Prices and Schedule
You can visit the fortress any day of the week. The citadel is open to tourists from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Ticket prices:
- Adult - 5 GEL;
- Child - 2 GEL.
Guided Tours
Many tourists visit the village of Gonio as part of guided tours or on their own by car or bus to experience ancient history. You can take an audio guide to learn more about the history of this ancient place. It costs 5 GEL but is only designed for two people. If you are traveling in a group, you can hire a tour guide for 10 GEL.
You can also explore the fortress territory independently, which is also very interesting. Especially considering that most of the exhibits are labeled in three languages - Georgian, English, and Russian.
Complex Information
Finding the dolphinarium is very easy - it is located on the way to the beach, in the 6th May Park, to be more precise - at 51 Rustaveli Street. The facility is small but spacious, accommodating up to 700 spectators. The complex has three pools and is divided into four sectors. Visitors are protected from the weather by a canopy. There are ramps for strollers and facilities for people with disabilities. Additionally, the dolphinarium complex features:
Show Performances
Every day, except Mondays, you can attend a 40-minute show. The main stars of the dolphinarium - two baby dolphins and eight adults - perform twice a day (at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM).
The trainers interact with the audience in three languages:
- Georgian;
- English;
- Russian.
The peak season with the highest attendance is from May to September. During the colder months, the performances are less frequent, mainly on weekends.
Prices
The tickets are quite affordable and cost:
- For daytime visit:
15 GEL;
- For nighttime visit:
20 GEL.
We would like to draw your attention that during the summer period, it can be difficult to get tickets for the performances, so it is advisable to buy tickets in advance. Alternatively, you can visit the ticket office before the opening at 10:00 AM.
The dolphinarium offers a paid activity - swimming with dolphins, with the following prices:
- For spectators aged 5 to 16:
150 GEL;
- For adults:
200 GEL.
To swim with the dolphins, it is necessary to make a reservation in advance.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Let's start with the disadvantages:
In the past, the dolphinarium's program was much more entertaining, featuring not only dolphins but also seals and sea lions, and the shows were longer. The dolphinarium itself was more spacious.
The main drawback of the modern dolphinarium is that it is outdoor. The canopy does not provide much protection in case of severe weather. If you expect that the shows are canceled in the rain, you are mistaken - they are held in any weather.
Another unpleasant nuance is that if you want to stay dry towards the end of the show, get tickets for the 5th row and above.
The advertised 40-minute duration of the show is not accurate - in reality, the show lasts a maximum of 25 minutes. There is also an issue with languages: trainers mainly speak in Georgian and English, so if you don't know these languages, you can only watch the show without fully understanding it.
The acts are short and somewhat boring. There are very few of them. The only positive moment is when the trainer selects children from the audience to interact with the dolphins.
The dolphin pool is very small, and it seems crowded for the animals.
Unfortunately, there are fewer advantages:
Affordability - one of the lowest prices.
The new building of the dolphinarium.
The show may appeal to tourists who have not been to such places before and have nothing to compare it with.
