detailed instructions how to get from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Sochi (Adler) and other cities to Abkhazia by plane, train, bus, car and catamaran in 2020.
Abkhazia is a small but amazing country with amazing mountain and sea landscapes. To see this beauty with your own eyes, you don’t need to philosophize - you just need to learn from our article about how to get from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Sochi and other cities to Abkhazia, and go to conquer the peaks!
You can get to the Land of the Soul in the following ways: by plane, train and train, bus (minibus / taxi) and car. Well, how best to get to Abkhazia is up to you.
How to get to Abkhazia by plane?
Planes do not make flights to Abkhazia, although there are two airports in the republic - Babushara and Bombora. The latter is used by the military, and Babushara only accepts flights from the UN mission and peacekeepers, as well as helicopters. In the future, it is planned to reconstruct the Sukhumi airport and put it into operation, but for now, the closest airport to Abkhazia is Sochi-Adler. That is, it is impossible to get to Abkhazia by plane directly - you need to fly first to Sochi or Krasnodar, and from there - by train or bus.
From Moscow
How to get to Abkhazia from Moscow? You can fly to Adler and back in the summer of 2020 for 6.5 thousand and more (Pobeda Airlines). In autumn, tickets are a little cheaper - from 6 thousand in both directions.
From Saint-Petersburg
To get from St. Petersburg to Abkhazia in the summer of 2020, you will have to pay almost twice as much as from Moscow - from 11.5 thousand. In autumn - from 9 thousand rubles.
From Yekaterinburg and Ufa
In the summer season, flying from Yekaterinburg to Adler costs from 15 thousand rubles, in autumn - from 12 thousand. The cost of tickets from Ufa for the summer - from 12, for autumn - from 8.5 thousand rubles.
You can learn more about ticket prices to Adler in our special.
How to get to Abkhazia by train?
How to get from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Abkhazia by train
You can get to Abkhazia by train Moscow - Sukhum. A ticket for a reserved seat from Moscow costs from 3 thousand rubles, a coupe - from 5 thousand rubles. The train goes through Voronezh, Rostov, Krasnodar, Tuapse, Sochi, Adler, Gagra, Gudauta and Novy Afon. Travel time from Moscow is about 38-45 hours.
Also, from May 29, 2015, a train from St. Petersburg to Sukhum was launched, which runs through Tver, Moscow, Tula, and then along the same route as the train from Moscow. The cost of a reserved seat to Sukhum from St. Petersburg is from 4 thousand rubles, a compartment - from 7 thousand rubles. It is reported that the cars are comfortable and comfortable - with air conditioning and dry closets. Travel time is about 56 hours.
In addition, in the summer of 2020, the Belgorod-Sukhum train will run. The cost of a reserved seat is 3 thousand rubles, a coupe - 5 thousand.
How to get to Abkhazia from Yekaterinburg and Ufa by train
There are no direct trains to Sukhum from Yekaterinburg and Ufa, you need to go to Adler, and then by train, bus or minibus to Abkhazia. The cost of train tickets from Yekaterinburg is as follows: reserved seat - from 3.5 thousand rubles, compartment - from 7 thousand. From Ufa: reserved seat - from 3 thousand rubles, coupe - from 5.5 thousand rubles.
How to get from Krasnodar and Sochi to Abkhazia by train
If you are not ready to spend two or more days on the train and spoil your vacation in Abkhazia, we advise you to get by plane to the southern cities - Krasnodar or Sochi, and then go by train, besides, tickets from these cities are inexpensive. A ticket for a reserved seat from Krasnodar costs from 1000 rubles, a compartment - from 1500. Travel time is about 12 hours.
To get to Abkhazia from Sochi (Adler), you will have to spend less money: a reserved seat will cost about 670 rubles, a compartment - from 1000. Travel time is about 6 hours. The most convenient way to go, of course, is from Adler. We recommend that you start buying train tickets as early as possible - they are sold out in an instant. In addition, Russian Railways has dynamic pricing on many trains - the earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will cost.
