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• Orbi City Hotel Official
• Hilton Batumi
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• Alliance Palace Batumi
• Euphoria Hotel Batumi
• Umami at Clouds Restaurant and Bar
• Nephele Sky Bar
• 360 Sky Bar & Restaurant
• Restaurant Tavaduri
• Argo Cable Car
• Batumi Botanical Gardens
• Batumi Dolphinarium
• Monument Ali and Nino
• Alphabetic Tower
• The Best Tour From Batumi
• Martvili Canyon & Prometheus Cave Group Tour from Batumi
• Explore Canyons from Batumi
• Mtirala National Park Tour
• Private Canyon & Cave Tours from Batumi(Martvili-Okatse-Promete)

40 Wonderful Things to Do in Batumi with Map & Directions

Situated on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Batumi is a vibrant city and a go-to summer destination for locals offering an interesting blend of old and ultra-modern architecture, culinary delights, and rich ancient history. And with plenty of things to do in Batumi, both in the city and around it, your time here will be pretty intriguing. 

Besides listing what to see in Batumi, this detailed and in-depth Batumi travel guide provides historical information about the city, how to get from Tbilisi to Batumi , the best time to visit Batumi, and what to pack, to name a few.

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Is Batumi worth visiting? 

Batumi is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, located southwest of Georgia and a mere 20 kilometers north of the Turkish border. The city finds itself in a subtropical zone, gracing the foothills of the majestic Caucasus Mountains. 

During the Soviet era, Batumi, or Adjara in general, was not a popular summer destination. Everyone would go to Abkhazia’s coastal towns, namely Sokhumi, Gagra, and Bichvinta, for their tropical scenery and pristine beaches. However, after the collapse of the USSR, followed by the civil war in Tbilisi and Abkhazia (now an occupied territory of Russia), we had to look for other coastal getaways. 

Over the past 15 years, Batumi has transformed into a thriving seaside resort adorned with a fascinating fusion of architectural wonders, opulent hotels, enticing culinary delights, and many attractions. 

With its impressive presence of international hotel chains, quirky skyscrapers, and alluring casinos, Batumi has rightfully earned its reputation as the “Las Vegas of the Black Sea,” or “Dubai of the Caucasus,” drawing in locals and visitors from neighboring countries. 

Peculiar buildings dot Batumi’s skyline, where ultra-modern skyscrapers mingle with restored classical 19th-century buildings of the Belle Époque, giving a glimpse of what the city looked like back in the day. 

Batumi is a feast for the eyes and a haven for culture enthusiasts. Dive into the vibrant arts scene, where galleries and museums showcase an impressive collection of contemporary art and historical artifacts. 

Discover the region’s flavors through its delicious cuisine, and when the heat becomes unbearable, escape to surrounding natural wonders. 

A brief history of Batumi

Batumi is much more than those above-mentioned nicknames. The current city is set on the site of an ancient Greek colony known as “Bathus” or “Bathys.” The name derives from the Greek words meaning ‘deep harbor.’ 

During the reign of Hadrian (c. 117-138 AD), Batumi transformed into a fortified Roman port. However, it was eventually abandoned in favor of the fortress of Petra (more on this below), established during the time of Justinian I (c. 527-565 AD). 

Occupied by the Roman-Byzantine forces and serving as a possession of the kingdom of Lazica, Batumi briefly came under the control of the Arabs, although their hold was not long-lasting. 

In 780, Lazica fell under the rule of the kingdom of Abkhazia through a dynastic union, leading to the eventual unification of the Georgian monarchy in the 11th century.

Batumi was captured by Ottomans and freed by Georgians several times between the 15th and 17th centuries. However, in 1703, Batumi was again under the Ottoman Empire’s sovereignty. Over the next century and a half, it flourished as a provincial port, serving as a vital gateway to the Empire’s hinterlands on the eastern periphery of the Black Sea. 

Following the Ottoman conquest, the previously predominantly Christian region underwent a process of Islamization. However, this halted and significantly reversed with the re-annexation of the area to Russian Imperial Georgia after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. 

The return to Russian rule marked a turning point in Batumi’s religious and cultural landscape and surroundings that is still present today. Upper Adjara, the mountainous area of the region, is still predominantly Muslim, with fascinating and gorgeous wooden mosques I haven’t seen elsewhere. 

Following Georgia’s reestablishment of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Aslan Abashidze became the head of Adjara’s governing council. Throughout the tumultuous 1990s, Abashidze maintained his grip on power while neighboring regions such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia sought to secede from the Georgian state. 

Instead, Abashidze transformed Adjara into his own personal “state,” making it a “free economic zone” with minimal trade restrictions. However, the customs duties and revenues generated from trade were directed towards Abashidze’s government rather than being channeled to Tbilisi. This arrangement allowed Abashidze to control the region’s economic affairs, further solidifying his influence within Adjara.

Following Rose Revolution in Tbilisi in 2003, the central Georgian government and opposition pressured him to resign in 2004. He relocated to Moscow, Russia, where he has resided ever since. On January 22, 2007, the Batumi city court delivered a verdict against Abashidze, finding him guilty of office misconduct and embezzlement. The court ruled that he had misused approximately 98.2 million GEL in state funds. Abashidze was sentenced to a 15-year prison term for his actions in absentia .

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Best time to visit Batumi

The best time to visit Batumi depends on your preferences. I don’t like spending the summer in Batumi because it’s overcrowded and expensive. 

For me, the best time to visit Batumi is off-season, particularly in spring and autumn. As the temperatures become milder and the colors of nature burst into a splendid display, these seasons offer a tranquil ambiance.

Spring and autumn allow you to fully immerse yourself in the city’s charm as the crowds thin out, making it easier to explore the attractions at your own pace and savor the hidden gems that Batumi offers. 

While I haven’t been to Batumi in winter, I’ve seen pretty magical photos of the snow-covered coast. 

What to pack for Batumi

When packing for Batumi, it’s essential to consider the varying seasons throughout the year. 

For the warmer seasons of spring and summer (April to September), pack lightweight and breathable clothing such as shorts, t-shirts, dresses, flowy skirts , and swimwear , as temperatures can reach around 30C (86F). 

Remember essentials like sunscreen , sunglasses, and a fedora hat to protect yourself from the sun. Batumi beach has pebbles, so I advise you to bring water shoes or Crocs so you are comfortable getting in and out of the Black Sea. 

Even though Batumi is a summer destination, occasional rains might happen, so it’s always a good idea to pack a foldable, light raincoat . 

Pack layers like sweaters, jackets, and long pants in the cooler autumn and winter months (October to March). During these months, temperatures can drop to around 10C (50F) or lower. 

It’s also advisable to bring a raincoat or umbrella as rainfall is more frequent during these seasons. 

Regardless of the time of year, comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are necessary for exploring Batumi’s beautiful streets and attractions. I also throw in my North Face sandals . 

Bring a universal adapter if you come from a country that uses power plugs other than Type C. If you are into photography, a portable charger to charge your phone or electronics on the go also comes in handy when packing for Batumi. 

I also travel with my collapsible travel bottle and coffee cup from Stojo to minimize my footprint on the planet. 

How to Get to Batumi 

Situated 386 km from Tbilisi, reaching Batumi involves a car journey of approximately 5-6 hours due to the ongoing construction of the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze highway. There are various public transportation options to travel from Tbilisi to Batumi. While you can read my detailed Tbilisi to Batumi transport guide , I’ll briefly explain it here. 

Tbilisi Batumi Train

The Tbilisi Batumi train is a prevalent and comfortable transportation mode for locals and tourists in Georgia. In recent years, Georgia introduced a relatively fast and modern two-story Stadler Train that operates several times. 

The train journey from Tbilisi to Batumi typically takes around 5 hours, providing a scenic and relaxing experience. Ticket prices vary depending on the class: second-class tickets are priced at 33 GEL, first-class tickets at 71 GEL, and a business class option is available for 120 GEL. 

Tbilisi to Batumi Bus 

Another convenient option for traveling from Tbilisi to Batumi is by bus, my second favorite mode of transportation. The buses, operated by Omnibus , offer comfort throughout the day. The buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi, allowing you to stay connected during your journey. However, the speed might not be ideal. A ticket for one way journey costs 40 GEL.

Tbilisi to Batumi Marshrutka 

Among the available transportation options, the marshrutka (minibus) is my least preferred choice due to its discomfort and sometimes reckless driving by drivers, which is more evident compared to the average Georgian driving style. 

Marshrutkas depart from Didube Bus Station, located near Didube Metro, every hour starting early in the morning and operating until late in the evening. The one-way fare for a marshrutka ride is approximately 35 GEL. One advantage of marshrutkas is that you don’t need to purchase tickets in advance; instead, you can show up at the station and pay the fare directly to the driver or the cashier.

Tbilisi to Batumi airplane

For those seeking a swift and convenient travel option, Tbilisi to Batumi flight departs daily. This efficient mode of transportation significantly reduces travel time, taking approximately 1 hour to reach your destination. The one-way ticket price for this air route is 155 GEL. Check tickets here .

Tbilisi to Batumi by car

For those who love road trips, a journey from Tbilisi to Batumi by car is a great option to explore Georgia’s stunning landscapes at your own pace. As mentioned above, the journey covers a distance of approximately 386 kilometers. It can be completed in around 5-6 hours, depending on the traffic, how many stops you make, and road conditions. 

If you want to rent a car in Georgia, I recommend LocalRent for affordable prices and excellent service. 

Private transfer from Tbilisi to Batumi

Gotrip.ge is a service enabling a private transfer in a comfortable car with reasonable prices. The drivers are very professional and adhere to safe driving standards.  

Where to stay in Batumi

When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay in Batumi, you’re in for a treat, as the city offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every taste and budget. Batumi has everything if you seek luxurious hotels, cozy boutique establishments , or vibrant hostels.

Stay close to Old Batumi for a more authentic vibe. Most of the apartments you’ll see on the platforms are in New Batumi, which is still under heavy development, with many skyscrapers being constructed, making the area quite chaotic and unappealing. 

Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi : This five-star Batumi hotel offers a luxurious and elegant experience with breathtaking views of the Black Sea. The hotel features spacious rooms, a rooftop swimming pool, a fitness center, and a spa. It is ideal for those seeking a lavish stay in the heart of Batumi.

Sheraton Batumi Hotel : Situated in a prime location near major attractions, this upscale hotel boasts stylish rooms with sea views, a rooftop terrace, a fitness center, and a spa. It offers impeccable service, exquisite dining options, and a vibrant atmosphere, making it a top choice for a memorable stay.

Hilton Batumi : Known for its modern design and superb amenities, the Hilton Batumi offers comfortable rooms, a rooftop swimming pool with panoramic views, a fitness center, and multiple dining venues. Its central location, close to the beach, and high standards make it an excellent choice.

Boutique Hotel O. Galogre : This boutique hotel showcases a blend of modern and traditional design elements. The rooms are elegantly furnished, featuring comfortable amenities. The hotel offers a restaurant serving Georgian and European dishes, a bar, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Batumi.

Back2ME Hostel : this colorful hostel in Batumi offers travelers a comfortable and convenient stay. With its prime location, just 600 meters from Batumi Boulevard, you can easily access popular Batumi attractions. 

→ Can’t find something that suits your taste? Here are more hotels in Batumi .

Important Batumi travel tips

Batumi is a highly walkable city, allowing you to explore its streets and attractions on foot. The city’s well-connected public transport system of buses and minibusses provides an additional convenient option for getting around. 

Buses in Batumi feature the same card payment machines as in Tbilisi, making it easy to pay for your ride. However, it’s important to note that TBC bank debit cards and Tbilisi travel cards are not accepted if you’re traveling from Tbilisi by train and need to use public transport to reach the city center. 

In such a case, I suggest having a Metro Money card or a Bank of Georgia debit card for seamless payment.

To make your public transport experience smoother, purchase a Batumi transport card from the Tourist Center or various kiosks located throughout the city. The card costs 2 GEL; you can top it up at orange-colored self-payment machines with the desired amount for your transportation needs. Bus tickets in Batumi cost 30 Tetri.

You can use international debit/credit cards for payment, but be aware that they’ll charge you a bit more. For example, I was charged 80 Tetri for a bus ride when using my Wise Card .

Also, unlike Tbilisi public transport , Google Maps doesn’t show the schedule or the route of Batumi buses, so you’d need to ask the driver if they are going to your destination. 

If you need to leave your luggage somewhere, the only option is Batumi Central Railway Station. Unfortunately, the Lock&Go, conveniently located in the city center, shut down. The railway station’s luggage locker is on the ground floor next to the stairs leading to the rails. It costs 2 GEL to leave a small bag for 24 hours; the big one costs 4 GEL. 

If the brown door is locked, there’s a number to call for security to come and open it for you. Make sure you have cash; no card payments. A TBC ATM is inside the railway station if you need to withdraw.  

All the things to do in Batumi map

To save you time and energy, all the landmarks, spots, cafes, and restaurants explained here are in this Google Maps list you can save and refer to any time you want. 

Fun and wonderful things to do in Batumi 

Batumi boasts a delightful blend of modern and historic architecture, beautiful street art, elegant cafes and restaurants, and distinctive, quirky buildings. 

While the city may appear compact at first glance, attempting to explore everything on foot can be quite tiring as there are plenty of places to visit in Batumi. 

Fortunately, convenient and modern bus services traverse Batumi’s main streets, allowing you to hop on and off at your desired destinations easily. 

However, it’s worth noting that wandering the streets on foot often leads to discovering more intriguing and unique places that may be missed when relying solely on bus transportation. 

So, take the time to stroll through the charming streets and uncover its hidden treasures and wonderful things to do in Batumi. 

Marvel at the architectural gems of Old Batumi

Old Batumi is a treasure trove of architectural buildings, showcasing a captivating blend of styles from various eras. Strolling through the streets, beautifully restored 19th-century buildings adorned with intricate details and vibrant colors greet you at every corner. 

The European influences are evident in the neoclassical facades. These charming Art Nouveau buildings bring back the city’s glamorous past, while the Oriental motifs add a touch of exoticism to the cityscape. 

The Old Batumi area is between the port and Demetre Tavdadebuli Street. Its cobblestone streets, running east-west, showcase a delightful blend of architectural styles and magnificent old houses adorned with intricately carved wooden doors and wrought iron balconies. 

As you explore, you’ll find that the heritage architecture extends to 6 May Park, making wandering through these charming streets worthwhile.

Keep an eye out for the informative panels displaying black-and-white photographs, offering glimpses into what these buildings and streets looked like during the turn of the century.

Here are some historical buildings I have hunted down and are worth checking out: 

Building with Batumi written on it : right at the corner of Gogebashvili and Valenberg Streets, look up to admire a building with a pointed tower-like top and a Batumi written in big letters. 

Apollo Cinema : this is a highlight and iconic building of Batumi’s Old Town, featuring a distinctive Art Nouveau facade. Destroyed during Soviet times and later rebuilt, it serves as a cinema house. 

Hotel O.Galogre : the building, housing a hotel of the same name, is another architectural gem of Old Batumi that you don’t want to miss. 

Piazza Square : With its Italian-inspired architecture and bustling atmosphere, the iconic square is a must-visit spot that exudes charm and elegance. 

Piazza encompasses an area of approximately 5,700 square meters, drawing crowds with its beautiful mosaic floor (see more below), gorgeous carvings on the ceiling of passages, and stunning stained glass artwork on its buildings. 

The square comes alive during the high season with numerous tables and chairs set outside, creating a delightful ambiance to enjoy a coffee or a leisurely lunch. 

Administrative Building of Adjara : located at the intersection of K. Gamsakhurdia and M. Abashidze streets, the pastel peach-color house with Atlantis is another grand building of the area. Look up to see another massive sculpture looking down right at you. 

Nikoloz Sabashvili (Sabaev in some sources) owned the whole house a century ago. He was a businessman from Batumi with Georgian tea and citrus plantations in Chakvi and shops in Batumi. 

The sculptures and carving designs of the building were crafted by Serafime Pololikashvili, a painter-sculptor who mastered the skill in Paris back then. 

Europe Square: the largest square in Batumi, offers a unique fusion of architectural styles, where distinguishing between old and new can be slightly tricky because most Belle Époque-inspired buildings here are new. 

I especially love the building with the Astronomical Clock at the junction of Gamsakhurdia and Abashidze streets. Resembling the famous clock in Prague’s Old Town , albeit on a smaller scale and of more recent construction, it captivates visitors with its intricate design. In addition to displaying the current time, this remarkable clock also showcases the positions of the moon, the sun, the meridian, and the horizon. If you want a more detailed explanation, a plate on the opposite side shows what each icon and circle means. 

Puppet Theater : Memed Abashidze Street No. 49 hides one more cute building with an exceptional carved balcony. Once, the building was the home of a Batumi engineer, who built it with brick-colored stone at the beginning of the 20th century. 

Besides these remarkable buildings, always keep your eyes sharpened to find small details on the buildings. For instance, I would have missed the date, 1892, with the initials P and C in Russian letters on the crystal teal-colored gate at 14 Noe Zhordania Street . On the same building, under the balcony, you can still see a remnant of a sign of the building in Russian letters. 

Very close to the Puppet Theater, on M. Abashidze Street No 28 , you can find a pine green-colored residential house with a 1960 date plastered top. Gamsakhurdia Street also hides a pastel peach-colored house with a 1935 date written on it. 

Admire the gorgeous mosaic at Batumi Piazza

Designed by Georgian-Swiss artist Natali De Pita-Amirejibi, the mosaic gracing the floor of Batumi Piazza stands out as one of Europe’s largest figurative marble artworks. Crafted in 2010 at an Abu Dhabi workshop, this impressive mosaic spans 106 square meters in diameter. It is a remarkable feat, consisting of 88,244,735 tiles, each measuring just 1 square centimeter, meticulously cut and treated.

The intricate creation was later transported to Batumi, where it took 10 days to assemble the separate pieces, forming a stunning mosaic masterpiece on the Piazza.

While most tiles are made of marble, the sea goddess’s purple dress and the dark portion of the second goddess’s red dress feature ceramic tiles, adding a captivating touch of color and texture to the overall composition.

The mesmerizing design comprises eight circles of varying diameters, seamlessly interlocked, creating an illusion of water funnels on a tranquil surface. Each circle boasts a unique array of decorative ornaments and symbolic elements, enhancing the mosaic’s artistic allure.

Peek inside the Batumi Marine Station

Batumi Marine Station is home to a beautiful pastel-colored frieze adorning the entrance. This intricately designed piece showcases an array of sailing ships, ferries, and oceanic motifs, with the prominent figure of Poseidon at its center. 

The building used to serve passenger ferries to Varna in Bulgaria and Sochi in Russia, but since the pandemic, it has stopped. On my last visit in May 2023, there was no information about any timetable or schedule posted anywhere, and there was no one in the building at that time I could ask. 

Walk through Batumi Boulevard

One of the top things to do in Batumi is to walk its Boulevard leisurely. Originating in 1884, this iconic Boulevard stretches 7 kilometers along the picturesque seafront, making it one of Europe’s oldest and largest parks. 

Michael D’alfons, the famous French nobleman, was Batumi’s principal gardener and decorator during 1885-1889. His visionary efforts led to the establishment and transformation of Batumi Boulevard. With unwavering dedication, he converted previously impassable coastal areas into a stunning and lush garden, earning him the endearing title of “the good genius of Batumi coast” among his peers and contemporaries.

The boulevard area encompasses a network of scenic walking and cycling paths that wind through meticulously maintained gardens, recreational zones, and clusters of cafes. During the summer, the Boulevard becomes a bustling nightlife spot with plenty of beachfront bars and clubs. 

To fully experience Batumi Boulevard, you can take a stroll from end to end or rent a bike from one of the vendors in the park. Electric scooters are also available as an alternative mode of exploration. 

As you make your way along the Boulevard, there are several notable Batumi tourists attractions to discover:

Miracle Park: situated adjacent to Batumi Port, showcases an array of unique and unconventional buildings that display the distinctiveness of Batumi. There are a few important landmarks in Miracle Park that I have included below. 

Sculptures : numerous sculptures and contemporary art installations, many with a romantic theme and some quite quirky, adorn the seafront. There’s a piece with Georgian alphabet letters on colorful and slightly transparent tiles. Each tile and letter has a QR code that directs you to a YouTube video of a specific place or food known in Adjara that starts on that letter. It indeed is a fan way of getting to know the region. 

Japanese Garden : near Batumi State University lies a charming Japanese-style garden. Complete with a torii gate, a red bridge, toro stone lanterns, and maple trees; it offers a serene oasis of tranquility.

Batumi Summer Theatre : a distinctive landmark on the Boulevard, the grand wooden structure replicates the original theater built in 1949 and destroyed by fire in the 1990s. During the summer months, the theater hosts various shows and performances. 

Glare at the quirky buildings of the Batumi skyline

What amuses everyone in Batumi is its skyline, where unconventional and vibrant modern architecture graces the waterfront, creating a striking contrast to the classical facades of the Old Batumi. 

One of my favorite things to do in Batumi is to stare at these buildings ranging from artistic masterpieces to delightfully bizarre. Here are a few of my favorites: 

Alphabetic Tower : an impressive 135-meter tall structure resembling a DNA molecule is an eye-catcher among other peculiar architectural gems of Batumi. Wrapped around its circumference are all 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet, showcasing the rich linguistic heritage of the country. You can ascend the tower using the available lift to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Batumi and the captivating Black Sea. The observation deck also has a restaurant. 

• Opening hours : Panorama cafe – every day from 11 am to 12 pm; Restaurant Atmosphero – every day from 2 pm to 12 pm. 
• Lift ticket price : adults – 20 GEL; children from 7-12 years – 5 GEL; children under 7 FREE. 
• Note : even if you plan to sit at the restaurant, you still need to pay for the elevator. 

Batumi Tower : Rising majestically as the tallest building in Batumi, I think it is the most peculiar of them all and one of my favorites. The distinctive small, gold-colored Ferris Wheel embedded in its upper levels is what makes it so whimsical. Initially intended to house Batumi’s Technical University, private investors recently acquired the tower with plans to transform it into a hotel. Currently, there is a Casino on the ground floor. 

Chacha Tower : a 25-meter tall fountain with a clock meant to be the prominent Batumi sightseeing, but it never materialized with its function. As the name suggests, the tower was supposed to dispense free chacha , a highly alcoholic Georgian spirit, from four fountains at the tower’s base for a limited time each week.

Batumi Public Service Hall : serving as a hub for government services, Batumi Public Service Hall, next to Courtyard by Marriott hotel, showcases a unique cylindrical design crafted by acclaimed Italian architect Michele de Lucchi. 

See the symbol of everlasting love

Ali and Nino, a beautiful statue representing eternal love, is another remarkable sight at Miracle Park that deserves a separate listing. Crafted by a talented Georgian sculptor, this masterpiece takes inspiration from the renowned novel of the same name by Kurban Said . 

The novel narrates a tale of forbidden love between a Georgian Christian nobleman’s daughter and a Muslim Azeri boy, set against the backdrop of Baku. 

The two figures, standing tall at 8 meters each, gracefully move towards each other, merging into a single entity before parting ways, symbolizing the eternal cycle of love. It is a genuinely mesmerizing portrayal that embodies the enduring nature of affection. 

Don’t miss the historic Batumi Lighthouse

Among Miracle Park’s high-rise skyscrapers and surrounding monuments, it might be hard to notice the charming and not-that-tall historical Batumi Lighthouse. A lighthouse has stood here since 1863; the current replica was constructed in 1882. 

Enjoy breathtaking views from the Argo Cable Car

There are numerous vantage points in Batumi to admire the city skyline. However, for genuinely awe-inspiring vistas, take Argo Cable Car to Anuria Mountain from the center of Batumi. 

Connecting the port area with an entertainment complex atop the mountain, Argo Cable Car was constructed in 2013. It ascends 250 meters above the city, providing magnificent views of the Black Sea.

Located very close to Miracle Park, Argo Cable Car operates year-round daily.  

• Opening hours : every day, 11 am – 10 pm. The last cable car departs 30 minutes before closing.
• Entrance fee : 30 GEL round trip; children from 5 to 12 years – 7 GEL. 

Pop inside Batumi’s last Mosque

As I mentioned earlier at the beginning of the post, Batumi and Adjara are generally home to a significant Muslim population, with approximately 40% of Adjarians practicing Islam. 

If you’re interested in experiencing the city’s religious diversity, visiting Orta Jame, also known as Batumi Central Mosque, is a must. It stands as the sole active Mosque in Batumi.

