Zugdidi: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
For centuries Zugdidi was the seat of the Dadiani, the princes who ruled Samegrelo almost as kings until Russia absorbed the principality in the 19th century. Their palace, church and park still form the centre of town, and the market a few streets away is where the province comes to shop. This is a flat walk of about two hours. Start at the palace when it opens and finish at the bazaar for lunch.
A short history of Zugdidi
Zugdidi was the capital of Mingrelia, the principality in western Georgia ruled by the Dadiani family. In the 19th century the family built a palace and a large botanical garden, and after the principality was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1857 they continued to live there. Salome Dadiani married Achille Murat, grandson of Joachim Murat, Napoleon's brother-in-law, and thanks to this connection one of Napoleon's death masks is kept in the palace. After the war in Abkhazia in the early 1990s, tens of thousands of refugees arrived in the town, because it lies close to the Inguri River, the boundary with Abkhazia.
The ten best sights in Zugdidi
1Dadiani Palace MuseumThe palace of the princes of Samegrelo; the reason to stop in Zugdidi
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2Church of the Blachernae Icon
The palace church in the same grounds; modest dress
3Zugdidi Botanical GardenThe princes' park behind the palace; big old trees and shade on a humid afternoon
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4Shalva Dadiani Drama Theatre
Performances are in Georgian; the building is worth a look on the way to the market
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5Cathedral of the Iveria Icon
The large modern cathedral south of the centre
6Rukhi FortressA restored fortress over the Enguri, 10 minutes north; the river below is the line facing Abkhazia, do not go further
7Enguri DamA giant arch dam in the gorge on the road to Svaneti; there is a viewpoint by the road
8JvariThe last town before the climb to Svaneti; fuel and food stop
9Tsalenjikha CathedralMedieval cathedral with rare Byzantine wall paintings, 30 minutes north-east
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10Terenti Graneli House-Museum
The house of a Georgian poet in Tsalenjikha; combine with the cathedral
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Zugdidi →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Zugdidi:
Free walking tours in Zugdidi
The court of the Dadiani
For centuries Zugdidi was the seat of the Dadiani, the princes who ruled Samegrelo almost as kings until Russia absorbed the principality in the 19th century. Their palace, church and park still form the centre of town, and the market a few streets away is where the province comes to shop. This is a flat walk of about two hours. Start at the palace when it opens and finish at the bazaar for lunch.
- Dadiani Palace Museum · The palace keeps one of the death masks of Napoleon, brought into the family when Achille Murat, a grandson of Napoleon's sister Caroline, married Princess Salomé Dadiani.
- Church of the Blachernae Icon · It is named after the Blachernae church in Constantinople, where the robe of the Virgin was kept; a fragment of that relic is among the treasures of the Dadiani house.
- Zugdidi Botanical Garden · The garden grew out of the princes' own park; Ekaterine Dadiani, who ruled Samegrelo as regent, was a sister of Nino Chavchavadze, the wife of the Russian writer Griboyedov.
- Shalva Dadiani Drama Theatre · The theatre is named after Shalva Dadiani, a writer and actor from the princely family who spent his life in the theatre.
- Cathedral of the Iveria Icon · Its icon is named after the Iveron monastery on Mount Athos, founded by Georgian monks in the 10th century; 'Iveria' is the Greek name for Georgia.
- Zugdidi Bazaar · Samegrelo grows much of Georgia's hazelnuts, and in autumn the sacks of nuts fill the bazaar alongside wheels of smoked and fresh sulguni.
Down to the Black Sea
West of Zugdidi the land flattens into the old Colchian marshes, and the Enguri river reaches the sea at Anaklia. The resort there was built mostly in the 2010s, with a boulevard, hotels and a long footbridge, and a deep-water port has been planned beside it for years. This route drives to the coast and returns through Khobi and the wetlands. Allow a day; swim season is June to September.
- Anaklia · The beach here is dark sand on the open Black Sea, at the very point where the Enguri pours its grey mountain water into the sea.
- Valdas Adamkus Boulevard · The seafront promenade is named after Valdas Adamkus, a former president of Lithuania, a mark of the close ties between the two countries.
- Anaklia Pedestrian Bridge · The wooden-decked footbridge crosses the river mouth to Ganmukhuri and was one of the longest pedestrian bridges in Europe when it opened in 2012.
- Anaklia port site · South of the resort is the site of the planned Anaklia deep-sea port, meant to give Georgia a harbour deep enough for the largest container ships.
- Khobi Monastery · Khobi was one of the main monasteries of the Dadiani principality, and the princes were patrons of its medieval church.