The train is one of the most comfortable options. In addition, it is very convenient to travel from Krasnodar, since most of the travel time falls at night. The undoubted advantages of this option are that customs and passport control take place in the train cars, and the parking time at the border does not exceed 30 minutes.
Train from Adler to Gagra
On June 20, 2015, during the holiday season, in order to "unload" the Russian-Abkhazian border, an electric train was launched from Adler to Gagra, which will run three times a day.
Schedule of the train Adler - Gagra: departure from Adler at 7:59, 13:41 and 19:39, and arrival in Gagra at 9:47, 15:29, 21:30.
Train schedule Gagra - Adler: departure from Gagra at 10:47, 16:29 and 23:39, arrival in Adler at 12:21, 18:23 and 1:33.
How to get to Abkhazia by bus
How to get by bus, minibus and taxi from Adler
Everything is very simple here: at the Adler railway station or the airport building, you can take bus number 173, a minibus or a taxi that will take you to the border (Psou), where you need to go through passport control. Well, after the checkpoint, after passing the pedestrian bridge, you will see buses, minibuses and taxis waiting for passengers in the parking lot, the drivers of which invite tourists to go to resorts.
There are no numbers on minibuses - read the directions on the signs. Prices for travel by minibus depend on the distance: to Sukhum - about 200 rubles, to New Athos - about 150 rubles, to Pitsunda - 100-120, to Gagra - up to 70 rubles. Bus tickets are cheaper. The last bus from the checkpoint towards the capital of Abkhazia leaves around 8 pm.
If you arrive by plane in Adler: the bus and minibus stop is located opposite the exit from the airport, you just need to cross the road. The fare on public transport is about 40 rubles. There is a bus № 173 , which goes straight to the checkpoint Psou (25 rubles).
Taxi drivers are waiting for newcomers right at the exit of the airport. We recommend not to use their services - the prices of taxi drivers are exorbitant. On average, a taxi costs 500-700 rubles, but they can offer to take you for two thousand rubles. By refusing a taxi, you will save a significant amount.
If you arrive by train to Adler: In fact, any bus and minibus will do, going towards the Cossack market and the checkpoint, for example, № 57, 100, 117, 125, 173 . Closest to the checkpoint stops № 173 . The fare is about 25 rubles, the travel time is from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the situation on the roads.
On a note: transport links between the cities of Abkhazia are quite chaotic, minibus drivers usually leave as the cabin fills up, so be prepared for the fact that you will not leave the checkpoint immediately. The exception is regular buses.
How to get from Krasnodar and Sochi to Abkhazia by bus
Every day at 19:00 and 19:40 (transit, from Nalchik) buses depart from Krasnodar to Sukhum. Travel time - 12 and 14 hours, ticket price - 626 and 644 rubles, respectively. You can see the bus schedule from Krasnodar to Abkhazia, as well as the cost of tickets and the route.
Judging by the Yandex.Schedule service, you can travel from Sochi to Sukhum by transit buses - they depart from Sochi daily at 3:16 and 4:56 Moscow time. On the way - from 4.5 to 5 hours 15 minutes. There is also a bus that departs exclusively on odd days at 16:34 Moscow time.
Regular buses are skipped at the border out of turn, which is very pleasing. The only disadvantage of this option is that the journey will have to be made in a sitting position.
(photo © Marco Fieber/Ostblog.org / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
How to get to Abkhazia by car
Crossing the border of Abkhazia by car is as easy as on foot. To do this, you need to have a general civil or foreign passport, registration certificate and driver's license, as well as a general power of attorney for the car if you are not the owner (with permission to travel abroad of the Russian Federation). The only inconvenience of this method is that in the summer there can be long queues.
If you plan to stay in Abkhazia for more than 1 month, you need to put the car on temporary registration. This can be done in the departments of the traffic police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of temporary residence (about 150 rubles will have to be paid).
When crossing the border, a fee is charged - 70 rubles per a car.