The name “Orta Jame” translates to “Middle Mosque” and derives from its historical connection to a trio of mosques. Constructed in 1866, intricate decorations crafted by local artisans adorn the Mosque, which served as a place of worship until 1935, when it was seized and repurposed as a military depot. In 1946, it was restored to its original function as a mosque.

You can explore the Mosque’s interior outside of prayer times. Go inside to admire the exquisite wood carvings and vibrant, colorful decorations.

Visit Batumi Cathedral

The Holy Mother Virgin Nativity Cathedral, Batumi’s largest Orthodox Church, stands proudly on one of the edges of the Old Town. This impressive Gothic Revival structure, built in 1897, leaves a lasting impression. 

The church, intended initially as a Catholic church, was funded by the Zubalashvili brothers, prominent merchants known for their philanthropic works across Georgia. 

During the Soviet era, the cathedral was repurposed as a power station before being reconsecrated as an Orthodox church in 1989. 

The cathedral’s facade, adorned with three domes, is visually striking and sets it apart. The interior is equally captivating; frescos damaged during the transition were recently restored. 

Peek inside Batumi Sinagogue

In addition to the cathedral and Mosque, the city is also home to the Batumi Synagogue, which speaks to how ethnically diverse the city has always been. This synagogue is an important place of worship for the local Jewish community. 

In 1899, the Russian Emperor granted special permission to Batumi’s Jewish community to construct a place of worship, marking the beginning of the synagogue’s story.

Designed by Semyon Volkovich and completed in 1904, this grand structure shares architectural similarities with other Georgian synagogues in Oni and Kutaisi while showcasing a unique white-washed facade. Unlike the intricate details and colorful decorations of Kutaisi Synagogue, the Batumi one features a minimalistic interior with blue and white color touches. 

Extra tip : if you are after more religious sites to explore in Batumi, here are a few more to visit: Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, and Roman Catholic Church.

Prize McDonald’s building in Batumi

I typically never suggest visiting McDonald’s in my travel guides, but this one is special and unique, so bear with me for a second. 

Designed by renowned architect Giorgi Khmaladze, this futuristic glass structure stands out like a spaceship poised for flight. A reflective pool that gracefully flows around its perimeter accentuates its sleek lines. 

The shape and concept of the building earned it the prestigious title of Best Commercial Building in 2014 by ArchDaily, a prominent architecture website. 

Built directly above a gas station, guests dining inside are unaware of the nearby fuel pumps. A gently sloping garden provides a lush oasis within the dining area, doubling as a canopy for the gas station below.

Discover the vibrant street art in Batumi

For fellow street art enthusiasts, Batumi offers a delightful treasure trove of artistic masterpieces . Prepare to immerse yourself with stunning murals that adorn the city’s walls, equally beautiful as the vibrant murals of Tbilisi . 

Relax at 6 May park 

To escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in a serene natural setting, a leisurely walk through 6 May Park is the perfect choice. 

Park, situated in the city’s heart, offers a tranquil environment centered around a picturesque lake. Benches are scattered throughout the park, providing cozy spots to sit and unwind. Don’t miss a statue of Padiko Gogitidze, the first female pilot from Adjara at the park entrance at the colonnades. 

6 May Park becomes livelier in the evening when locals come out to socialize and relax. It’s also an excellent spot to watch the sunset over the horizon and Batumi’s skyscrapers. 

Admire the sunset at Batumi beach

While Batumi beach is not an excellent choice for sunbathing and swimming, it’s ideal for watching sunsets. 

If the weather permits, you are almost guaranteed to witness a stunning sunset from Batumi beach each evening. The combination of the shimmering reflection of the Black Sea and the thick clouds that often gather during twilight creates an intriguing spectacle.

Here, sunsets are always different; one day, you might have beautiful pastel-colored pink and purple hues, while the next day, it could be a gradation of dark red and orange, as if the sky is on fire. 

I always pack a snack or maybe even a light dinner and sit down at pabble beach to watch the sky as the sun goes down. 

Experience Batumi nightlife

When the sun sets on the horizon, it’s time to experience the nightlife, and one of the best things to do in Batumi at night is to go on a short (or long) bar-hopping. 

As mentioned earlier, Batumi nightlife is much more vibrant and alive during the summer season, but even if you come outside of these months, there are a few places you can have a great time with a wide range of bars serving wine, craft beer, and cocktails. 

8000 Vintages is my favorite wine bar in Tbilisi I typically go to grab a bottle or even sit down for the evening. Another great choice is Bu&Khari offering a good selection of local (regional and national) homemade wines. 

Conte Bar , located at the corner of Gamsakhurdia and Memed Abashidze Streets, is a local favorite to hang out in the evenings. The bar serves cocktails and various drinks and has both inside and outdoor seating areas. 

ChaCha Time is a laid-back bar in Batumi offering cocktails based on chacha – Georgia’s high alcoholic spirit. 

However, if chacha is not something you can tolerate, next door, Sami Ludi Craft Beer has a wide selection of craft beers. 

Try Batumuri beer straight from the factory

The local Batumi brewery has been producing beer since 1951. After two years of constant renovation and reconstruction, they reopened in 2019 and implemented new modern, and improved machinery. 

Batumuri Ludi, or Batumi-type beer in English, is a slightly dark straw yellow color beer with a delicate and light taste. The best place to try the beer is from the factory window at 24 Tbel-Abuseridze Street, where you can see how staff pours it from gigantic tanks right before you. 

Things to do in Batumi for Soviet lovers

Uncover the fascinating soviet-era mosaics.

For those who appreciate Soviet-style mosaics, one of the things to do in Batumi is to check out a few remarkable examples of the bygone era. 

Despite representing a period in the country’s history that many would rather forget, I find these mosaics captivating in their symbolism and the artistry involved. Sadly, many mosaics in Georgia have fallen into disrepair or vanished entirely. 

One of Batumi’s most famous mosaics is outside the Batumi Dolphinarium . This is one of the Batumi sightseeing I don’t recommend visiting to see the Dolphins. 

Created in 1974 by Georgian artists Zaur Tsuladze and Vaja Bjalava, the mosaic depicts a lively scene of dolphins and swimsuit-clad swimmers gracefully intertwined on one side, while the other features a spiritual figure surrounded by several dolphins.

Next door courtyard of Batumi Aquarium also has a mosaic showing dolphins jumping out of the sea waves and three kids riding them. 

The entrances of two residential houses on Akhmeteli Street (No. 9 and 1) are adorned with various mosaics with similar marine themes. One has a dolphin with a red and white striped umbrella, while the second shows Poseidon with his trident in one hand while holding the helm. You can even see a small octopus on the left side at the bottom. 

Another mosaic entryway is at Pushkin Steet No. 39 near Komuna Hostel and Bar. Unlike many mosaics with dolphins, this one has a mixture of marine and astrology themes. Twelve zodiac signs in the circles surround one big boat in the center. 

The courtyard of Public School No. 4 at Pushkin Street 63 also has remnants of Soviet-era mosaics. 

If you have time to venture outside Batumi city center, Tsotne Dadiani Street has relatively destroyed Soviet-era mosaics that once adorned a kindergarten. 

See the Soviet-era bas relief with insurance theme

Located on Memed Abashidze 60, adjacent to Pinch Coffee, lies a captivating Soviet-era bas-relief with an insurance theme. Surprisingly, I had never truly taken notice of this artwork before, but upon closer inspection, I was fascinated by the abundance of intricate details it possessed.

The focal point of the relief is adorned with Georgian script, boldly proclaiming “Public Insurance,” from which the theme elegantly branches out, resembling a crossword puzzle, listing all the insurable aspects, thus providing an insightful thematic explanation. Additionally, two small square-shaped boxes display Russian letters.

The top trio of pieces elegantly showcase life, marriage, and accident insurance, while the four central sections concentrate on cattle, child, vehicle, and water transport insurance. Furniture insurance can be observed on the bottom left side. Unfortunately, the inscription on the bottom right side has been lost to time, preventing me from identifying the last piece. Sadly, I couldn’t find any information about the artwork either. 

Upon keen observation, I discovered the number 86 discreetly placed on the tree’s trunk, just above the lower right side, accompanied by a few letters nestled amidst the tree’s leaves. My assumption leads me to believe that “86” represents the date of the artwork’s creation, likely denoting the year 1986.

Find a hammer and sickle on a residential building 

I am a fan of peculiar Soviet things, so when I accidentally stumbled on a hammer and sickle sign on top of the residential building intertwined with the date at the intersection of Luka Asatiani and Parnavaz Mepe Streets, I had to include this in the post. Maybe you also find such things interesting. 

Gape at Batumi Octopus

Batumi Octopus is my favorite Soviet-era mosaic-covered piece, so I decided it deserves a particular spot in this Batumi travel blog. 

Designed by architect George Chakhava and mosaic artist Zurab Kapanadze in 1975, this impressive three-dimensional monument, often called the ‘Octopus’ by locals, houses a café inside that was known as Cafe Fantasia back in the day.  

After years of neglect and abandonment, the structure was restored a couple of years ago to house a cafe, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. While I suggest sitting down and enjoying the scenery with your preferred drink, I was surprised to see it turned into a “children’s playground” on my last visit without anyone telling them not to slide and run on them, not even the cafe staff or the security. 

Things to do in Batumi for foodies

Devour adjaruli khachapuri.

Adjarian Khachapuri is the famous boat-shaped Khachapuri that comes from Adjara. Once baked, a knob of butter and an egg yok is topped on the cheese. 

To eat, mix the butter and egg yolk with melted cheese to incorporate everything. Then break both ends and dip in the cheese-butter-egg mixture. You can continue breaking the sides to eat with your hands or use a knife and fork. 

The best place to eat Adjaruli Khachapuri in Batumi is Laguna , followed by Retro . If you are after an even more distinctive taste, try Acharuli Khachapuri House , where they bake it in a wood-fired oven. 

Savor the delights of other meals of Adjarian Cuisine

This region of Georgia boasts diverse dishes that showcase local ingredients and flavors. In the lush landscapes of Adjara, dairy products take center stage, where cheese is the primary ingredient in many Adjarian dishes. 

Sinori : this is my favorite Adjarian dish I never get bored of. Thin folded sheets of lavash bread with cottage cheese and butter baked in the oven create this tasty dish. 

Borano : I am still deciding if I like Borano or not. This Adjarian dish calls for Sulguni cheese melted in hot butter. Even though the cheese becomes stretchy and the description sounds interesting, I find it too buttery and gets cold almost instantly. 

Chaqondrili : beef prepared in white wine, spices, mountain herb qonadri (savory or Satureja herb), and tender beef broth, all baked in aluminum foil on ketsi clay pot. 

Achma : another version of Khachapuri native to Adjara and Abkhazia regions. The layers of dough are arranged like a lasagna with shredded cheese spread between them. 

Iakhni is a flavorful beef stew enriched with nuts and spices with a thick, rich sauce. 

Chirbuli : a breakfast dish that has similarities with Turkish Menemen. Scrambled or sunny-side-up eggs are fried in a tangy sauce made from walnuts, tomatoes, and herbs. 

One of the excellent places to try Adjaruli cuisine in Batumi is Lurji Supra . Their menu offers several staples, including Chaqondrili, Sinori, Achma, Adjaruli Khachapuri, and Iakhni. Adjaruli House is also quite decent. 

Enjoy the freshest fish at Batumi Fish Market

With its coastal location, Batumi boasts a fresh catch of the day from the Black Sea. 

Batumi Fish Market offers a wide array of various fish, crabs, and seafood options. However, note that most exotic seafood on display is imported and not caught in the Black Sea . Therefore, they might not be as fresh as you want them to be. Oto knows how to distinguish them, so I always trust his words. 

The safest bet would be the Black Sea Traut, Garfish, Seabass, Flounder, European anchovy, and mussels. 

I wouldn’t recommend eating oysters in Batumi as I have heard several people getting food poisoning from them. 

Once you find what you are looking for, you can ask them to clean it for you to take home and cook it. Otherwise, you can take them to a dining section behind the market, where skilled chefs will prepare them for you. 

Alternatively, you can also go to waterfront restaurants to enjoy the same products from their menu. Flandria and Blue Wave are favorites of many. 

Have breakfast at Blue Elephant 

This cute little cafe in Batumi is a famous spot for breakfast lovers in the heart of Batumi, next to Europe Square. 

Blue Elephant’s culinary offerings strike the perfect balance between casual and sophisticated. With meticulous attention to detail, they use organic ingredients in their meals and focus on European cuisine with an innovative touch developed by Elene Kakabadze, the Executive Chef. Her expertise lies in being well-versed in French and Italian techniques and blending classic Georgian flavors with modern fusion concepts. 

We loved our Shakshuka and Eggs Benedict with bacon. The flavors were on point, and the portion was quite filling. 

Shop for local products

It would be best to shop for typical souvenirs in Tbilisi as there are more options in the capital than in Batumi. However, if you like to get local produce as a souvenir or want to taste some during your stay in Batumi, Agromania is an excellent shop. 

The store offers a delightful selection of wines, chacha , liqueurs, jams, locally-grown Georgian tea, handmade soups, honey, artisanal cheeses, and spices, to name just a few. Here, you can find products explicitly made in the Adjara region and the rest of the country. 

Try Adjarian Baklava

One of the things to do in Batumi is to indulge in the delightful treat of Baklava. However, if you’ve tried Turkish Baklava, you’ll find that the Baklava here has its twist, setting it slightly apart from its neighboring counterpart. 

While the ingredients are almost identical, the climate, the preparation techniques, and the product’s taste make them so different. I find Turkish ones sweeter and soft with too much syrup, while Adjarian has more solid pastry and less syrup, but equally sweet. Baklava House is a great spot to get your treat on the go; unfortunately, they don’t have a sitting are. 

Things to do in Batumi when it rains

Batumi is known for its heavy rain and spontaneous thunderstorms. Having a few indoor activities ready ensures you maximize your time in the city. Of course, you can enjoy these sights regardless of the weather, but they mainly come in handy for rainy days.

Soak in Batumi’s vibrant cafe scene

Immerse yourself in Batumi’s lively cafe culture and discover the delightful coffee scene in the city. Turkish-style coffee is a popular choice among locals nationwide but is especially popular in Batumi. 

Like the fast-developing specialty coffee scene in Tbilisi , I was impressed by how many were there in Batumi during my last visit. 

Whether it rains in Batumi or it gets too hot for you, spending a few hours in a lovely cafe is a great escape and a break from all the Batumi sightseeing you’ve been doing. 

Here are some of my favorite cafes in Batumi:

Rhino Coffee : Batumi’s first specialty coffee shop roasts its beans and offers branded grounds and bakery treats. Currently, there are two branches of Rhino Coffee in Batumi – one at Khariton Akhvlediani Street and another at Melikishvili. 

Erti Kava Coffee Room : a specialty coffee chain founded by two Ukrainian ladies in Tbilisi that spread across Svaneti and Batumi.

Coffeetopia : I have passed by this place numerous times whenever I came to Batumi but never looked inside until my last visit. With its incredible interior of stunning plasterwork done in Oriental style, it’s lovely to sit inside and sip a coffee with a dessert. 

Ymuri Ceramic & Coffee : located close to Argo Cable Car and the Old Batumi, this small venue incorporates a coffee shop and a ceramic studio. Ymuri serves beans from Shavi Coffee in Tbilisi – my favorite coffee shop in the capital. This tiny space has several seating areas at the bar, as well as a blue sofa to sit comfortably and watch people pass by. 

Explore Batumi’s various museums 

The city has a rich cultural and historical heritage; therefore, visiting its diverse museums is one of the best things to do in Batumi when it rains. All the museums listed below have a QR code next to an exhibit that directs you to an English-language description, making it easy and helpful to tour around. The ticket price is 6 GEL for every museum. Alternatively, you can get a Museum Pass that grants you a one-time visit to five museums and is valid for 10 days. The pass costs 17 GEL. 

Batumi Archaeological Museum on Chavchavadze Street showcases artifacts discovered during excavations in Adjara, primarily from the Pichvanri Greek necropolis, in its exhibition halls spread across two floors. 

The collection includes remarkable finds dating back to the 5th century BC, from painted pottery to coins and gold jewelry. I especially loved the amphoras with typical Green decorations and a collection of qvevris . 

I went without any expectations to Nobel Brothers Batumi Technological Museum, which was a complete surprise and a delight. Located close to Batumi Central railway station, this small museum delves into intriguing aspects of Batumi’s history, focusing on the oil industry, printing, Georgian tea , and photography.

Archival photos, documents, and personal memorabilia provide fascinating insights into the legacies of the Nobel Brothers, the Rothschilds, Alexander Mantashev (oil magnate), and Lau Dzhen Dzhau, a Chinese tea grower who developed Georgian tea. 

Adjara Art Museum is a joy for those who are into fine arts. Established in 1995, this art gallery showcases the works of renowned Georgian painters, including Niko Pirosmani, Rusudan Petviashvili, and Lado Gudiashvili. The museum’s intricate skylight with stained glass decorations adds a unique appeal. 

The Museum of the State of Adjara , housed in a beautiful heritage building from 1883, exhibits the region’s history through various historical and cultural artifacts across two floors. Here, you can find Lau Dzhen Dzhau more memorabilia, gorgeous massive vases from noble families, ethnographic items, labels of all the products produced in Batumi back in the day, maps of Batumi at the end of 19th century, beautiful paintings and fancy chess board, to name just a few. 

Remember to go into the courtyard to see the first tractor CT3 in Batumi, made in Stalingrad (today’s Volgograd) and imported to the city in 1934. Also, look at a massive whale skeleton that weighs between 60-80 tons and is 25 meters long. The whale was killed in Antarctica and was presented to the museum in 1962.

Enjoy a movie day at Apollo Cinema

Indulge in the cinematic experience by watching a movie at the famous Apollo Cinema in Batumi, the only operating movie theater in the city. You can check out the program on Kinoafisha or Tkt.ge, offering Georgian and English screenings. 

Check out Batumi Bazaar

One of the things to do in Batumi, no matter the weather, is to rummage through the agricultural bazaar. Like Green Bazaar in Kutaisi and the other bazaars in Tbilisi, this dynamic market offers a compelling glance into the region’s culinary culture.

Housed in a big warehouse, the Batumi Central Market is mainly an indoor market spanning two levels. The ground floor has a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and poultry. The second floor displays churchkhela, honey, and other preserves like pickles or homemade sauces. Additionally, you can buy local cheese, loose-leaf teas of the region, and spices. 

The Batumi Bazaar, located close to the Central Railway Station, is easily reached via circle bus 1a from Old Batumi or No.12 from Chavchavadze Street. 

What to see near Batumi

Batumi is an excellent hub for discovering the wonders of Adjara. After you’ve seen and experienced Batumi tourist attractions, you can embark on various full or half-day trips from the city . 

Escape to Botanical Garden

Visiting the Batumi Botanical Garden as a day trip from Batumi is an absolute must. Boasting vast grounds, it is one of the most extensive botanical gardens in the region. As you wander through, you’ll discover a network of walking and hiking trails that lead you to breathtaking panoramic viewpoints.

Established in 1912, the Batumi Botanical Garden held significant importance as a premier botanical facility during the Soviet Union era. Located in a picturesque area known as Mtsvane Kontskhi, or ‘Green Cape,’ the garden sits 12 kilometers from Batumi but is easily accessible by bus or taxi.

As the garden is laid out on a hill, expect a bit of uphill walking, but the vistas of the Black Sea from these walking trails make it worth it. 

However, if you can’t walk or prefer a more relaxed way to explore the garden, an electric car takes you from the entrance to the highest point. 

The Batumi Botanical Garden is an excellent escape from hot weather days since the lush greenery provides a calm and fresh breeze.

• Opening hours : every day, 9 am – 7:30 pm
• Entrance fee : Georgian citizens and residents – 10 GEL, foreigners – 20 GEL

Visit the enchanting Petra Fortress

Situated between Batumi Botanical Garden and Kobuleti lies the lesser-known but enchanting Petra Fortress. It is one of the top places to visit near Batumi due to its historical significance and beauty. 

Petra Fortress stands as a significant archaeological and historical complex in the region. Constructed during the 6th century under the patronage of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, this fortress held great strategic importance along the route connecting Georgia to Iran and Armenia. 

Exploring the remnants of this ancient stronghold allows you to immerse yourself in its rich history while marveling at the breathtaking panorama of the Black Sea. 

The allure of Petra is heightened by the lush greenery that blankets half of its ruins of a citadel, soldiers’ barracks, basilica, baths, and farmhouses, adding to its charm and creating a truly captivating sight from within and beyond its walls. I especially love its terrace-like exterior, completely covered in plants. 

• Opening hours : every day, 10 am – 6 pm
• Entrance fee : 5 GEL

Experience a magnetic beach

The neighboring region of Guria is home to several coastal towns with black magnetic sand beaches. Ureki and Shekvetili are local favorites for a more relaxed summer vacation than Batumi. Moreover, people with various health problems also frequent these sides of the Black Sea rather than the Adjara region. 

I am not a big Batumi beach fan, nor do I like Kobuleti (the second most popular summer destination in Adjara), so if I want to swim in the Black Sea, I always do it outside of Batumi and Kobuleti. My favorite spots are Shekvetili, Ukreki, or Sarpi, towards the border with Turkey. 

Your best option to reach Ureki or Shekvetil is to ride a marshrutka (minibus) from Batumi Bus Station. They depart daily and quite often during the day. The journey takes around one hour. Alternatively, if you’d like to be more flexible and travel comfortably, you can rent a car through LocalRent in Batumi. 

And suppose you have time besides sunbathing on a magnetic beach. In that case, Shekvetili has a few attractions, including a Georgia in Miniatures Park, Dendrological Park, Musicians Park, and a relatively new, Bali-inspired Social Space . 

Chase Makhuntseti waterfall

Go on a day trip from Batumi to the small village of Makhuntseti in Upper Adjara, located around 40 minutes away. 

The waterfall is extremely popular among tourists and big tour groups, so it often gets busy. However, it still is a fascinating short nature escape from Batumi. 

Hidden away from the main road, follow the directions to unveil the breathtaking sight of water cascading down a magnificent 36-meter-tall rock. It’s a genuinely mesmerizing natural spectacle that will leave you in awe.

Another fascinating attraction is the stone-arched bridge, conveniently located near the highway. This historic bridge, believed to have been built in the 12th century, connects the riverbanks and showcases remarkable architectural craftsmanship.

Step back in time to Gonio Fortress

Dating back to the 1st century AD, Gonio Apsaros Fortress is another remarkable well-preserved Roman fortification. Exploring the fortified grounds allows you to witness remnants from various historical periods and discover significant burial sites. With its compact size, you can easily explore the fortress within an hour. 

• Opening hours : every day; 10 am – 6 pm. 
• Entrance fee : 5 GEL. 

Explore an alternative national park 

One of the unique day trips from Batumi is definitely to Kobuleti Nature Reserve. This less-traveled and almost hidden natural gem of the Adjara region offers a different coastal experience, known for its marshy wetlands, abundant sphagnum moss, and thriving bird population.

Exploring the park is easy, with boardwalk tracks and a lookout tower providing excellent vantage points. 

You can get to Kobuleti via a marshrutka departing next to the Church of Holy Spirit in front of Batumi Port.

Read : 13 Top Day Trips from Batumi – Forts, Hills, Wetlands, & More

What to do in Batumi if you have more time

Get even better views from the church.

Batumi Sameba Church, also known as Holy Trinity Cathedral, perched on a hilltop, surpasses the panoramic views of the Argo Cable Car. Within the church grounds, a spacious viewing platform offers sweeping vistas toward the Black Sea.

While it’s a bit far from the city center but easily accessible via Bolt taxi, you can add this to your itinerary if you have enough time. 

The church is open from 10 am to 6 pm in the summer, and its operating hours are shorter in the winter months. Outside of the opening hours, the premises are closed with a gate, so you won’t be able to enjoy a scenic sunset anytime you want, sadly. 

On your way back, you can hike down the mountain and still enjoy the Batumi skyline while walking down. It should take up to two hours to return, depending on your pace. 

Ride a historic Khulo Cable Car

For adventure enthusiasts, the tranquil town of Khulo in Upper Adjara is home to the historic cable car connecting Khulo with the tiny village of Tago. 

Europe’s second-longest free-span cable car is an attraction that can’t be missed. This extraordinary Soviet-era transportation stretches nearly two kilometers, reaching 350 meters above the verdant treetops. 

Experience the thrill of a seven-minute ride that unveils the awe-inspiring beauty of the valley below. 

