# Shekvetili > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/shekvetili/ - Author: Mariam Lomidze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-17 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/shekvetili/ 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 Shekvetili is a small resort village on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, in the Guria region, within Ozurgeti municipality, roughly midway between Kobuleti and Ureki. It sits on the flat littoral plain where the Supsa lowlands meet the sea, about 5 h 15 min by road from Tbilisi, 1 h 55 min from Kutaisi and around 1 h from Batumi. Unlike the older Soviet-era seaside towns nearby, Shekvetili has been largely rebuilt over the last decade as a purpose-made resort, with a cluster of hotels, a large botanical park and an open-air concert venue standing alongside its beach of fine, dark, magnetite-rich sand. The village matters to travellers for two reasons. First, its beach shares the same iron-sand composition long associated with the neighbouring resort of Ureki, which Georgians have visited for generations for sea bathing. Second, Shekvetili has become a flagship of coastal redevelopment in Guria, anchored by the Shekvetili Dendrological Park and the Black Sea Arena, both built in the mid-2010s, which give the village a cultural and recreational profile well beyond its size. For visitors building an itinerary along the [Georgia](/georgia/) coast, Shekvetili works well as a calm base between the busier resorts of Batumi and Kobuleti. ### History The coastal strip around Shekvetili lies within the historical territory of ancient Colchis, the western Georgian kingdom known to Greek sources from the first millennium BC. In the medieval period the area fell within Guria, which emerged as a semi-independent principality ruled by the Gurieli dynasty after the fragmentation of the unified Kingdom of Georgia, and which retained its own rulers, with varying degrees of autonomy under Ottoman and Georgian royal overlordship, into the early nineteenth century. The Principality of Guria was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1829, after which the coastal lowlands were gradually drained and settled, with malaria control and agricultural colonisation continuing into the Soviet period. Under Soviet administration, the Guria coast was developed for tea and citrus cultivation, and the shoreline around Ureki and Shekvetili became known locally for its black magnetic sand, which bathers believed had therapeutic properties, a reputation the area still carries today. Shekvetili itself remained a modest village until the 2010s, when a wave of private and state-linked investment transformed it: the Shekvetili Dendrological Park, assembled from mature trees transplanted from across Georgia, opened to the public in 2016, and the Black Sea Arena, an open-air amphitheatre intended for concerts and large public events, was built the same year. New hotel and villa complexes followed, and Shekvetili is now promoted by the national tourism authority as part of the Black Sea coastal offer ([Georgian National Tourism Administration](https://georgia.travel/)). ### What to see #### Shekvetili Dendrological Park Also known locally as Sameba Park, this botanical garden was created by transplanting hundreds of mature trees, some many decades old, from sites across Georgia to a single landscaped site by the sea. Paved paths, ponds and viewing terraces make it an easy half-day walk, and the scale of the mature specimens, some weighing many tonnes when moved, is unusual for a garden of this age. It is one of the more distinctive modern landscapes on the Georgian coast and is worth combining with a beach visit. #### Black Sea Arena This open-air amphitheatre, built in the mid-2010s on the edge of the village, hosts concerts and public events during the summer season. Its scale and design are unusual for a small coastal village and it has become a landmark in its own right, visible from the beach road. Event schedules vary by year, so travellers should check current listings before planning a visit around a performance. #### The magnetic sand beach Shekvetili’s beach is composed of fine, dark sand with a high iron-oxide content, the same geological feature that made neighbouring Ureki well known. The sand is markedly cooler underfoot than ordinary beach sand and has long been associated by locals with mild therapeutic bathing, though travellers should treat this as tradition rather than clinical fact. The beach is generally quieter than those at Batumi or Kobuleti. #### Guria’s rural hinterland Inland from Shekvetili, the Guria lowlands are planted with tea, hazelnut and citrus, a landscape that has defined the region’s economy since the Soviet period. A short drive brings visitors into this greener, slower countryside, useful for travellers who want to pair a beach stay with a look at rural Guria, and for wine tasting at smaller producers in the area, such as those listed below. ### Getting there From Tbilisi, Shekvetili is reached by the Rikoti Pass highway and the coastal road through Samtredia and Kobuleti, a drive of about 5 h 15 min. Marshrutka minibuses run from Tbilisi’s Didube station toward Batumi or Kobuleti, with a change onto a local minibus or taxi for the final stretch into Shekvetili; total travel time by shared transport is longer than by private car. From Kutaisi, the drive is about 1 h 55 min along the same coastal route, and from Batumi it is roughly 1 h by road, making Shekvetili an easy day