- Kolkheti National Park · The park protects the last of the Colchian wetland forests around Lake Paliastomi, the same marsh country the Argonauts sailed into.
Up the Enguri
North of Zugdidi the Enguri leaves the mountains of Svaneti through a deep gorge, and the road to Mestia follows it. On the way are a princely fortress, one of the tallest dams in the world and a cathedral painted by an artist from Constantinople. The river is also the line between Georgia proper and breakaway Abkhazia, so stay on the main roads. A half-day by car, or the first stage of a drive to Svaneti.
- Rukhi Fortress · The Dadiani built Rukhi on a bluff over the Enguri in the 19th century to guard their land against raids from across the river.
- Chakvinji Fortress · Its local name, Jikhashkari, comes from Megrelian 'jikha', fortress — the same word that names ruined castles all over Samegrelo.
- Tsalenjikha Cathedral · Its 14th-century frescoes were painted by Manuel Eugenikos, an artist brought from Constantinople by the Dadiani; an inscription on the wall names him.
- Terenti Graneli House-Museum · Terenti Graneli, one of the most original Georgian poets of the early 20th century, was born in Tsalenjikha and died young in 1934.
- Jvari · Jvari grew up as the construction town for the Enguri hydro project, and its name means 'cross' in Georgian.
- Enguri Dam · At 271.5 metres it is one of the tallest concrete arch dams in the world; the dam stands on the Georgian side, while its power station lies across the line in Abkhazia.
Getting to Zugdidi and getting around
- Zugdidi Railway Station · End of the line from Tbilisi; the overnight and day trains arrive here
- Zugdidi Bus Station · Beside the railway station; marshrutkas to Batumi, Kutaisi and Anaklia
- Mestia bus stop · Zugdidi is the gateway to Svaneti; minibuses up the Enguri valley leave from here, mostly in the morning
Cheap eats in Zugdidi
Zugdidi is the capital of Megrelian cooking, the hottest in Georgia. Here the khachapuri gets a second layer of cheese melted on top, kharcho is a thick walnut stew, and elarji is cornmeal beaten with sulguni until it stretches like gum. Lunch in the centre is cheap and quick, and the bazaar has smoked sulguni and bottles of red adjika to take on the road.
- Tamtini Bakery · Bakery-café on Rustaveli Street; pastry and coffee about 5-10 lari
- Megruli Lula · On the main avenue; a Megrelian khachapuri about 12-18 lari
- Khinkali and kebab house · Near the palace; khinkali about 1 lari each, kebab 8-12 lari
- Patskha Margalishi · Village dishes; elarji or kharcho about 12-20 lari
- Zugdidi Bazaar cheese row · Sulguni 15-20 lari a kilo, adjika 5-8 lari a jar
- Ujgush Shawarma · Quick shawarma near the palace, about 8-12 lari
Museums in Zugdidi
- Dadiani Palace Museum · Give it an hour; then walk into the park
- Tsalenjikha Cathedral · 30 minutes north-east; modest dress
- Terenti Graneli House-Museum · Poet's house in Tsalenjikha
- Nokalakevi · Ancient capital of Lazica; site museum at the gate
Nature and day trips near Zugdidi
- Zugdidi Botanical Garden · Old park of the princes, in the centre
- Anaklia beach · Dark-sand beach; June to September
- Kolkheti National Park · About an hour south; boat trips from the visitor centre
- Enguri Dam · Viewpoint on the Mestia road, about 40 minutes
Things to do in Zugdidi with kids
- Anaklia Pedestrian Bridge · Best at sunset
- Zugdidi Botanical Garden · Space to run between the big trees
- Rukhi Fortress · 10 minutes north of town
- Valdas Adamkus Boulevard · Seafront promenade in Anaklia
Where to eat in Zugdidi
- Kolkhuri · Megrelian dinner near the bazaar
- Maspindzeli · 'The Host': big Georgian table, good for groups
- Diaroni · Central restaurant on Meunargia Street
- Art House · Restaurant on Rustaveli Street
- Sokhumi · Georgian restaurant east of the palace
Frequently asked questions about Zugdidi
What is there to see in Zugdidi?
The top sights in Zugdidi are Dadiani Palace Museum, Church of the Blachernae Icon and Zugdidi Botanical Garden. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Zugdidi?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Zugdidi without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Zugdidi?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Zugdidi, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The court of the Dadiani.
How do you get to Zugdidi and get around?
The main ways are Zugdidi Railway Station, Zugdidi Bus Station and Mestia bus stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Zugdidi, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Zugdidi that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Zugdidi for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.