WHERE TO STAY IN GUDAURI, GEORGIA

If you’re looking for a little more adventure than a simple ski trip to Europe, then discovering the hidden winter wonderland of Gudauri in Georgia might be for you. To help you plan your trip we’ve got the lowdown on where to stay in Gudauri.

Surrounded by views of Caucasus Mountains, Gudauri offers an off-the-beaten-path Alpine experience with Georgian authenticity, pristine slopes and breathtaking views. Just a two hour drive from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, Gudauri is an underrated gem that needs to be explored.

Being a well kept secret compared to its European counterparts is a blessing when it comes to the amount of traffic on the slopes. For beginners there are plenty of slopes to start off with as well as a large number of blue runs within easy reach of a chair lift. For those that are more experienced there’s plenty of piste to explore including taking the cable car over the mountain to see the view on the other side.

Gudauri also has plenty of bars, cafes and après-ski options that will appeal to most peoples budgets. February is the best time to plan your visit with the best snowfall and conditions.

There’s a good range of accommodation including lodges, apartments, modern hotels and charming guesthouses dotted around the landscape, so finding that perfect place to stay is fairly effortless. Let us show you where to stay in Gudauri, Georgia.

Main Areas

Old Gudauri

You’ll find the original settlement of Old Gudauri situated slightly higher up the mountain from the newer development of New Gudauri. Gudauri is still developing with hotels, guesthouses and chalets being springing up in different locations.

Old Gudauri offers a more traditional and rustic experiences when compared to the newer developments. While the accommodation here made take more of an effort to get onto the ski slopes including taking a shuttle ride or walking, its appeal comes from the relaxed and peaceful ambiance.

New Gudauri

In contrast to Old Gudauri, New Gudauri is a modern development consisting of apartment buildings and hotels that offer sk-in/ski-out access. There’s also convenient grocery shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and ski rental shops.

The infrastructure at New Gudauri is fairly new and developing with new facilities and services for ski and snowboarders. It’s a great place to stay if you want the convenience of ski-in and ski-out access or a short walk to the gondola, as well as a being close to a few aprè-ski options and cafes.

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Ski Pass & Equipment

Price of ski pass

Ski pass prices are often pretty fluid and subject to change but here’s the latest information we have from Gudauri. Having said that Gudauri’s ski pass is superb value for money and one of the cheapest ski pass prices you’ll find in Europe.

Ski Equipment

Ski and snowboarding equipment is available to rent in Gudauri. The place to go in Old Gudauri is Marco Polo Hotel Ski Rental.

We decided to try the rental from Gudauri Lodge as it was closer but I suspect they source their equipment from Marco Polo. Unfortunately, they seemed to lack snowboarding equipment, the boots, bindings and board weren’t great quality (I had to swap boots and the second pair were also quite loose in the fit). It’s forced my hand into buying my own snowboarding boots for my next trip.

If you’re in New Gudauri try Burosport Ski Rental for good quality rental equipment.

You can also rent ski clothes and extras but if it’s a busy period you may find that the options are limited. If you really want to make sure you can rent the right gear then doing so in Tbilisi is a good option.

Piste Map Gudauri

To get a good idea of the layout of Gudauri as a ski resort, take a look at the piste map. You’ll find 14 lifts and 26 trails including snow parks and black, red, blue and green runs.

More information can be found on the Mountain Trails Agency website.

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Where to stay

Being one of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe, Gudauri doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the choice of places to stay.

Gudauri Lodge

Gudauri Lodge offers ski in/ski out access to the hotel as well as beautiful views out onto the lower piste. It’s a short ski down to the first ski lift.

If you’re looking to unwind, Gudauri lodge is well equipped with an indoor pool, a beautiful outdoor jacuzzi surrounded by the snow, a sauna (the steam room wasn’t available when we stayed) and a decent sized gym. The hotel also features 121 comfortable rooms, large restaurant, lobby bar and ski depot.

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Gudauri Loft

Situated right next door to the Gudauri Lodge, the Gudauri Loft is also a ski-in/ski-out hotel with excellent access to the lower piste and the lower ski lift. Having opened in December 2017, Gudauri Loft is a modern, comfortable hotel featuring a spa, swimming, sauna, jacuzzi, restaurant and terrace. You’ll also find a 24 hour reception and free WiFi in the public areas.

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Marco Polo Hotel

Further down the piste from Gudauri Lodge, Marco Polo Hotel is the closest of the three to the lower ski lift. This large 4* hotel is very popular with groups and has epic views of the Causasus mountains, a perfect retreat for a summer hiking trip or winter ski trip. Rooms consists of a well equipped ensuite bathroom, private balcony, TV, mini-bar, WiFi, safe and are comfortable with an alpine vibe.

Marco Polo Hotel features the Soliko Restaurant offering European and Georgian food. Its Spa facilities offers an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, gym, sauna and sun terrace.

For those looking for some evening entertainment there’s also a pool table and bowling alley with two lanes.

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Quadrum Hotel

Created by Georgian architect Sandro Ramishvili, the Quadrum Hotel is a 4 star small design hotel. The hotel was developed to keep the landscape as untouched as possible whilst using materials that are environmentally friendly and sourced locally. The hotel is the first boutique hotel to be created in Upper Gudauri.

