Batumi beaches: photos, description and our impressions. Holidays on the Black Sea in Batumi, Georgia Georgia Batumi where the beaches are clean
Batumi is the second most popular after. To be honest, we liked it much more than the Georgian capital. The city is very modern, beautiful, unusual and hospitable.
Walking around Batumi is not boring either during the day or in the evening. There are a lot of things to do here, and the outskirts of the city are simply abundant, which can be visited quite inexpensively.
The city of Batumi in Georgia: where it is located and how it differs
Batumi is located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, near the border with Turkey. The city differs from others, which are more like large villages and hamlets, because it is well-groomed, modern and interesting. There will be something to do here for a day, a week, and a month.
Batumi is both very green and modern. One example of this amazing combination of unusual architecture and greenery of parks is Argonaut Square in the city center.
There is no first line in Batumi. The entire seaside part is occupied by a large and beautiful embankment. The Hilton hotel towers are closest to the sea. If you are not limited in funds, you can live there. A beautiful view and an excellent location are guaranteed.
Food in Batumi: how much do groceries and lunch in a restaurant cost?
You can eat in Batumi both from the supermarket and in restaurants. From supermarkets I would like to recommend the Turkish store Yalcin and the Georgian one. Also, budget travelers are very helpful, which are not only very tasty, but also quite filling.
Shopping in Batumi: what and where can you buy?
A good gift idea from Batumi would be a real churchkhella. There is even a specialized store here that sells only the delicacy. Despite the large number of shops and boutiques, Batumi can hardly be called a city suitable for good shopping. Still, the goods there are quite ordinary and the prices are not too different from ours. It would be more interesting to go to Turkey, the border with which is literally nearby.
Beaches and sea in Batumi: is it worth going?
Batumi offers a variety of marine activities to suit every taste. But since there are many attractions in the surrounding area, they are not very popular. Therefore, the prices are lower than at other resorts, and the duration of the ride is normal. The number of people on the beaches is very small. You can find a free place near the sea almost at any time. Lying on a towel is not very comfortable, because the beaches of Batumi consist of medium-sized pebbles. Renting a plastic sun lounger will cost 4 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
4 lari = 1.32 euros;
4 lari = 1.52 dollars;
4 lari = 100.88 rubles;
4 lari = 42.56 hryvnia;
4 lari = 3.4 Belarusian rubles.
per day, but they usually ask for an umbrella 3 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
3 lari = 0.99 euro;
3 lari = 1.14 dollars;
3 lari = 75.66 rubles;
3 lari = 31.92 hryvnia;
3 lari = 2.55 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate..
Compared to other seaside resorts, the sea in Batumi is not very clean. We liked it most in the village of Shakvetili and next to it.
There are many sea activities on offer: jet skiing ( 75 GEL GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
75 lari = 24.83 euros;
75 lari = 28.5 dollars;
75 lari = 1891.5 rubles;
75 lari = 798 hryvnia;
75 lari = 63.75 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. in 15 minutes), banana or tablet ( 10 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
10 lari = 3.31 euros;
10 lari = 3.8 dollars;
10 lari = 252.2 rubles;
10 lari = 106.4 hryvnia;
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate.), flying along the coast by parachute for 80 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
80 lari = 26.48 euros;
80 lari = 30.4 dollars;
80 lari = 2017.6 rubles;
80 lari = 851.2 hryvnia;
80 lari = 68 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. or paragliding for 100 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
100 lari = 33.1 euros;
100 lari = 38 dollars;
100 lari = 2522 rubles;
100 lari = 1064 hryvnia;
100 lari = 85 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate.. You can purchase a short boat trip for 10 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
10 lari = 3.31 euros;
10 lari = 3.8 dollars;
10 lari = 252.2 rubles;
10 lari = 106.4 hryvnia;
10 lari = 8.5 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. or rent the entire yacht (from 45 euros per hour or rent for the whole day).
As a result, we would not advise our friends to go to Batumi just for a beach holiday. But the sea here is quite good and ideal for a little rest between.
Excursions from Batumi: where to go and where to buy?
From Batumi you can travel to almost all the surrounding areas. There are decent options with group and individual excursions. Some attractions can also be visited by public transport.
In our opinion, group excursions in Georgia are clearly inferior to individual excursions, especially if you are traveling in a group. They will turn out not only less saturated, but also not much cheaper. We described this paradox in great detail and with examples in an article about.
Lately, we prefer to go on individual excursions - it turns out comfortable and interesting, you don’t have to wait for the whole group and spend a lot of time waiting to take photos without other people’s faces (the guide selects the optimal time between excursion buses and manages to show the beauty of the place). And the bonus is the flexibility of the route - the ability to change or discard an attraction that is undesirable for some reason.
