Batumi Guide: Things to Do, Beaches, Best Time and How to Get There

Batumi is Georgia's seaside city on the Black Sea, about 5 to 5.5 hours from Tbilisi by train. It has a long seafront promenade, futuristic towers next to old stone streets, subtropical gardens and green hills that roll down to the coast. It is Georgia's summer holiday capital and a lively, relaxed change from the mountains and monasteries of the east.

This guide covers the best things to do in Batumi, the beaches, when to go, how to get there and how many days to keep. If you want to combine Batumi with Tbilisi and Kazbegi, see our Georgia tour packages page for custom itineraries.

The Batumi Boulevard runs for several kilometres along the sea, lined with palms, cafés, fountains and cycle paths. Rent a bicycle or simply walk it at sunset. Along the way:

• Ali and Nino: two tall steel figures that slowly move towards each other and merge, telling a love story between an Azerbaijani boy and a Georgian girl. Best seen in the evening when they are lit up.
• Alphabet Tower: a tower wrapped in the letters of the Georgian alphabet, with a viewing area near the top.
• Miracle Park and the lighthouse: a good area for families, with play spaces and harbour views.
• Dancing fountains: evening light-and-music shows in summer near the lake in the city.

Behind the seafront, the older streets have restored 19th-century buildings, cafés and squares. Europe Square has the Medea statue and an astronomical clock, and nearby Piazza is an Italian-style square with restaurants and evening music. The Batumi cathedral and the mosque are a short walk away and reflect the city's mixed history.

A few kilometres north of the city at Mtsvane Kontskhi (Green Cape), the Batumi Botanical Garden covers a large hillside above the sea, with plants from many parts of the world. Allow 2 to 3 hours. The paths are long and hilly, so senior travellers may prefer the electric carts available at the entrance (subject to season).

• Gonio Fortress: a Roman-era fortress about 20 minutes south, with big stone walls and a small museum.
• Makhuntseti waterfall and the Queen Tamar bridge: a pretty stop in the green Adjara hills, about 40 minutes inland.
• Mtirala National Park: rainforest-like hiking trails close to the city.
• Cable car: the Argo cable car rises from the city to a hilltop viewpoint with sea views.

Batumi's beaches are pebbly, not sandy, so water shoes help. The sea is usually calm and pleasant to swim in during summer, and sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented on the city beach. Quieter beaches lie a little north and south of the city. The beach season runs roughly from June to September.

• June to September: beach season, warm sea, long evenings and the busiest period, especially July and August.
• May and October: mild and quieter, good for sightseeing, though not ideal for swimming.
• November to April: cool and often rainy; Batumi has a wet subtropical climate and gets far more rain than Tbilisi.

Pack an umbrella in any season. For the whole country by month, read our best time to visit Georgia guide.

• Train from Tbilisi: roughly 5 to 5.5 hours on the comfortable daytime train; book ahead in summer.
• By road: about 6 hours by private car, which lets you stop at Uplistsikhe, Kutaisi or Prometheus Cave on the way.
• By air: Batumi has its own airport (BUS), a short drive from the city, with seasonal international flights. Check schedules from India on our flights from India to Georgia page.

A popular plan is to fly into Tbilisi and out of Batumi (or the reverse) so you don't travel back across the country.

Two nights is the sweet spot: one day for the boulevard, old town and Botanical Garden, and one for Gonio or the Adjara hills, or simply the beach. In peak summer, many families keep three nights to relax after the busy Tbilisi and Kazbegi part of the trip.

Food tip: Batumi is the home of Adjarian khachapuri, the boat-shaped cheese bread with butter and egg. The city also has a few Indian restaurants.