Travel Guide Zougdidi

It has been the capital of Mingrelia since the 19th century. The city was founded in the 17th century, before becoming the seat of the powerful Dadiani princes. On the way to Svanetia, you can spend the night there and enjoy cheap accommodation. You can visit the palace of the Dadiani princes, the beautiful church and the botanical garden of the Princes. In Soviet times, Zugdidi was a tourist transit point to Svanetia. The city plunged into the Abkhaz conflict in the 1990s and was overwhelmed by refugees from the Gali district in Abkhazia, also part of historic Mingrelia. But today, many of the refugees have returned to Gali. Since the 2008 war, the army has been very present (the Abkhaz check-point of the Inguri bridge is 7 km away), the city has nevertheless returned to a normal rhythm. However, before going there, you should ask about the political situation to find out if the border is open.