# Grigoleti > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/grigoleti/ - Author: Mariam Lomidze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-17 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/grigoleti/ By [Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/author/mariam-lomidze/), GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · [Editorial policy](https://gtour.ge/standards/editorial-policy/) ### Overview Grigoleti is a seaside resort on the Black Sea coast of Guria, a lowland region of western Georgia between the port cities of Poti and Batumi. The settlement sits on a narrow strip of pine forest and beach, part of the same coastal belt that includes Ureki and Shekvetili, and lies close to the wetlands of Kolkheti National Park. It functions less as a town in its own right than as a string of hotels, villas and sanatoriums set among relict pine trees, aimed almost entirely at summer visitors. The resort matters as one of the more accessible and family-oriented stretches of Georgia’s Black Sea coast, prized for its combination of shaded pine forest, flat sandy beach and the dark, iron-rich sand that has made this part of the coast locally known as a wellness destination. Grigoleti is also a convenient base for exploring the Kolkheti lowlands, including Paliastomi Lake near Poti and the protected mire systems that make the area ecologically distinctive within the wider [Georgia](/georgia/) travel map. ### History The coastal lowlands around Grigoleti lie within the historical territory of ancient Colchis and later the medieval kingdom of Egrisi-Abkhazia, before passing into the orbit of the Principality of Guria, an autonomous feudal domain ruled by the Gurieli dynasty from roughly the fifteenth century. The principality retained a degree of self-rule under Ottoman and later Russian influence until it was abolished and absorbed into the Russian Empire in 1829, following the Russo-Turkish War and the Treaty of Adrianople, according to standard accounts of the period. Through the nineteenth century the marshy Kolkheti lowlands around Grigoleti and neighbouring Poti remained thinly settled, hampered by malaria and poor drainage; large-scale drainage and eucalyptus planting began only in the Soviet period. From the 1920s and 1930s onward, the warm, humid climate and pine-shaded beaches of this coast were developed as sanatoriums and holiday camps for Soviet workers, a pattern that continued through the mid-twentieth century along with Ureki and Kobuleti. After 1991 many of these facilities fell into disrepair, and it was only from the 2000s that renewed investment, improved road links and new hotel construction revived Grigoleti and the surrounding Shekvetili coast as a private holiday destination, a trend that accelerated with large resort projects built along the shore in the 2010s and 2020s. ### What to see #### Grigoleti beach and pine forest The resort’s main draw is its beach, backed by a belt of pine trees that gives shade close to the water, unusual on this coast. The sand here, like that at nearby Ureki, contains a high concentration of magnetite, and is popularly believed by visitors to have therapeutic qualities, though this is a folk tradition rather than a clinically established claim. #### Kolkheti National Park and Paliastomi Lake A short drive south toward Poti brings travellers to Kolkheti National Park, a wetland reserve of reed beds, relict forest and the brackish Paliastomi Lake, managed by the Agency of Protected Areas. Boat trips on the lake and canals are the usual way to see the park’s birdlife and swamp forest. #### Shekvetili coast and dendrological park North of Grigoleti, the Shekvetili stretch of coast has become the site of large modern resort complexes and a notable dendrological park where mature trees collected from across Georgia have been replanted into landscaped grounds. It makes an easy half-day addition to a stay in Grigoleti. #### Ureki Immediately south, Ureki shares the same magnetic-sand beach and pine-forest setting and is useful for comparing the two resorts or for an extra stretch of quieter coastline. ### Getting there From Tbilisi, Grigoleti is reached by the Tbilisi–Senaki–Poti highway and coastal roads, a drive of about five hours; marshrutka minibuses run from Tbilisi’s Didube station toward Kobuleti or Ureki, with a change of transport for the final short stretch to Grigoleti. From Kutaisi, the drive takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes via the Kutaisi–Samtredia–Poti road. From Batumi, Grigoleti is about 1 hour 10 minutes north along the coastal highway through Kobuleti and Ureki. Trains operated by Georgian Railway connect Tbilisi with Kobuleti and Ureki, from where a taxi or transfer covers the last few kilometres; check current schedules via [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge). GTour arranges private transfers and day tours from all three cities; for current road conditions see the [road status