The most interesting excursions that can be purchased from Batumi:
- — 139 euros for 1-2 people + 15 euros for each additional person. Perfect for companies with children and travelers who want to see the most interesting tourist and secret places in Adjara. They will show: , and , the Gvara fortress and the observation deck from which you can see Batumi at a glance. A very tasty dinner in a small mountain restaurant or visiting a Georgian family (your choice) is paid separately. There is also a group excursion with a slightly different program: two waterfalls (Mirveti and Chukhuneti), three bridges (a suspension bridge from the time of Queen Tamara and an unusual arched one, from which you get nice photos), an old bunker with a cannon and an ancient but working water mill. The price of the excursion is 29 euros per person.
- — 15 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
15 lari = 4.97 euros;
15 lari = 5.7 dollars;
15 lari = 378.3 rubles;
15 lari = 159.6 hryvnia;
15 lari = 12.75 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. per person for entrance + travel by minibus. The garden is very beautiful and interesting. You can happily spend the whole day here. It also has the cleanest beach in the area. - — 160 euros for 1-3 people + 20 euros for each additional person. One of the most interesting excursions we visited. We were able to see it, take a boat ride along it, look into and float out along the underground river in an inflatable boat, and admire the sulfur waterfall. Price does not include: tickets, boating and lunch.
- Trip around Machakhela - 159 euros for 1-2 people + 30 euros for each additional person. An excursion for those who do not want to visit well-worn tourist places, but want to enjoy new corners of Adjara. See and hear real Georgian songs and dances, enjoy hospitality in the home of a local family (included in the price). A little cheaper, but no less interesting, is a group excursion, costing 46 euros per person.
- in the outskirts of Kutaisi - 175 euros for 1-3 people + 25 euros for each additional person. An exciting trip to the ancient and completely different cultural monuments of Georgia. A walk through the Prometheus Cave with the opportunity to ride along the underground river is an interesting entertainment for adults and children. The price does not include tickets and meals.
- Okatse and Martvili canyons - 180 euros for 1-3 people + 20 euros for each additional person. Excursion along the suspension bridge with magnificent views from a dizzying height of the Okatse Canyon and the calmer Martvili Canyon, where even in the hot summer heat there is a refreshing coolness. The price does not include tickets and meals. Recently, a group excursion option has appeared for 55 euros per person. Lunch is included in the price of the trip.
All prices listed above are real. This is exactly the money that we paid for the excursions. Contact information for guides is available in separate articles about excursions.
For those who consider guides unnecessary on trips to attractions and do not want or cannot in Batumi, there is an alternative option - the Gotrip.ge service. First-class drivers will be happy to take you along a pre-planned route. Always punctual and polite, hospitable and unobtrusive, they will be an excellent choice for budget-conscious tourists who love comfort. There is always a bottle of water and sometimes candy in the car. Often, as a bonus, you can get an offer to stop at some interesting attraction along the way.
Districts of Batumi: where is it better to live and where to go for a walk
Batumi is a very diverse city. Depending on where you stay, you can get fundamentally different experiences. To make it easier for you to navigate, we have prepared a map of the city with approximate outlines of the main ones and their descriptions.
Let's rank the main areas of Batumi from best to worst in terms of tourists:
- Rustaveli Avenue area- the most beautiful part of the city near the embankment. Expensive restaurants and 4-5* hotels are concentrated here. The only negative is the rather high prices for accommodation.
- Old Batumi— the main attractions and tourist attractions are concentrated here. Of the minuses, I would like to highlight the rather long distance to the beach and the noise at night. Accommodation and hotels here vary greatly in both price and quality.
- Areas of Gorgiladze and Chachvadze streets- an ideal place for budget tourists or those who come to Batumi for a long period of time. Close to both the old part of Batumi and the beaches, reasonable prices, many shops, a couple of supermarkets and a relatively small number of tourists.
- New town- area along Sheriff Khimshiashvili Street. Suitable if you prefer modern apartments and love casinos. The most expensive restaurants in Batumi are concentrated here, all the housing is new, built just a few years ago. Prices, surprisingly, are moderate. There is also a water park nearby.
- Vox area- a pretty good area with convenient transport links to the city center. Suitable for young people who value nightlife, discos and clubs.
- New Boulevard area— suitable if you prefer a quiet holiday by the sea with rare excursions. There is a very beautiful embankment, many apartments and guesthouses. Very close to the airport. There is nothing more to say about this place - the area has only recently begun to actively develop.
