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Ureki — Georgia's Only Sand Beach Resort
A 5 km stretch of dark, magnetic sand sets Ureki apart from every other beach on the Georgian coast — shallow, warm water, a pine-backed shoreline, and a long tradition as a family health resort.
Overview
Ureki is Georgia's only true sand beach resort — a roughly 5 km stretch of fine, dark magnetite sand on the Guria coast, quite unlike the pebble beaches that dominate the rest of the Black Sea shoreline at Batumi and Kobuleti.
The sand's magnetism is real and measurable, and since Soviet times Ureki has been a health resort built around traditional beliefs that the warm magnetic sand eases cardiovascular, joint, and nervous-system conditions — more folk wellness tradition than proven medicine, but a genuine part of the resort's identity.
What makes Ureki practically appealing is its shallow, gentle, flat-bottomed sea — genuinely one of the most family-friendly beaches in Georgia — combined with lower prices than Batumi or Kobuleti and a pine forest running behind the sand.
Beaches & Nearby Sights
Ureki Magnetic Sand Beach
A 5 km stretch of dark, fine magnetite sand — Georgia's only true sand beach.
Shallow Shoreline
A flat, gentle sea bottom, ideal for young children.
Sanatorium Kolkhida
A resort offering traditional therapeutic magnetic sand baths.
Ureki Boulevard
A renovated promenade with bike paths, cafes, and seasonal bars.
Ureki Park
A pine-shaded park just behind the beach.
Shekvetili & Grigoleti
Quieter beach extensions north of Ureki for more space in peak season.
Black Sea Arena
A large concert and event venue near Shekvetili, a short drive north.
Gonio-Apsaros Fortress
A Roman-era archaeological fortress, about 1.5 hours south.
Martvili Canyon
A dramatic forested canyon, roughly 1.5 hours inland.
Poti & Kolkheti Wetlands
A UNESCO wetland system and historic port town, ~35 km north.
Distance & Connectivity
Also reachable from Kutaisi (~100 km, ~1.5–2 hrs) and directly from Tbilisi by train — the Tbilisi–Batumi line stops at Ureki, with a journey of roughly 4.5–6.5 hours depending on the service.
Book Transfer with Legend TravelAccommodation
Beachfront Guesthouses
Affordable family-run stays near the sand.
Sanatorium Stays
Health-resort accommodation with magnetic sand treatments.
Vacation Homes & Cottages
Self-catered rentals near Ureki Park, popular with families.
Gastronomy & Local Cuisine
Ureki sits in Guria, a small region with its own distinctive corn-and-cheese cooking tradition.
Gurian Khachapuri
A closed, semicircular cheese bread unique to the Guria region.
Elarji
A stretchy cornmeal-and-cheese dish, a Gurian and Megrelian staple.
Chvishtari
Cornbread baked with pieces of Sulguni cheese.
Grilled Black Sea Fish
Fresh catch served at Ureki's beachfront restaurants.
Sulguni Cheese
A brined cheese used throughout regional cooking.
Satsivi
Chicken in a cold walnut sauce.
Lobio
A slow-cooked bean stew, common on local menus.
Adjika
A spicy herb-and-pepper paste used across western Georgian cooking.
Local Wine
Served at Ureki's seasonal beach cafes and restaurants.
Churchkhela
Nut-and-grape-must candy sold along the boulevard.
Useful Information & Travel Tips
Currency
Georgian Lari (₾); carry cash — card acceptance is limited.
Language
Georgian; limited English outside the main hotels.
Power Outlets
Type C and F (220V / 50Hz).
Emergency Number
112 for all emergency services.
Best Time to Visit
June – September; September often has warm water and fewer crowds.
Peak Season Note
The central beach gets crowded in July–August; consider Shekvetili or Grigoleti.