How to get from Sochi and Adler to Abkhazia by sea
Curious, comfortable and fast way to get from Sochi to Abkhazia is to buy a ticket for the Sochi-2 catamaran. The ship runs on odd days and departs from Sochi to Gagra at 10 am. The journey will take only 1.5 hours! Be careful: boarding a catamaran is carried out 1.5 hours before departure, and tickets are purchased a day before departure at the box office No. 8 of the Sochi sea terminal. An adult one-way ticket costs 550 rubles (round-trip - 1000 rubles), children from 3 to 12 years old - 50%, and children under three years old can travel for free. The ship returns back at 18:30.
The same catamaran leaves for Gagra from Adler on even days also at 10 am (only an adult ticket costs a little cheaper - 400 rubles), and back at 18:00.
Intro image source: © freshphoto / flickr.com.
With the approach of the holidays, many people begin to sort out options for where to fly to rest. Many destinations are considered already beaten and fed up, the flow of tourists there is large, this sometimes spoils the impressions of the country and increases spending. However, there are also options that will allow you to experience a lot of emotions, save money and, as a result, visit a place whose photos will amaze absolutely all your friends and relatives.
Abkhazia is not in vain considered the country of the soul. Indeed, the Caucasus has always been distinguished by a high degree of hospitality and love for tourists. But the most important thing is the unique and inimitable nature. This partially recognized state does not just have a sea and beaches that European resorts will envy. You get access to the unique Caucasian mountains, the purest mountain lakes and waterfalls (Lake Ritz and the Geg River are known all over the world), relict forests and first-class resorts. At the same time, the flow of tourists here is somewhat less than in Sochi or Georgia. Many tourists unfairly believe that the way to Abkhazia is difficult and costly, so they prefer to go where they are closer. However, this myth has long ceased to be true. Therefore, it is worth knowing how to get to Abkhazia by plane from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Adler and other cities of the country.
Today you can get to Abkhazia by almost any means of transport. Among them, the most popular are:
- airplane;
- train;
- ship;
- car.
If you decide to get to Abkhazia by plane, then you need to know that this is the fastest way. In just a few hours you will be able to approach this friendly republic.
It should be taken into account that the there is no airport in Sukhumi yet(it is under construction). The air harbor will begin operation approximately in 2017-2018.
So far, the flight algorithm is somewhat more complicated, although it allows you to get to the resort the fastest. Therefore, the plane flies to Adler (Sochi). After that, there are several ways to cross the border.
Abkhazian border
Options for entering Abkhazia
From Adler there are many ways to get to the resorts. Keep in mind, only on paper all this seems like a costly and complicated route. It will not be difficult to get to Abkhazia by plane. After landing in Adler, there are several options for action:
- Take a taxi to the border - the cost is about 500-1000 rubles.
- Take a minibus that runs from morning to nine o'clock every day - the price is 100 rubles per ticket.
- Take a bus and drive to the KKP Psou - also about 100 rubles.
- Get from the airport to the railway station in Adler, and then go by taxi to the Cossack market.
In fairness, it should be noted that there are two airports in Abkhazia - Babushara and Bombora, but they are not used to serve tourists. Therefore, today by plane you can only get to Adler, and then transfer to another transport. The flight from Moscow takes approximately 3-4 hours, depending on the characteristics of the flight. The distance between the Adler railway station and the border of Abkhazia is 8 kilometers, and the journey takes 20 minutes, including traffic.
Approximate cost of a flight to Abkhazia
Of course, tourists are most interested in how much plane tickets to Abkhazia cost. It will not work to fly from Moscow to Abkhazia, since there is no direct flight here, you need to focus on the cost of the flight to Sochi. The price goes up during the season. So, in the summer a flight from Moscow to Adler will cost about 5 thousand rubles per person one way. it minimum price for the economy class from the Pobeda company. However, keep in mind that it will be cheaper to get to Krasnodar. From there, trains and electric trains run constantly to Adler. In both directions per person, the approximate cost is 6-7 thousand rubles.
