Shekvetili combines a three-kilometre-long Black Sea beach with a music park whose sculptures play music as you approach. Black magnetic sand, shallow water and a clean shoreline define this coastal town; it is also home to Shekvetili Dendrological Park and several cultural and leisure attractions. When planning your stay, consider not only the coast but also the parks, music and how to get there.
Beach and character of the town
The three-kilometre-long Black Sea beach is known for its black magnetic sand, shallow water and clean shoreline. Shekvetili is considered a relatively quiet seaside resort and suitable for family holidays; shallow water and several nearby attractions are part of its character. Fishing is possible where the Natanebi River meets the Black Sea. This may vary by season.
Music, parks and attractions
Musicians’ Park in Shekvetili combines eucalyptus-lined paths and interactive areas with sculptures of Georgian and international musicians. As visitors approach the sculptures, their music plays. The park also features a dancing fountain and installations such as Koi Pond and Dragon’s Nest. Musical offerings and installations may be seasonal or change; check what is available before visiting.
Other attractions include Black Sea Arena, a concert venue; the Tsitsinatela amusement park; and the nearby Park of Miniatures. Each has a different focus: the concert venue, amusement park and miniature park each offer a different kind of cultural or leisure attraction.
Shekvetili Dendrological Park has a different focus: this 60-hectare recreational area between the mountains and the sea is home to more than 200 trees from 29 species, including specimens over 300 years old. A walkway lined densely with bamboo and information boards complement the collection. The boards describe individual tree, plant and bird species. The two parks therefore have different emphases: here, the walkway and species information take centre stage, while Musicians’ Park focuses on musical sculptures and interactive areas.
Getting there and planning your stay
By car, Shekvetili is about 50 minutes from Batumi International Airport and about 90 minutes from Kutaisi International Airport. These are approximate times and depend on traffic and road conditions. Taxis are also available from Ureki and Kobuleti railway stations. When planning, it helps to distinguish the options listed by starting point and mode of transport: the airport times refer to car journeys, while taxis are available from the railway stations.
Guria as a regional setting
The wider travel destination of Guria lies in the western part of Georgia, in the Colchian Lowland, and has a 22-kilometre coastline on the Black Sea. At the same time, the region connects coastal lowlands with the surrounding mountain areas. Guria National Park offers a different landscape: it covers 15,310 hectares within the municipalities of Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti. Its landscapes include humid Colchian mountain forests at elevations from 300–400 to 1,800–1,900 metres, as well as alpine meadows extending from 1,800–1,900 to 3,000–3,500 metres. Up to 272 vertebrate species may be recorded there at different times of year.
The history of Jumati Monastic Complex is also part of the wider travel destination of Guria. The monastery, dating from the feudal period, stands on Mount Jumati, 15 kilometres from Ozurgeti, and played a significant role in Guria’s religious and educational life. Its main church, St. Archangels, was built in the 6th century, renovated in the 12th century and painted in the 18th century.
Discover more destinations: Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti, Ureki, Grigoleti
Go to the wider travel overview: Guria.