page](/road-status/). ### When to go The swimming season runs from late May to September, with the warmest sea temperatures in July and August and peak crowds in the same months. Spring and early autumn bring milder, quieter conditions, pleasant for walking the pine forest and visiting Kolkheti National Park, though sea swimming becomes cooler. Winters are mild but wet and largely off-season, with many hotels closing or operating reduced services. ### Where to stay and eat Grigoleti and the neighbouring Shekvetili coast hold a cluster of beach hotels and resort villas. Verified options include [Hotel Laguna Resort](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-hotel-laguna-resort/), [Hotel Argo](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-hotel-argo/), [Ritsa Resort](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-ritsa-resort/), [Magnika Resort Villas](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-magnika-resort/), and [Magnika Resort](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-magnika-resort-1/), as well as the larger [Paragraph Resort & Spa Shekvetili](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-paragraph-resort-spa-shekvetili/) for a higher-end stay nearby. For a wine stop on the way, the [Kakhetian Wine Cellar](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-kakhetian-wine-cellar/) is listed in the register. GTour’s verified register lists more hotels and restaurants in the area; see the [Guria region hub](/georgia/) for the full list and current details. ### Practical notes Facilities along this stretch of coast are seasonal; many restaurants, guesthouses and beach services operate only from May to September. The beach shelves gently but currents and jellyfish can appear later in summer, so check local conditions before swimming. Mosquitoes are common near the wetlands at dusk, and repellent is advisable. Cash is still useful for small beachfront cafés, although larger hotels accept cards. GTour can combine Grigoleti with Kolkheti National Park, Ureki or Batumi in a single custom [private tour](/tours/); see the [regional guides](/guides/) for more planning detail. ### Questions travellers ask #### What is special about Grigoleti’s sand? The beach sand along this part of the coast, including Grigoleti and neighbouring Ureki, contains a notably high iron (magnetite) content, giving it a dark colour. It is popularly considered therapeutic by visitors, though this is a folk belief rather than a verified medical claim. #### Is Grigoleti good for families? Yes, the shaded pine forest, flat beach and resort-style hotels make it a common choice for families with children, particularly compared with rockier or more exposed stretches of the Georgian coast. #### How far is Grigoleti from Batumi? Grigoleti is about 1 hour 10 minutes by road north of Batumi along the coastal highway, making it feasible as a day trip or a quieter alternative base near the city. #### Can Kolkheti National Park be visited from Grigoleti? Yes, Kolkheti National Park and Paliastomi Lake near Poti are a short drive from Grigoleti and are usually explored by boat, managed by the Agency of Protected Areas. #### What is the Shekvetili dendrological park? It is a landscaped park on the nearby Shekvetili coast where mature trees relocated from various parts of Georgia have been replanted, forming an unusual and heavily visited garden attraction along this stretch of coastline. #### When is the best time to visit Grigoleti? Late May through September is the main swimming season, with July and August warmest but busiest; late spring and early autumn offer quieter conditions for forest walks and wetland visits. #### Is Grigoleti crowded in summer? Peak summer weekends bring domestic tourists to the beach and resorts, though Grigoleti is generally less crowded than Batumi or Kobuleti further south. #### How can travellers reach Grigoleti from Tbilisi without a car? Marshrutkas and trains run from Tbilisi to Kobuleti or Ureki, with a short taxi transfer to Grigoleti; GTour can also arrange a direct private transfer from Tbilisi. #### Is swimming safe at Grigoleti beach? Conditions are generally calm with a gentle shelf, but currents can strengthen in storms and jellyfish occasionally appear in late summer, so checking local conditions before swimming is advisable. #### What else is nearby besides the beach? Travellers can combine Grigoleti with Kolkheti National Park, the Shekvetili dendrological park, the Ureki beach strip, and day trips further south to Batumi or north to Poti. ### Sources - Guria, Georgia - Principality of Guria - Kolkheti National Park - Ureki - [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge) - [Agency of Protected Areas](https://mepa.gov.ge/En/) Plan your Georgia Want Grigoleti on a private itinerary with a driver who knows the road? A GTour travel expert designs the route and calls you back. [Start planning](/contact/)   [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/995577416314)