling to Abkhazia by train

Note! In order not to get bogged down in bureaucratic delays, it is still recommended to visit Abkhazia with a regular internal passport confirming Russian citizenship. This will avoid problems while traveling.

Dining car

Dining car of the Sochi train, photo: press service of JSC FPK
In the dining car of the tourist train, I was greeted by waitresses in red dresses with white aprons, a Russian samovar with steering wheels and a Tyumen scale with weights. String bags with food sets (for sale) swayed appetizingly at the tables.

The menu of the restaurant car of the Sochi train includes dishes of Russian and Abkhaz cuisine, prepared by the chef according to original recipes. There are Soviet culinary classics: Olivier salad, sausages with green peas, a sandwich with sprats, pancakes with caviar. The composition and energy value of each dish is indicated. dining car menu

How to get there by train

Among vacationers, traveling by train is the most preferred way to get to Abkhazia safely and cheaply, which cannot be said about flights. Of course, speed is not considered the “strong point” of trains, so the main disadvantages of this type of travel include spending a lot of time on the road. But if you have a limited budget, then traveling by train is the only normal solution . Below are examples of trips to Abkhazia from different cities of Russia.

The train is cheap, but not very fast

From Moscow

If we talk about the capital, then today only 2 trains depart from it. The number of the first train is 306M, it departs from the Kazansky station at 19:50 every day. The duration of the trip in this case will be about 1.5 days, after which passengers will arrive in Sukhumi - the railway station of Abkhazia. The cost of train tickets is low and depends on the carriage. For example, for a trip in a reserved seat you will need to pay a little more than 3,000 rubles.

Moscow. Kazan Station

But not every person can withstand 1.5 days in a reserved seat, so many prefer to overpay a little and buy a ticket in a compartment car. In this case, the cost can vary from 6,000 to 12,000 rubles (you will have to pay more for luxury cars).

Cost of a train ticket from Moscow

There is also another train moving through Moscow in the direction of Sukhum, its number is 479A. But the ride will take several hours longer, so most tourists prefer the first option. In addition, the cost of a reserved seat is 300 rubles higher, and a coupe is 500 rubles higher. This train moves through the capital from St. Petersburg (boarding at 10:40). The train does not have luxury cars like the 306M.

Train No. 479 St. Petersburg - Sukhum

From Saint-Petersburg

The previously mentioned train 479A, passing through Moscow, departs from St. Petersburg daily at 00:40. The duration of the trip will take more than 2 days, or rather 55 hours, so if you still decide to go to Abkhazia by train, then you should stock up on sandwiches and drinks for the trip. But as practice shows, even the longest trips in a cheerful company do not seem so boring, so if you are traveling with friends, then the time of the trip will fly by for you.

Ladozhsky railway station in St. Petersburg

On a note! The cost of train tickets to Abkhazia starts at 4,700 rubles - this is for a seat in a reserved seat. If you want to travel in a compartment car, the ticket price will be much higher (about 8,000 rubles).

From Yekaterinburg

Unfortunately, there is no direct flight from this city. Therefore, to get to Abkhazia, you need to take train 139N heading to Liski at 16:18. The cost of a ticket for this train is 3,500 rubles, and the duration of the trip is 36 hours. After you arrive in Liski, you need to change trains heading to Sukhum. We are talking about flight 306M, which will need to wait another 3 hours. The second trip is not as long as it was before and is 27 hours.

Ekaterinburg railway station

There is another way to get to Abkhazia and Yekaterinburg - through Moscow. To do this, you need to take train 019CH, which leaves every day at 15:17 in the direction of Moscow. The ticket price starts from 6,000 rubles, and the trip duration is just over 25 hours. In Moscow, passengers need to transfer to the previously mentioned train 306M, which will take them to the railway station in Abkhazia.

Electric train between Russia and Abkhazia

From Adler

Unlike previous cities, several trains are sent from Adler to Abkhazia. For example, you can take Moscow train 306 and within 5 hours you will be there. Due to the short distance, the ticket price is 650 rubles. You can also use the services of a train heading from St. Petersburg (we are talking about train 479A). The duration of the trip in this case is also approximately 5 hours. The train leaves Adler at 3:23 a.m., so tourists will get to the place in the morning.