A flight from other cities, for example, a rather remote St. Petersburg, will be much more expensive. You can fly to Adler for 11 thousand rubles. There and back to Krasnodar - for 13 thousand per person. Business class will cost even more. Tourists should be glad that the short route from Adler to the border itself is very cheap. It is most often crossed on foot, and then they board numerous minibuses in Abkhazia itself, depending on the choice of resort for recreation. In addition, in Adler, the train runs directly not only to Sukhumi, but also to Gagra. It only launched in 2015.
Abkhazian wines - something that you definitely need to bring back from your vacation
Customs control at the border
For Russian tourists there are certain advantages in visiting Abkhazia. The fact is that citizens of Russia and most of the CIS countries do not need any visa to visit. Tourists cross the border on foot, presenting their documents and luggage for verification. You will also need to declare currency and other valuable items. After that, you can again choose a transport and go further. The border service works around the clock, but there are also technical breaks.
Note! There are restrictions on the export of souvenirs and gift products.
For example, one adult tourist has the right to take out no more than 2 liters of wine. Customs officials don't take kindly to home-cooked food like cheese, but if it's packaged and labeled, they might miss it. Within reason, it is quite possible to transport various fruits, the famous Abkhazian honey, of course, if such products do not take up a whole bag, otherwise such a cargo may be mistaken for smuggling. Therefore, there is nothing difficult in getting to Abkhazia for a Russian tourist and enjoying a wonderful holiday, the main thing is to observe the measure in everything and not to enter into conflicts with the local population.
In contact with
How to get to Abkhazia by train
How to get to Abkhazia by train? There are two options:
- By direct train, straight to Gagra, New Athos, Sukhum
However, only residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in the summer of Samara and Belgorod, can use this route. Well, also passengers from stations along the way.
- The second option to Zh.D. Adler station, the station in Adler is located 10 kilometers from the Russian-Abkhazian border.
Direct trains to Abkhazia from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara and Belgorod
Cities along the way
Train Moscow - Sukhum (No. 306 M). Departure from Kazansky railway station. Stations of major cities along the route of the train - Ryazan, Voronezh, Rostov, Krasnodar, Tuapse, Sochi, Gagra, Gudauta, Novy Afon and the final Sukhum. Total travel time 1d. 14h.
Train Moscow - Sukhum (№547М)
The train runs only in the summer. Departure from the Kursk railway station.
Train St. Petersburg - Sukhum (No. 479 A). Stations of the cities along the route of the train are St. Petersburg (Moskovsky railway station), Tver, Moscow, Tula, Uzlovaya, Yelets, Lipetsk, Rostov, Armavir, Tuapse, Sochi, Gagra, Gudauta, Novy Afon and the final Sukhum. Total travel time 2 days 8 hours 37 minutes.
Train Samara - Sukhum (No. 487th). Run this route only in the summer season. Stations of cities along the route of the train are Samara, Syzran, Penza, Rostov, Tikhoretsk, Tuapse, Lazarevskoye, Sochi, Gagra, Gudauta, Novy Afon and the final Sukhum. Total travel time 2 days 3 hours 53 minutes.
Train Belgorod - Sukhum (No. 579 B). Walks only in summer. Stations of cities along the route of the train are Belgorod, Stary Oskol, Voronezh, Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov, Tikhoretsk, Tuapse, Lazarevskoye, Sochi, Gagra, Gudauta, Novy Afon and the final Sukhum. Total travel time 1 day 19 hours 30 minutes.
- You can buy a train ticket, as well as find out the train schedule and availability on the page .
From other Russian cities you need to buy a train ticket to Adler.
How to get to Abkhazia by plane
If you decide to go on vacation to the Republic of Abkhazia by plane, then you should know that in this country there is no airport serving regular passenger flights, because. Sukhumi airport has not passed international certification. Therefore, to get to Abkhazia by plane, you need to fly to Sochi (Adler) airport.