Transport in Batumi: buses, minibuses, trains
Few people know that train tickets can be bought not only at the station, but also at the ticket office, which is located in the city, between the Apollo cinema and the Church of St. Nicholas. There are no problems with transport in Batumi. There are minibuses running around the city, to the airport and to the immediate surroundings, which cost 0.4 GEL GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
0.4 lari = 0.13 euros;
0.4 lari = 0.15 dollars;
0.4 lari = 10.09 rubles;
0.4 lari = 4.26 hryvnia;
0.4 lari = 0.34 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. around the city and 0.6 GEL GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
0.6 lari = 0.2 euro;
0.6 lari = 0.23 dollars;
0.6 lari = 15.13 rubles;
0.6 lari = 6.38 hryvnia;
0.6 lari = 0.51 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. behind him.
You shouldn’t believe guidebooks and TV programs that say that Batumi is always sunny and has only one rainy day a year. It rains here quite often. Basically, in Batumi there is either a heavy downpour, when you don’t want to go out at all, or a very light “blind rain” that does not interfere with your walk and gives you coolness.
You should be wary of trusting weather forecasts on popular websites. During our first visit and 2-week vacation in Batumi, people wrote about rain all the time on the Internet. In fact, there was only one day of real downpour (we then lost our tickets to), and the rest of the time the weather remained sunny.
Video about Batumi: a story about the sights of the city
Batumi city map: main attractions
Quite a bit of. To make it easier for you to navigate, we have marked them all on the map and grouped them by interests. You can turn off categories that you are not interested in and consider only those attractions that you would like to see.
And where every day of vacation turns into a bright holiday.
The infrastructure of these beaches is quite well developed, which allows young couples, families with children, and more mature people to fully enjoy their holiday. Despite the fact that the beaches of the resort villages neighboring Batumi are quieter, and sometimes the water next to them is cleaner, we recommend choosing the city ones. This is explained by three points: convenient location (there is no road nearby), neatness (every day early in the morning they are cleaned, unlike some villages) and accessible beach amenities (you can rent an umbrella and a sun lounger, there are changing cabins, toilets, fresh water) shower).
Batumi beaches and sea
Judging by Google maps, there are 9 beaches in Batumi: Hookah, Children's, Iveria, Mandarin, the beach to the right of the pier, My Black Sea, Cocoa, Water Park and Boom Boom Beach. All of them pebble, as in general, throughout (sandy beaches can be found only in the villages of Ureki, Grigoleti and partly in Kobuleti). In fact, the city coastline is best divided into four groups, which really differ from each other: suburban, central, in the area of the new part of Batumi and wild. The listed beaches are popular among tourists to varying degrees due to their characteristics.
IN suburban part, located next to the Center for Music and Art (Opera House), the beach, although long, is quite narrow (the width does not exceed 20 meters); There is a highway nearby. Mostly locals and tourists who live in this part of Batumi swim here. There is no infrastructure as such on the beach, and if you get hungry, you can only eat in a local restaurant. You can get here by public transport or bicycle. Suitable minibus numbers: 21, 28, 29, 31 and buses: 2, 10, 13 and 17.
central part is the purest and most popular. It includes the beaches: Iveria, Mandarin, the beach to the right of the pier and My Black Sea. The seaside park, located nearby, harmoniously fits into the surrounding landscape. The beaches of the central part are well equipped - here you can rent a sun lounger and an umbrella from 2 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
2 lari = 0.66 euro;
2 lari = 0.76 dollars;
2 lari = 50.44 rubles;
2 lari = 21.28 hryvnia;
2 lari = 1.7 Belarusian rubles.
before 4 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
4 lari = 1.32 euros;
4 lari = 1.52 dollars;
4 lari = 100.88 rubles;
4 lari = 42.56 hryvnia;
4 lari = 3.4 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. each or bring your own beach accessories. And the width of the coast (about 40 meters), as well as its length, allow vacationers to easily find a comfortable place that is not close to a neighbor.
For those who rent housing near the beach, a fresh shower after a not too salty sea is not needed at all.
Along the entire length of the beach there are toilets, changing cabins, 50 tetri GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
0.5 lari = 0.17 euro;
0.5 lari = 0.19 dollars;
0.5 lari = 12.61 rubles;
0.5 lari = 5.32 hryvnia;
0.5 lari = 0.43 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate., shower costing 1 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
1 lari = 0.33 euros;
1 lari = 0.38 dollars;
1 lari = 25.22 rubles;
1 lari = 10.64 hryvnia;
1 lari = 0.85 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate..
Along the shore there are good cafes, restaurants, small kiosks, nightclubs, shops, and an amusement park with attractions. It is in this part that you will be offered a lot: from parachute flights to “riding” on a flyboard.
