# Ozurgeti > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/ozurgeti/ - Author: Mariam Lomidze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-17 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/ozurgeti/ By [Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/author/mariam-lomidze/), GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 16 October 2026 · [Editorial policy](https://gtour.ge/standards/editorial-policy/) ### Overview Ozurgeti is the administrative center of Guria, one of Georgia’s smallest and least-visited regions, set in the foothills between the Black Sea lowlands and the Meskheti mountain range in the west of the country. It lies about 4 hours 35 minutes by road from Tbilisi, 1 hour 40 minutes from Kutaisi and roughly 1 hour 5 minutes from Batumi, making it an easy stop for travelers moving between the capital and the coast. With a population of around 14,672, it is a compact market and administrative town rather than a major tourist center, but its history as the seat of the Gurian principality and its role as a gateway to Bakhmaro and the Guria coastline give it a place in any serious itinerary of western Georgia. The town matters for travelers because it concentrates much of what defines Guria in one walkable center: a historical museum built around princely and ecclesiastical collections, a cathedral linked to the old ruling house, a long-established botanical garden, and a food and wine culture distinct from the rest of the country, including Guria’s own style of khachapuri and small family wineries working with local grape varieties. GTour includes Ozurgeti in private itineraries on request, usually combined with Bakhmaro, the Ureki and Shekvetili beaches, or a wine and food day built around the verified places listed below; see the [Guria region hub](/georgia/) for the wider area and [private tours](/tours/) for planning options. ### History Guria emerged as a distinct feudal principality in the late medieval period after the fragmentation of the unified Kingdom of Georgia, ruled for centuries by the Gurieli dynasty, who made the area around Ozurgeti one of their political centers alongside Bokhvauri and other residences (see Gurieli). The principality maintained a semi-independent existence through periods of Ottoman pressure and shifting alliances with other Georgian polities until the early nineteenth century. Russian influence over Guria increased after 1801, and the principality was formally absorbed into the Russian Empire in 1829, following the death of the last reigning prince, Mamia V Gurieli, and the abolition of Gurian autonomy (see Guria (historical region)). Ozurgeti subsequently became the administrative center of Ozurgeti uezd within the Kutaisi Governorate, developing as a district town with a market, church institutions and a modest administrative apparatus. In 1905, during the unrest that accompanied the wider Russian Revolution of that year, the surrounding Guria district became known for a peasant self-government movement that functioned with unusual independence from imperial authority, an episode often referenced in general histories of the region (see Guria, Georgia). The town’s development continued through the brief period of Georgian independence after 1918 and into the Soviet period. In 1934 the town was renamed Makharadze in honor of Filipp Makharadze, a Georgian Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet statesman associated with the region (see Filipp Makharadze). The Soviet-era name remained in official use until 1989, when, amid the wider national revival movement in Georgia, the town reverted to its historic name of Ozurgeti (see Ozurgeti). Since Georgia’s 1995 territorial reform, Ozurgeti has served as the administrative capital of the Guria region and the center of Ozurgeti Municipality. ### What to see #### Guria Historical Museum The regional museum in Ozurgeti holds collections connected to the Gurieli princely house, church plate, archaeological finds and ethnographic material documenting rural Gurian life. It is the natural starting point for understanding the principality’s history before visiting the town’s other sites. Opening hours vary seasonally, and a local guide can place the exhibits in context more effectively than labels alone. #### Ozurgeti Botanical Garden A long-established garden on the edge of the town center, planted with a mix of Caucasian native trees and introduced subtropical species typical of the humid Guria climate. It functions as a public park as much as a scientific collection and is a pleasant, shaded stop between the museum and the cathedral. Paths are informal rather than curated for tourism, which keeps it quiet even in summer. #### Cathedral of St. George Ozurgeti’s principal Orthodox cathedral stands near the old town center and is associated historically with the Gurieli family’s patronage of the church in the region. The building reflects the layered religious architecture typical of western Georgian towns, rebuilt and restored across different periods. It remains an active parish church rather than a museum piece. #### Bakhmaro A high-altitude summer resort in the mountains above Ozurgeti, Bakhmaro is reached by a steep seasonal road and is popular with Georgian families escaping the Black Sea heat. Wooden guesthouses, alpine meadows and views toward the Lesser Caucasus make it a worthwhile half-day or overnight extension from Ozurgeti. The road is generally usable only from late spring to early autumn; conditions should be checked before travel, see [road status](/road-status/). #### Ureki and Shekvetili beaches The Guria coast south of Poti is known for its black, magnetite-rich sand, locally promoted for its mineral content, at the beach towns of Ureki and Shekvetili. Both are within a short drive of Ozurgeti and make an easy combination with a town visit in warmer