Ureki
Ureki (ურეკი) is a coastal town in Georgia, in Guria region.
Understand
Ureki is a popular beach town on the Black Sea coast. Ureki is famous for its black, slightly magnetic sand, which allegedly has healing properties, while in contrast, most beach resorts of Georgia are made of crushed stone or gravel.
1 Grigoleti 
, is north from Ureki, and 2 Shekvetili is to the south. Both of them are coastal sandy resorts like Ureki, but they are more quiet and relaxing, while in Ureki is more traffic, crowd and nightlife. Summer season (July-September) is the best time to visit.
The settlement is a few kilometers from the sea. On the beach, there is the coastal settlement that is called "Magnetiti" (მაგნეტიtი) due to magnetic sand. A few kilometers north of Ureki is the village Supsa with the major oil terminal at the end point of the pipeline from Baku.
Get in
By train
Ureki has a newly refurbished 3 train station between Batumi and Tbilisi railway. Ureki is also connected to regions capital Ozurgeti by the railway. Tickets from both cities can be bought at stations and online. The train station is about 1½ km from the beach.
By bus
You can catch a minibus (marshutka) from Ozurgeti or Kobuleti. Buses going on the Tbilisi-Batumi route will stop at Ureki also. In summer Marschrutkas leave from the main square in Magnetiti to several destinations. Otherwise, you can stop passing minibuses on the highway.
By car
Ureki lies on the highway, which connects Batumi with Poti and Kutaisi. Ureki is approximately 10 km north of Kobuleti and 15 km south of Poti on the highway. The turnoff to Magnetiti is well signposted at the station. Grigoleti is connected to Samtredia with another highway. Ureki is connected to Ozurgeti with well-developed regional road.
Get around
Ureki is easily covered on foot or bike. You will need good bike or taxi to go to Grigoleti or Shekvetili.
See
- Kolkheti national Park and 1 Paliastomi Lake, north from Ureki and Grigoleti
- Ruins of 2 Jikhanjiri fortress in the village with same name
- 3 Vashnari (ვაშნარი). Historic city consists of remains of a basilica, a monastery and civic buildings dating back to the 4th century and is near the village of Gurianta, 21 km southeast from Ureki train station.
- 4 Chekhedana (ჩეხედანა), vill. Tskhrapona, Kobuleti Municipality (from Kobuleti). Chekhedana church was built in 1609 by Mamia II Gurieli. The building was completely destroyed, then rebuilt in the 1990s. Free of charge.
- 5 Mamukas Castle (მამუკას ციხე), vill. Alambari, Kobuleti Municipality (from Kobuleti). 18th-century castle, which was owned by Mamuka Tavdgiridze, was destroyed in 1959 because of earthquake. Only its south wall is still standing. Free of charge.
- 6 Khino (ხინოწმინდა), vill. Khino, Kobuleti Municipality (from Kobuleti). Khino Cathedral was one among three Eparchial Centers of Guria. Nowadays the village lies in Kintrishi Reserve. Free of charge.
- 7 Konchkati Church and Castle (კონჭკათის ეკლესია და კატისციხე).
Do
- Swimming. On the beach you can swim well in the sea. However, the water is shallow and only falls gently, so you have to have a few hundred meters to wade out until you can no longer stand. Furthermore, it is advisable to lie on the beach and completely dig into the magnetic healing sand (maybe it helps, but at least it does not hurt) or build sandcastles. You can borrow umbrellas and chairs. in addition you can do some other water activities such as jet skiing, kite surfing and water slides. The swimming season begins in May and lasts until the end of September. In high season (July and August) the place is crowded.
- Nearby
- Climb a caves in the villages Chochkhati, Oragve, Khoreti, Kokati, Moedani. You have to reach village 1 Chochkhati at first.
- Fishing in the small rivers
- 2 Guria Park, Shekvetili. The amusement park extends over 14.5 hectares. There are various attractions for children and adults, bowling centers, karting grounds.
- Georgia in Miniatures, Shekvetili. The park consists of two hectares. The complex includes a visitor center, a mini-amphitheater and a cafe. The construction of a miniature park began in 2014. This is the first miniature park in Georgia, which has more than 50 architectural monuments.
- Blak Sea Arena, Shekvetili. This is the largest concert hall in the Caucasus, numbering up to 10,000 spectators, opened in 2016. The black arena is equipped with special equipment, a lighting system and a movable roof. It is fully adapted for people with disabilities
- Park of Musicians, Shekvetili. The park of musicians is near the Black Sea Arena. Here are sculptures of musicians, singers and composers from Georgia and the whole world. Visitors can enjoy the recordings of these musicians on each statue.
Buy
In Ureki there is a wide range of stores where it is possible to stock up on drinks and snacks. During the summer season you will find the well-stocked "Nikora" market chain. During summer you can get the usual beach equipment from China: slippers, towels, air mattresses, inflatable rubber animals, and even paddle boats are available. On the beach, boiled maize, cold water, coffee from the thermos and ice cream from homemade cooling wearing and cigarettes are sold.
Eat
There are a lot of restaurants in Ureki, near the beach and near the train Station. In the resort along the main street, there are some restaurants and cafes of different price ranges and fast food establishments. Most of them are only open during the bathing season.
Do not pass fresh fish, which is served in restaurants in Tskatsminda: right by the road, near the Ureki train station. Among the restaurants in the Ureki town center. Prices in Ureki are higher than in other villages or towns of Guria and may vary from 15 to 25 lari per person.
- 1 Palermo (პალერმო).
Drink
In Ureki you will find a lot of restaurants and cafes. Try Georgian wine, beer and vodka.
Sleep
In Ureki you will find a wide range of sleeping options, from hotels to small apartments. In Grigoleti and Shekvetili it is more common to rent a whole cottage for some period.
- Paragraph Resort & Spa, shekvetili@paragraphhotels.com. Huge luxury hotel with 220 rooms on the seashore has a swimming pool with sea water and winter garden. Hotel also has fully equipped conference rooms and meeting rooms
- Villa Villekulla, 24a Bakhmaro Str. Grigoleti, mytoursn@gmail.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Holiday home surrounded by pine trees.
Talk
- See also: Georgian phrasebook
Gurians speak much more quickly than average Georgians from other regions, so it is more complicated to understand them. Service staff in this area know Russian and a bit of Turkish. English is common in this area, too.
Stay safe
You should not leave your valuables unattended on the beach - this invitation is readily accepted by thieves.
There are lifeguards at the beach.