In the first half of the day, before the mass arrival of tourists, the embankment looks clean and well-groomed. It is thoroughly cleaned every morning. Later you can see a different picture - pieces of paper and cigarette butts lying between the stones. And even despite this, Batumi beaches look much better than the beaches of Ureki or Chakvi.
A little about the sea
The Black Sea, which washes the coastal part, including the resort of Batumi, is quite clean and relatively warm. At least during the time that we were vacationing in Georgia, it did not seem to us as warm as, for example, the Adriatic Sea in Montenegro or the Black Sea in Bulgaria. The water was quite comfortable, but nothing more.
There is a fairly clean and uncrowded beach under the Batumi Botanical Garden. The sea, especially pleasant in temperature and cleanliness, splashes off the coast of Batumi, where you can combine a visit to the kingdom of flora with pleasant water treatments on the shore a little lower than the park. Then returning to it will not be a problem, the main thing is to keep the ticket until you leave the garden.
The seabed off the coast of the resort is rocky. Like beaches, it consists of pebbles of different sizes and shapes. Depending on the selected section of the coast, the descent to the sea can be either smooth or abrupt, with a rapid increase in depth.
Reviews about beach holidays in Batumi
To be honest, we don’t like relaxing on the beach during our entire vacation, so we try to visit many interesting places during this time. However, we remember splashing in the sea off the coast of Georgia for its unusual features:
- Not all people like to walk into the water over pebbles. Sometimes it is not only unpleasant, but also painful. Many locals noticed this minor tourist problem and found a solution: often along the shore you can find merchants selling special silicone slippers (similar to moccasins). They are especially relevant for children.
- The beaches of Batumi, as already mentioned in the article more than once, are pebbly. Therefore, lying on a thin sheet on them is not always a pleasure. Although, many people like this free relaxing massage. By the way, the sea pebbles on the shore quickly cool down, which means that on cloudy days lying on them is completely uncomfortable.
- Due to the pebble beaches, people rarely travel to Georgia with their own umbrellas. It is much easier to rent one on the spot, rather than bother with “burying” the umbrella in the stones yourself.
- The sea water off the coast is clean. Very rarely (most often during a storm) debris in the form of twigs and leaves is deposited into it. But no algae or any large waste (papers, plastic bags) are observed in the water.
- Even during the peak season, in August, Batumi beaches are more or less free. You can find a place on them and sit comfortably on the shore not next to a noisy neighbor.
- Prices for products that sellers carry along the shore are often the same as in shops, bakeries or kiosks in the city.
And frankly, it’s great to relax in Batumi. We really enjoyed the relaxed beach holiday on the city coast with moderate traffic of vendors between tourists. Although, in addition to the beaches, we advise you to take a closer look at Batumi. Believe me, among them there are many worthy of your attention and visit.
Photos from the beaches and promenade of Batumi
Although Batumi beaches cannot be called perfectly clean, they are often much nicer and more comfortable than many village beaches scattered nearby. To confirm what has been said, we are posting some photos from our beach holiday:
Children's Beach in Batumi is usually crowded. This is explained by its close location to many hotels and attractions of the city, including its proximity to the moving statue of love between Ali and Nino.
In the central part of the city embankment, vacationers are evenly “smeared” along the beach. Therefore, choosing a comfortable place for yourself will not be difficult.
The beach holiday season in Georgia lasts from June to September. From mid-July and throughout August there are a lot of people and housing prices rise, but there are summer cafes on the beaches and clubs are open.
Comfortable swimming in the sea with 20th of June before 10th of October, then the water temperature gradually decreases to +17+18С. Some people swim in May and at the end of October, but the sea is cold at this time, at least for me.
The ideal time for a seaside holiday in Georgia is the second half of June (the sea has already warmed up, and the crowds of people have not yet arrived), September And first week of October. Sunny days, not many vacationers, the sea is warm, the air warms up to +27 day, night +17+20 , there is no sweltering heat.
The rainiest months on the coast are November, February, March. There may also be rain in June - depending on your luck.
You can read more about the weather in different regions of Georgia (in Tbilisi, in the mountains, in Kutaisi, at the sea) in my photo article: .
When is the sea warm in Georgia?
The warmest months for swimming in the sea in Georgia are: July August And September. In June it is comfortable to swim in the 20s; at the beginning of the month it can be cool. Average sea water temperature:
May +16(minimum +12, maximum +20)
June +23(minimum +20, maximum +24)
July +26(minimum +24, maximum +27)
August +27.5(minimum +25.5, maximum +28.3)
September +25.5(minimum +25, maximum +26)
October +22(minimum +18.5, maximum +25)
The graph shows the average sea water temperature in Batumi, Ureki, Kobuleti, Sarpi:
Where is the clean sea in Georgia?