Once in Tago, you can walk to Glamping Tago for spectacular views and have lunch in their Yurt restaurant, offering delicious Adjarian and European meals. If you have enough time, you can stay overnight, but lunch is perfectly doable as there are few dining options in Khulo. 

To reach Khulo, catch a marshrutka from Batumi Bus Station. The journey takes around 2:30 minutes one way. The vans depart daily, every hour from 8 am till 12 pm, and then every 30 minutes until evening. The exact schedule applies to the Khulo Batumi trip. The ticket costs 7 GEL. 

The cable car operates from 9 am to 6 pm and has one hour break from 1 pm to 2 pm. The journey costs only 5 GEL both ways. 

Hike nearby national parks

If you love hiking, then several national parks in Adjara should be on your list. 

One of the most popular national parks near Batumi is Mtirala National Park , located about 30 kilometers from the city. The park, known for its dense forests and picturesque mountain streams, has adorable rope bridges offering an exquisite experience. The visitor’s center is in Chakvi village, which should be your first stop to register and get information. 

Further inland lies Kintrishi Nature Reserve , at a higher elevation than Mtirala, boasting dramatic mountains, gorges, and vibrant rhododendron bushes. It is home to beautiful stone Tamari bridges and beautiful alpine Tbikeli Lake, accessed through a full-day 24-kilometer hike. If you want to hike here, I advise having your car as the park is more remote than others.

My Favorite Travel Resources

To ease your travel planning, check out all the posts about Georgia travel . Additionally, here are some of the websites and services I use when preparing for my next adventure anywhere in the world.

✈ Book affordable flights on WayAway , a platform that shows the best flight deals, tours, and hotels. With a WayAway Plus membership, you can earn cashback . Get 10% off with code: RFD10

🚫 Get compensation for up to 700$ with Airhelp if your flight was canceled or delayed within the last 3 years.

🚗 Rent a car at Local Rent for affordable prices and convenient service.

❣ Pre-book a private car transfer with GoTrip from Tbilisi Airport to your hotel or any other city across Georgia.

💻 Get a VPN from Surfshark to protect your devices from hackers when using public Wi-Fi when traveling.

📱 Install the Airalo app , which provides local eSIMs for a more affordable internet connection when traveling. Get 3 USD with code: BAIA2592 .

💸 Use Wise to withdraw money in local currency without hidden fees and avoid high exchange rates. On top, you might get a Visa or Mastercard debit card .

🍷 For some of the best, expat-designed wine tours check out Eat!ThisTours . Get a 5% discount with code RFD5 .

🏨 Find budget-friendly deals on all sorts of accommodation types on Booking.com .

🩺 Buy the most flexible and budget-friendly travel insurance, SafetyWing , covering COVID .

☀ Book in advance some of the best city walks, cultural experiences, and day tours to maximize your stay and experience here.

Want more inspiration?

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im georgian and im glad to see article about my mother city. its a really nice guide for those who want to visit batumi. all the necessary information is written nicely.

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20 Cool Things to do in Batumi, Georgia

Batumi, Georgia is known as the seaside resort, one of the most popular on the Black Sea, and one of the must-visit places in Georgia and the Caucasus region. But the city has so much more to offer than just the beach holidays and is so much better than it seems at first.

I’ve been to Batumi three times so far and I know I will be back there again, it is such a great destination.

I put together this guide to the best things to do in Batumi so you can get to know the city better and see more than just the seaside. Read on and find out what to do in Batumi!

Batumi essentials

• Airport transfer: Pre-book the airport transfer from Batumi airport to your accommodation in Batumi here .
• Where to stay in Batumi: Boulevard Hotel Batumi (9.1/10) / Hotel Monarch (9.3/10)
• Best Batumi tour: Batumi City highlights- private Walking City Tour
• Best day trip from Batumi: GETAWAY From Batumi
• Get insured for your trip to Georgia with SafetyWing

Table of Contents

Where is Batumi

Batumi is located on the Georgian part of the Black Sea coast, not far from the border with Turkey (20 km). Tbilisi , the capital of Georgia is 380 km away.

Why visit Batumi

The majority of tourists visiting Batumi come here for the seaside holidays but there are more reasons to visit Batumi .

There is a really lovely old town with some impressive old buildings, but also modern architecture is very interesting. You can eat here some delicious and fresh seafood. Batumi is such a vibrant place with so many great things to do.

The surrounding area is stunning with lush vegetation, beautiful views, and a national park only a short ride away from the city.

Best time to visit Batumi

In the summer months, Batumi is a busy holiday destination, attracting not only local tourists but many more, especially from Armenia , Russia or Gulf countries. If you don’t like crowds on the beach and especially on the seaside promenade you should avoid visiting Batumi in July and August.

I’ve been to Batumi twice in autumn (October and November) and I really enjoyed it. There were not that many tourists around but the weather was good enough to spend some time at the beach.

I believe spring must be a good time for a trip to Batumi, with all the amazing vegetation blossoming.

How to get to Batumi

Getting to Batumi is rather easy. The city has its own airport but it is used mostly by the charter flights.

The nearest popular airport is Kutaisi, served by low-cost airlines from numerous European destinations. There are direct buses from/to Kutaisi airport, connected with the flights so you don’t need to worry about your transportation to Batumi. You can get the tickets at the airport, you will find the Georgian Bus booth right in front of the exit from the customs.

From the city of Kutaisi there are marshrutkas (minibusses) every hour from 7 am to 7 pm. The journey takes around 2,5 hours.

The best way to get from Tbilisi to Batumi is by train (you don’t want to spend 6 hours or more in the cramped marshrutka). There are both day and night connections and the travel time is around 5 hours (a bit more in the overnight trains). Trains are comfortable and it should be a pleasant journey. You can find the current trains schedule here .

There are also regular buses connection Tbilisi and Batumi as well as a flight but I still believe a train is the best option.

Where to stay in Batumi

Batumi offers a variety of accommodation and everyone can a suitable place to stay in. If you visit Batumi in the summertime I advise looking for the accommodation ahead of time so you can score the best options. Outside of the season, you can get very good deals on Batumi accommodation.

Here are some recommended places to stay in Batumi

• Hotel Bloom (9,6/10) on Booking – I stayed there the last time and I can wholeheartedly recommend the place!
• Back2ME Hostel (9,4/10 on Booking)
• Mariinsky ApartHotel (9,3/10 on Booking)
• Wyndham Batumi (9,1/10 on Booking)
• and many more!

Things to do in Batumi

And now let’s talk about Batumi attractions that you can’t miss when visiting the city.

Wander around the Old Town

The Old Town in Batumi isn’t very big but it surely is a charming place to wander around. Originally it was built in the 19th century when Batumi was an important port along the route from the Caspian Sea to Europe and many of the impressive buildings still date back to that time. The Batumi Old Town was recently restored and can enchant you easily.

The streets are long, straight, and very picturesque. The center of the Old Town is Piazza – the hidden square built in the Italian style with outdoor cafes, shops, and the beautiful mosaic in the center (it is considered the largest marble mosaic in Europe!). Another place you can’t miss, a bit on the side from the old Town, is Europe Square with the statue of Medea and some impressive buildings around.

The best way to discover the Old Town in Batumi is to wander around aimlessly – you won’t get lost but you might find some real gems here.

Admire the art nouveau architecture

One of the things that have surprised me the most in Batumi was the incredible art nouveau architecture. I’m a big fan of this style so finding more and more amazing buildings was pure joy for me.

Some of the buildings (like Cinema Apollo) were already renovated, while others wait for their turn but nevertheless you can admire what masterpiece the art nouveau architecture in Batumi is.

The most beautiful buildings I found were Cinema Apollo (Memed Abashidze Ave 17), building on the corner of Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Merab Kostava streets and building at 25 Memed Abashidze Ave, near Europe Square but there are many more of them.

Enjoy Batumi street art scene

Another thing you might not expect from Batumi is the thriving street art scene. You can find some great works all over the city but most of them are around the Old Town. There are big impressive murals (like the one on the sidewall of the university building at Rustaveli Avenue), cool stencils, and even a well-known lamb known from the Tbilisi street art scene.

For a few years now the annual street art festival takes place in Batumi, bringing local and international artists who create amazing works on the walls all over the city. I bet you will find many of them when discovering Batumi.

Compare how Batumi used to look like and how it is now

When wandering around the Old town and Europe Square you will find old pictures showing how Batumi used to look like in the past, at the beginning of the 20th century. Comparing them with the current look will show you perfectly that Batumi is more than just a seaside resort, the city actually has a big historical value.

Drink from the chacha fountain

A couple of years ago Batumi was in the news all over the world announcing the opening of the fountain with chacha, a strong local brandy made from grapes.

At first, each day at 7 in the evening you could try free chacha pouring from the fountain. Then it was changed to once a week and during my last trip to Batumi, the fountain seemed to be not working at all (but it was in November so that could have been the reason).

But even if you can’t drink from the fountain you should try chacha anyway – it’s strong but good and one shoot of it won’t hurt you. You can find chacha bars in the Old Town of Batumi.

The fountain itself is interesting anyway – it’s the replica of the clock tower that used to stand in the very same spot near the harbor at the beginning of the 20th century.

Find Soviet mosaics

If you like Soviet architecture (I do!) you will find some great remnants of it in Batumi. Unlike the great Soviet buildings in Tbilisi , Batumi has some really amazing old mosaics that will impress everyone.

They are often with the marine theme (we are at the seaside after all) – you can find the prettiest Neptunes at the entrance to the block of flats at Akhmeteli Street (behind the Batumi Theater) or near the Dolphinarium.

The biggest mosaic masterpiece I’ve ever seen is the giant octopus that serves as the cafe. It’s located between the university and the sea and it’s impossible to miss it – it will bring your attention right away with its gaudy colors and funky shape.

Enjoy the local cafe scene

Fans of coffee will be pleased to know there are some decent cafes in Batumi. The local scene isn’t as exceptional as Tbilisi cafes but has some good moments. There are also plenty of outdoor cafes where you can hang out on a sunny day.

My favorite cafes in Batumi were Coffeetopia, Literaturuli Cafe, Cafe Privet iz Batuma, and Free Space.

See the iconic Ali and Nino Statue

Right in front of the Ferris wheel, you can find the super creative Ali and Nino statue. The name refers to the famous Caucasian book, “Ali and Nino” by Kurban Said – a tragic love story of the young Azeri guy and a Georgian princess from the times of First World War.

The statues are moving, changing their position every few minutes, and even going through each other. This is such a fascinating spectacle to see!

Admire the landscape of Ajara

While you are at Ali and Nino statue don’t miss the beautiful view of the Ajarian landscape with rolling hills going down into the Black Sea. This is such a mesmerizing view to observe, one of the best you will find in central Batumi. I spent there way too much time, simply staring at the beautiful landscape in front of me.

Visit the incredible Botanical Garden

The best place to get closer to the spectacular nature is the Batumi Botanical Garden. It is located a bit away from the center (around 9 km), but getting there isn’t too difficult and definitely worth the trouble. You can take bus no 31 or a taxi for some 15-20 lari to reach the botanical garden.

Since Batumi is located in the subtropical climate it’s very easy to grow all kinds of vegetation there. And you can find it all in the botanical garden.

It is divided into three parts and while you can discover the place using the small electric trains I recommend walking around so you can see all the wonders that grow there.

You can spend here a few hours and still that will not be enough to discover everything. This is such a perfect getaway to escape from the busy center of Batumi.

Take the cable car to see Batumi from above

For the best views of Batumi and surroundings that take Argo cable car to the nearby Anuria mountain. The journey takes some 15 minutes and already along the way you can admire some nice views.

From the upper station of the cable car, you can see the skyline of central Batumi, the hills of the Ajara region and the endless waters of the Black Sea.

I took the cable car just before the sunset and the whole city was covered in the soft orange color – what a spectacular view that was!

Visit the local farmers market

If you would like to get a glimpse into the local life I recommend visiting the local farmers market. It’s located a bit away from the center (less than 2 km) but it’s worth the trip since it’s such a unique place, so different from the downtown Batumi.

You can get here all the best Georgian goodies: fresh products, aromatic spices, juicy fruits and vegetables and more.

There is a railway line going right through the middle of the market so when the train is coming the sellers need to hide away their products quickly.

You can also find a seafood market in Batumi, near the harbor, where you can eat fresh fish right after purchasing it.

See one of the prettiest McDonald’s in the world

Did you know that Batumi has one of the prettiest McDonald’s restaurants in the world? Unlike McDonald’s located in the old, historical buildings (like in Porto, Portugal , or Subotica, Serbia ), this one has a modern design created by the local Georgian architect Giorgi Khmaladze.

The building looks like a ship and was made from 460 glass panels. Inside, in the upper part, you can find the small green patio and the whole building is surrounded by the pond.

The building won numerous awards and got worldwide recognition so even if you are not a fan of McDonald’s it’s still worth seeing their restaurant in Batumi. It is located at 9 Sherif Khimshiashvili Street, not far from the seaside promenade.

Enjoy the interesting architecture of Batumi

One of the first things that come to everyone’s mind when thinking of Batumi is the interesting modern architecture you can find especially along the seaside promenade.

In recent years the city has been going through the major development and today you can see some really crazy architectural ideas here, such as the hotel in the shape of the Colosseum or the new ancient temple.

The most impressive, however, is the tower of the Technical University, with a little Ferris wheel incorporated up high. If you like modern architecture you will surely find some great buildings around Batumi.

Relax at the beach

While there are so many great things to do in Batumi let’s not forget about the beach. After all the city is a popular seaside destination with a long beach where you can relax after all the sightseeing (or simply relax with no reason at all).

Unfortunately, it’s a stony beach but you can rent a sunbed for an affordable price and spend the whole day relaxing (that’s what I did more than once in Batumi and I’m not much of the beach person).

Enjoy the seaside vibe

There is no denying that the Black Sea plays an important role in Batumi. Here you can enjoy the seaside vibe to the fullest – you can observe fishermen at work, you can go for long walks along the sea and in the summertime, when Batumi turns into the busy seaside resort, you can enjoy its vibrant atmosphere until late night hours.

My favorite time to visit Batumi is in the autumn when the crowds are gone and the city turns into this calm place where you can smell the fresh salty air.

Enjoy Georgian food

Georgian cuisine has, hands down, some of the most delicious dishes you will ever eat and you can try them in Batumi.

The most popular one is Adjarian kchachapuri – the local variation of the famous Georgian bread with cheese, here served in the shape of a boat with the egg yolk and a bit of butter (you need to mix them together before eating). But you can get here all the other yummy Georgian dishes – my favorite are badrijani (fried eggplant with walnut sauce), lobio (mashed red beans with spices), ajapsandali (ragout made of eggplants, potatoes and tomatoes) and a simple salad made from tomatoes and cucumbers.

There are plenty of restaurants serving Georgian food in Batumi, some are fancier than others but I found the best food and prices at Shemoikhede Genatsvale (8 Noe Zhordania St). When I visited the last time it was packed with locals.

Walk along the seaside promenade

One of the best things to do in Batumi is to walk the seaside promenade. It’s long, at least a few kilometers (I’ve never walked all of it, the farthest I went was Lech and Maria Kaczyński Park which is some 4 km away from the Old Town) and it’s such a pleasant place.

The promenade is lined with trees, there are some funky sculptures along the way and you can see and hear the sea all the time. Every time I’m in Batumi I end up there at least a few times per day.

Find picturesque laundry

If you go a bit into the city, beyond the Old Town and the beach, you will see a normal part of Batumi with blocks of flats typical for Eastern Europe and former Soviet countries (after all this is the city with almost 170 thousand inhabitants).

On sunny days you can spot there picturesque laundry hanging between buildings. It’s such a random yet pretty sight, my second favorite laundry view after Yerevan, Armenia .

Take the day trip from Batumi

While Batumi itself is a great city to visit you can also use it as a base to some day trips around.

Ajara, the Georgian region Batumi is the capital of, is a marvelous area with some spectacular places you don’t want to miss. The nearby Mtirala National Park offers pristine mountains, lush forests, wild rivers, hidden waterfalls and stone bridges built centuries ago.

Even if it’s only a short ride away from Batumi it’s like a completely different world. Some parts of it as well as the area closer to the border with Turkey seem like the forgotten places where life goes slowly and views take your breath away.

Another easy day trip from Batumi is the fortress Gonio, located only 15 km away from the city, near the border with Turkey. The fortress was first mentioned in the 1st century AD and the legend says that Saint Matthias, one of the twelve apostles was buried there.

Many people visit Batumi as one of the day trips from Kutaisi (it’s around 2,5-hour drive) but you can go in the reverse direction and besides Kutaisi see also other amazing places near the city. There are old monasteries, former Soviet spa town Tskaltubo , caves and canyons.

Final thoughts on visiting Batumi

As you can see there are so many more Batumi attractions than just the seaside. You can easily spend a few days in the city, relaxing but also discovering the area – isn’t this the perfect combination of holidays?

I really enjoyed each of my trips to Batumi, even the one in July, and I’m looking forward to visiting the city again. Be sure to include Batumi in your Georgian itinerary, you don’t want to miss it!

Further reading

Georgia and the Caucasus are very high on my list of favorite places and I travel there at least a few times per year for almost 10 years now. I wrote many more articles about the Caucasus, you might find them interesting too:

• Tbilisi guide – 21 Tbilisi travel tips to make your trip easier
• 15 reasons to visit Georgia – the amazing emerging destination
• Buying a SIM card in Georgia – all you need to know
• 18 Amazing Places to Visit in Armenia
• 31 Amazing Things to Do in Yerevan, Armenia
• 50 pictures that will inspire you to visit Baku, Azerbaijan

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Batumi

Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Georgia here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here .

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Georgia too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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Top Things to Do in Batumi, Georgia – Our Guide to a Perfect Stay

What are the top things to do in Batumi? Here is our guide to the best things to do and the best places to visit in Batumi. Keep reading this article to make the best out of your visit to Batumi, Georgia’s fascinating city on the coast of the Black Sea.

The first time we saw Batumi, Georgia’s second-largest city, it wasn’t really love at first sight. It gave us the impression of a little Las Vegas where tourists from Turkey and Russia would gamble the night away in its casinos.

We had just crossed the border with Turkey and didn’t bother taking the time to visit the city center. Instead, we continued hitchhiking towards Tbilisi . We never thought we would return to Batumi one day and fall in love with it!

Four months later we went back for a brief visit. The only reason why we gave the city a second chance was because a friend had asked us to go on a trip to Batumi with her.

Well, it was Niko who convinced me to go because at first, I didn’t really feel like it. And I’m glad he did! I didn’t realize how much I had missed the fresh sea breeze that welcomed us as soon as we arrived in this coastal city.

It was in the middle of winter but the sun was shining, the weather was sweet and yes, it made me want to move my itchy feet!

We loved the city so much that after just spending one day Niko and I both decided we would live there for a few months.

Now, three months later our time in Batumi came to an end. We moved to another part of Georgia for our final chapter in this country and although I’m excited about the change, I know I’ll miss this city a lot.

I’ve seen how the winter covered Batumi in a beautiful white coat (see Winter Wonderland in Batumi ) and how spring put it in bloom. It almost feels like saying goodbye to a lover with whom I had a short romance.

Before leaving though we’ve decided to help other travelers fall in love with this city. We wrote a short guide to the best activities and fun things to do in Batumi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Things you need to know before visiting Batumi

Where is batumi.

Batumi is located on the coast of the Black Sea in the western part of Georgia. The city is around 20 km north-east of the Turkish border.

Batumi is the main city in the region of Adjara, a region in southwest Georgia. It’s also the third largest city in Georgia.

The city is known as the party capital of the region and it’s the place young Georgians and foreign tourists come to visit when they’re looking for a warm sea, cool clubs and a never-ending holiday atmosphere.

A bit of history about Batumi

Batumi is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony called ”Bathus”. The colony was later captured by the romans. The site was at different periods occupied by romans, arabs, and finally came under the control of Georgian monarchy in the 11th century.

A few recommendations and tips before visiting Batumi

Traveling in Batumi is becoming easier and easier since more Georgians now speak English. Remember though that a big part of the population still speaks only Georgian and Russian. Learning a few words or expressions in those languages before visiting the country will definitely be handy.

If learning languages is not your thing, I would recommend getting your hands on the Lonely Planet Russian phrasebook and dictionary . It’s packed with thousands of sentences that will help you in different situations and scenarios such as ordering food or finding a place to stay.

I would also recommend getting a map software on your phone that works offline.

Maps.me has helped us navigate the narrow streets of Batumi and many other Georgian cities.

One of the cool features of Maps.me is that it can be used both online and offline. Connect to the wifi at your hostel and download a map of the part Batumi you wish to explore. This map works with the GPS chip in your phone so it will continue working, even when you’re offline.

Is Batumi safe?

Batumi is a very safe city. We often wandered its little streets until sunrise and we felt totally safe. Winter is a particularly good time to do this as the city is almost empty of tourists.

I would only recommend avoiding the outskirts of Batumi going towards the Turkish border. This part of Batumi is often frequented by prostitutes and it can be a bit dangerous especially after dark.

Top things to do in Batumi

My fondness for Batumi is based on personal experiences and I wouldn’t want to create high expectations for anyone who’s interested in paying this city a visit. Note that Niko and I were living there during the low season (between October and April) when the city wasn’t overrun by tourists.

Our impressions could have been completely different during summer but in case I aroused your curiosity and you’re considering a trip, I made a list of our favorite places and things we did in Batumi.

And nope, it doesn’t include gambling in the casinos or partying in the countless night clubs (it’s not exactly our kind of thing…).

Have a look at this video to see what Batumi looks like in the Spring:

1. Go to the beach

The Batumi beach should absolutely be included in your list of fun things to do in Batumi. The fresh sea air was one of the main reasons why we chose to live in Batumi after spending five months in the capital city of Georgia.

It wasn’t exactly the right season to sunbath on the rocky beach or swim in the salty waters of the Black Sea but it was definitely very pleasant to walk for hours along the seashore, especially during sunset.

The beach of Batumi was a bit rocky but we loved it…

We heard that the beach can be very crowded during summer but if you come any other time outside the high season, you’ll be able to enjoy precious moments of peace and quiet.

The beach of Batumi also has a super long boulevard that runs parallel to it. It was Niko’s favorite place to go for a jog in the evening.

2. Walk, run or cycle on one of the longest seaside boulevards in Europe

The Batumi Seafront Boulevard was my favorite place to go for a walk after a long day of teaching online .

It’s 7 kilometers long and you can either choose to walk on the pavement next to the rocky beach or through the line of trees in the park. Niko loved going there for his morning or evening runs.

If you don’t like walking long distances but you want to see the whole boulevard, there are various bicycle rental points so you can always bike along the cycling path!

Oh, and the best thing is there are no cars around, just the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, waves breaking on the shore, birds whistling in the trees and the screams of little kids wanting ice-cream.

Here is the location of the Seafront Boulevard in Batumi:

We’d recommend starting the walk along the boulevard in Miracle Park, which is near the Sea Port of Batumi. The park is famous for the Alphabet Tower, the Statue of Love, the Ferris Wheel and the Chacha Clock Tower.

3.Visit the Alphabet Tower

This metallic structure symbolizes the uniqueness of the Georgian alphabet.

The tower combines the two helix strands of the human DNA with the 33 letters of the alphabet, a representation of how the Georgian language is part of the people.

You can even go on an elevator that will bring you to the top. There’s always some music on the ground floor and, cheesy as we are, Niko and I sometimes danced to the tunes of ballads playing.

This is where you’ll find the Alphabetic tower:

4.The Statue of Love aka Ali & Nino

Talking of romance. One of the most famous statues in Batumi is the Statue of Love.

It’s an eight-meter steel sculpture of a man and a woman created by the Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze. She made this moving metal artwork in 2010, inspired by the tragic love story of Ali and Nino based on the novel by Kurban Said.

The story is very similar to that of Romeo and Juliet.

Spending time with your love near this statue is one of the top things to do in Batumi…

The moving statue tells the romance of Ali, an Azerbaijani Muslim and Nino, a Christian Georgian princess. The story is set in Baku (Azerbaijan) between 1918 and 1920.

Their families resisted their love because of their different cultural and religious backgrounds but when Ali and Nino finally found a way to be together, the first World War hit home and Ali was killed during the invasion of Soviet Russia. Yes, very sad story!

Each day the two figures slide towards each other, but after merging into a brief embrace their segments pass between each other and the statues move away from one another. They can never truly connect…

It is said that the statues come to life once a day at 7 pm but you can’t really count on that. The first time we went to see the statue, the figures kept their ground and didn’t even move one inch.

