ZUGDIDI A HISTORICAL CITY IN WEST OF GEORGIA

The city is the capital of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, which combines Samegrelo (Mingrelia) and Svaneti. The name “Zugdidi” means “big/great hill” in Laz and Mingrelian.

Zugdidi served as the capital of the principality of Mingrelia (Odishi) until 1867, when the principality was abolished by the Russian Empire. In 1993 the administration of the first President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, was here.

Get in

Trains run to Tbilisi and all stops on the way. Night trains are also available, and are the most popular way to get from Tbilisi to Zugdidi, since the marshrutkas to Mestia are coordinated with them. Arrival in Zugdidi is at 6:30AM. Marshrutkas and buses are also available to most major cities in Georgia.

The name “Zugdidi” first appears in XVII century. Literally it means “big hill” in Mingrelian language. An alternative version of the name recorded in old sources is “Zubdidi” with same meaning from Megrelian.