In the vicinity of Batumi, the cleanest sea is considered to be in the villages. Located south of Batumi. Each has private housing and hotels, in the summer there are cafes on the beaches, and a couple of mini-markets. Quiet, calm, if you get bored, you can go to Batumi (20 minutes by minibus).
To the north of Batumi there is a clear sea in the area of the Botanical Garden on the beaches (in the summer there are cafes on the beach, there is one hotel and rooms in the private sector near the beach). It takes 20 minutes by minibus from the center of Batumi.
The sea in Batumi can also be clean and transparent Sand on the beaches of Georgia
There are sandy beaches in Georgia in villages (magnetic healing sands), in, (quiet places, you can live in the private sector in a forest). There is also sand in Poti, but there is no beach there as such (a port city, the shore is dirty, the sea is also dirty).
Other beaches on the Black Sea coast in Georgia (Batumi and the surrounding area, Makhinjauri, Chakvi, Tsikhisdziri) are covered with pebbles and stones, or rather large cobblestones. Lying on the rocks is uncomfortable; you can’t really run on the beach.
In summer, instead of sitting on the rocks, you can rent a sun lounger by the sea. Many people buy special rubber slippers to go into the water and walk along the beach.
Kobuleti also has pebbles, but mixed with sand and less coarse than in Batumi. It's easier to go into the sea.
Sand in Ureki 
Pebble beach Batumi 
Sand on the beach in Batumi occurs only during a strong storm, when the cobblestones are washed away by the sea What to choose - Batumi, Ureki, Kobuleti?
This is the most common question, the answer to which is impossible to give. Firstly, all people are different, and secondly, these are three completely different formats of recreation. Batumi is a big city with entertainment, Ureki is a village with a black sandy beach and Kobuleti is a kind of hybrid that comes to life in the summer and sleeps at other times of the year. Therefore, it is better to choose a place to relax on your own.
Batumi- the largest city on the coast in Georgia. If you need civilization, then this is definitely Batumi. Beautiful architecture of old Batumi, there is a boulevard, bicycle rental. Developed infrastructure: supermarkets, markets, restaurants, cafes, clubs.
Batumi is a big city There is a lot to see both in the city itself (singing fountains, cable car, zoo) and within a radius of 20-30 km. From Batumi it is convenient to travel independently by transport on one-day excursions around.
Choose Batumi as your “base” if the beach is not your main priority. Still, the large size of the city, the port and the rivers flowing into the sea in Batumi affect the purity of the water. From Batumi you can go to neighboring villages to swim if you don’t like the city beach.
Batumi city beach in August 
Batumi beach in November By the river- in fact, a large village. In July-August it is lively here, even too much. There are a lot of people vacationing with children. There are playgrounds and water slides. There is a market and shops. The beach and sea become dirty.
In other months there is silence, even cafes and shops are closed. In the low season, the beach is relatively clean, as is the sea. At the end of September, there was one cafe and a couple of shops open; there were about 30 people on the beach.
There is nothing to see in Ureki, there is also nowhere to go. People come here solely for the sandy beaches. It’s a bit far to travel to the main attractions of Adjara, and the mountains are also not nearby.
Road along the sea in Ureki Kobuleti- a large settlement stretched along the sea. As for me, it is also a large village, but in size it is much larger than Ureki. The beach is pebbly.
There is an amusement park Tsitsinatela on the outskirts (10 km north of the center), in the summer there are cafes on the embankment, there is live music, and festivals are held. There are places to go for a walk with the children.
I don't like Kobuleti. It’s like you’re going back in time with broken roads and some kind of disorder. But I’ve only been to Kobuleti in the fall. Perhaps the city leaves a different impression in summer.
Housing in Kobuleti is on the first line from the coast behind the highway (noisy due to the road and expensive), on the second line it will be quieter and cheaper. The further you are from the sea and from the city center, the lower the housing prices.
If infrastructure and civilization are not very important to you, but you just need a good beach, clean sea and peace, read the next section of this article - it says about good beaches.
Where to relax by the sea in Georgia with children?
There is an excellent blog post on this topic about choosing a resort, food, entertainment for children: I recommend checking it out.
- Ureki and Magnetity- a large village on the Black Sea. The most popular holiday destination in Georgia with children. The advantage is that Ureki has a sandy beach, shallow depth, and a gentle entrance to the sea.
- The downside of Ureki is that in July-August there are a lot of people and mosquitoes there. Accordingly, large quantities of garbage appear on the beach, and the water in the sea is cloudy. In summer there is a market, shops, and cafes. Accommodation - private sector and several hotels. More details
Ureki in low season - — 10 km south of Ureki. Black sand (like in Ureki), coniferous forest, houses are located at a distance from the highway, you can rent a room in a cottage in the private sector in a small forest. Clean sea, few people, good beach (if vacationers don’t leave trash). There is a shower and toilet on the beach, and you can pitch a tent.
