Things to do in Batumi
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Batumi
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Gardens greenest, waterfalls full after winter rain, sea cold until late May, crowds and prices low.
The connoisseur's summer month: warm sea and full schedules without peak crowds.
Peak crowd, price and humidity, sea 24 to 27C and the most likely afternoon thunderstorms.
September is the favourite window, warm sea and raptor peak; October cools, rains more and swimming fades.
Mild, wet, grey and quiet: the cheapest, emptiest Batumi, with beach clubs closed.
What's on
- Summer Season Opening festival June
Marks the start of the summer season.
- Black Sea Jazz Festival usually July
International jazz, funk and soul acts; some years list dates in early September, so verify.
- Shuamtoba August
Adjarian highland folk festival.
- Kolkhoba late August
Laz festival in Sarpi.
- Batumi Birdwatching Festival September
Timed to peak raptor passage through the Batumi Bottleneck.
- Batumi International Art-House Film Festival usually September
BIAFF, the city's art house film festival.
- Rtveli grape harvest September to October
Harvest season inland, with Adjara's late ripening Chkhaveri picked last of all.
- New Year in Batumi New Year
Fireworks and a festive week in the quiet winter city.
Best things to do in Batumi
Batumi Botanical Garden
Hillside garden of nine climatic zones above the sea, with Black Sea views opening along every path.
Batumi Boulevard
The city's 7 km palm lined living room, best walked from the old section into Miracle Park at sunset.
Piazza Square
Italianate square of mosaics and cafe terraces with live music, the set piece of old Batumi.
Europe Square
Grand port era facades, the Medea statue and the Astronomical Clock in one compact square.
Batumi Cathedral of the Mother of God
Gothic Revival cathedral best heard during a service, when Georgian polyphonic chant fills it.
Argo Cable Car
Gondola to a terrace 250 m above the sea, with the whole bay below on a clear sunset ride.
Batumi Dolphinarium
Batumi's most reliable family ticket: dolphin shows by Nurigeli Lake, with a small aquarium next door.
Ali and Nino
Two steel figures merge, pass through and separate on a slow cycle, genuinely moving when lit at dusk.
Where to stay in Batumi
Old Town and Old Boulevard
first trip, food trip, couples, no car
Walk to the best restaurants, wine bars, market streets and seafront within 10 minutes.
New Boulevard
families using hotel facilities, travellers with a car
Modern high rises and big resort hotels with pools and parking, but a ride into Old Town for dinner.
Gonio and Kvariati
quiet swim stays, second base
Guesthouses and small stays under green hills on the cleanest swimming water near the city.
Think twice about
- Orbi City mega-towers, New Boulevard
Thousands of near identical apartments, long elevator waits and very mixed cleaning and management. Book a specific well reviewed operator or not at all.
- Makhinjauri and Chavchavadze traffic corridor
Inland highway and station fringe with no beach and no old town, so a taxi is needed for every coffee.
- Port and industrial edge north of the centre
Truck routes and a working port feel make this the least pleasant walking in central Batumi.
Best restaurants in Batumi
Laguna
Basement simple institution for a huge, properly molten Adjarian khachapuri, with a queue at lunch.
Acharuli Khachapuri House
A specialist serving essentially only khachapuri and salad, with crisper, lighter dough.
Retro
The locals' other khachapuri answer: small, canteen like and unpretentious, so check the bill calmly.
Ardagani Café-Restaurant
Feast for almost nothing: khinkali, sulguni mushrooms and house wine, with a queue as the signal.
Heart of Batumi
The reliable first night Georgian menu in the centre, generous and welcoming for groups.
Shemoikhede Genatsvale
The Batumi branch of a trusted Georgian chain: khinkali, kebabs and khachapuri for mixed groups.
Khinkali House N1
The dedicated khinkali sitting, including an unusually good cheese khinkali beside the classic meat.
Café Adjara Old House
Atmospheric old house strong on Georgian vegetarian cooking, with house wine by the carafe.