trip from either city. The nearest railway stops on the Georgian Railway Tbilisi–Batumi line are at Kobuleti and Ureki, from where a short taxi ride completes the journey; current timetables are published by [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge/en). For current road conditions on the Rikoti Pass and coastal highway, see [road status](/road-status/), and GTour’s [private tours](/tours/) can arrange a direct transfer with an English-speaking driver. ### When to go The swimming season runs from roughly June to September, with July and August the warmest and busiest months, particularly around event dates at the Black Sea Arena. May, June and September offer a quieter beach and milder temperatures for walking in the dendrological park. Winters are mild but wet, and many seasonal hotels and restaurants reduce their hours outside the summer months, so travellers visiting off-season should confirm opening times in advance. ### Where to stay and eat Shekvetili’s hotel stock is largely new-build and resort-style, ranging from spa hotels to self-catering villa complexes. Verified options in GTour’s register include [Paragraph Resort & Spa Shekvetili](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-paragraph-resort-spa-shekvetili/), [Magnika Resort Villas](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-magnika-resort/), [Magnika Resort](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-magnika-resort-1/), [Ritsa Resort](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-ritsa-resort/), [Hotel Argo](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-hotel-argo/) and [Hotel Laguna Resort](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-hotel-laguna-resort/). For wine, [Lekura Wines](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-lekura-wines/), a short drive inland, offers tastings of Gurian wine styles. GTour’s verified register lists more hotels, guesthouses and restaurants in the area; see the [best of](/best-of/) guides for curated shortlists and the [guides](/guides/) section for planning help. ### Practical notes Most hotels and larger restaurants in Shekvetili accept card payment, but smaller cafés and roadside stalls may be cash only, and the Georgian lari is the only legal tender. The beach shelves gently but currents can strengthen during storms blowing in from the open sea, so swimmers should heed any posted warnings. Parking near the Dendrological Park and Black Sea Arena fills quickly in July and August, and visitors arriving by private car should plan for midday arrival if attending an event. English is spoken at most hotels, though a Georgian- or Russian-speaking driver is useful for exploring the rural hinterland; GTour can arrange a guide through its [private tours](/tours/) service. ### Questions travellers ask #### Is Shekvetili good for families? Yes. The beach shelves gently, the Dendrological Park is flat and shaded, and several resorts offer pools and children’s facilities, making it a calmer alternative to Batumi for families with young children. #### What is special about the sand at Shekvetili? The beach has a high content of magnetite, giving it a dark colour and a reputation, shared with neighbouring Ureki, for mild therapeutic bathing. This is a long-standing local tradition rather than a formally established medical treatment. #### How far is Shekvetili from Batumi airport? The drive is approximately one hour along the coastal road, making Shekvetili a practical first or last stop on a Black Sea itinerary that begins or ends by air in Batumi. #### Can the Dendrological Park be visited without a guide? Yes, the park is open to independent visitors with marked paths and signage. A guide is useful mainly for background on the tree species and the logistics of their relocation. #### Is Shekvetili crowded in summer? It is busier in July and August, particularly around concerts at the Black Sea Arena, but remains noticeably quieter than Batumi or Kobuleti at the same time of year. #### What is the Black Sea Arena used for? It is an open-air amphitheatre built in the mid-2010s for concerts and large public events during the summer season; event schedules vary year to year and should be checked locally. #### Are there direct trains to Shekvetili? The closest stops on the Tbilisi–Batumi railway line are at Kobuleti and Ureki, both a short taxi ride from Shekvetili; there is no dedicated mainline station in the village itself. #### Is Shekvetili worth visiting outside summer? The Dendrological Park and surrounding countryside can be visited year-round, but many seasonal hotels and restaurants reduce their hours in winter, so travellers should confirm availability before arriving outside the swimming season. #### What local wine can be tasted near Shekvetili? Smaller Gurian producers, including Lekura Wines a short drive inland, offer tastings of regional wine styles, giving visitors a rural counterpoint to the resort coast. #### Can Shekvetili be combined with other destinations? Yes. Its position between Kobuleti and Ureki, and its proximity to Batumi and the Guria countryside, make it easy to combine with a wider Black Sea itinerary, which GTour can arrange through its [private tours](/tours/). ### Sources - [Georgian National Tourism Administration](https://georgia.travel/) - [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge/en) - [Georgian National Tourism Administration — Guria region](https://georgia.travel/regions/guria) Plan your Georgia Want Shekvetili 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)