- The infrastructure is represented by a couple of cafes and markets with a minimum set of products. In summer they bring fruit. To go to the market and shops you need to go to Kobuleti or Ureki.
- - another small village near Ureki. Sandy beach, forest near the sea, there is private housing and several hotel complexes. In summer there are cafes. In general, the infrastructure is poorly developed. There is a lot of garbage on the shore, so I don’t recommend it.
- Kobuleti- an overgrown village, the second most popular seaside resort in Georgia. There is a market, shops, and a train station. Long embankment (10 km). The village is stretched along the sea. The beach is pebble, with a small amount of coarse sand here and there. Many people choose Kobuleti for a holiday with children.
- or - villages 10-15 km south of Batumi. The sea there is clean. Stone beaches, mountain views. In summer there are cafes, markets, and housing for rent in the private sector or in hotels. There is no point in going to these places in the low season.
Hotels by the sea in Gonio - Batumi as a place for a beach holiday - a dubious choice. A big city, a port, rocky beaches, the sea is not clean everywhere due to sewage and rivers. It’s worth going to Batumi only if swimming in the sea all day long is not a priority for you. More about our
- But in Batumi there are many places where you can take a walk and where to go with children: a 7 km boulevard along the sea (convenient for walking with a stroller), the streets of old Batumi, a large number of parks, the Botanical Garden. Batumi has beautiful architecture and developed infrastructure. There is a dolphinarium, playgrounds, a zoo, and two lakes.
Kangaroo in Batumi If you are traveling to Georgia for the beaches in high season(from June to mid-September), then it makes sense to consider small towns and resorts.
If your vacation falls on low season(from the 20th of September to May), then I recommend rent a house in Batumi.
In small resort villages, cafes and shops are closed during the low season - there may be problems with food, and it’s simply boring, because the sea is already cool until mid-June and from October, and it’s somehow easier to walk around the city and enjoy it in Batumi (there is a boulevard for walking).
Batumi Boulevard If you are traveling to Ureki and Kobuleti, you can book accommodation in advance through booking for a couple of nights, and then look for something more suitable on the spot.
In the second half of July - August, prices are high everywhere and many good places are occupied, so it is better to book in advance so as not to search on the spot in the heat, especially if you are with suitcases, children and without a car.
Residential buildings in Batumi If you are traveling for 4-5 days, there is no particular economic benefit in looking for accommodation locally. Then it’s better to rent an apartment or room via the Internet in advance, come and relax.
And if you are traveling for 2 weeks or a month, then you can spend time looking for accommodation locally. There are chances to find a cheaper apartment or room. You need to walk, look, bargain with the owner.
The price of housing in the private sector is not fixed, but depends on the weather, season, time of day, the mood of the owner, your appearance and well-being (determined by the owner of the property by eye).
Private sector in Ureki Nightlife at the resorts of Georgia
Batumi- the center of nightlife on the coast. In summer, there are clubs, cafes on the shore, and restaurants with live music. Casinos in Batumi are open all year round.
The second relatively youth resort is Kobuleti. In July and August, clubs, cafes, and discos are also open here. Personally, I don’t like Kobuleti for a number of reasons, but this is a matter of taste.
In other towns on the coast, nightlife is poor, but during the season, almost every resort village has summer cafes, sometimes even with live music.
Since mid-September, seasonal establishments on the coast (including in Batumi and Kobuleti) have been closed; literally a couple of clubs and dozens of cafes for locals remain open in Batumi. In Batumi you definitely won’t go hungry even in winter, but in other settlements this is a big question.
You can read about my favorite places in Batumi at the link:
Food at Tavaduri restaurant Conclusion. Which village by the sea in Georgia should you choose?
Thus, to choose a coastal resort in Georgia that is right for you, you need to decide on your goals and priorities.
1. Civilization, active, parties, architectural attractions, entertainment, clubs, long walks along the sea, cafes with delicious food, food markets, supermarkets, a dolphinarium, a water park - this Batumi
2. If needed sand beach, and everything else is not so important, then the north of Kobuleti, Ureki, Shekvetili, Maltakva, Grigoleti
3. The most clean sea— Sarpi, Gonio, Kvariati, Cape Verde, Tsikhisdziri, Shekvetili
4. A successful mix: rural tranquility (subject to rental housing in the right place), the presence of a market, shops, infrastructure, a more or less clean sea and a long embankment with a cafe - this is Kobuleti
In this article I will tell you where Batumi is and what Georgia is, how to get there, why you need to go to Batumi and what to do here, and I will also begin to introduce you to old Batumi.