On our site you can buy inexpensive
- You can buy a plane ticket, as well as find out the flight schedule on the page
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below, we will answer you as soon as possible.
We will be very grateful if you leave your feedback and comments about our article or about your experience of traveling to Abkhazia, so you can help other people.
Thank you and have a nice holiday.
You can enter Abkhazia only through two land border points: the Psou checkpoint on the border with Russia and the checkpoint on the Inguri River on the border with Georgia. The vast majority of tourists visit Abkhazia from Russia, and if a tourist entered from Russia, then he must go back there.
Citizens of the Russian Federation can enter Abkhazia only from the Russian side, through the Psou checkpoint. Entry through the checkpoint "Enguri" (from Georgia) is prohibited.
To Abkhazia by train
A direct train runs from Moscow to Sukhumi No. 305 S. The journey takes 41 hours 43 minutes. The frequency of trains depends on the season.
You can also take any of the trains running from more than 50 Russian cities to Adler, and from there to Sukhumi by commuter train or bus.
Daily trains run twice a day between Sochi and Sukhumi, the fare is 170 rubles.
To Abkhazia by plane
There is no direct air communication with Abkhazia. By plane you can get to the airport of Sochi (located in Adler), from which it is 8 kilometers to the border. On the this moment a bus runs from the airport to the border of Psou.
To Abkhazia by bus and taxi
Minibuses run between Sochi, Adler and Sukhumi. A regular bus departs from Sukhumi to Sochi daily at 10:00.
The bus from Rostov-on-Don departs daily at 18:00, arriving in Sukhumi at 10:45.
A bus from Krymsk (Krasnodar Territory) follows every other day. Departure at 15:40, arrival in Sukhumi at 6:00.
The bus from Krasnodar to Sukhumi departs daily at 19:00, arriving in Sukhumi at 8:30.
Buses from Krasnodar to Tkvarcheli (via Gagra, New Athos, Gudauta, Sukhumi) leave every other day at 16:30.
Buses from Volgograd to Sukhumi run twice a week - on Tuesdays and Fridays, departure at 12:30 (16 hours 45 minutes on the way).
Buses from Moscow (bus station "Krasnogvardeiskaya") to Sukhumi depart on Fridays.
The bus schedule may change - it is advisable to check it again at the information bus stations before the trip.
Minibuses run from the Adler railway station to the border with Abkhazia. They depart as they fill up from the Adler railway station and follow to the Psou checkpoint. The price is 150 rubles per person. Immediately after crossing the border, already on the Abkhaz side, tourists will be met by Abkhaz minibuses, which will take them to Gagra for 50 rubles per person or to Sukhum for 100 rubles.
Taxi can be taken either directly from Sochi and Adler, or by crossing the border and taking it already on the Abkhazian side. If you take a taxi in Adler, you will have to pay about 3,500 rubles for a car, which is quite expensive. It is more profitable to take a taxi at the border and get to Sukhum for 1200-1500 rubles.
To Abkhazia by ferry
In the summer, from June 1 to October 1, a high-speed catamaran runs daily (once a day) from the Adler sea pier to the port of Gagra. The journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The service is provided by the Catamaran-Sochi company (www.katamaran-sochi.ru), the fare is 500 rubles one way.
Entry from Georgia
Tourists, with the exception of citizens of the Russian Federation, can enter Abkhazia from Georgia through the Inguri bridge near Zugdidi.
You can get from Zugdidi to the checkpoint by taxi - the cost is 10-12 GEL per car ($6-8) or by minibus for 4 GEL.
After crossing the border (only on foot, by car is prohibited) you can get to the nearest city of Gali by minibus, from there by bus and minibuses to Sukhumi or by taxi to other cities. In practice, the movement of minibuses and buses in the border area is irregular, so it is advisable to be on the Abkhazian side in the first half of the day. Later, there may be no public transport at all, as an alternative - only taxis, the fare for which averages about 2,000 rubles (from Gali to Sukhumi). At the same time, a bus ride costs about 200 rubles.