Other days we saw them moving during day time. I guess you should just go and hope you came at the right time to see them merge into one piece every 10 minutes. Evening time is the best as the figures are illuminated with colorful lighting effects.

Here is where you’ll find the statue of Ali and Nino:

5. Enjoy a panoramic view of Batumi from the Ferris Wheel

We went a few times for a ride on the Ferris Wheel. It costs only 3 GEL and it gives a beautiful panoramic view of the city, the beach and the port.

It closes at night but then it’s just nice to get hypnotized by the lighting effects of the wheel. Be warned if you’re under mind-altering substances, you might spend hours staring at the buzzing colors!

Here is the location of the Ferris wheel in Batumi:

6. The Chacha Clock Tower

This 25-meter clock tower is known as the “Chacha Tower”. Chacha is the national drink of Georgia, a strong spirit distilled from the grape residue (pomace) left after making wine.

Some compare it to grappa, vodka or brandy. The Chacha Tower was the brainchild of the city government with the intention of creating a tower fountain, where instead of water the Georgian chacha would flow to give everyone (citizens and tourists) the opportunity to taste it.

Every day at 7pm, the tower would dispense chacha for free. Wait, what?! Free booze?! Oh Georgia, how wonderful art thou!

Unfortunately, we’re also dealing with Georgian time here, which means you can’t predict when it will actually work (remember Ali and Nino). Until today we haven’t seen any chacha coming out of the fountain. Maybe they ran out?

Oh wait, we’re in Georgia, no way they would run out of alcohol! But your best bet to try chacha is to go to the Chacha Time bar or make friends with the locals.

They’ll always have a plastic bottle filled with chacha lying around and they’ll be more than happy to share it with you. Trust me when I tell you that chacha flows freely in this country! No need for a fountain here!

To find the chacha tower, follow this map:

7. Get charmed by the beautiful statues of love along the Boulevard

As soon as you walk from Miracle Park further along the Boulevard (or stagger, depending on if the chacha fountain was working or not) you can already see the first of many love sculptures you’ll come across.

I told you that Batumi was the city of love! This theme is captured across the whole boulevard through a series of fascinating sculptures, each with their own romantic story to tell.

You’ll see themed statues bearing red love hearts such as a man skating, playing golf or down on one knee proposing to the love of his life.

There are also a few sculptures made by the Georgian artist Irakli Tsuladze, such as “Me, You and Batumi”, which you can find in the Miracle Park or “First Love”along the shoreline.

And while you’re on your romantic walk, don’t forget to visit The Love Bridge on the Batumi Pier for a nice view over the sea on one side and the skyline of the city on the other.

The Batumi Pier is the perfect place to admire the sea in Batumi…

8. Enjoy the dancing fountains at night and the giant chessboard

There are two places where you can find musical dancing fountains at night. One is in the park across from the Love Bridge, the other one is installed in the Ardagani Lake, a 30-minute walk from the Love Bridge.

As soon as the sun sets, the fountains will give you a real dance and light spectacle! Instead of watching a movie on our laptop, we went to the park or to the lake to see these fountains in action.

Every night they danced to the musical soundtrack of pop, rock and classical music. They were even rocking on the famous tunes of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell!” and spinning on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

Literally every night they were putting on a different show! Are you starting to understand why I loved this place so much?

Niko and I are the kind of people who prefer watching dancing fountains instead of going to a night club and dance until the early hours.

Now I’m going to spice up our wild image even more by telling you that we often went playing a mega game of chess with the Large Outdoor Chess Set in the park next to the fountains. That is if we weren’t chasing the toddlers who liked to interfere with our game by running off with some of the chess pieces…

The longer you walk on and around the boulevard, the more statues, little parks and features you’ll discover.

With every walk, I discovered a few new sculptures and I was often wondering whether I had overlooked them the previous time or if they were recently added.

I still have the feeling I haven’t seen them all!

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I loved the wonderful and weird architecture of the buildings in Batumi. I secretly suspected that some of the architects were high on drugs (or maybe drank too much chacha) when they designed these buildings.

Two of them really caught my attention. The first one was a high pointy tower that has a Ferris wheel on the upper floors. The building was intended to be the Batumi Technical University but the 35-floor building never met the education standards.

Now there are plans to make it into a hotel. I bet the hotel guests will love to go on a ride on that Ferris wheel!

The second one is the local McDonald’s. This building has been nominated as the coolest McDonald’s in the world.

The exterior is covered by 460 glass panels while the entire building is surrounded by a reflecting pool.

And if you think that’s pretty awesome, wait until you see the interior design… It has an open-air patio that features a large expanse of vegetation.

You almost feel like you’re in a vegan restaurant but the contrast couldn’t be bigger. Maybe this is a way to make the customers feel healthy while eating a greasy burger?

10. Visit Disney Land in Europe Square

Okay, it’s not really Disney Land but the colorful buildings around Europe Square somehow reminded me of a little fairy-tale place. I liked sitting there to enjoy the atmosphere and the beauty of the buildings.

At night the square becomes even more colorful when it’s illuminated (they really love colorful lights in Batumi!) The square got its name when Batumi joined the Assembly of European Nations.

It definitely has a very European touch to it (the architectural style also reminded me of my hometown Bruges).

Here is the location of the Europe Square in Batumi:

11. Get lost in the streets of Batumi

Just like walking on the Boulevard, you can find hidden features while wandering the streets in Batumi. There are two main shopping streets where it can be chaotic but if you go through the little streets, you might come across some nice surprises.

There are small green parks everywhere, fountains, statues and several beautiful churches. And it’s especially nice to get lost in the old part of the city!

12. Go fishing or visit the fish market

We didn’t really go fishing but we liked hanging out with the fishermen at the harbor of Batumi. And if you’re nice, they might give you a go with their rod and share a drink with you.

There are also small boats in the harbor that offer you (fishing) trips. I don’t know how much they charge but you can always bargain with the captain.

If fishing is not your thing but you enjoy eating fresh fish, you can always go to the Batumi Fish Market. It’s a fun experience and very cheap: buy the fish or seafood you like, hand it over to the vendor and they will clean the fish right in front of you.

If you want, you can go to the eatery next to the market where they will prepare the fish for you. You just have to tell the woman you bought a ‘catch’ and wait for your meal.

Here is where you can enjoy fresh fish in Batumi:

13. Relax in 6 May Park

6 May Park is Batumi’s first garden and one of Georgia’s oldest public parks. It has a small zoo, an aquarium and a dolphinarium.

It was the first dolphinarium in the whole Soviet Union. It wasn’t open when we were there and honestly we don’t like to support places where animals live in captivity.

What we did like was walking around the lake in the center of the park. It is named Nurigeli Lake and it has a tragic story. According to a legend, a baby boy named Nuri fell into the lake and drowned.

The baby’s mother used to visit the lake every day and called out to her baby “Nuri Geli”, which means “Nuri I am waiting for you”. I so hope that this was just a story!

Here is the location of the lake:

14. Take a ride on the Argo Cable Car

A great way to have an aerial view over Batumi is by taking the Argo Cable Car that will give you a fascinating view over the city.

The ticket is 10 GEL per person for a roundtrip in winter and 15 GEL during summer, a bit pricey knowing that you can have a good meal for this money in a restaurant but I would still recommend you to do it.

Not just for the panoramic view on the top station’s deck but for the 2.5 kilometers ride over the city that gives you a nice overview of the old and shabby parts mixed with the modern and new sites of Batumi.

The entrance of the Argo Cable Car is located in Gogebashvili Street near the Sea Port and is open daily from 11 am to 1 am.

Here is the starting point of the cable car:

15. Enjoy a stroll in Batumi Botanical Garden

This is one of the biggest and richest botanical gardens in the world. The garden was the brainchild of the Russian botanist Andrey Nikolayevich Krasnov.

It officially opened in 1912, covers and area of 111 hectares and is divided into nine sections displaying flora from different parts of the world.

The garden is located near Mtsvane Kontskhi (Green Cape) resort. You can take marshrutka (minibus) number 150 or 31 from Parnavaz Mepe Street of Tbilisi Square in Batumi to get there.

The Garden is open from 8 am until 9 pm and an entrance ticket costs 6 GEL.

16. Enjoy a chacha cocktail in Chacha Time

“Every time is a chacha time!” This is the slogan of the Chacha Time bar in Old Batumi (Giorgi Mazniashvili St, 5).

We discovered this bar during one of our walks and found the symbol of the mustache quite funny.

Out of curiosity we went into this cozy bar and had a look at the menu. The majority of the drinks are based on chacha and the cocktail menu is hilarious!

You can find cocktails like chachito (mojito), chacha tonic (gin & tonic), chacha on the beach (sex on the beach), chachacolada (pinacolada),… Just be careful though when you start drinking it! It’s a very strong spirit!

This is where Chacha Time is located in Batumi:

17. Have a delicious meal at Nita’s House

There are many restaurants and coffee-shops in Batumi, which all vary in prices. We discovered Nita’s House  (on the corner of Rustaveli Str. and Dumbadze Str, close to Europe Square) during our second night there.

We normally don’t eat out much as we stick to a budget but in Nita’s House you can have a delicious meal for two for only 15 GEL.

There’s a variety of Western food (the Caesar Pizza and Club Sandwich with fries were our favorites) and Georgian food (the famous Adjara Khadjapuri ).

We loved the atmosphere in this small restaurant and came here once a week to treat ourselves to a delicious dinner. We kind of became regulars here.

18. Treat yourself to tasty fresh pastries at the Fresh Bakery Batumi and a good glass of wine in Goodwine.

We met the owners of Fresh Bakery Batumi and GoodWine during our trip to Svaneti . They are really cool people from Ukraine who started their business in Batumi a few years ago.

We met them a few times, tried their goodies and definitely approved! The name Fresh Bakery says it all: every day they bake freshly made pastries, ideal to treat yourself to a good breakfast or a snack if you get hungry from all the walking in the city center (address: 54/62 Gorgiladze str.).

Ask for Ruslan (the owner) and say hello from us!

GoodWine is a small wine shop located on the Batumi Boulevard near the Batumi Pier. If you’d be thirsty after a long walk or want to treat yourself to a bottle or cup of wine while enjoying the sunset, definitely pay Sergei (the owner) a visit and send him our regards.

You can buy a glass of some of the best wine for 1 GEL!

19. Go on a guided day trip from Batumi or take a guided tour of Batumi

There are some beautiful national parks worth visiting near Batumi. If you want to relax in nature during your visit to Batumi, you should definitely include these guided tours on your trip:

From Batumi: Gonio Castle and Adjarian Highland Tour

Adjara: Batumi Botanical Garden & Mtirala National Park

If you would like a guided city tour of Batumi, this is the tour we recommend:

Batumi: City Highlights & Batumi Boulevard Walking Tour

Where to stay in Batumi – What are the best hostels in Batumi?

Batumi is a city that is worth taking the time to discover so you’ll want to stay there at least a night or two.

Batumi has a wide choice of hostels for budget travelers who want to save money to explore during the day and swap stories with fellow backpackers in the shared kitchen or bar in the evening.

It’s a city that can get pretty expensive during the summer holidays but there are still a few comfortable and more importantly, affordable places where you can stay.

Most hostels will charge you around 15 – 20 GEL ($6 – $8) for a night in a dorm. Here are some of the hostels that we recommend in Batumi:

Back2Me is the perfect fusion of what you’d typically expect from a hostel (bunk beds and communal spaces) with modern, slick design.

It’s the ideal hostel for digital nomads with its high-speed internet and perfect communal working spaces. The cleanliness of the rooms is impeccable and this hostel is very quiet at night.

Back2Me is in a great location. It’s just a few steps from all the hot spots in Batumi and it’s really close to the beach.

The beds of the hostel are super comfortable and they all come with curtains that give you a bit of extra privacy.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Back2Me”

This hostel is in an old building but the decoration inside is fantastic as you can see in these pictures . The look of this hostel reminded me of traditional Canadian wooden houses. It feels very cozy and relaxing.

The rooms are super spacious and some of them have large windows creating a very nice atmosphere.

The kitchen is very well furnished and it’s easy to cook anything you’d want there. Hostel Catrin is conveniently located next to some awesome restaurants and a supermarket in Batumi.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Catrin”

• Calypso Hostel

This hostel is in a super quiet neighborhood of Batumi. It’s very clean and modern.

It’s also very quiet at night. It’s the perfect place to book if you want long peaceful sleep. The owner is very helpful and will help you with any questions you might have concerning things to do in Batumi.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Calypso Hostel”

If you travel as a couple and like more privacy, there’s a great guesthouse in the city center we would recommend:

• My Warm Guest House

This Guesthouse has large, spacious rooms with balconies that give a great view on the city center. The comfort of the rooms is on par with what the best hotels in the country would provide.

The location of this guesthouse is perfect to see all the beautiful sights of Batumi.

Click to check out rates and availability for “My Warm Guest House”

Where to eat in Batumi – What are the best restaurants in Batumi?

If you’re a foodie who enjoys discovering savory dishes, Batumi will not disappoint you. the restaurants in the city serve excellent traditional Georgian dishes and some European specialties as well.

Apart from Anita’s place (see above), we also recommend these great restaurants in Batumi:

• Heart of Batumi

This restaurant is the ideal place to enjoy savory shashlik in Batumi. The pork meat is cooked just right and with the perfect blend of spices.

The semi-sweet wine served here has a pleasant aroma and is extremely affordable (just 16 gel per litre!). There are tons of different dishes and options available on the menu.

Our favorites were the baked eggplant, the Borsch (a beet soup) and the ojaxuri (fried potatoes with meat).

It’s better to come early in the evening before the restaurant completely fills up.

Here is the location of Heart of Batumi:

Laguna is another one of our top restaurants in Batumi. If you’re wondering where to eat the best Khajapuri in Batumi, you’ll find it in Laguna.

This restaurant has all the variations of this traditional Georgian dish you could possibly imagine.

Here is where you’ll eat the best Khajapuri in Georgia:

How to get to Batumi?

You can hitchhike like us which is very easy in Georgia but if you don’t like this, there are three more options (prices based from Tbilisi to Batumi):

You can take the train which will cost you 18 GEL ($7) or a bus which is 25 GEL ($10).

If you want to travel like the locals, you can try to catch a mashrutka (mini bus) that leaves from Didube or Railway Station in Tbilisi (20 GEL/ $10) or at the McDonald’s in Kutaisi (10 GEL/$5).

This is where you’ll find the train station in Tbilisi:

Writing this post brought back some great memories and I will always treasure our time in Batumi.

I hope this list will be helpful if you’re planning to visit this crazy and unique city.

I hope you’ll have the same positive experiences we did. Let us know in the comments if you’re planning to go there or what you thought of Batumi. If you would add any other places or activities to this list, let us know!

*This article contains affiliate links. If you book a hotel/hostel or purchase one of the recommended products through our website, we’ll receive a small commission at no extra costs for you. This way you’re helping us writing more informative and awesome guides like this. Thank you!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO – GEORGIA TRAVEL TIPS:

• Everything you need to know about traveling independently in Georgia (visa, how to get to and around Georgia, where to stay,…):

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Backpacking in Georgia

• Plan your trip to Georgia:

The best of Georgia in 15 days – 3 complete Travel Itineraries 

• Georgia travel costs:

Georgia on a budget – How much does it cost to travel to Georgia 

• Hiking in Georgia:

7 Beautiful off-the-beaten-path Hikes

• Skiing in Georgia:

Everything you need to know about skiing in Georgia

• Hitchhiking in Georgia:

Hitchhiking in Georgia – the good, the bad and the untold stories

• Our Georgian city guides:

Top Things to Do in Batumi – Our Guide to a Perfect Stay

Top Things to Do in Tbilisi – Our Guide to a Fantastic Time in Tbilisi

GEORGIA TRAVEL RESOURCES:

• Accommodation & Lodging:  Booking.com & Airbnb
• Car rental in Georgia:  Rentalcars.com
• Travel Insurance for Georgia:  World Nomads
• Detailed guides about hiking in Georgia: Caucasus Trekking
• Lonely Planet Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Georgia Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture
• Georgia, a guide to the Cradle of Wine
• The First toast is to peace: travels in the South Caucasus

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Explore Batumi

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Batumi Is Great For

Nature and wildlife tours.

Eat & drink

Batumi, a gem in western Georgia, is a popular destination for tourists all year round. Nestled in the stunning Ajara region along the Black Sea coastline, this city boasts a beautiful shoreline, rich history, diverse architecture, and a unique blend of mountain and sea activities, as well as wine and gastronomy.

The distinctive climate of Batumi, where the sea and mountain breezes mingle, creates a diverse flora that can be experienced at the Batumi Botanical Garden.

During your visit to Batumi, you can explore the charming old city, stroll along the iconic boulevard, and visit famous landmarks and monuments. In the summer, enjoy various water activities like parasailing and jet skiing, or embark on yacht trips, lake boating adventures, camping, and trekking – the list goes on.

Beyond its natural beauty, Batumi offers a vibrant nightlife scene with an array of bars, clubs, and restaurants. The city also hosts a range of cultural attractions, such as the Alphabet Tower, the Batumi Opera and Ballet Theater, and the Ethnographic Museum.

No matter the season, Batumi always has something new and exciting to offer, ensuring an unforgettable experience with friends and family.

Batumi Travel Guide – Georgia

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: March 19, 2023

Located on the shore of the Black Sea, the relatively new city of Batumi is the prime tourist destination in Georgia , for both locals and Russians.

Batumi is home to the finest beaches in Georgia (if we don’t count Abkhazia as part of Georgia), the best dining scene and the craziest nightlife.

Loved by many, but hated by others, Batumi may not be the ideal backpacking destination you dreamed of when planning your trip to Georgia.

But beyond all the resort life, the city has surprisingly managed to keep a certain charm and character.

Table of Contents

BATUMI TRAVEL GUIDE

This guide contains everything you need to know to visit Batumi, including things to see and many other tips.

Batumi, the gambling resort capital of the Black Sea, home to the largest amount of trashy tourism I have ever seen in the region.

A city where it is impossible to walk along the promenade without hearing the horrendous, loud music coming from the absolutely tasteless beach bars. 

A city where you are constantly seeing half-naked, pot-bellied Russian tourists getting drunk at whatever time during the day. 

A city which, despite belonging to one of the poorest countries in Europe, spends millions in building extravagant, pointless monuments.

Batumi is a Dubai-wannabe, the antithesis of everything we believe in, our principles and, at first, not a place we’d like to travel to. 

But guess what: We liked it!

OUR PERSONAL TAKE ON BATUMI

Yes, we actually liked it because we like weird stuff and Batumi has a hell lot of it.

The truth is that we didn’t like it because of its resorts, casinos and crazy parties but because we managed to see it from a different perspective, like how can the most traditional country in Europe build a massive skyscraper with a Ferris wheel attached to it.

We liked it because, due to its proximity to Turkey, Batumi has significant cultural differences, ranging from a large Georgian Muslim population to plenty of Turkish-style cafés serving Turkish coffee and food. 

We liked it because the Old City of Batumi has a real soul, and the youth generation living there are modern, Tbilisi-like minded people.

Interesting fact

During the Soviet Union, the resort capital of the country used to be Sukhumi.

It was the capital of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia, a city and a region that received hundreds of thousands of tourists coming from all over the USSR including the Soviet elite.

Following the Georgian-Abkhazian war, shortly after the USSR dissolution, and its independence, Georgia decided to move the resort capital to Batumi.

Then the real building boom starting in 2009. 

Furthermore, besides being Las Vegas of the Black Sea, Batumi has a history to tell.

In fact, with its natural harbor, this used to be a Greek trading colony and actually, Batumi comes from the Greek words bathys limen , which literally means deep harbor . 

Batumi isn’t our favorite place to travel in Georgia but we seriously enjoyed our time there, and we strongly recommend visiting it.

Because Batumi is a weird anthropological study and experience, so different from anything you have seen before.

BEST TIME TO VISIT BATUMI

I think Batumi can be visited all year long.

But it depends on what you like.

If you are interested in the beach and swimming, you should come in summer.

If, like us, you are interested in just hanging around, then you can come at any time.

Actually, outside of summer (shoulder season) would be the ideal time because it is less crowded, less hot, and prices are lower.

HOW TO GET TO BATUMI

From Tbilisi

If you are traveling from Tbilisi , the best way to get there is by train but, in summer, remember to book a few days in advance because tickets sell out quickly. 

The train leaves from Station Square, and it is a double-decker, modern train. A 2nd class ticket costs 25GEL, and 1st class 60GEL. 

The train leaves you at Makhinjauri, which is 4km away from Batumi. A taxi would cost you 10-15GEL but, if you go out of the station and cross the main road, there is a bus that passes continuously and drops you off downtown.

How to buy train tickets: You can buy them at the train station one or two days before departure but the easiest way is to buy them online through this website .

Sitting on the shore of the Black Sea, Odessa is one of the largest cities in Ukraine, and a city that is connected to Batumi by ferry.

There are 2 companies offering the ferry service, Ukrferry and Ferrysped , and detailed schedules may be found on their websites.

A ticket costs roughly 100USD and the journey takes around 24 hours but, depending on the weather conditions, it can take more, sometimes 1 or 2 additional days. This means that the ferry journey is not for those who travel on a tight schedule.

Batumi has an international airport with several daily connections to Middle Eastern  cities, such as Dubai, as well as other destinations in Europe.

HOW TO GET AROUND BATUMI

To be honest, everything within Batumi is in walking distance, so you don’t really need to take public transportation, taxis or anything like that.

The only reason to use it would be if you wanted to go to the beach and botanical garden in Mtsvane Kontskhi, which is a couple of kilometers away and, in that case, you can take a marshrutka for 1 or 2GEL.

BATUMI TRAVEL GUIDE: THINGS TO DO AND MORE

Besides hanging out in the Old City, which is what I recommend you do in the evening, Batumi is about walking around and visiting the several weird monuments, buildings, and European-like squares.

1. Alphabet Tower

The promenade is dominated by an extravagant 130-meter tower, wrapped up in the Georgian alphabet.

The big ball on the top is actually a fancy, rotating bar/restaurant.

I bet it is expensive but you can go up and see it for yourself. 

2. Europe Square

Something about fake cities is that they name things after places they’d like to be related to.

Europe Square in Batumi is a clear example of this.

In fact, with its majestic buildings and architecture, Europe Square really looks like a square from Central Europe.

By the way, this is the center of town and a convenient spot to start your self-guided walking tour.

3. Piazza Venecia

Another example of an area which has been built ad hoc for tourists.

Piazza Venecia tries to resemble Piazza San Marco in Venice .

Of course it has some particularly kitsch architecture, it has expensive restaurants and an Irish Pub. 

4. Skyscraper with a Ferris wheel

That’s the most bizarre building in Batumi and one of the weirdest I have ever seen.

Basically, this is a very tall building that has a giant Ferris wheel attached to the very top.

It belongs to Hotel Meridien but it is not open yet and has been under construction for ages.

5. Ferris wheel

For only 5GEL you can go up this 55-meter Ferris wheel and see Batumi from above. Highly recommended.

6. Love statues on the boulevard

They claim that Batumi is the City of Love, which makes them not very original because they also call Sighnaghi (another town in Georgia) the City of Love.

In any case, love statues featuring hearts and stuff like that are all over the city, the most interesting ones being along the boulevard.

7. Nino & Ali

This metal, moving statue is pretty weird and draws the attention of hundreds of tourists.

Basically, it is based on the novel of Kurban Said, the local version of Romeo & Juliet, the love story of a Christian Georgian girl and a Muslim Azeri boy.

8. Batumi Botanical Gardens

This is no regular botanical garden but, apparently, it has one of the largest varieties of flora in the world, including Mexican and Japanese gardens.

Like I said in the transportation section, it is a bit out of town, 9km exactly.

To get there, take a marshrutka from Chavchavadze street, very close to the center. The entrance fee for the garden is 15GEL. 

9. Beach at Mtsvane Kontskhi

In my opinion, this is the best Batumi beach, which is right next to the Botanical Garden.

We spent the full day in this area, starting with the Botanical Garden, followed by drinking beers at one of the beach bars and then passing out on the sand. 

10. Chacha Tower

Apparently, this 25-meter towers spills actual chacha every day at 7pm, for about 10 minutes, but we were there at that time and nothing came out.

Then we learned that until recently, it spills just once in a while, on selected dates. 

11. Orta Jame Mosque

This is a regular mosque like any you may see in Turkey but it is quite an unusual building for Georgia.

And it always receives the large community of Muslim Georgians that characterizes this region. 

WHERE TO STAY IN BATUMI

Backpacker hostel.