There is such a wonderful site on the Internet from Yandex, word selection. On it you can find out what queries people make in search engines related to a particular word or phrase. When writing an article and discussing a topic, this is very useful information that allows you to find out what interests people. So, a very popular request from more than 500 people per month: “ Is Batumi Georgia or Abkhazia?“. It's funny, isn't it? But if there is a question, then there must be an answer.
Batumi is the capital of Adjara.
Why Batumi.
Old Batumi.
I have already introduced you to some. Near one of them, namely the lower cable car station, we begin a walk through the old town. The photo below, taken by me from the cable car, reminds you that this attraction is a must-see.
Next to the cable car there is an information point where you can get a free map of the city for your convenience.
I also can’t resist publishing a few more photos of the city’s port and its surrounding architecture.
On one of the houses there is a sign of one of the oldest football clubs in the USSR, “Dynamo” Batumi.
Tbilisi Square, Batumi.
The noisiest square in Batumi is located two hundred meters from the cable car, if you walk along Chavchavadze Street. Almost all buses and minibuses arriving in and leaving the city stop here. From here begins the main street of Old Batumi - Konstantin Gamsakhurdia Street. In Soviet times, like all the main streets of our country, it was called Lenin Street.
Batumi Cathedral.
The main Orthodox Cathedral of Batumi is located near Tbilisi Square. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries as a Catholic church with money from parishioners. After the revolution, the cathedral was confiscated from Catholics and used as an administrative building. And only in 1989 the cathedral was returned to the church. On the opening day, about 5,000 parishioners were baptized.
An interesting fact is the ongoing dispute about what kind of sculptures stand on the sides of the entrance to the temple. Some people see in them Joseph and Saint Mary, and others see the apostles Andrew the First-Called and Simon the Zealot.
Old Batumi begins behind the temple. Here I will not burden you with the names of streets and houses, especially since I have a whole article planned for this.
I leave all the eloquence to my photos. As an epilogue, I would advise you to put the city map aside, walk chaotically through the old quarters, look into the gateways of old houses, look at the restored buildings of the city, get lost, and then take out the map and go for a swim......
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The capital of Adjara and the main Black Sea resort of the country, Batumi is like a young wine: carefree, fragrant, free and intoxicating. This international city-sun is like a playful (and adored) youngest child in a respectable family - and one should scold him for his pranks, but it’s just not possible to be angry at his charming face.
Batumi is the personification of modern Georgia. Its beaches are equally crowded with Europeans, Russians and neighbors in the Caucasus, its nightclubs host the best DJs on the planet, its hotels offer high-quality service, and its restaurants offer delicious national cuisine. Among other things, our brother is still loved and waited here, regardless of any political games.
Tourists in Batumi are attracted not only by good service, gentle sunshine and beaches with clear water. The rich history of this place and interesting sights are also of interest. In addition, the city and its surroundings have all the opportunities for active recreation - diving and water sports.
How to get to Batumi
Every day, Moscow and Batumi are connected by several flights from S Seven, Ural Airlines and Red Wings. The planes spend only 2.5 hours in the sky and land at the airport located on the outskirts of the city. There are no trains between Russian and Georgian cities - those who prefer to travel by land will have to take a direct bus. An unusual travel option is a high-speed ferry from Sochi.
Read more about how to get to Batumi in this article.
Search for flights to Batumi
Districts of Batumi
Batumi is a relatively small resort town, stretching 20 km along the Black Sea coast. Streets and areas that are interesting from a tourist point of view are concentrated in the center - from Batumi Bay to the mouth of the river. Chorokhi. For convenience, we will divide this part of the city into small microdistricts, because each of them has something to see, and prices for accommodation differ quite significantly.
Of the central districts, Pushkinskaya Street is the least interesting for tourists. You can rent housing there quite cheaply, but you are unlikely to enjoy your holiday in a noisy and dusty industrial area.
The most popular area among tourists is Old Batumi. This is the historical center of the city, where 19th-century buildings and narrow cobblestone streets have been preserved. Organically fitting into this antiquity, they are juxtaposed with very recent buildings. A striking example of this is Piazza. There is a wide range of housing prices - from expensive, respectable hotels to quite economical options.
Adjacent to Old Batumi is Batumi Boulevard, rightfully recognized as the heart of this city. People come here to admire the sea and the famous singing fountains, feed tame pelicans and peacocks in a small lake, and also see with their own eyes the cafe from the film “Love and Doves.”
District st. Sheriff Khimshiashvili is famous among tourists not only for its water park and French fountains, but also for its reasonable housing prices. Next to the street Gorky, the main shopping street of the city, it is considered the optimal place to relax in Batumi - the beach and attractions can be easily reached on foot, there are many cafes, restaurants and shops.