New railway station in Adler

There is no need to go to the final station, that is, to Sukhum, since trains along the way stop in several cities and towns, where there is also a lot of entertainment and local attractions for tourists. For example, you can go to Gagra - an excellent resort town. You can go to it not by train, but by train. It will take longer, but much cheaper.

Schedule

Arrival of a tourist train at Sochi station
Train No. 927/928 “Sochi” runs to Abkhazia all year round. The full Tuapse-Gagra route takes 6 hours 10 minutes. From Sochi to Gagra the train takes 3 hours 20 minutes. schedule

Departure from Tuapse at 05:30, the train arrives at the final stop Gagra at 11:40.

There are 7 stops along the route at the stations Lazarevskaya, Loo, Dagomys, Sochi, Adler, Veseloe, Tsandrypsh. To Sochi the train costs 32 minutes (07:48-08:20).

The train departs for the return journey from Gagra at 19:00 and arrives in Tuapse the next day at 00:35. Stop in Sochi at 22:25.

On certain days, the Sochi train follows a shortened route between Gagra and Sochi. During the peak tourist season, a stop at the Imereti Resort station is added to the route.

The tourist train travels along the Black Sea coast; as soon as you enter Abkhazia, the sea is right outside your window.

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Why is it worth going there?

Abkhazia stretches along the Black Sea coast, demonstrating its riches: numerous historical monuments, medieval castles, parks and forests with untouched vegetation, high beautiful mountains. Regardless of which city in Abkhazia you decide to visit, local attractions (museums, squares, gardens, etc.) will be waiting for you there. Everything is done in such a way that no one returns home without positive emotions, because it would be a shame to visit Abkhazia and not get acquainted with the history and culture of this wonderful region.

What to visit in Abkhazia

Table. The main attractions of Abkhazia.

Place name	Description
New Athos Cave	This unique place, which is a large karst cavity, can compete in its beauty with many underground palaces of the world. The cave was first discovered in the early 70s, and since then many tourists have come to Abkhazia to look at this natural monument.
Dioskouri Embankment	On the territory of present-day Sukhumi approximately 600 BC. An ancient Greek colony was located. At that time it was called Dioscurias. On the site of the former colony, the remains of an ancient settlement are kept at the bottom of the bay.
Blue Lake	There is a legend among local residents that once upon a time, in a dark cave lived an old man with blue eyes and a long white beard. People came from all over the world to seek his wise advice, and in that place, after the death of the sage, a lake with water as blue as the sky appeared.
Gagra colonnade	A large structure on the territory of Abkhazia, equipped with 4 huge towers that are connected to each other. The Gagra Colonnade is considered one of the most important attractions of the country, so when visiting Abkhazia you should definitely see it.
Azantian dolmen	An ancient monument that scientists attribute to the megalithic era. It is located several tens of kilometers from Sukhumi, near the village of Azanta. The dolmen is a historical structure, the exact origin of which has not yet been established.
Villa Aloisi	A famous architectural structure located in the city of Sukhumi, or rather, on the slope of Mount Samata. Villa Aloisi has a unique view, attracting many tourists from all over the world. Like all ancient buildings, the villa has its own individual personality, reflecting the time in which it was built.

Abkhazia is a beautiful country with unusual nature. It fascinates with wonderful waterfalls, picturesque lakes and rivers, architectural monuments, as well as healthy sea air. No matter what city in Abkhazia you come to, be it Ochamchira, New Athos or Pitsunda, here you can always find interesting places worth seeing.

Gagra

Of course, the lion's share of tourists flocks to Gagra, since this resort was popular back in Soviet times. There is a very developed infrastructure with an abundance of markets, shops, cafes, restaurants, and hotels. The resort is divided into two parts: Old Gagra and New Gagra.

Regarding the first, it should be said that it was erected during the era of the Russian Empire. There is an amazingly beautiful park here where you can admire tangerine, lemon, eucalyptus trees and cypress trees. The bulk of the boarding houses are concentrated in this part of the resort, while the private sector is based in New Gagra.