Hostel in Batumi – One of the top-rated hostels in town, with a friendly backpacker atmosphere, good facilities, and the best location.

Budget Guest House

Avtos Guest House – A traditional house with very comfy beds and spacious rooms and a super hospitable local family.

Mid-range hotel

Boutique Hotel 32 – A cute boutique hotel with amazing breakfast and location.

Wyndham Batumi – The best-rated luxury hotel in Batumi.

WHERE TO EAT IN BATUMI

Do you know the popular cheese boat named Khachapuri Adjaluri ?

Well, Adjaluri is named after the province Adjara, whose capital is Batumi. Yes, you guessed it right, the Khachapuri Adjaluri comes from Batumi and here you can find the finest in the country, therefore in the world.

Retro (Best restaurant for Khachapuri Adjaluri)

This restaurant is renowned for serving one of the very best.

They also opened a Retro restaurant in Tbilisi, in Sarbutalo, which was right next to our house.

I can confirm that it is the best Khachapuri Adjaluri I have ever had.

Café Adjara (Traditional food from Adjara region)

I recommend this place because they served us good quality local food from the region and it was busy with locals.

For Georgian standards, it is a bit pricey and I think we paid 35GEL per person, including some wine.

Heart of Batumi  (Georgian food with an international twist)

Another great place frequented by both local and tourists.

Author Bio – From Sudan to Pakistan, Syria and Central Asia, for the last few years, Joan Torres has been traveling non-stop to real off the beaten track destinations which don’t tend to be on most traveler’s bucket list.

He tells about it on his blog Against the Compass , where he writes extremely comprehensive and useful travel guides, as well as inspiring travel stories. You can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram .

Enjoy this Batumi Travel Guide? Save it to Pinterest for Future Reference.

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2 thoughts on “Batumi Travel Guide – Georgia”

Do you know if there’s a Georgian restaurant in Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. or even Maryland or Virginia?

I miss georgian food. Everything tasted so natural. Btw. I really like how your website design changed.

43 Things To Know Before You Travel To Batumi, Georgia

Last December I was invited to visit Batumi. I know a lot about the world, but I had never heard of this city before. So only when I started looking on Google I found out that my trip to Batumi would mark country number 86 on my list of visited countries. I always wanted to visit Georgia and this trip finally made it possible.

Batumi Tourism

It was a last minute trip at the beginning of December so I expected it would be super cold in Georgia, but it was not that bad at all. I stayed a little less than a week and learned a lot about the Georgia and Batumi tourism. There are so many cool things to know before you travel to Batumi and that is why I decided to come up with this blog post to let you know what to expect when you decide to visit Batumi in Georgia. Together with the Tourism Board I saw the coolest places in and around the city and most of all got in touch with the Georgian culture and got to meet lovely people.

Need Batumi hotel recommendations? I wrote an extensive guide about where to stay in Batumi . Click on the link to find the best hotel deals for every budget.

Where is Georgia?

Americans obviously mistake the country Georgia with their own state in the south of the USA. But the country Georgia lies northeast of Turkey in and between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and borders Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. Click here to read a complete guide with tips for when you travel to Tbilisi . Also plan a visit to one of the most amazing places to go in Georgia. Take a look at the photos in my Kazbegi travel blog and I am sure you are willing to visit this amazing place.

Is Georgia in Europe or in Asia?

No one really seems to know an answer to the question if Georgia is part of Europe or Asia. Some say Europe reaches as far as the Caucasus Mountains range and in that case Georgia would be part of Europe. Regardless what international diplomacy decides, Georgians feel more European than Asian. Lately Georgia even joined forces with the European Union by signing a partnership agreement. Georgians are free to travel to all countries within the EU, but are not allowed to work. The first step to becoming official Europeans has been made.

Visa for Georgia

For all European passport holders it is free to go to Georgia and there are no visa restrictions. You get a stamp at the airport and are free to go. Even for Americans it is easy to enter Georgia and the great thing about it is that US citizens can stay up to 365 days in Georgia. Isn’t that only already a reason to travel to Georgia?

How to get to Batumi

Batumi Airport is the second biggest airport in Georgia and serves many international destinations like Dubai, Moscow, Istanbul, Kiev, Tel Aviv. Seasonal there are now also direct flights with Wizz Air from London, Dortmund, Berlin and many more to be added soon.

From Tbilisi to Batumi

There is also an extensive train connection between the capital Tbilisi and Batumi with very modern and new trains. You can travel from Tbilisi to Batumi in 4 hours for around $8.

Things to know when you visit Batumi Georgia

1. marijuana is decriminalized.

It is funny to start with this I know, but I am sorry I am Dutch and one of the first things I learned when I visited Batumi was that Marijuana is ldecriminalized very recently. Not that I smoke by the way! It is just when I say I am Dutch people start talking about it! The fact that it is decriminalized as one of the first countries in the world shows that Georgia is a very liberal and open country!

2. Las Vegas of the Black Sea

One of the first things you will notice when you travel to Batumi is that there are casinos everywhere. Therefore the city is sometimes called the Las Vegas of the Black Sea. Obviously Batumi tourism generates a lot of income from nearby Turkey that is only about 20 kilometers away and where gambling is forbidden.

3. Traveling to Batumi is very safe

I did not even think about it at first, to me it feels like walking around in a Western city. Safety issues simply never crossed my mind and that is a good sign. I walked through the city in the middle of the night, roaming the deserted streets with too much alcohol in my blood and I was not bothered taking a taxi as I felt completely safe. Even traveling to the outskirts of the city or local markets I felt totally safe.

4. Shy but friendly locals

Georgians are not like Americans and will probably not approach you on the streets. You will have to take the initiative. Not everyone speaks fluent English and that holds a lot of people back from speaking to you, but in fact the locals are super friendly and lovely people. If they don’t know what to say they offer you something like a tea or a piece of fruit or ask for a photo, just to show you that they are happy to meet you but aren’t able to speak English.

4. Second biggest city in Georgia

After the capital Tbilisi and Kutaisi, Batumi was always the third biggest city in Georgia, but that changed rapidly over the last years. The major development this city is going through pushed it to the 2nd biggest city in Georgia.

5. Located on the Black Sea

Its location bordering the Black Sea gives Batumi an important position in the economy of Georgia but also makes this city a popular tourist destination in summer for people looking to enjoy the best beaches in Georgia.

6. Climate Batumi

Because of its location on the Black Sea Batumi has a moderate climate all year round.  It doesn’t get freezing cold in winter neither scorching hot. Average temperature in winter is 5 degrees Celsius and summers will be around 25 degrees Celsius.

7. Own language

Georgia has its own language and I am sure you won’t understand a thing! English is widely spoken among youngsters but only in the city. Older people don’t speak English but do speak Russian. Whatever language you use if you smile Georgians will smile too.  

8. Currency in Georgia

Georgia recently became an EU ‘member’, but they don’t use the Euro. The Georgian currency is the Lari. 1 Lari  = 0,33 euro, so if you divide all prices by 3 you get euro prices. When you travel to Batumi there is no need to exchange money. There are ATMs everywhere around the cities or just walk into a casino.

9. Drive on the right side

In Georgia they drive on the right side of the road, but some cars have the wheel on the left side. Cars are imported from countries around and are all mixed up.

10. Religion is a thing

Georgians are still very religious and visiting the church with your family is normal. 80% of the people is Orthodox the other 20% is mainly Muslim. There are a couple cool churches in the center of the city and also see if you can visit the mosque when you are looking for things to do in Batumi.

11. No girls on Tinder

Good luck if you like to meet people through dating apps. Hardly any girl in Batumi uses Tinder or any similar app. Girls will find plenty guys online though. When I asked around how come I was told that it is normal to get married at an age of 22 and get kids.

12. Mom is god

Like in many cultures family is the number 1 thing that is important in life. According to Georgians, mom is God and family values are a very important thing in life. Family members always help each other out and someone always has a cousin that can solve a problem.

13. Meet the Tamada

Every meal has a toastmaster who is assigned to be the head of the table. This person called the Tamada will most likely stand up and open every meal with a toast. As a guest you don’t need to worry about being the Tamada, Georgians will surely take the lead and welcome you to their country with shots of Chacha.

14. Prepare for a Supra

An important part in Georgian culture is a Supra, a traditional Georgian feast. Everywhere you are invited they will serve you as much food as they can. Sometimes it feels a bit weird to see new servings coming when everyone is full. Supra means something like fill the tablecloth with dishes. You can ask them to stop serving food, but they won’t, it is their culture! :)

15. Georgian pizza is Khachapuri

This traditional Georgian dish is a cheese filled bread sometimes topped with an egg. It is served as a main course and extremely filling. My favorite Khachapuri is the simple one that looks like a pizza. There is a restaurant where you can make your own Khachapuri, it is in the city center and is called Grill Town. Fun for when you are asking yourself what to do in Batumi.

16. Drink Chacha

I am sure that during your trip to Batumi you will somehow stumble upon the term Chacha or even better you will taste it. This grape vodka is a clear kind of brandy that will be served before and after your meal. I can tell you it is strong!

17. Georgians like to drink

I would almost say alcohol is part of their culture. Everywhere you go you will be offered a drink or two. Chacha is the traditional drink but Georgia is the first country in the world that ever produced wine.

18. Wine culture

Internationally Georgian wine is not rated among the best in the world, but Georgia surely is a wine country. Georgians make there own wine and it is estimated that a family will produce about 200L wine per year. Airbnb’s for example often come with free wine! :)

Check out some amazingly affordable Airbnb lodging options in Batumi. Sign up for a new Airbnb account through this link and receive $40 off you first booking. If you already have an account simply sign up with a new email address. ;)

19. Georgian hangover cure

Will all that alcohol Georgians also found out what is the best remedy against a hangover: soup with Chacha! It almost made me throw up so it definitely did not work for me.

20. Cheap country to travel

If you travel to Batumi don’t expect to break the bank. Georgia is a cheap country to travel and I am sure it would be a good fit my to list of best countries to backpack the first time .

21. Prices in Batumi

For a local lunch, including a wine and a dessert expect to pay around 12-15 Lari. Taxis are incredibly cheap. For a 10-minute taxi ride you won’t pay more than 5 Lari. I took a taxi once and it was 3 Lira I gave him 10 Lari and he was over the moon. You can hire a driver for a day for around $25. He doubles as a guide and will show you the best places to see in Batumi.

22. Average income

An average income in Georgia lies somewhere between 700 and 900 Lari per month. That is a little more than $250 USD.

23. Tipping in Georgia

Service in restaurants in Batumi was overall good. Tipping is optional not standard. You can find the warm Georgian hospitality in every restaurant. Leaving a 10% tip feels more than fair!

24. Fast Wi-Fi everywhere

Almost everywhere I went in the city there is fast free Wi-Fi available. Restaurants, hotels and even ski lifts have an internet connection that is free to use.

25. Sim card for Georgia

If you travel to Batumi you can get a free sim card at the airport. At least that is what they claim. Of course nothing is free in this world. Click here for my article about the best Georgia sim card for tourists . For a couple bucks you will receive a lot of GB data so this is very much recommended. Keep those roaming costs at zero! If you are traveling onwards to Turkey these are my tips for the  best Turkey prepaid sim card  for travelers.

What to do around Batumi 

26. ski in the mountains around batumi.

With the highest peak in Europe, Mt Elbrus, only 200 kilometers away and Batumi being surrounded by mountains skiing is a popular thing to do in Batumi. When you land you can see the beach, the city and the mountains in one shot. Skiing is becoming a popular reason to travel to Batumi.

27. New ski resort in Goderdzi

Only recently they opened a new ski resort, 100 kilometers away from Batumi. Goderdzi ski resort is completely new and has some beautiful mountain lodges, empty slopes and loads of snow. A lift ticket including ski equipment rental cost about $15 per day.

Things to do in Batumi

28. take a ride with the cable car.

Definitely make sure you hop on the cable car when you visit Batumi. The ride will take you over the city and you can almost peak into peoples homes. From the top station you have incredible views over the city and its spectacular skyline. A round trip cost 10 Lari.

29. Visit Sameba

One of the coolest landmarks in Batumi is the Holy Trinity Church on top of the hill. It is a little bit of a drive uphill but the views are amazing and so is the church itself. Great spot to see the sunset!

30. Find a restaurant with Live Music

Georgians know how to sing and in some upscale restaurants you will find a singer performing. Totally worth it believe me! I can recommend going to Deliria Restaurant . Not only a super homey atmosphere and good food also a great live singing performance.

31. Go to the local market

Roaming around the local market is one of the coolest things to do in Batumi. This is a real authentic experience where locals come to buy their goods. This has nothing to do with souvenir shops or anything like in Thailand. This is a local market for fruits, meat, clothes, spices, cheese and many more things. The name is Batumis Bazari.

32. Visit the Gonio Fortress

Soak up some history at this castle just 4 kilometers from the Turkey border and only 10 minutes outside the city center of Batumi. The ruins here date back to before Christ.

33. Go to the beach

In summer Batumi is a bustling city because of its beaches. Kvariati is a good spot to go and considered one of the best beaches in Georgia. A trendy spot is Gonio where bars and clubs can be found at the beach. Iveria Beach  is another popular place to go in Batumi.

34. Ride the Ferris wheel

On the seaside next to the amazing skyline you will find the Batumi Panoramic Ferris Wheel . Definitely worth going for a ride as it hardly cost anything. One of the cooler things to do in Batumi at night as everything will lit up.

35. Have a drink in Clouds skybar

On the top floor of the Radisson Blu hotel you have the most amazing view over the city. Drinks up here are obviously more expensive but still moderate compared to Western prices.

36. See a traditional dance performance

I was really impressed witnessing a Georgian Folk Dance performance. Fast, skilled and performances that tell a story. Great show!

37. Nightlife Batumi

With a dozen casinos in the city there is always a place to go out. For the best nightclub head to Iveria Beach , Sector 21. Go to Boom Boom Beach if you are looking for a trendy bar when you visit Batumi.

38. Botanical Gardens

One of the best places to see in Batumi is the botanical garden . Away from the city in a quiet spot on the ocean. The views from the incredibly peaceful botanical gardens are incredible. Here you will also find kiwi trees and mandarin trees.

39. Storll through the City center

Batumi sightseeing starts with strolling through the city center and admiring all its churches and squares.

40. Be active

The city is developing rapidly and one of the amazing constructions is the 7-kilometer long boulevard along the beach. If you want to be active when you visit Batumi stroll along this boulevard or go for a run. This is the ultimate place to unwind when you travel to Batumi.

41. Sunset point at Liberté

At the end of the long boulevard there is a big sign saying Liberté. A great place to see the sun go down in the ocean. Surely this is one of the more romantic things to do in Batumi.

42. Rent a bike

A great way to do your Batumi sightseeing is on a bike. There are public bikes for rent across the city. All you have to do is download the app, register and for a small fee you can unlock your bike for the day.

43. Fish market

Even if you don’t like the smell of fish markets this a cool place to visit in Batumi. I am just always curious what kind of fish they locally catch, so I loved going to the fish market in Batumi .

All the fish here comes from the Black Sea. The local restaurants around are obviously a feast and Balagani fish restaurant is where I had one of the best meals in Batumi.

Totally forgot about the many waterfalls around Batumi. The Makhuntseti waterfall is the biggest and a popular tourist attraction in Batumi.

Some more random cool pictures I took on my trip to Batumi in winter 2018.

Where to stay in Batumi

Luxury: Radisson Blu , Hilton Batumi

Mid Range: Sky Tower Hotel

Budget: Hostel Everyday These are some quick Batumi accommodation recommendations, but if you want more info on where to stay in Batumi , click on the link or the picture below. In this blog post I will give you Batumi accommodation suggestions for every budget.

If you are also traveling around in Georgia I am sure you will end up in the capital as well. I explored Tbilisi in the 2 weeks I stayed there. This is my blog about Tbilisi with travel tips, phone numbers of good local tour guide and accommodation tips. Also remember the secret Georgia travel tip I gave you about a trip to Kazbegi . Click here to see this utterly stunning mountain village.

Please leave a comment and tell me if this was helpful or if you liked my photos. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me down below. And if you feel like sharing please feel free to share this article on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ or Facebook. For you a small thing to do to me a huge difference. Thank you very much in advance.

Batumi: The Gem of the Black Sea

Table of contents.

Situated alongside the shimmering Black Sea coast, the second-biggest metropolis in Georgia, gives a fascinating mixture of herbal splendor, colourful culture, and a wealthy tapestry of records. Known for its eclectic architectural styles, dynamic nightlife, subtropical climate, and scenic landscapes, city serves as a compelling vacation spot for both rest and journey. In this exploration, we delve into city’s historical origins, architectural highlights, cultural background, herbal points of interest, and thriving gastronomy scene.

History of Batumi

city’s origins can be traced back to the historical Greek and Roman eras, with its strategic region making it a coveted outpost for diverse empires throughout history. From the Roman and Byzantine Empires to the Ottoman rule and the eventual integration into the Georgian panorama, city’s records is as various as the town itself. Its transformation from a small fishing village right into a bustling seaport and, greater recently, right into a thriving visitor destination, narrates a tale of boom and resilience.

Architectural Gems

A stroll through Batumi’s streets is like moving into a actual-life architectural show off. The metropolis’s skyline is a mix of European elegance, modern skyscrapers, Soviet-era homes, and Asian-stimulated systems. Highlights encompass the city Alphabet Tower, encapsulating the importance of the Georgian script and language, and the dynamic statue of Ali and Nino, an logo of eternal love. The Old Town, with its charming 19th-century buildings and slim, winding streets, gives a nostalgic adventure through city’s past.

Cultural Heritage

city’s cultural landscape is as numerous as its architecture. Home to several theaters, museums, and art galleries, city is a hub for Georgian arts and way of life. Traditional Georgian song and dance performances are not unusual, with Batumi’s Summer Music Festival and International Black Sea Jazz Festival attracting artists from around the world. Additionally, city’s multi-ethnic records has led to a unique cultural blend, palpable within the town’s festivities, traditions, and each day life.

Natural Beauty

Nestled among the ocean and mountains, city is graced with breathtaking natural splendor. The Batumi Boulevard stretches alongside the Black Sea coast, presenting stunning sea perspectives and exquisite green spaces. Meanwhile, the Botanical Garden, certainly one of the biggest in the former Soviet Union, is a paradise of numerous flora, with flowers from around the world. A quick distance from the city, the Mtirala National Park invites nature lovers to find out its lush landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and numerous flora and fauna.

city’s culinary scene is a pleasing reflection of the region’s numerous cultural influences. Traditional Georgian dishes, together with “Adjarian Khachapuri” (cheese-crammed bread boat topped with an egg), mingle with Turkish, Greek, and Russian flavors, resulting in a gastronomic feast. Coupled with regionally produced wines and the famend Georgian hospitality, eating in this is an revel in to get pleasure from.

Thriving Nightlife

city’s vibrant nightlife is a key part of the town’s attraction, incomes it the nickname ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’. From bustling nightclubs and energetic seashore bars to opulent casinos, city absolutely comes alive whilst the solar sets. For people who experience quieter evenings, city’s thriving café tradition and the impressive singing fountains at Batumi Boulevard offer a extra serene manner to spend the night time.

Retail and Shopping

For those willing towards retail remedy, this town gives a plethora of purchasing reports. city’s Mall, one of the largest shopping facilities inside the vicinity, houses a big selection of worldwide manufacturers and nearby boutiques. Traditional markets also are a incredible manner to explore neighborhood way of life, with providers selling everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts and Georgian delicacies.

Art and Museums

city’s sturdy arts scene is contemplated in its numerous museums and galleries. The Adjara State Museum of Art, domestic to over 5000 works of artwork, gives a comprehensive overview of Georgian artistic history. The Nobel Brothers Batumi Technological Museum lines city’s oil enterprise records, linking it to the worldwide oil industry’s boom.

Adventure and Activities

For adventure lovers, this town gives a wide array of sports. From boat tours along the Black Sea and trekking trails within the nearby Mtirala National Park to paragliding for a chicken’s eye view of the metropolis, city caters to all styles of adventurers. Sea Port gives thrilling possibilities for numerous water sports activities, whilst the close by botanical lawn is good for leisurely strolls amidst exclusive plant species.

Eco-tourism

city is also gaining popularity as an eco-tourism vacation spot. With its rich biodiversity, it serves as an vital vicinity for hen looking, especially at some point of migration seasons. The protected areas around city , which includes Mtirala National Park, provide vital habitats for diverse plant life and fauna, making them great locations for nature excursions and conservation training.

A Blend of Experiences

A visit to city is a sensory journey of various reviews. From exploring its ancient background, architectural marvels, and cultural traditions to indulging in its culinary delights, soaking within the herbal splendor, or delving into its colourful nightlife, this town has some thing for everybody. Its precise fusion of vintage-global attraction and modern-day luxury, subsidized with the aid of the enduring Georgian hospitality, makes city an unforgettable destination at the Black Sea. Whether you’re a records enthusiast, nature lover, foodie, or adventurer, Batumi promises a captivating and enriching tour revel in.

Hospitality of Batumi

One of the aspects that stand out most about Batumi is its heat, welcoming hospitality. The locals are friendly and hospitable, embodying the traditional Georgian ethos of treating guests as advantages. This warm hospitality extends beyond personal interactions and can be experienced inside the city’s numerous inns and guest homes, many of which give world-class facilities and excellent carrier.

Promenade Experiences

The Batumi Boulevard, regularly referred to as the Batumi Beach Promenade, is a hive of activity day and night. Stretching alongside the Black Sea coast, it offers a lovely taking walks path lined with palm trees, outdoor cafes, restaurants, and bars. It’s also domestic to the dancing fountains, which placed on a dazzling show of water, light, and music each evening. The promenade is a great place to experience the pulse of the city, indulge in people-watching, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll while soaking in the beautiful views.

Final Thoughts

Batumi, with its beautiful landscapes, historic landmarks, diverse cultural experiences, vibrant nightlife, delicious food, and friendly locals, truly offers an unparalleled travel experience. Its unique blend of the ancient and the modern, the natural and the man-made, makes it an ideal destination for any traveler. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend getaway or planning a longer stay, Batumi is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories and a longing to return. From its sunny beaches to its bustling cityscape, Batumi is a city of endless surprises, waiting to be discovered. If you want a tour guide and driver, sense loose to visit:  Batumi Tour

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Batumi Trip Planner

Top attractions in batumi.

Other notable attractions

Popular road trips from Batumi

All road trips from batumi.

• Batumi to Istanbul drive
• Batumi to Budapest drive
• Batumi to Vienna drive
• Batumi to Moscow drive
• Batumi to Sochi drive
• Batumi to Venice drive
• Batumi to Tbilisi drive
• Batumi to Athens drive
• Batumi to St. Petersburg drive
• Batumi to Jerusalem drive
• Batumi to Yerevan drive
• Batumi to Dubrovnik drive
• Batumi to Paphos drive
• Batumi to Tel Aviv drive
• Batumi to Baku drive
• Batumi to Antalya drive
• Batumi to Esto-Sadok drive
• Batumi to Goreme drive
• Batumi to Bucharest drive
• Batumi to Ankara drive
• Batumi to Ayia Napa drive
• Batumi to Sharm El Sheikh drive
• Batumi to Trabzon drive
• Batumi to Kyiv drive
• Batumi to Lindos drive
• Batumi to Petra - Wadi Musa drive
• Batumi to Riga drive
• Batumi to Bratislava drive
• Batumi to Sofia drive
• Batumi to Rhodes Town drive

Explore nearby places

• Khelvachauri
• Camlihemsin

All related maps of Batumi

• Map of Batumi
• Map of Khelvachauri
• Map of Gonio
• Map of Chakvi
• Map of Mirveti
• Map of Sarpi
• Map of Keda
• Map of Kobuleti
• Map of Shekvetili
• Map of Hopa
• Map of Ureki
• Map of Shuakhevi
• Map of Artvin
• Map of Khulo
• Map of Poti
• Map of Findikli
• Map of Ardanuc
• Map of Savsat
• Map of Ardesen
• Map of Senaki
• Map of Khobi
• Map of Anaklia
• Map of Vani
• Map of Yusufeli
• Map of Camlihemsin
• Map of Zugdidi
• Map of Cayeli
• Map of Akyaka
• Map of Martivili
• Map of Martvili
• Map of Tskaltubo

Batumi throughout the year

• Batumi in January
• Batumi in February
• Batumi in March
• Batumi in April
• Batumi in May
• Batumi in June
• Batumi in July
• Batumi in August
• Batumi in September
• Batumi in October
• Batumi in November
• Batumi in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Batumi?