Best bars in Batumi
Chacha Time
Friendly introduction to chacha, Georgia's fierce grape spirit: order the sampler and eat alongside.
Outdoor things to do in Batumi
Mtirala National Park
UNESCO listed Colchic rainforest: the Tsablnari Waterfall trail, river crossing and swimming holes. ATV, buggy and horse-riding packages also run from the visitor zone.
Makhuntseti Waterfall
The Mountain Adjara loop fixture, with Queen Tamar Bridge, Mirveti falls and a family supra lunch.
Machakhela National Park
Mtirala's quieter sibling: relic forest, arched bridges, honey villages and rare Chkhaveri wine.
Gonio-Apsaros Fortress
Georgia's oldest fortress site, a 1st century Roman stronghold with intact walls and a small museum.
Kvariati Beach
A sheltered crescent between green hills, rated the prettiest swimming spot on the Batumi coast.
Martvili Canyon
A short boat ride through a turquoise canyon under hanging gardens and waterfalls.
Prometheus Cave
Vast lit chambers and an underground river, paired with Martvili on the long day from Batumi.
Batumi sunset cruise
A one hour sunset cruise with wine, with parasailing, jet ski and boat rides as the lively options.
Best hotels in Batumi
Le Méridien Batumi
Polished five star on the old seafront by Miracle Park, with spa and indoor and outdoor pools.
Sheraton Batumi Hotel
The grande dame tower of the old Boulevard, with a big outdoor pool, spa and sea facing grounds.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Batumi
Business luxury all rounder with the Clouds rooftop, Medea restaurant and a rain proof indoor pool.
Hilton Batumi
Full service family luxury by the lake and Dolphinarium, walkable to the Boulevard.
Colosseum Marina Hotel
A knowingly kitsch colosseum shaped resort with pools, spa and a direct beach position.
Hotel Monarch
Small Old Town standout praised for spotless rooms, a changing daily breakfast and a rooftop bar.
Hotel Indigo Batumi Old Town
Newer branded boutique in the old quarter, for design hotel feel with loyalty programme reliability.
Boutique Hotel 32
Small Old Town boutique trading pools for balconies, sea glimpses and owners who advise well.
Is Batumi expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | GEL 120 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | GEL 230 a person |
| Splurge | GEL 450 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Batumi Dolphinarium: a few days ahead
- Adjarian khachapuri masterclass: a few days ahead
- Mtirala National Park: a few days ahead
- Makhuntseti Waterfall: a few days ahead
- Machakhela National Park: a few days ahead
- Martvili Canyon: a few days ahead
- Prometheus Cave: a few days ahead
- Batumi sunset cruise: a few days ahead
- Book Old Town mid range hotels early for July, August and Black Sea Jazz Festival dates.
- Book the Tbilisi train, Dolphinarium shows and top waterfall tours ahead on summer weekends.
- Book window tables at Clouds, a quiet night table at Fanfan, and raptor guiding in September.
Is Batumi safe?
- Batumi is generally safe and central boulevards are walked at night, with pickpocket awareness in the bazaar.
- Look twice at crossings, avoid swimming after storms, and admire stray dogs without approaching packs.
- Set a cash limit before casinos, and treat chacha as far stronger than its friendly pouring suggests.
Batumi travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Never take an unmetered street or airport taxi without agreeing the price first; use Bolt instead.
- Agree the full price aloud first for loungers, jet skis, boat rides and boulevard rentals.
- Skip Alphabet Tower as a paid viewpoint if doing Argo; photograph it for free.
- Check restaurant bills: a 10 to 18 percent service charge is commonly added, sometimes before tax.
Getting around Batumi: public transport and more
- Walk the centre: Old Town, Boulevard, beach and most restaurants sit inside a 20 minute walk.
- Use Bolt for other rides, with the price fixed in the app. Bus 16 serves Gonio and Sarpi.
- Rent a bike for the Boulevard. Use a car with driver, not self drive, for mountain roads.
Who Batumi suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Batumi your trip
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