months. Facilities are simple and seasonal, busiest in July and August. #### Nabeghlavi A village near Ozurgeti known for its natural mineral water source, bottled commercially and sold across Georgia under the same name. The spring itself and surrounding countryside offer a quiet rural detour for travelers interested in Guria’s food and water traditions rather than monuments. ### Getting there From Tbilisi, Ozurgeti is reached by the main Tbilisi–Kutaisi–Samtredia highway, continuing through Lanchkhuti toward Ozurgeti; the drive takes approximately 4 hours 35 minutes by car. Marshrutka minibuses to Ozurgeti run from Tbilisi’s Didube station, with a journey time close to the driving time depending on stops. There is no direct passenger train to Ozurgeti; travelers using Georgian Railway typically take the train to Kutaisi or Samtredia and continue by road, see [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge) for current timetables. From Kutaisi, the drive southwest via Samtredia and Lanchkhuti takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, and marshrutkas connect the two towns regularly through the day. From Batumi, Ozurgeti is roughly 1 hour 5 minutes by the coastal and inland road network via Natanebi, a route also served by marshrutka, making a Batumi–Ozurgeti day trip straightforward. Road conditions, particularly on mountain links such as the Bakhmaro road, should be checked seasonally; see [road status](/road-status/) before departure. ### When to go Late spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring the town itself, with mild temperatures and fewer visitors. Summer is the season for combining Ozurgeti with the Black Sea beaches at Ureki and Shekvetili and for reaching Bakhmaro, when the mountain road is reliably open; this is also the busiest and most humid period. Winter in Ozurgeti is mild by Georgian standards but wet, with the higher Bakhmaro road generally closed. ### Where to stay and eat Accommodation in and around Ozurgeti leans toward guesthouses and small wine estates rather than large hotels, in keeping with the town’s scale. [Guest House “Niko Mamasakhlisi”](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-guest-house-niko-mamasakhlisi-1/) combines lodging with its own wine production, offering a direct introduction to Gurian hospitality. For wine tasting and cellar visits, [Menabde Winery](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-menabde-winery/) and [Sio Marani](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-sio-marani/) both work with traditional Guria grape varieties and methods. For food, [Dolabi](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-dolabi/) is a verified gastronomy stop serving regional dishes. GTour’s verified register lists more guesthouses, wineries and restaurants in the area below. ### Practical notes Ozurgeti is a small town, so cash should be carried for markets, guesthouses and smaller eateries even though cards are increasingly accepted in central businesses. Mobile coverage is generally reliable in town and weaker in the mountains toward Bakhmaro. Georgian is the main language, with Russian understood by older residents and English more common among younger people and those working in tourism; GTour’s [guides](/guides/) can assist with language and logistics for travelers combining Ozurgeti with wider Guria or Adjara itineraries, and the [best-of](/best-of/) selections offer further ideas for pairing the town with coastal or mountain destinations. ### Questions travellers ask #### Is Ozurgeti the same place as Makharadze? Yes. The town was renamed Makharadze in 1934 after the Georgian Bolshevik Filipp Makharadze and reverted to its historic name, Ozurgeti, in 1989. #### What is Ozurgeti known for? It is known as the historic center of the Gurian principality, ruled for centuries by the Gurieli dynasty, and today as the administrative capital of the Guria region with a regional museum, botanical garden and cathedral. #### How far is Ozurgeti from the Black Sea coast? The coastal towns of Ureki and Shekvetili, known for their black magnetic sand beaches, are within a short drive of Ozurgeti, generally under an hour. #### Can Ozurgeti be visited as a day trip from Batumi? Yes. At roughly 1 hour 5 minutes by road, Ozurgeti is an easy day trip from Batumi, often combined with a winery visit or a stop at the coastal beaches. #### Is there a train from Tbilisi to Ozurgeti? There is no direct passenger train to Ozurgeti. Travelers typically take the train to Kutaisi or Samtredia on Georgian Railway and continue to Ozurgeti by marshrutka or car. #### When is the Bakhmaro road open? The mountain road to Bakhmaro is a seasonal route, generally usable from late spring to early autumn; conditions should be confirmed before travel, especially outside peak summer months. #### What local food should visitors try in Ozurgeti? Guria is known for its own style of khachapuri, filled and folded rather than open, along with regional dishes served at places such as Dolabi, and for small-production wines from local estates. #### Is Ozurgeti included in organized tours of Georgia? It is not typically on standard group-tour routes, but GTour includes it in private itineraries on request, combining the town with Bakhmaro, the Guria coast or local wineries. #### What wine is Guria known for? Guria has a smaller-scale wine tradition than Kakheti, with family producers such as Menabde Winery and Sio Marani working with regional grape varieties and traditional methods near Ozurgeti. ### Sources - [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge) - [Georgian National Tourism Administration — Ozurgeti](https://georgia.travel/cities-towns/ozurgeti) - [Georgian National Tourism Administration — Guria region](https://georgia.travel/regions/guria) Plan your Georgia Want Ozurgeti 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)