Get inspired for your trip to Batumi with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Batumi Itinerary
• 2-Day Batumi Itinerary
• 3-Day Batumi Itinerary
• 4-Day Batumi Itinerary
• 5-Day Batumi Itinerary

Weather in Batumi

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10 Best Day Trips From Batumi: Waterfalls, Magnetic Beaches, Wineries & More

A comprehensive guide to the best DIY day trips from Batumi and guided Batumi day tours with recommended itineraries and transport instructions.

Western Georgia’s Adjara region is truly one of the most magnificent parts of the country . In Adjara, it’s all eyes on Batumi – Georgia’s second-largest city and main hub on the Black Sea – but what many travellers don’t realise is that you can use Batumi as a base for exploring the Lesser Caucasus mountains, national parks, and more remote sections of the coast .

There are dozens of places in Adjara and neighbouring Guria region that you can visit from Batumi without the need to spend too long on the road.

Whether you’re looking for hiking trails and charming alpine villages or ancient Roman fortresses, whether you want to kayak through the marshy wetlands of Georgia’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site , swim on magnetic black-sand beaches or do a wine tasting, you can find it all within close proximity of the city.

I had the opportunity to explore this area extensively when I was living in Batumi . This guide brings together 10 of my favourite Batumi day trips with recommended things to do and tips for getting around by van, taxi or car.

• Also read: 15 best day trips from Tbilisi

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

How to plan a day trip from Batumi

First, let me quickly run through your transport options for getting around Adjara. This is a broad overview – in the next section you’ll find more detailed transport instructions for each of the 10 day trips.

Organised day tours from Batumi

Joining a small group or private tour with a guide and transfers included is by far the easiest option. I recommend using either Get Your Guide or Viator to search and book tours in Georgia . There are limited offerings for Batumi right now, but new tours are added every month.

In the next section I’ve included links to some of my favourites.

→ Browse all available Batumi day tours on Get Your Guide .

→ Browse Batumi day trips available on Viator .

Private transfers with GoTrip

If you don’t want to join a tour but you want the flexibility of having your own wheels, GoTrip is a convenient and budget-friendly way to venture beyond Batumi for the day. Think of it as a long-distance Uber – it essentially matches you with a professional driver and vehicle, giving you complete flexibility to plan your own one-way or return route. You won’t have a guide as such, but in my experience your driver will be more than happy to give you tips and info along the way.

When you design your itinerary on GoTrip , you’re free to put in as many stops as you desire. If the platform doesn’t recognise a location, just leave the address in the notes for your driver to see. The final price is set in advance so there’s no need to negotiate, and you can make extra photo stops and food stops whenever you want without the cost going up.

→ Visit the GoTrip website to design your own Batumi day trip itinerary .

Public transport (city bus/marshrutka van/train)

Many of the day excursions from Batumi on this list can be done using public transport – city buses, intercity marshrutka vans and trains. This requires a bit more forward-planning as schedules are sometimes hard to come by and times are flexible. On the plus side, it’s a very budget-friendly way to get around.

I’ve included public transport directions for many of the destinations below. I always recommend you double check times and fares in-person before you travel, either at the station or at the Tourist Information Centre on Gogebashv i li Street .

If you don’t have a Batumi bus card, you can pay for city buses using any chipped international debit/credit card. Simply tap on at the machine on-board the bus when you board (no need to tap off). Fares cost 30 tetri with a Batumi transport card or ~80 tetri with an international card.

→ See city bus routes here on Moovit .

→ See the location of Batumi Bus Terminal (the ‘old bus station’) here .

→ See the location of Batumi Central Station (for trains) here .

Hiring a bicycle in Batumi

As long as you’re not venturing too far, you might like to hire a bicycle and ride up or down the coast. Bike vendors set up all along the park and waterfront in the centre of Batumi. Expect to pay around 5-15 GEL to hire a city bike for a full day.

Note that it’s mandatory to ride on the designated bike paths in the centre of Batumi. Take extra care if cycling on the road and try to avoid the inner-city traffic. Unfortunately most rentals don’t include safety helmets.

Batumi day trips with a hire car

If you want complete freedom, your best option is to hire a car. I recommend using Local Rent to search and compare rentals from local agents. Manual and auto, sedans and 4WDs are all available – usually for a very reasonable daily rate.

Before you hit the road, make sure you read up on these tips for driving in Georgia .

→ Visit the Local Rent website to find your wheels .

Map of Batumi day trips

Here is a quick map I put together of the 10 day trips covered in this guide. If you want to save the map to your Google Drive for later, select the star icon below the title.

10 best day trips from Batumi

1. mtsvane kontskhi.

• Distance from Batumi: 12 kilometres / 7.5 miles
• Travel time by road: 30-40 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: Nature, easy hikes, swimming, fresh seafood

Mtsvane Kontskhi or ‘Green Cape’ is located just north of central Batumi along the coast. This area is best known for the Batumi Botanical Garden , an easy excursion from the city and a must-visit on any trip to Georgia . You can quite easily turn a 2 or 3-hour visit to the gardens into an easy full-day trip by exploring more of the cape.

The Botanical Garden features easy hiking trails and lookout points where you get wonderful views of the Black Sea. After the gardens, head down to the beach directly underneath the cliffs to grab a drink and a bite to eat at Restauran Bungalow Green Cape before finding a spot to lay down your towel on Mtsvane Kontskhi Beach . 

This little patch of black-pebble shore isn’t the best swimming beach in the area (I’ll reveal that secret later on!), but it’s one of the nicest places to dip your toes so close to the city. There’s also a photogenic jetty here. Makhinjauri Beach is a little further down the coast, back towards the city, and another good option for swimming.

Before heading back to Batumi, stop off at the Batumi Fish Market , a 10-minute drive from the beach. Browse the market and see what fresh-caught fish takes your fancy then have one of the restaurateurs next door cook it up while you wait. My favourite restaurant is Fishlandia .

There is plenty of seating along the beach where you can relax and enjoy your meal. If the timing is right, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful sunset over the sea .

→ Read my tips for visiting Batumi Botanical Garden .

How to get to Mtsvane Kontskhi from Batumi

There are regular city marshrutka vans from downtown Batumi to Mtsvane Kontskhi, terminating at the lower entrance to the Botanical Garden. Buses #10 and #10a run all the way along Gogebashvili Street, stopping outside the Dolphinarium and near the cable car. Tickets cost 1 GEL per person.

For a hassle-free transfer to and from Mtsvane Kontskhi with as many stops along the way as you desire, a car and driver costs 60 GEL round-trip when you book through GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Mtsvane Kontskhi here .

2. Mtirala National Park

• Distance from Batumi: 30 kilometres / 18.5 miles
• Travel time by road: 60 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: Nature & hiking

Mtirala is probably the best-known national park near Batumi. Located north-east of the city, it can be reached in around an hour from downtown, making it ideal for a short spring or summer side trip.

Mtirala is known for its ancient Colchis forests and is incredibly dense, with high humidity and frequent rainfall (Mtirala means ‘to cry’ in Georgian, a nod to the often wet conditions). The whole area is brimming with diverse flora and fauna, including brown bears.

In July 2021, Mtirala was named Georgia’s first Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site . Along with Kolkheti National Park and the Kintrishi and Kobuleti Protected Areas, it forms part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands .

Start in Chakvistavi village , where the park administration office is located. Here you can pick up a map (or a guide) and get information about weather conditions. Once inside the park, there are two hiking trails to choose from. The first is an easy 7km loop that leads you to the river gorge where you can ride a cable car before continuing to the park’s most famous spot, Tsablnari waterfall . The longer Tsivtskaro trail takes 2 days and is only suitable for experienced hikers.

Food options are limited but there are several picnic areas within the park so it’s recommended to bring lunch with you. If you prefer not to walk, you can also explore parts of the park by car.

How to get to Mtirala National Park from Batumi

Marshrutka vans that run between Batumi and Kobuleti can drop you off at the turn-off for the National Park in Chakvistskali village. They depart frequently throughout the day from the parking lot adjacent to the Church of the Holy Spirit (see the exact location here on Google Maps ). Be sure to request the stop before you board. The fare is 3 GEL per person.

From the highway, the National Park Administration is another 14 km (30 minutes’ drive) east. You can find a local taxi to take you the rest of the way – expect to pay around 30 GEL.

Alternatively, shuttle buses run to Khala village on the way into the park four times daily. From there, you will need to take a taxi or walk 7 km.

The easiest way to get to Mtirala is by taxi. A Bolt should cost 35-45 GEL one-way (all the way to the National Park Administration), or you can book a driver for 35 USD/car round-trip on GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Mtirala here .

Mtirala day tour from Batumi

This private hiking tour with Pin Georgia covers the Chestnut Forest Trail, a local Adjarian honey tasting and a visit to the waterfall. The price includes transfers to and from Batumi.

→ See prices here on Viator .

3. Machakhela National Park

• Distance from Batumi: 27 kilometres / 17 miles
• Travel time by road: 40-60 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: Nature & culture

Machakhela is more remote and sees far fewer tourists than Mtirala. I personally prefer Machakhela because it combines nature with fascinating local culture and history .

Machakhela is located south of Batumi and runs along the Turkish border. Another Colchic forest, the landscape is hilly and overwhelmingly green, with ambling streams, high lookout points and towering waterfalls.

There are several villages within the park, one of them has a terrific local lore museum set inside a converted mosque . Another must-do is to visit a Machakhela gunsmith’s workshop where artisans like Zaza Nagervadze still produce flint guns the old-fashioned way.

There’s also a stone ‘Tamara’ bridge , a pillbox gun left over from the Ottoman wars, and a few other interesting landmarks to spot within the park. There is a new Visitors’ Centre where you can find maps and information. I recommend visiting with a tour group that will organise lunch for you – eating a home-cooked Adjarian meal of Sinori cheese pie and Borano buttery cheese in Machakhela is an absolute treat.

If you want to hang around for breakfast, there are several guesthouses that would be happy to host you.

→ Read all about my experience visiting Machakhela from Batumi .

How to get to Machakhela from Batumi

I highly recommend a scooter tour of Machakhela with Tsitsaka Moto . The full-day itinerary includes transfers to and from Batumi by car, lunch and moped hire.

We’re not confident drivers so we had two drivers take us around when we visited. It was great fun and we got to see almost everything the park has to offer within the course of a day.

→ Check prices and availability for the moped tour here on Viator .

If you want to hike in the national park, this full-day trip includes transfers from Batumi and a private experienced guide to accompany you on the 8km Mtavarangelozi hiking trail.

→ Check prices and availability for the hiking tour here on Viator .

If you prefer to visit Machakhela independently, a car and driver for the day costs 100 GEL/car round-trip when booked through GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Machakhela here .

4. Gonio Apsaros Fortress, Kvariati Beach & Sarpi

• Distance from Batumi: 19 kilometres / 12 miles
• Travel time by road: 30 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: Swimming, hiking, sunset views

If you want to swim and lounge sans crowds and pollution, there are some lovely beaches south of Batumi en route to the Turkish border. Kvariati is one of my favourites – it’s not super secluded but it’s still quiet compared to Batumi Beach and the setting is stunning. This is the last beach on the Georgian side of the Black Sea Coast . After Kvariati, steep, overgrown cliffs rise up from the sea, marking the end of the shoreline.

There are a few waterfalls behind the beach that you can see from the main road and a huge religious statue (you can’t miss it).

After Kvariati, continue down a few more kilometres to Sarpi and the iconic wave-shaped Sarpi Border Checkpoint building. There is also a small museum in Sarpi where you can learn about the local Laz community.

On the way back to Batumi, stop in at Gonio Apsaros Fortress (open daily until 6pm). The open-air museum here contains the remnants of a fortified Roman city that dates back to the 2nd century AD. If you have time for a short hike, Gonio Cross sits in the hills above the fortress and offers stunning views of the Black Sea.

It’s an easy trail (with a few little twists and turns – see my guide below for info) and is particularly rewarding if you time your ascent for sunset . It’s also possible to drive up to the cross if you prefer.

→ Read my detailed guide to the Gonio Cross Hike .

How to get to Gonio/Kvariati/Sarpi from Batumi

This day trip can quite easily be done by bicycle or by using city bus #16 to hop up and down the coast.

→ Read this guide to cycling to Sarpi from Batumi .

Alternatively, you could organise a Batumi-Gonio-Kvariati-Sarpi-Batumi transfer. Prices start from just 60 GEL/car round-trip when you book through GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer here .

Day tour to Gonio Fortress

If you’re interested in history and you want to concentrate your energy on Gonio Fortress, then consider a dedicated day trip with a guide. This tour lasts for 7 hours and includes a visit to Gonio followed by Makhuntseti waterfall and a wine tasting.

→ Book here through Viator .

5. Kobuleti, Petra Fortress & Tsikhisdziri Hidden Beach

• Distance from Batumi: 30 kilometres / 19 miles
• Travel time by road: 45 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: History, urbexing, swimming, families with kids

Travelling the opposite way, north along the coast, you’ll find even more glorious swimming beaches plus another set of ruins. The 6th-century Petra Fortress isn’t as well-preserved as Gonio but it’s fun to explore nonetheless. The sea views from the top are spectacular, and the castle is surrounded by leafy arbours (the remains of an old limonarium) with shaded walking paths.

Directly in front of the fortress you’ll find Tsikhisdziri Hidden Beach , a lovely stretch of black rock beach with a sea arch, a dramatic cliff backdrop and a swimming platform. This is a local favourite and a nice place to take a morning dip. In summer 2021, a cool restaurant-bar called Shukura opened up at Tsikhisdziri.

Petra and Tsikhisdziri are an ideal pit stop on the way up to Kobuleti , a seaside town 40 minutes north of Batumi. Popular in Soviet times , Kobuleti has a long stretch of grey, gravely beach and clean water for swimming. There are several abandoned Brutalist-style hotels on the waterfront that attract photographers and urbexers. The main street has dozens of cafes, bars, and a few cool Soviet-era mosaics . Learn more in this guide: Things to do in Kobuleti .

Kobuleti Museum (open Tues-Sun) displays artefacts unearthed at Petra and is worth a quick look-in. I also recommend eating lunch in Kobuleti at Taraghana Fish , a popular seafood joint on the water.

The final stop on this day trip itinerary is the UNESCO-Listed Kobuleti Nature Reserve , a wetland area known for its peat bogs and population of Eurasian otters. Paths and a short elevated boardwalk winds its way through the reserve, with a lookout tower where you can take aerial photos of the pancake-flat landscape. The easiest way to get to the park is by taking bus #1 north from the centre of Kobuleti. The entrance is a short walk from the main road.

How to get to Kobuleti from Batumi

The high-speed train to Tbilisi departs Batumi at 8.30am and stops in Kobuleti before it turns inland. I don’t necessarily recommend taking the train, however, as tickets are quite expensive (from 31 GEL per person).

Instead, take one of the marshrutka minivans that depart from the parking lot adjacent to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Batumi throughout the day. Tickets to Kobuleti cost 3 GEL, and travel time is around 60 minutes depending on traffic.

If you want to stop at Petra and Tsikhisdziri along the way, you can ask the driver to drop you off early (the fare will be the same). The more convenient option is to book a transfer to Kobuleti on GoTrip . Prices start from just 65 GEL/car round-trip.

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Kobuleti here .

6. Makhuntseti & Mirveti waterfalls

• Travel time by road: 45-60 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: Swimming, relaxing, picnicking

For a cool escape from the city, these twin waterfalls are located in the foothills of Upper Adjara, inland from Batumi and close to Machakhela. Though very beautiful, I must warn you that this is definitely one of the more ‘touristy’ day trips on this list and in my experience, the area is usually quite crowded – especially in summer.

Makhuntseti is a tall waterfall with a swimming hole set back from the main road and accessed via a short, easy trail. On the opposite side of the road, you’ll see Makhuntseti Bridge – a beautiful hemispheric stone Tamara bridge. There are plenty of cafes and eateries in the area.

Mirveti is located closer to Batumi and is a bit more secluded. The falls are shorter but still very beautiful. Mirveti Arch Bridge , another stone bridge, is located nearby.

Makhuntseti is only an hour from Batumi by road. If you have time to spare, you can easily combine this day trip with the next itinerary and enjoy a wine tasting or two while you’re in the area.

How to get to the waterfalls from Batumi

To reach the Makhuntseti Waterfall from Batumi, you can take a Khulo-bound van from old Batumi bus station (departs every 30 minutes from 8am; 10 GEL) and ask the driver to drop you off early, just after Kveda Makhuntseti.

Mirveti is 17km away so it’s not possible to walk between the two – instead, you’ll need to take a Batumi-bound van back to Acharistskali then walk or take a taxi the rest of the way.

More conveniently, you could hire a car and driver for the day. Prices start from just 70 GEL round-trip when you book through GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to the waterfalls here .

Day tour to the waterfalls from Batumi

In the warmer months, local tour company Budget Georgia runs daily group trips to the waterfalls for 130 GEL per person. The program includes a home-made lunch in the Machakhela Valley. Private day tours are available on request.

→ Check availability and book your seat here on Viator .

→ Enquire about this tour directly and mention Wander-Lush to get 10% off.

7. Adjarian Wine Route

• Travel time by road: 40-75 minutes (one-way)
• Great for: Adjarian wine & food

Kakheti may be Georgia’s main wine region but grapes grow all over the country, including in mountainous Upper Adjara. By all accounts, this is an up-and-coming destination for wine tourism in Georgia, with more family Maranis added to the Adjara Wine Route every year.

Most are located in the high-altitude alpine Adjara around Keda Municipality (more in the next itinerary). If you’re after a quick side trip from Batumi, there are a few notable wineries that are close to Batumi, including Mirveti’s, Chateau Iveri, and Adjarian Wine House.

Adjarian Wine House is a vineyard, restaurant and function centre set on a sprawling property. It’s extremely popular and receives bus loads of tourists every day – but I’ve heard that in recent years the quality of service and the wine-tasting experience has gone downhill.

For something more intimate, Mirveti’s Winery is a small, family run business set in a beautiful wooden house near the waterfall and arched bridge of the same name (35 minutes from Batumi). Chateau Iveri is a bit further along the mountain road (around 1 hour from Batumi), but definitely worth the drive! The views are out of this world. Both offer wine tastings and home-cooked meals for walk-in visitors. I recommend calling ahead a day or two in advance to arrange your visit.

For something closer to home, Beridze Wine Cellar in Makhinjauri (20 minutes north of Batumi) is a traditional family winery producing natural qvevri wines and oak-aged chacha. Wine degustations, supra-style lunches and khachapuri, khinkali and churchkhela masterclasses are available. Contact them via phone to arrange your visit.

Adjara is synonymous with two wine varieties in particular: Tsolikauri and Chkhaveri , a dry white and dry pink respectively. Winemakers in this part of the country use different grapes but the same Qvevri technology as in the east. If you missed out on a wine tasting in Tbilisi , sipping vino in the lush highlands of Adjara will more than make up for it.

If you’re serious about wine, consider pressing further into Upper Adjara to visit the wineries around Keda. Highlights include Lado Shavishvili’s Wine Cellar and Wine Cellar Brother’s Avaliani . Find more information about the Adjarian Wine Route here .

How to get to Adjarian Wine House from Batumi

To get to any of these wineries from Batumi, you can take a Bolt taxi (25-40 GEL one-way). Alternatively ask your host at the winery to help with transport at the time of booking.

8. Keda & Merisi (Upper Adjara)

• Distance from Batumi: 50 kilometres / 31 miles
• Travel time by road: 2-2.5 hours (one-way)
• Great for: Cute villages, Soviet history, Adjarian food, fresh air, incredible mountain scenery

Mountainous Adjara is a treasure trove of pretty alpine villages and a total contrast to the hubbub of the Black Sea Coast. In summer, many people head this way to take advantage of the fresh air and cooler temperatures.

Keda is located a little deeper in the mountains past Makhuntseti Waterfall. There are wineries, hiking trails, painted mosques and some terrific local restaurants to enjoy in the area.

Merisi is a smaller village east of Keda famously known for the ultra-popular Eco House Merisi . If you’re tempted to stretch out your day trip and spend the night in Upper Adjara, this high-altitude guest house with an outdoor hot tub overlooking the mountains and valleys is a real treat.

There are also some terrific glamping spots in Upper Adjara, including Glamping Tago .

If you decide to hire a car and driver and you make an early start from Batumi, you could also visit Khulo , Upper Adjara’s biggest town (roughly 2.5-3 hours by road one-way) to ride the old cable car and visit the mosque .

There is only one asphalt road into Upper Adjara and parts of it may be closed in winter if there is heavy snowfall. I recommend doing this day trip in late spring, summer or fall. 

How to get to Keda & Merisi from Batumi

Marshrutka vans depart from Batumi old bus station for Khulo every 30 minutes from 8am until 8pm. The ticket price is 10 GEL and the driver can drop you off early in Keda on request. To get to Merisi, you’ll need to take a taxi from Keda.

Prices start from just 120 GEL/car round-trip when you book through GoTrip . Note that there are limited drivers available because you need a larger vehicle with high clearance for this road.

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Keda & Merisi here .

9. Kolkheti National Park & Poti

• Distance from Batumi: 75 kilometres / 47 miles
• Travel time by road: 1 hour (one-way)
• Great for: Nature, fresh air, history

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kolkheti National Park is one of the most unique landscapes in Georgia. Located north of Batumi, it covers almost 34,000 hectares of protected wetlands and lakes across neighbouring Samegrelo and Guria regions.

This is prime habitat for water birds (more than 200 native and migratory species nest here). Along with Javakheti in southern Georgia , it’s one of the country’s premier bird watching destinations.

The best way to explore the national park is by getting out on the water. Boat tours of lake Paliastomi and the Pichori River are available, or you can hire a kayak and navigate the Churia Nature Paddling Trail, an easy 9-kilometre loop that takes you deep into the Amazon-like wetlands. Advance bookings are essential.

If you prefer to stay on land, hiking and horse riding are also on offer. There is a long track through the park that can be done by bicycle , but you’ll need to bring your own wheels.

This area also has historical importance as the birthplace of the Kingdom of Colchis , the first Georgian state that was founded in 2000 BC. Displays at the Kolkheti Culture Museum in the nearby city of Poti contain artefacts from this period.

The port city of Poti is worth a wander around – climb to the top of the historic lighthouse for a view, track down the Soviet-era mosaics and Brutalist architecture , and take in the sea panoramas on the long beach front .

How to get to Kolkheti & Poti from Batumi

Marshrutka vans depart Batumi bus station for Poti throughout the day, at least every hour starting from 8am. To reach the main entrance of Kolkheti National Park, a 6-minute drive from Poti, you can take a taxi from the centre.

Alternatively, prices start from 120 GEL/car round-trip when you book through GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Poti here .

10. Shekvetili & Ureki beach

• Distance from Batumi: 47 kilometres / 29 miles
• Great for: Beaches, swimming, families with kids

Located roughly halfway between Kobuleti and Kolkheti, Shekvetili and Ureki are two of the most popular swimming spots on Georgia’s Black Sea.

This section of coast – part of Guria region – has sandy beaches rather than stone or pebble beaches like you see closer to Batumi. It’s not just any old sand, either – black in colour and ‘magnetic’ , it’s rich in iron ore minerals and is believed to have healing properties.

Shekvetili Beach backs onto a forest and is the nicer of the two in my humble opinion. Other things to do in the area include the Miniature Park (an open-air museum with tiny replicas of Georgia’s most important churches and historical landmarks – it’s really wonderful and worth visiting) and Shekvetili Dendrological Park , the inspiration behind the film Taming the Garden . At Nellie’s restaurant in Shekvetili is one of my favourite places to eat in the area. The trout is outstanding.

Ureki Beach is a little more crowded. There are lots of cafes and restaurants to choose from, but prices here tend to be quite high (especially in summer).

How to get to Shekvetili & Ureki from Batumi

To get to Shekvetili, take a Poti-bound van from Batumi and jump out early. The beach, Miniature Park and restaurant are all within walking distance or you can take a taxi. Ureki Beach is another 20 minutes up the coast by car. To get there, you can either take another van or hire a taxi.

Prices start from 100 GEL/car round-trip when you book through GoTrip .

→ Book a GoTrip transfer to Shekvetili & Ureki here .

Where to stay in Batumi

I recommend staying close to the waterfront and Batumi Old Town. Nice accommodations can also be found at the opposite end of the seafront on the New Boulevard. For more information, see my detailed guide to the best areas to stay in Batumi .