All of the 21 rooms have stunning panoramic mountain views, TV, black out curtains, shower and executive rooms have underfloor heating. The hotel features a restaurant with Georgian cuisine, lobby bar and a spa complete with pool, hydromassage and sauna.

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Ati Ambavi Boutique Hotel Gudauri

Ati Ambavi Boutique Hotel is a welcoming 4 star hotel that offers ski to door access. Each room is unique with its own back story and comes with a seating area, TV and private bathroom with a shower. Breakfast comes in the form of a buffet at the hotels restaurant. There’s free parking and a paid airport shuttle service.

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Monte Hotel

With free WiFi and parking, Monte Hotel features a sauna, jacuzzi as well as a shuttle service to the nearest ski lift. Rooms at the hotel feature a balcony with a mountain view, bathroom and TV. There’s also a continental breakfast served each morning and guests can also order Georgian and European dishes at the hotels restaurant. Other facilities include billiard table, table tennis, table football, darts, chess and other board games.

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Après-Ski

Drunk Cherry Restaurant

Perfectly positioned at the bottom of the slopes of New Gudauri, The Drunk Cherry is the spot for some good vibes après-ski drinks and food. The restaurant offers some lovely dishes including Georgia cuisine, burgers and pizzas with a beautiful view.

The Drunk Cherry is a great spot if you looking for a place to chill after a day on the slopes or if you’re after a lively night out.

Black Dog Bar

The Black Dog in New Gudauri is part of the Black Dog that you’ll find at the Wine Factory and craft beer quarter in Tbilisi. They have a good selection of quality craft Georgian beers from their brewery and excellent food. You’ll find plenty of choice on the menu too, wings, burgers, nachos, salads and Georgian food too.

It’s a decent casual but lively spot for a night out in New Gudauri.

Cafe Vitamin

Situated between ski lifts at the top of Soliko blue slopes with epic views of the Caucases Mountains is Cafe Vitamin. It makes an ideal meeting spot for keeping warm and having lunch or post skiing drinks. Prices are fairly moderate for a ski resort and you’ll find pizzas, soups and Georgian cuisine. If the weather is good there’s plenty of seating outside too.

Escape Bar

Under the chair lift station Pirveli, you’ll find Escape Bar. The perfect place to take a break from skiing or snowboarding for some lunch or afternoon aprè-ski drinks.

There’s a large outdoor space as well as plenty of tables inside too. There’s a wide range of drinks including beer, mulled wine and cocktails along with a good choice of food too including the usual Georgian options.

Gondola Top Station Bars & Restaurants

If you take the Gondola from New Gudauri you’ll find some great bars, restaurants and eateries near the Gondola station at the top. A great place to meet, rest and take in the mountain views.

Gudauri Travel bar

Cosy little bar in New Gudauri with superb cocktails and friendly staff. A warm friendly place to spend a few hours after a hard day of skiing.

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Where to eat

Magi Style Restaurant

If you’re craving some authentic Georgian khinkali or shkmeruli, then Magi Style Restaurant might be the place for you! The restaurant has a friendly, cosy atmosphere and welcoming atmosphere. It’s a decent spot for anyone on a budget too as the prices are reasonable and the menu has a good range of choices. With friendly bar staff, Magi Style Restaurant is also a good choice if you’re looking for somewhere for a drink. You’ll find cocktails including the “Geogrian Mule” as well as Geogrian wine, beer, chacha and non-alcoholic options too.

Haveli Indian Restaurant Gudauri

If you’re looking for a change for Georgian cuisine, then Haveli Indian Restaurant might spice up your evening with Indian and Pakistani dishes. Known for its great service, friendly staff and delicious dishes Haveli Indian Restaurant is a great option. The restaurant also boasts beautiful mountain views.

Aviator Lounge & Restaurant Gudauri

Aviator Lounge and Restaurant is located in the Gudauri Loft Hotel on the seventh floor. It has view of the mountains and a roaring fire in the evenings. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Aviator Lounge and restaurant serves a range of dishes including pizza, pasta, burgers, salads and Georgian food.

Ati Ambavi restaurant Gudauri

If you’re after something a little more fine dining then Ati Ambavi might be the place for you. You’ll find a unique experience, interesting decor with Georgian food and history from the mountain region. With welcoming friendly service and live music, an evening at Ati Ambavi is a special experience in Gudauri.

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That’s all for our guide of where to stay in Guduari! We hope that our guide on where to stay can help you find the best accommodation for your trip to this breathtaking region of Georgia.

We know that choosing the perfect accommodation can be tricky but we hope this guide helps a little bit. We hope that you enjoy your adventure to Gudauri and have as much fun as we did.

Is a visit to Tbilisi on your itinerary? Then have a look at our review of the Radisson Blue Iveria Hotel.

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The visit to Gudauri was sponsored by the Georgia tourism board and in partnership with Traverse Events. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links used on this website are affiliate links. This means that if you click on it to buy a product, we’ll receive a small commission which comes at no extra cost to you and we’ll be forever grateful!