Alternative Travel Methods

As noted earlier, the train is far from the only way to get to Abkhazia , as you can travel by car, bus or use the services of an airline. Many tourists enjoy traveling by car best because they get to decide when and where to stop. Also, when driving your own car, you have more opportunities to enjoy the incredible beauty of Abkhazia and look at the local attractions that you encounter along the way. Let's consider each type of travel separately.

About other ways to travel

By plane

The most expensive type of transportation is not suitable in the case of Abkhazia, since there are no airports in the country. In this case, you will have to fly to the city of Sochi, from where you will take a bus directly to Abkhazia. Many airlines provide flight services to Adler from different cities of Russia, for example, S7 and others. The cost of one ticket depends on the city from which the flight departed. For example, on the Moscow-Sochi route, you will need to pay 6,200 rubles for a ticket.

Is it possible to get there by plane?

By bus

Another relatively inexpensive way to travel, the popularity of which is approximately on par with the train. Daily bus service between some cities of the Russian Federation and Sukhumi. If you plan to leave Moscow, then be prepared to pay about 2,500 rubles for the road to Abkhazia. Every day a bus leaves from the capital's bus station and large southern cities, for example, from Sochi.

Traveling to Abkhazia by bus

By car

Despite the many advantages of traveling in your own car, this method has one serious drawback - large queues at the border with Abkhazia. As statistics show, in the summer the queues at the border increase significantly, so on hot days you will have to stand there for several hours. The checkpoint is located near the village of Veseloye.

Traveling in your own car

On a note! The advantages of traveling in your own car also include the ability to transport a large number of things. For example, you can take home many different souvenirs and local alcohol. In addition, the trip from Adler to Abkhazia will not take much time (you can get to the border post in just 30 minutes).

Border zone between Russia and Abkhazia

Tickets

Second-class car of the retro train "Sochi", photo: press service of JSC "FPK" The
tourist train "Sochi" has 4 classes of service: SV, compartment, reserved seat and seats. Tickets are sold on the Russian Railways website, in the mobile application or at any railway ticket office. Prices departing from Sochi from 203 rubles - in a general carriage. Pricing is dynamic, it is cheaper to buy tickets in advance, especially during the summer season and on weekends. to buy a ticket

Give a ticket for the historical train to your parents or older friends - for them it will be a nostalgic trip full of pleasant memories.

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Interesting facts about Abkhazia

The country is famous not only for its attractions, but also for the hospitality and generosity of the local population. There are many stereotypes about Abkhazia, showing the local people and the country not in the best light. But these are all nothing more than myths, as many tourists who visit it every year will agree.

Interesting facts about Abkhazia

Let's look at some interesting facts about this country:

unlike the Russian alphabet, which has only 33 letters, the Abkhaz alphabet consists of 54 letters;
all people know what adjika is, but not everyone knows what this word means. In fact, the word “adjika” is of Abkhazian origin and is translated as “salt”;

The word "adzhika" is of Abkhazian origin and simply means "salt"

among all the shores of the Black Sea, the Abkhaz coast is the cleanest;
traditionally, residents of Abkhazia prefer to seal their union with marriage in the autumn, because autumn is considered the wedding season here;
In one of the cities of Abkhazia, namely in Old Gagra, there is an unusual building, during the construction of which not a single nail was used. This building is popularly called Gagripsh.

Holidays in Abkhazia

In fact, the inhabitants of Abkhazia are very hospitable people, so even if you encounter trouble in a particular city, contact the Abkhazians, and they will kindly help you solve all your problems!

Where to go

You can spend your holidays in the above country both in boarding houses and in the private sector. Again, this issue is decided depending on your preferences. Whichever option you choose, there are pros and cons. In particular, having a ticket to a boarding house in your hands, you receive some guarantees that upon arrival you will relax in comfortable conditions.

Holidays in the private sector give hope for better food and a warm welcome. Here you should pay attention to the reviews that are available about certain offers.