Here are my top picks:

TOP CHOICE: Kartuli Hotel (⭐ 9.1). Located on the 37-38th floors of a skyscraper on the New Boulevard, Kartuli commands spectacular views of the sea and city. Rooms are minimal and beautifully designed. Kartuli is one of the coolest hotels in Georgia!

BOUTIQUE: Mariinsky Boutique Hotel (⭐ 9.0). This cute apart-hotel has spacious rooms, modern ensuites, and an outstanding rooftop terrace. The location three blocks back from the Boulevard, close to Batumi Old Town, is perfect for getting around on foot.

SELF-CONTAINED: Banana Apartments (⭐ 9.7). Banana Apartments offers three stylish, self-contained studio flats that sleep up to three people. Each one has a full kitchen, new bathroom, and water views.

BUDGET: Hostel 47 (⭐ 9.8). Located near the museum, this popular hostel is walking distance from both the beach and the Old Town. There are three dorms to choose from (mixed or female-only) plus a shared kitchen-laundry and several outdoor common spaces.

SPLASH OUT: Radisson Blu (⭐ 8.5). Located footsteps from both the main part of the boulevard and Batumi Old Town, this hotel offers polished rooms with great views, an outdoor pool, and an outstanding buffet breakfast.

More Batumi travel resources

• My complete city guide to Batumi – the best things to do, see, eat & drink
• Batumi street art guide & interactive map
• Guide to visiting the Batumi Botanical Garden
• Guide to the Gonio Cross trail , Batumi’s best hike
• Cycling from Batumi to Sarpi and the Turkish border
• Guide to visiting Machakhela National Park from Batumi
• Batumi Airport transport & arrivals guide

Georgia essentials

Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend for Georgia. Check out my full list of travel resources for more tips.

FLIGHTS: Search for affordable flights to Tbilisi, Batumi or Kutaisi on Skyscanner .

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Insure your trip with HeyMondo , my preferred provider for single-trip and annual travel insurance (get 5% off when you book with my link).

SIM CARD: Magti is my preferred provider, with prices starting from 9 GEL/week for unlimited data. See this guide for all the details about buying a Georgian SIM card .

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Most flights into Georgia arrive in the early hours. For ease, pre-book a private transfer from Tbilisi Airport to your hotel (from $17) or from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi (from $90) with my partners at GoTrip.ge.

ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com is the most widely used platform in Georgia. Use it to find family guesthouses, private apartments, hostels and hotels around the country.

CAR HIRE: Find a great deal on a rental car in Georgia – use the Local Rent website to book through a local agent (prices start from $20/day).

DAY TRIPS & CITY TOURS: Use Viator or Get Your Guide to browse a range of day trips and city tours. For off-beat programs, I recommend Friendly.ge (use the promocode wanderlush for 10% off). For in-depth day trips to Georgia’s wine regions, I recommend Eat This! Tours (use the promo code wanderlush for 5% off).

PRIVATE TRANSFERS: GoTrip.ge is a terrific service for booking a private professional driver and car for the day. Use it for A-to-B transfers, a customised round-trip itinerary, or a multi-day trip. You can stop wherever you like for as long as you like without the fixed price going up.

NEED SOME HELP?: Need feedback on your itinerary or personalised travel tips? I offer a one-on-one consultation call service for Tbilisi and Georgia. More information and bookings here .

also im gonna sidetrack a little, would you suggest walking from the city centre to the batumi train station if time is of no issue?

thanks again!

Hi Sherman, it’s not really a good idea as it’s a very busy road with lots of trucks. Honestly it’s bad enough driving it, personally I wouldn’t want to be on foot. If you can find an alternative backroad then sure!

Hi Emily, thanks for your post. you mentioned bus #16, so where do i catch bus #16 to sarpi from batumi city centre? thank you.

Hi Sherman, it runs along Khimshiashvili Street. Tourist Info in Batumi also have a city map with the bus routes if you want to pick one up.

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5 DAY TBILISI TO BATUMI ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

THE FUN WAY

TBILISI TO BATUMI

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5 DAY TBILISI TO BATUMI (4X4) ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

A 5 day Tbilisi to Batumi road trip itinerary across the southern half of Georgia (via Goderdzi Pass), taking you the less direct but definitely more fun way. From high volcanic plateaus to plunging gorges and the lush Adjara Highlands, you’ll travel through some of Georgia’s most unique landscapes, taking in scenic lakes, dramatic cliff top castles, and the sprawling medieval cave city of Vardzia.

Whether you’re overlanding in your own vehicle, or plan on hiring a car or campervan in the country, this itinerary is a great way of linking western and eastern Georgia while exploring lesser visited regions along the way. Although this road trip itinerary starts in Tbilisi and ends in Batumi, it can of course be done in reverse, linking up perfectly with the Sarpi border crossing to/from Turkey for those on a multi-country trip. The route is best tackled in a 4×4 in the summer months, and we’ve included options for wild camping and indoor accommodation each day.

In this guide we cover everything you need to know to plan your Tbilisi to Batumi road trip. We include a detailed daily itinerary, offer an accompanying route map for easy navigation, and lots of practical tips.

ROAD TRIP FILMS ROUTE MAP & GPX DOWNLOAD ITINERARY OUTLINE ITINERARY BREAKDOWN DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 |  DAY 5 EXTEND YOUR ROAD TRIP WHEN TO DO THIS ROAD TRIP CAR/CAMPERVAN RENTAL PRACTICAL TIPS

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links – if you purchase a product or service via these links, we may earn a small commission  at no extra cost to you . This helps offset the cost of running this blog and keeps us travelling so that we can continue to produce great content for you. We greatly appreciate your support!*

ROAD TRIP FILMS

Many of the places in this Tbilisi to Batumi road trip itinerary feature in Part One and Part Four of our Toyota Hilux Expedition Camper Series , and Part Three of our UAZ Buhanka Campervan Series , including Paravani and Tabatskuri Lakes, Tambovka, Abuli Pass, Vardzia, Khertvisi Fortress, Goderdzi Pass, and Glamping Tago. You can see more of Batumi and the surrounding area in our Western Georgia Campervan Series .

TBILISI TO BATUMI ITINERARY ROUTE MAP

We have created a detailed map to accompany this Tbilisi to Batumi itinerary, which can be used online or offline to navigate during your trip and quickly pinpoint all of the places mentioned in this guide. We have marked the driving and hiking routes, plus the key sights, food recommendations, camp spots, and accommodation options for each day of the itinerary. It is the perfect companion to this written guide.

TBILISI TO BATUMI 4X4 ROAD TRIP ITINERARY OUTLINE

Detailed itinerary breakdown.

ITINERARY BREAKDOWN

DAY 1 | TBILISI → DIDGORI BATTLE MEMORIAL → TSALKA → TABATSKURI LAKE

164 km | 3h50m +, tbilisi → didgori memorial → tsalka → tabatskuri lake.

Leaving the lowlands behind, your Tbilisi to Batumi road trip kicks off with a scenic drive through the mountains, passing through rural communities to wind up at picturesque Tabatskuri Lake backed by the volcanic peaks of the Abul-Samsari Range. The road is paved and in good condition until the final 40 km or so, when you join a dirt track leading over the hills to Tabatskuri. You can camp by the lake, or stay in a local guesthouse.

TBILISI TO DIDGORI BATTLE MEMORIAL

53 KM | 1H10M +

Head north out of Tbilisi, then west towards Mtskheta (an optional side trip). The road follows the Mtkvari River, tall green mountains rising along the southern side of the valley, lower ochre hued hills lining the northern side. At Saskhori settlement (approx 37 km from Tbilisi), turn left and climb the smooth tarmac road, 1000 metres up into the mountains to the Didgori Battle Memorial. It’s a wonderfully scenic drive.

The memorial itself is more like a sprawling art installation, with upright swords and sculptures scattered across the hillsides around the central monument. It commemorates a victorious battle against the invading Seljuks in 1121. With the road reaching heights of over 1700 m, the weather here can be dramatically different to that in the valley below, atmospheric swirls of mist commonly enveloping the landscape.

Swords surrounding the central monument at the Didgori Battle Memorial

Swords around the central monument at the Didgori Battle Memorial

DIDGORI BATTLE MONUMENT TO TSALKA

58 KM | 1H5M +

From the monument the road works its way down the mountains to the east of Algeti National Park. Turn right when you join the main road, heading through the villages of Manglisi and Algeti. You’ll soon leave the mountainous landscape behind, finding yourself on a wide plateau and heading for the shimmering Tsalka Reservoir and nearby regional town of Tsalka. This is your last chance to get (reliable) fuel until you reach Ninotsminda at the end of Day 2 or start of Day 3, and the best place to stock up on supplies for the next couple of days.

If you fancy stopping for lunch, Pontia is the best option in town, a bustling place by the river with a scattering of outdoor tables nestled in private cubicles. The owners are one of the few remaining ethnic Greek families in the region, and whilst it mostly serves Georgian food you may be able to try moussaka if you call ahead and ask in advance (+995 599 45 74 00 ). Elena speaks excellent English. Otherwise, the fried fish and mtsvadi are excellent, and it’s very budget friendly.

TSALKA TO TABATSKURI LAKE

53 KM | 1H35M +

The final stretch from Tsalka to Tabatskuri Lake is the most exciting part of the day. Leaving the tarmac behind, you’ll cross the beautifully barren slopes of the volcanic Abul-Samsari Range to reach a community that feels a world apart.

From Tsalka, continue west. At Tikilisa village, turn off the main road (which continues south over the Tikmatashi Pass to Lake Paravani), and head northwest through a series of small villages. A dirt and gravel track continues all the way to Tabatskuri Lake, following electricity pylons for part of the way. You’ll emerge at the northeastern corner of the lake, with the main settlement of Tabatskuri jutting out into the water on the western shore opposite. Various tracks lead around the lake to the village and beyond.

The northern part of Tabatskuri Lake, with Tabatskuri village facing towards the Abul-Samsari Range

If you plan on camping, we have two suggested spots: the small lakeside forest at the northeastern corner (the most sheltered spot, but popular with locals for picnics), or the secluded (but exposed) area north of Moliti village on the southwestern shore of the lake. The only guesthouses around here are in Tabatskuri village.

TABATSKURI ACCOMMODATION

Guesthouse Tabatskuri +995 599058689

Lake Tabatskuri Lodge +995 595550420

TABATSKURI CAMPING

Quiet Lakeside Spot 41.642447, 43.597528

Sheltered Forest Picnic Area 41.660781, 43.645862

DAY 2 | TABATSKURI LAKE → ABULI PASS → TAMBOVKA → POKA → NINOTSMINDA

117 km | 4h15m +, tabatskuri lake → abuli pass → tambovka → poka → ninotsminda.

Day 2 is a real adventure, exploring the characterful villages, dramatic landscapes, and impressive lakes of the Javakheti plateau. There’s plenty of off-roading, making it one of the funnest days in this itinerary. It’s also one of the most challenging driving days though, with some particularly rough, rocky tracks on the way to Abuli pass. If you prefer to stick to less challenging off-road tracks, we suggest following the alternative route between Tabatskuri Lake and Paravani Lake, outlined on our map . You can end your day camping by the lake, or carry on south to Ninotsminda where there are numerous accommodation options.

TABATSKURI LAKE TO ABULI PASS

50 KM | 2H10M +

Continue down the western shore of Tabatskuri Lake to the village of Moliti. Then, head south on dirt roads leading through numerous villages (including Bezhano, Bughasheni, and Olaverdi) to Abuli. The route passes through open farmland, with an ever-changing view of Didi Abuli, the highest peak in the range at 3300 m.

From Abuli village, a very rocky track climbs towards Abuli pass, thankfully becoming less bumpy after a few hundred metres. Abuli pass sits at 2312 m, nestled between Didi (big) Abuli and Patara (small) Abuli mountains. You could hike up Didi Abuli, but with a 1000 metre ascent and return hike time of around 5-6 hours, it would make for a very full-on day.

The south facing slope of Didi Abuli, seen from the off-road track near Abuli pass in late October

South facing slope of Didi Abuli, seen from the off-road track near Abuli pass in late October

If you’re keen to stretch your legs, a shorter and more manageable hike is to Abuli Fortress (2670 m) on the southern slopes of Patara Abuli. It dates from the 2nd millennium BC and its dry stone structure is in quite remarkable condition. You can drive most of the way and hike the final 2 km to the ruins. Allow up to 1.5 hours for the return hike.

ABULI PASS TO TAMBOVKA

20 KM | 1H5M +

A dirt track leads over Abuli pass and down through grazing pastures to Vladimirovka village on the shores of Paravani Lake, the largest in Georgia. Turning right at the village will take you quickly to Poka and an asphalt road. However, as per this itinerary, it’s well worth turning left instead, taking the longer route around the lake to eventually reach Poka.

Paravani Lake sits at 2073 m and migratory birds such as pelicans and flamingos flock here in the spring and early summer. The small bays between Vladimirovka and the largely abandoned village of Aspara are a great place to watch the birds (and the local fishermen!). It’s also one of the most scenic areas for a lakeside drive, weaving in and out of the bays on grassy 4×4 tracks, and the perfect spot to camp (although often windy).

Pelicans in flight at Paravani Lake

Beyond Aspara you’ll soon reach the picturesque village of Tambovka, two rows of houses running parallel to the shore. What makes this village special is its numerous turf-roofed stone and wood buildings, unique to the Javakheti region in Georgia. Built to withstand the unforgiving climate, the grass roofs provide insulation and some of the homes are dug into the hillside for extra protection.

Many are over 100 years old, still standing but not always lived in these days. In many cases they function instead as a storage space or dung drying spot, with some families having a modern two-storey house built alongside the ‘old house’. The most beautiful are whitewashed and have colourful wooden window frames with carved embellishments and painted balcony poles, usually in shades of turquoise and green. Most likely, these homes once belonged to Doukhobors, Tambovka being one of the few villages settled in the 1840s by the exiled community from Tsarist Russia.

Turf roofed Tambovka house

Whitewashed house with colourful frames and shutters

Whitewashed house with colourful shutters

TAMBOVKA TO POKA

18 KM | 30M +

From Tambovka, continue 5 km through Akhali Khulgumo village and along the northern shore of the lake to join the main road, just south of Tikmatashi Pass. Turn right and head through Paravani ( Rodionovka) village all the way to Poka, at the southern end of the lake. If you’re into artisanal cheeses, jams, chocolate, or spirits, make sure you stop at the Poka Nunnery to pick up some outstanding goodies.

POKA TO NINOTSMINDA

29 KM | 30M +

If you want to stay in accommodation, continue south past Saghamo Lake to the town of Ninotsminda, where there are a number of options (see below).

If camping, the previously mentioned bay area between Vladimirovka and Aspara is an ideal spot, with lots of options to park up a camper or pitch a tent. It is exposed though, so if you need somewhere more sheltered, your best bet is a narrow clearing tucked in between a small hill and artificially planted pine forest just north of Aspara. Turn off the gravel road at the coordinates 41.4668, 43.7873 to reach it. You can then continue to Ninotsminda the following morning.

NINOTSMINDA ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Triumph

Hotel Sonya

Hotel Sharl

PARAVANI CAMPING

Small Bay 41.429607, 43.780797 (and many other possible spots)

Sheltered Forest Camp 41.459096, 43.791217

DAY 3 | NINOTSMINDA → KHERTVISI FORTRESS → VARDZIA

61 km | 1h15m +, ninotsminda → khertvisi fortress → vardzia.

Today the scenery shifts dramatically from high altitude plateaus to plunging gorges with cave and castle dotted cliffs. The road is paved the whole way and driving is kept to a minimum, so you have plenty of time to explore Khertvisi Fortress and Vardzia. You can camp below Vardzia, or stay in a nearby guesthouse or hotel.

NINOTSMINDA TO KHERTVISI FORTRESS

46 KM | 55M +

From Ninotsminda, head northwest through Akhalkalaki. Keep an eye out for an old train carriage spanning the river to your left, a quirky sight about 5 km beyond the town. You’ll soon notice a shift in the landscape as you enter a narrow gorge. About 19 km beyond the train bridge you’ll catch sight of 10th century Khertvisi Fortress, perched dramatically atop cliffs at the intersection of two valleys. The best fortress view is on this eastern approach.

Taking the road to the left, make a hairpin turn shortly beyond the fortress and start heading south. There is a car park just below the fort and it’s a short walk up the road to the entrance. It’s also possible to walk along a hillside trail for a couple of kilometres, heading east with nice valley views.

Looking back at Khertvisi Fortress from the hillside trail

Khertvisi Fortress from the hillside trail

KHERTVISI FORTRESS TO VARDZIA

15 KM | 20M +

The road continues through a scenic gorge to Vardzia, passing the ruins of Tmogvi Fortress at a bend in the river. It’s well worth stopping here and walking up the hillside to the right for spectacular views over the river, cliffs, and ruins. More viewpoints emerge on the final approach to Vardzia, a cave complex of impressive scale.

Dating from between the 11th and 13th centuries, hundreds of chambers and passageways hewn from the rockface stretch half a kilometre along the cliffs, and deep into them. What remains today is only a fraction of the original monastic and defensive site, an earthquake in 1283 shearing off half the cliff face and thousands of cave dwellings.

Viewing Vardzia from across the valley gives an appreciation of its impressive size and scale

The impressive Vardzia cave complex

It’s a fascinating site to visit, with walkways leading you through caves once used as wine cellars, sleeping quarters, an apothecary, a refectory, and more. The Church of the Dormition sits at the centre of it all, its walls and ceilings covered in frescoes, including a rare one of King (Queen) Tamar. Hundreds of swallows nest in the caves, providing a choral soundtrack to your visit.

While it’s possible to visit independently, we highly recommend hiring a guide. We rarely do to be honest, preferring to explore on our own time, but our appreciation of the site was so much deeper thanks to the explanations from our guide. We learnt a lot, but the tour was also concise and didn’t last too long, with as much time as we liked to explore by ourselves after.

Entrance to Vardzia is 15 GEL per person, and a guide costs 45 GEL. It’s open from 10am – 5/6/7pm (depending on the season).

VARDZIA ACCOMMODATION

Vardzia Resort

Tirebi Farmhouse

Guesthouse Geno

VARDZIA CAMPING

Grassy Area Beyond Car Park, Below Vardzia (toilets nearby)

41.379350, 43.286083

DAY 4 | VARDZIA → KHULO/GLAMPING TAGO

145 km | 4h45m +, vardzia → khulo/ glamping tago.

On Day 4 you’ll retrace your steps as far as Khertvisi Fortress, then head west over Goderdzi pass (2025 m), crossing from Samtskhe-Javakheti into the autonomous Adjara region. The road condition gets considerably worse after Adigeni, with ongoing construction, giant potholes, mud, etc. Today is largely a driving day with great scenery along the way, but you also have the chance to visit Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe. End up at the wonderfully situated Glamping Tago, or stay in Khulo town itself, Upper Adjara’s regional hub.

VARDZIA TO AKHALTSIKHE

62 KM | 1H15M +

Head back through the scenic valley to Khertvisi Fortress, then turn left and continue to the regional town of Akhaltsikhe. Rabati Castle, also known as Akhaltsikhe Castle, sits just off the main road in town. It dates from the 9th century but was completely renovated in 2012 and looks quite swish these days.

Entrance to Rabati Castle is 15 GEL and the opening hours are 9am – 6pm daily.

AKHALTSIKHE TO GODERDZI PASS

51 KM | 1H40M+

Continuing west from Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni is the last town you’ll pass through until Khulo. You’ll start climbing, twisting your way up gravel roads, passing seasonal farm settlements that are characteristic of the Adjara Highlands. Goderdzi Pass sits at 2025 m, with just a few small shops, a newly built hotel, and a fantastic Soviet-era bus stop. It’s a fine place to stretch the legs and enjoy the view before the descent to Khulo on the other side.

The view down into Adjara from Goderdzi pass (2025 m)

GODERDZI PASS TO KHULO/GLAMPING TAGO

32 KM | 1H50M +

The road to Khulo is another slow-moving section, descending over 1100 metres through alpine pastures and past a newly built ski resort, to the steep-sided Acharistskali river valley. It’s a bit of a rough drive, but very scenic, with gorgeous views opening up at every bend. Villages tumble down the lush green hillsides, and it’s not uncommon for the mountain tops to be enshrouded in a thick blanket of atmospheric mist.

There are numerous accommodation options in Khulo, however we highly recommend staying at Glamping Tago , situated on a hilltop with commanding views of the valley and villages around. To reach it you can drive a winding, narrow track down to the river and up the other side to Tago village. Alternatively, take the Soviet-era cable car from the centre of Khulo. Spanning 1700 metres across the valley, it is Europe’s second longest unsupported cable car. Either way, it’s an adventurous ride!

Glamping Tago on an atmospheric day, with Khulo seen across the valley in the distance

Glamping Tago has eight Lotus Belle glamping tents situated on wooden platforms around the hillside, each with a stunning view from the outward-facing door. The tents are super comfy, with a big bed, cosy rug, lamp, and chairs. There is also a 9 bed dorm in a geodesic dome set atop a platform with commanding views. The thoughtfully designed bathroom block features picture windows in the showers and open-air sinks overlooking endless layers of mountains. A yurt restaurant, outdoor fire pit, and sheltered chillout area are the perfect spots to relax and take in the views. It’s also possible to camp in tents on the property, or stay in your own campervan/overlanding vehicle.

Book your stay at Glamping Tago via our link , or add the promo code ‘ The whole hogg ‘ at the reservation stage for 1 litre of free wine or lemonade during your stay!

Allow about 30 minutes to drive from Khulo to Glamping Tago. The cable car ride takes around 10 minutes, then it’s a 10+ minute walk up the hillside to Glamping Tago from the cable car station. It runs 9am – 6pm (lunch break 1pm – 2pm) daily on demand, and costs 5 GEL return for tourists.

KHULO/TAGO ACCOMMODATION

Glamping Tago

 Guesthouse Sunrise

Hotel Posta

Armazi Guesthouse

KHULO CAMPING

Tent or Campervan Camping Possible at Glamping Tago

Campervan Camping Possible near Purtio Bridge (no facilities) 41.621820, 42.264770

Tent Camping Possible at Glamping Tago

DAY 5 | KHULO/GLAMPING TAGO → BATUMI

80 KM | 2H +

KHULO/ GLAMPING TAGO → BATUMI

The final stretch of this Tbilisi to Batumi road trip travels through the lush interior of Upper Adjara, spitting you out at the Black Sea coast at the very last moment. The road is mostly in good condition, but the mountainous terrain means you should allow 2 – 3 hours to cover the distance. If you have the time and inclination, it’s possible to explore numerous side valleys along the way, the best of which we outline below . End your Georgia road trip with a stay in one of Batumi’s numerous hotels or guesthouses, or travel further up the coast or inland to one of our suggested camp spots.

KHULO/GLAMPING TAGO TO BATUMI

While there are a few possible points of interest along the way (for example waterfalls and historic stone arch bridges), we feel the highlight of today’s route is really just the drive itself (the sights close to the main road can feel a bit too touristy in our opinion). The road winds through the deep valley, verdant mountains rising above and the snaking Acharistskali river a constant companion below. The temperature warms and humidity rises as you gradually drop around 900 metres in elevation to reach sea level at Batumi.

The road snaking down through the Acharistskali river valley towards Batumi and the Black Sea coast

When you arrive at the coast, a drive along the waterfront is the perfect way to end your Tbilisi to Batumi road trip.

There are many accommodation options in town, from hostels and guesthouses, to modern apartments and boutique hotels. We’ve covered a few top picks below. If you want to camp, it’s better to head up the coast, away from built-up Batumi. Our favourite spots are detailed below.

BATUMI ACCOMMODATION

Kartuli Hotel

Batumi West Hotel

Enjoy The Hostel

Apartments on Vaja Pshavela

GQ Premium Apartments in Alliance Palace

BLACK SEA COAST CAMPING

Wild camping is possible on the coastline just in front of the Botanical Gardens ( 41.707324, 41.719349 ), hidden from view from the main road and accessed via a dirt track. It’s not ideal for tents though, being a pebble beach, so it’s best suited to campervans.

Tent and auto camping is permitted in designated areas within the Batumi Botanical Gardens between 6pm – 10am. It costs 20 GEL (incl. entrance fee).

GeoCamp Black Sea is an e stablished campsite on the beach, operating in summer. Good for tents and campervans.

Door2Heaven Eco Hotel & Camping (formerly La Belle Verte) is h idden in the hills above Batumi, offering rooms but also a few spots for auto-camping (20 EUR) or pitching a tent. They have full bathroom and laundry facilities available, and you can have meals there. They are open between May and September. It’s only 15 km from Batumi, but you will climb to 435 metres, so allow around 1 hour for the drive.

