Gonio Hostels

Gonio, Georgia, is probably neither on the cover of your guidebook, nor the first town that you put on your Georgia itinerary, because there are countless breathtaking places to see in this Caucasian country. But if you knew that this town on the Black Sea is home to the tomb of St. Matthias, one of the twelve apostles, would it still be as low on your itinerary?

Gonio, Georgia, is one of the off-the-beaten-track destinations in Georgia that is actually worth a visit. Its fortress was first mentioned in the first century and Gonio was a well-fortified town, famous for its theatre and hippodrome. The glory days of Gonio may be over, but the fortress is still intact and almost untouched. The Gonio Fortress is said to be home to St. Matthias' tomb, although this has never been verified.

The Gonio Fortress may be visited on a day trip from Batumi; the town's location makes it worth it to book a hostel in Gonio, Georgia. The town is located on the Black Sea and has a nice, stony beach. It is quieter and cleaner than the more cosmopolitan city Batumi, and whereas Batumi is suffering from being increasingly touristic, Gonio is still pure. With forested mountains in the background, the view is good in either direction.

There are not many hostels in Gonio, Georgia, and what exists only operates over the summer. If you are visiting when your chosen Gonio, Georgia hostel is closed, you can book cheap private rooms in guesthouses as an alternative. Another option is booking a hostel in the nearby city of Batumi, which is only fifteen kilometers from Gonio, and has plenty of hostels, most operating throughout the year. Minibuses depart Batumi frequently to the south as far as the Turkish border, passing Gonio. The Turkish border is only four kilometres south of Gonio.