Transport in Abkhazia is buses and route taxis.
Common types of transport in Abkhazia
- Urban transport: in general, it is rather poorly developed in Abkhazia, but things are much better in the capital - Sukhumi. Here, in addition to buses and fixed-route taxis, there are trolleybuses. And in Gagra, Pitsunda and other cities there are only fixed-route taxis. The cost of travel on buses is quite low, and the driver must pay for the fare at the entrance (tickets or receipts are not issued). You can get around Sukhumi by trolleybus, paying the driver at the exit. As for fixed-route taxis, their main purpose is not only city but also intercity transportation. If you are interested in long-distance trips, please note that drivers often put up signs with information about stops (for example, “Pitsunda”). Such a minibus will hit the road as it becomes full.
- Water transport: it is represented by high-speed catamarans, on which you can get from Sochi to Gagra - the journey will take about 1.5 hours (departure time is 08:00, return flight is at 19:00). Tickets are sold at the box office of the Marine Station (you must provide a passport).
Taxi
Since Abkhazian towns are rather small in area, intercity rather than city trips are popular (it is more economical to move around the city on foot or by fixed-route taxis). In Abkhazia, there are both city taxis and private carriers. They can be stopped on the street or found near hotels, beaches, train stations, markets. Due to the fact that many drivers take tourists on long routes in order to increase the cost of the trip, it is advisable to agree on the price in advance.
Car rent
There is no official car rental service in the country, but you can come here with your own car. Moving around Abkhazia, it is worth considering that local traffic rules are similar to Russian ones and for violating them you may be deprived of your rights (the return procedure is rather difficult). Despite the fact that there are few traffic lights on the Abkhaz roads and there are practically no traffic jams on them, you should not reckless - often the local traffic police set up “ambushes”. In addition, traveling at high speed can result in an accident as mountain roads are steep and winding.
When going on a trip to Abkhazia, it is worth considering that the republic has a not very developed road infrastructure.