EXTEND YOUR TBILISI TO BATUMI ROAD TRIP

Got longer to explore? Below are a few suggestions for side trips and extensions to your Georgia road trip.

GHORJOMI MOSQUE

Islam is the predominant religion in Adjara, and a number of colourfully painted wooden mosques can be found in the region. The largest is Ghorjomi Mosque, dating from 1902 and still active today. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but step inside and you’re welcomed by intricate wood carvings and colourful paintwork covering the five domed ceiling, large prayer hall, mihrab, and minbar. It’s a real work of art, and one the community is rightly proud of.

The colourfully painted wooden interior of Ghorjomi mosque

The wooden interior of Ghorjomi mosque

Ghorjomi village is about 15 km from Khulo (10 km from the main Khulo – Goderdzi Pass road). Allow at least 30 minutes for the winding drive. Ask around in the main village square if there’s nobody around at the mosque, and remember to dress appropriately (women should cover their hair, and men and women should cover their legs and shoulders, and remove shoes before entering).

KHIKHANI FORTRESS HIKE

Khikhani Fortress (2215 m) sits atop a craggy mountain at the end of the Skhalta river valley, right next to the Turkish border. It’s a scenic drive up the valley on a winding road, passing small villages cascading down the lush hillsides. Ensure you have your passport or Georgian ID with you, as you need to get permission from the border guards to continue to the parking area and fortress itself.

The hike is about 1.8 km, but with an elevation gain of 440 metres you should allow about 1 – 1.5 hours for the climb, and a bit less for the descent. On a clear day, the views are outstanding, with colourful rock formations surrounding the hilltop fortress. We didn’t get so lucky though, with rain and thick mist enshrouding us during the whole hike.

Check our map for the route and to download the GPX/KML tracks to follow on your hike.

Climbing the steep forest trail

No views at the top but by all accounts they are spectacular on a clear day

Climbing through the mist  to Khikhani Fortress on the steep forest trail 

MACHAKHELA NATIONAL PARK

Close to Batumi and the end of this road trip itinerary, Machakhela Planned National Park makes a nice side trip off the main road if you have a half-day or more to explore. There are a few hiking trails (one of which requires permission 5 days in advance), but a visit to this area is more about cultural experiences, scenic drives, and short hikes to waterfalls.

We would suggest driving as far as Zeda Chkhutuneti then parking up and visiting the Machakhela Historical-Ethnographic Museum, as much for the building itself (a former wooden mosque) as the exhibition. Afterwards you can do the short hike to Small and Large Dunga Waterfalls. Allow about 30 minutes one way for the hike, and be sure to wear proper shoes as it can be a bit muddy/slippery/steep in sections.

Large Dunga Waterfall

Small Dunga Waterfall

If you fancy tasting some local wine and enjoying traditional Adjarian food, Ilia’s Wine Cellar is a great option. A family home and winery with a gorgeous garden and vineyard tumbling down the steep hillside, it’s also home to a 1000 year old wine cellar. Find it in Chikuneti village, and be sure to call ahead (+599 557 53 11 76) or message in advance via Facebook if you want to have a meal.

BATUMI TO TBILISI VIA NORTHERN GEORGIA

Extending your road trip and looping back to Tbilisi via northern Georgia is a great option. You’ll have the chance to visit numerous national parks along the Black Sea Coast, soak in hot springs and swim in refreshing canyons around Guria and Samegrelo, and visit another of Georgia’s UNESCO cave cities at Uplistsikhe (among other things!).

Check out our Western Georgia Road Trip Itinerary for route details.

ADJARA HIGHLANDS

If you’re all about off-roading, mountains, and adventure, adding on a side trip through the Adjara Highlands (or skipping Batumi altogether and crossing over the mountains towards Kutaisi) is a great option. From Khulo you can drive up to the yayla (summer farming settlement) of Zoti Keli via Chidila pass, a challenging but spectacular journey. Continue on to Bakhmaro, where you’ll finally meet an asphalt road for the descent to Chokhatauri and the lowlands of Guria. You can find details of this route in our Lesser Caucasus Mountains Itinerary .

Parked up at Chidila pass with mountain views all around

Parked up at Chidila pass with mountain views

Alternatively, make a loop back to the Batumi – Khulo road via off-road tracks heading south-west from Chidila via Gori Kuli, Naghomvari, and Tskhemlisi, emerging at Khichauri. Note that these off-road tracks are challenging to drive, with some steep drop offs and little room to pass oncoming traffic. We’d suggest this route for experienced and confident drivers only!

See More From Georgia

9 Things To Know About Trekking In Georgia

7 Day Western Georgia Road Trip Itinerary: Canyons, Coast And Waterfalls

Lesser Caucasus Mountains 4×4 Road Trip (4 Day Kutaisi Loop Itinerary)

13 Things To Do In Martvili

Tbilisi to Batumi Road Trip Itinerary (The Fun Way)

Kvemo Kartli & Javakheti Offbeat Georgia 4×4 Road Trip Itinerary

Vashlovani and David Gareja Itinerary: 7 Day 4×4 Georgia Road Trip

Udziro Lake Hiking Guide

A Guide to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

Borjomi-Kharagauli NP: Panorama Trail Hiking Guide

Hiking From Ushguli To Chvelpi Via Latpari Pass

Mestia to Ushguli: Svaneti Transcaucasian Trail Hiking Guide

Chuberi to Mestia: Svaneti Transcaucasian Trail Hiking Guide

A Guide To The Kelitsadi Lake Trek

Black Rock Lake Trek in Lagodekhi National Park

Trekking from Tusheti to Pankisi Valley

Trekking from Shatili to Omalo via Atsunta Pass

Hiking from Juta to Roshka via Chaukhi Pass

Kazbegi Travel Guide, Georgia

Truso Valley Hiking Guide

Hiking To Gergeti Glacier And Gergeti Trinity Church From Kazbegi

Kojori To Tbilisi Day Hike

A Guide To Javakheti, Georgia’s Volcanic Plateau

Vashlovani National Park Travel Guide

Adventures In Racha With Family Hotel Gallery, Oni

DID YOU KNOW WE OFFER CONSULTATIONS & CUSTOM GEORGIA ITINERARY PLANNING?

> One Hour Video Consultation £100

we can answer questions, give advice, review your existing itinerary, or use the time to talk about anything else trip related, plus we’ll send a follow up email with links and notes about what we discuss

> Custom Itinerary Planning from £220

includes a video consultation, plus detailed day-by-day pdf itinerary, accommodation and/or camping suggestions, and an accompanying digital route map

Whether you’re planning a Georgia trek, road trip, or backpacking adventure, just get in touch via our contact page to let us know your rough plans and the kind of support you would like and we’ll get back to you with options and detailed pricing

PLANNING YOUR TBILISI TO BATUMI ROAD TRIP

In this section we’ll cover the practical side of planning your Tbilisi to Batumi road trip, including 4×4 car or campervan rental options, when to go, the best map apps, tips for the road, and more.

WHEN TO DO THIS ROAD TRIP

This Tbilisi to Batumi road trip (via Goderdzi pass) is most definitely seasonal. July until September is a reliable period, however it may be possible from May until late October or even November, depending on how early the snow melts in Spring, and arrives again in Autumn. You can check for road updates on georoad.ge or call the hotline ((995 32) 2 31 30 76) to check if the Goderdzi pass is open. We completed this route in mid-May.

The temperature on your trip is likely to change a lot, regardless of the month, as the altitude varies between sea level in Batumi and over 2300 m at Abuli pass. It can be humid around the Black Sea and in Upper Adjara, hot and dry in the valley around Vardzia, and much cooler and windier around the lakes on the Javakheti Plateau. Be prepared!

4×4 CAR AND CAMPERVAN RENTAL IN GEORGIA

Keen to road trip Georgia, but don’t have your own car? Thankfully there are plenty of hire options, including 4×4 cars and even fully kitted out off-road campervans! It’s possible to arrange one way hires, picking up in Tbilisi and dropping off in Batumi, or vice versa (usually for an extra fee). Or, why not continue your trip and make a loop back to the start via the northern half of Georgia ?

First things first, we’d recommend a 4×4 with good clearance , for example a Toyota Fortuner or Nissan XTerra, not just an SUV like a Renault Duster. While many parts of this itinerary could be tackled in any car, we’d say that the condition of the road on either side of Goderdzi pass requires a vehicle with high clearance and 4×4 capabilities (although you will see some locals driving Toyota Prius’ and Nissan Micra’s around here!). Our suggested route for Day 2 (from Tabatskuri Lake to Paravani Lake via Abuli pass) most definitely requires a good 4×4 with high clearance, and it is also preferable for the section between Tsalka and Tabatskuri Lake.

4×4 CAR RENTAL

We usually organise our rental cars through Holiday Autos , an aggregator with consistently good prices and customer service. They have plenty of options for 4×4 car hire in Tbilisi and Batumi. 

Tbiliso Car Rental is a local operator with a wide variety of options as well, including suitable 4×4 cars such as Toyota Land Cruisers, Toyota 4Runners, and Nissan XTerras. They offer free pick-ups all over Tbilisi and at Tbilisi Airport, and you can pick up or drop off at Batumi for $130. 

4×4 CAMPERVANS

If you fancy camping, but want something more convenient and comfortable than a tent, hiring a 4×4 campervan is ideal for this Tbilisi to Batumi road trip. Look no further than Overlando , a Tbilisi-based company with a small fleet of UAZ Buhanka campervans, a Toyota HiLux Expedition Camper, and a few Lada Niva camping cars. We’ve explored many remote parts of Georgia (including the places in this itinerary!) in either their Buhanka or HiLux Expedition Camper, and loved the experience. We’ve travelled around Armenia in a Lada Niva too, and found it to be a nifty little 4×4, perfect for handling the roads in this itinerary.

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WILD CAMPING IN GEORGIA

This itinerary includes suggested accommodation options for each night, along with suggested wild camping spots if you prefer to pitch a tent or park up with a campervan. With the exception of Glamping Tago and some of our Black Sea Coast recommendations, none of the suggested spots are official campsites. This means there are no facilities, and you must follow Leave No Trace principles to keep the spot safe and clean. This includes bagging and removing all rubbish, and burying human waste when there is no toilet available. Be prepared in advance with rubbish bags and a shovel for digging a toilet hole.

Note that there are no rules about wild camping in Georgia, but it is widely tolerated. We have camped with a campervan at one of the suggested spots for each night of this itinerary, and encountered no problems, although you can expect the occasional visit from a stray dog or curious local.

If you don’t have camping equipment you can rent everything you need, including cooking gear, from MPlus in Tbilisi. You can buy camping gas at MPlus too, or at Geoland .

Wild camping on the shores of Paravani Lake in a UAZ Buhanka campervan from Overlando

MAPS AND NAVIGATION

Online maps.

Google Maps works well for navigation in this region. The satellite view function is handy for scoping out terrain and off-road tracks in more remote parts.

Offline Maps

It’s also a good idea to have an offline map of your route downloaded before setting off. You’ll likely lose phone reception at various points so online maps like Google can’t always be relied on.

Our go-to offline mapping app is Organic Maps ( iOS / Android ) (very similar to Maps.me ( iOS / Android ) but without the ads). We find it the easiest to use for real-time navigation, as well as route planning in advance. Additionally, Gaia GPS ( iOS / Android ) and Guru Maps ( iOS / Android ) are very useful as they show much more terrain and contour detail. OsmAnd Maps ( iOS / Android ) is another good option.

KML/GPX Track Downloads

The easiest way to navigate this itinerary is by importing our route map into Organic Maps/Maps.me (using the KML file), or into Gaia/Guru/OsmAnd Maps (using the GPX file). These can be used online, or offline. You can also save our Google map to be viewed online on desktop or on your phone. You can buy our E-Map and KML/GPX tracks for £5.

Explore Georgia Off-Road Book

If you’re interested in exploring more of Georgia by 4×4, motorbike, or bike, this is a fantastic book detailing 24 adventurous off-road routes, plus must-see places in the country. It includes detailed maps, inspiring photos, and practical information to help your trip run smoothly. It’s an invaluable resource for adventurous travellers!

LOOKING FOR MORE OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE?

You can get fuel in all of the main towns such as Tsalka, Ninotsminda, Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, and Khulo. There is nowhere to get fuel around Tabatskuri and Paravani Lakes. Make sure you plan ahead and fill up in Tsalka on Day 1 and leave enough fuel to get you to Ninotsminda on Day 3.

Note that Google Maps, etc, may have fuel marked in smaller villages along this route (in Poka, for example), but from our experience these can’t be relied upon and are often of dubious quality. It’s best to fill up from well known companies, such as Wizzol, Gulf, or Socar.

FOOD & WATER

If you plan on staying in accommodation every night, then you should be able to eat breakfast and dinner at your guesthouse or hotel. There are restaurants in towns along the way and around Vardzia, but it’s a good idea to pack some extra snacks and supplies for the more remote sections, on Days 1 – 2 and crossing the Goderdzi pass on Day 4.

If you plan on camping and cooking for yourself, it’s best to stock up on anything specific in Tbilisi. Local shops in towns along the way will have a more limited supply, but you can expect to find dried goods like pasta and rice, fresh vegetables, tinned food, fresh bread, cheese, eggs, and so on.

You can fill up water at public water taps along the way. We find OsmAnd Maps the best source for locating these, just turn on ‘drinking water’ on the POI Overlay options.

PHONE RECEPTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Magticom is the best SIM card to get for travelling in Georgia, with the widest network coverage. However, there are a few sections on this itinerary where you may lose phone reception, so do make sure you have your route downloaded in advance for use offline, and any useful web pages stored for reading offline.

The emergency services number is 112.

THANKS FOR READING!

If you’ve found this guide helpful, please consider leaving us a small tip. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps cover the costs of running this blog.

Kim and Del Hogg

If you’ve found this guide helpful, please consider leaving us a small tip.

Your support is greatly appreciated and helps cover the costs of running this blog.

TBILISI TO BATUMI ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

That’s the lot for our Tbilisi to Batumi 4×4 road trip itinerary. If you have any useful info to add, suggestions, or stories to share, get in touch through the comments section below. Equally, if you have any questions, let us know and we’ll do our best to answer them. And if you’re planning to follow this itinerary, good luck and enjoy!

ORGANISE YOUR TRIP

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• The 6 Best Day Trips...

The 6 Best Day-Trips From Batumi

The coastal city Batumi is the second-largest city in Georgia . Located in the subtropical zone near the Lesser Caucasian Mountains, Batumi is a popular destination for locals and visitors. During summer months, Batumi is a bustling resort, while in winter it is covered in snow. Also an important seaport, Batumi offers many exciting landmarks for you to explore. Once you finish touring around its centers, pick one or two or three of these amazing sites just outside of Batumi and go on a day-trip.

Fortresses of gonio and petra.

Gonio Fortress, located just an hour drive from Batumi, is a Roman fortification from the second century AD; the area was a well-fortified Roman city in the Colchis Kingdom. It is believed that the grave of one of the twelve apostles, Saint Matthias, is here. Unfortunately, this claim is unverified because the Georgian government won’t allow digging near the presumed grave-site. Other archaeological excavations have been focused on the layers of the Roman fortress.

Gonio Fortress

Scholars identify Petra as a ruined settlement of Late Antiquity containing a 656-foot-long (200 m) citadel, baths, urban settlements, water cisterns, and more. Scholars believe that the citadel had a sizable three-nave basilica with a grand narthex and apse (entrance and aisles) that date back to the sixth century. The fortress is located in the village of Tsikhisdziri, a 40-minute ride from Batumi.

Petra Fortress

1. Mtirala National Park

Building, Park

2. Kintrishi Protected Areas

Bridge, Church, Forest, Park

Adjoining Mtirala National Park is the Kintrishi Protected Areas, located in Kobuleti District at the gorge of the Kintrishi River. Established in 1959, the area preserves unique flora and fauna, including the famous Colchian willow trees. Covering 46,686 acres (18,893 hectares), the park has many secrets and surprises. Recent archaeological expeditions even revealed pre-Christian monuments in this area.

Tamari’s Bridge | ©dkhinveli / WikiCommons

3. Martvili Canyon

Natural Feature, Park

4. Green Lake (Mtsvane Tba)

The drive toward Green Lake takes about three hours, but the trip is worth it. Situated in the charming Goderdzi Pass, the lake is 6,752 ft (2,058 m) above sea level and has a natural green color. Relax and take astonishing pictures of the landscape. In warmer months, you can swim in the lake’s green waters.

Green Lake (Mtsvane Tba)

Mtsvane Tba | © Tai Dundua

5. Machakhela National Park

Bridge, Museum, Park

Another very short drive from Batumi takes you to Machackhela National Park, where you can see one of the oldest and most breathtaking parts of the Adjara region: Machakhela Gorge. Here, you can explore Gvara Fortress, discover waterfalls, visit the village of Ajarisaghmarti, and cross the lovely Tskhemlara arched bridge. You can also visit the Machakhela Ethnographic Museum for a fun history lesson.

Machakhela National Park

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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Architecture

Katshki pillar towers over georgia.

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See & Do

10 unmissable experiences you need to try in georgia.

8 Ways to Experience the Unique Culture of Georgia

Places to Stay

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Sea Trip in Batumi | Batumi boat tour

Unrivalled Value for Money

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Unlimited free date changes for any tour booking. Your adventure will be ready for when travel resumes for the tour of your choice.

Money Back Guarantee

We understand that life can be unpredictable. You can now book with the comfort of knowing you have 30 days to change your mind.

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Sea Trip in Batumi offers you the opportunity to join us for a relaxing day cruising along the coastal waterway. If you love the sea and wish to discover the hidden side of the Batumi's Riviera, then this yacht sailboat adventure is precisely what you want. Enjoy a scenic trip, listen interesting stories from captain, swim in crystal blue waters and secluded bays far from the hassle of dealing with crowds.

Our sea trip tour from Batumi includes stops to swim, snorkel, and sunbathe. And also you can watch the sunset over the Batumi on a speedboat tour.

The amazing city Batumi is replete with attractions and entertainments that can take weeks for any visitor. These interesting entertainment trips from Batumi, from ancient ruins to boat trips, deserve attention.

A boat trip in Batumi is a great vacation for the whole family, two lovers, a large company and the whole work team.

What types of boat trips we offer:

• Yacht tour from 1 hour
• Romantic boat trip for couples
• Romantic dinner on a yacht
• Night on a yacht
• Extreme boat trip

See the schedule, choose a route and buy tickets online. Or learn more about our top trips and tours on our website. Find  your  perfect  trip  at  the best  price. 

The company reserves the right to change trip schedule and sequence without reducing the tour completeness.

What’s included.

• Captain service
• Modern air-conditioned coach
• Meals and drinks

The cost of a group and individual tour

(All prices are per person in the group)

Invite a friend on a trip to Georgia!

Book day trip online, can we help you , +995 555 90 5858.

Past Factory

The 10 Most Beautiful Shipwrecks From Around The World

Posted: May 9, 2024 | Last updated: May 10, 2024

According to the United Nations, there are an estimated three million undiscovered shipwrecks sitting on the ocean floors around the world. While many will remain undiscovered, a great number have been found, becoming exploration sites for divers, researchers, boaters, and marine enthusiasts. They rest in various stages of decay, and often have transformed into homes for budding marine life. Though they are just the remains of once-mighty vessels, they are far from simple marine litter. Each holds a hauntingly tragic beauty and serves as a window to history.

Here are some of the most beautiful shipwrecks from around the world. All you have to do is click through this list this gorgeous list to see more! Leave a comment with which one is your favorite.

Ship Graveyard

The largest ship graveyard in the world can be found in Mauritania's Bay of Nouadhibou. Nouadhibou was originally a port settled by French merchants before World War I. As the popularity of iron mining in the area grew, lawlessness began to overtake it.

Soon captains discovered that they could abandon their vessels for a simple bribe, instead of paying hefty fees and doing the grueling work associated with shipbreaking. In fact, people are still abandoning their ships there today. The most famous of the bay's ships is United Malika, a nearly 400-foot reefer vessel.

Smuggler's Cove

Navagio Beach on the Greek island of Zakynthos is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The rusted shipwreck that sits on the beach only adds to its enchantment. The Panayiotis was a smuggler ship, containing such contraband as cigarettes, alcohol, and even humans.

One theory is that in 1983, authorities caught wind of the smugglers and chased them into the cove (now called Smuggler's Cove) where the ship got stuck. Another story, which came from the captain himself, is that in 1980, bad weather stranded the ship on the beach and thieves stripped it. When he returned to remove the ship, he felt the rusted vessel looking too beautiful to disturb.

Brightly Colored Decay

Along the shore of Batumi, Georgia’s main coastal town, a Turkish tanker called The Özlem (Turkish for “Desire”) ran ashore and was thus abandoned. Decay caused the ship to completely break in half, and eventually, the middle section sank into the water, but the blue-colored, rusted ends still jut out of the water today.

The colorful wreck has now become a bit of a tourist attraction for the area, and the kids from the surrounding towns love to use the remains as a diving board into the ocean.

Floating Forest

This particular wreck has spawned life where there was once only corrosion. The SS Ayrfield was originally built in 1911 in the UK, registered in Sydney in 1912 as a steam collier, then later used in World War II to transport supplies to American troops stationed in the Pacific. It was retired in Australia's Homebush Bay, an area that used to be a bustling port until toxic waster spillage transformed it into a ship-breaking yard.

A few ships were left floating there for over 75 years, including the SS Ayrfield. But this ship is the only one that became overgrown with a mangrove thicket, transforming it into a majestic floating forest.

Underwater Sickness

Every day for nearly 150 years, on a beach in San Telmo, Panama, a mysterious wreck emerges during low tide. That wreck is the submarine known as Sub Marine Explorer, built by a German inventor between 1863 and 1866. It was one of the first of its kind; hand-powered with a ballast system that would sink or raise the ship at will.

Soon its creator got a "fever" and a new engineer took it to the Pearl Islands to harvest oyster shells and pearls. Then he and his crew also caught the same fever, which turned out to be decompression sickness, and the vessel was abandoned in San Telmo.

Tourist Wreck

In 1885, the coal-carrying Canadian schooner Sweepstakes crashed in rocks off of Cove Island and sank down into the shallow water, It was then towed into Big Tug Harbor in Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada, where it was discovered that the damage was beyond repair. She was stripped down of any valuable equipment and discarded, sinking about 50 feet from the harbor.

While it has been subject to deterioration, it is one of the best-preserved nineteenth-century Great Lakes schooners discovered. It's a popular tourist site in the fall and spring, attracting divers and boaters. There is a glass-bottom boat tour that visits the site as well.

Fading Light

Previously a rescue tug for the British Navy during World War II, the St. Christopher was sold for salvage operations in the south of Argentina. It then suffered engine problems and was ultimately beached in 1957 on the shore of Ushuaia, in the Beagle Channel in southern Argentina.

The ship is now one of many that have been abandoned in the Ushuaia harbor. Many photographers love to try an capture a photo of the wreck as the sun is setting, as the fading light illuminates the ship most stunningly. It is also illuminated in the evening.

Submarine Attack

The British-built RMS Lusitania was made with the intention that it would serve as an armed merchant cruiser. They soon learned that it needed massive amounts of coal to run, and was deemed not economically sound for the role. It was, in turn, used for passenger travel across the Atlantic.

Then in 1915, a German U-boat operating off the coast of Ireland fired a torpedo into RMS Lusitania, and the massive ocean liner sank in just 18 minutes. The attack was part of an unrestricted submarine warfare Germany waged against the UK. The attack left 1,198 people dead, including 128 Americans.

Benefitting the Economy

The people of the island Boa Esperança couldn't have been happier that the Spanish cargo ship Cabo Santa Maria ran aground on their coast in 1988. Apart from being able to seize all of the goods that were aboard (while all of the crew got away safely), the wreckage has now become a tourist attraction for the area and actually is considered a symbol of the island.

Wild Atlantic storms have caused a great deal disintegration, but the wreckage is still an impressive sight along the coast of Cape Verde, Africa.

Minimal Decay

Built in 1974, the MS World Discoverer was a cruise ship that would travel to the Antarctic polar regions so that passengers could observe ice floe movements. Then in 2000, bad weather caused the ship to hit a reef off the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

After all of the passengers were rescued by a ferry, the captain grounded the ship on Roderick Bay. The ship was then looted by locals and soon declared unsalvageable. It still remains, lying on its side, half-submerged, not yet too damaged by decay.

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