Transport
Batumi city transport is represented by buses, minibuses and taxis. The former have specific routes and designated stops (the inscriptions on which are duplicated in English - however, this does not apply to the working outskirts of the city), while the latter quickly scurry along most of the more or less significant streets. The fare for both is about 0.40 GEL; there are no special tourist passes. A ticket to remote areas or suburbs will cost 1-1.5 GEL. To stop a minibus, just wave your hand to an approaching car. It is better to announce your destination before boarding. Prices on the page are for October 2018.
Batumi taxis are divided into official (minority) and unofficial (majority). Actually, everyone here “bombs” willingly: you can approach almost any driver with the phrase “Commander, will you take me?” Meters in taxis are rare; payment must be agreed upon in advance.
The price range in Batumi taxis is small. On average you will have to pay 3.5 GEL for boarding, travel around the city - 5-7 GEL, to remote areas - 15-20 GEL.
Batumi's answer to Europe is the BatumVelo system, through which you can rent a bicycle (they are green here) and ride along the boulevards and embankments. This pleasure costs little - only 4 GEL per hour and 5 GEL for the whole day. Those who come for a long time and plan to travel by bicycle all the time can pay 10 GEL and ride for 10 days.
Maps of Batumi
Rent a Car
Batumi is a seaside resort, and for those who plan to limit their movements around the city to periodic walks to the sea and back, a car will not be useful. However, even if your plans include exploring Old Batumi with its sights, it is not at all necessary to take a car. From most hotels in the tourist part of the city to the historical center is literally a stone's throw.
Traffic in Batumi is heavy and traffic jams are not uncommon. There are many parking lots in the city, all of them are paid and managed by the same company. The cost of 1 day of parking for a passenger car is 1.80 GEL, the fine for violating parking rules is 10 GEL.
For those who plan to drive around the surrounding area, visit the Makhuntseti waterfall or the Petra fortress, there are companies in the city that provide car rental services: Car24, Hire-Auto, Mimino Rent Car, Naniko, etc. The price range is wide, budget options will cost 60 -70GEL. Most companies operate throughout Georgia, so you can take a car in Batumi and return it to Tbilisi or Kutaisi. True, such a service is not free (from 110 GEL).
Communications and Wi-Fi
Mobile communications in Batumi are good, and although the city still has telephone booths and pay phones, a cell phone is still much more convenient. For those who want to stay in touch and not overpay for roaming, it is best to buy a SIM card from one of the local operators - Geocell, Magti or Beeline. The latter outperforms its competitors in all respects - the communication quality is better, the coverage area is larger, and the prices are lower. For calls to the CIS countries and Russia there is an “International” tariff, the cost of a minute of conversation is 0.75 GEL. SIM cards are sold at the airport, souvenir shops and exchange offices.
There are also very favorable rates for mobile Internet users - 0.25 GEL per 100 MB at night, 5 GEL during the day.
Since Batumi is a modern resort city with a European level of infrastructure, Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, cafes and restaurants. In addition, you can access the network for free along the entire length of Batumi Boulevard.
Beaches of Batumi
Batumi is the most popular and tourist-developed resort in Georgia. The gentle sun and warm sea attract thousands of tourists here every year. Beach lovers will always find a piece of the Black Sea coast to their liking here.
What to try
Western, coastal Georgia delights guests with a varied fish cuisine, an abundance of vegetables, herbs and fruits, as well as dairy products and all kinds of sauces and savory snacks. In the restaurants located along the Batumi embankment, all of the above is presented in abundance. Actually, here you can try not only local cuisine, but also “general Georgian” traditional dishes, of which the first to be highlighted are kebabs, lobio, kutabs, satsivi and other delicacies dear to the Russian stomach.
What Batumi is famous for is “acharuli khachapuri” - Adjarian khachapuri, that is, a national puff pastry pie with cheese and egg filling. The Batumi version is baked in the shape of a boat and, thanks to true Kartvelian generosity, turns into an ark filled with a melted mixture of finely chopped cheese and eggs.
Cuisine and restaurants of Batumi
Guides in Batumi
Entertainment and attractions
The center of “lounging” Batumi is the 1.5-kilometer boulevard of the same name, stretching along the beach. This is not only the center of wild life - a lot of cafes and restaurants, cute shops, cozy shops and bars on the go, but also a historical landmark: some trees are unique, while others are at a very respectable age. Here, for 5 GEL you can see Batumi from a Ferris wheel.
Another place of attraction for the merry public is the Square of Europe with singing fountains and an impressive monument to Medea in height and value, depicting a slender maiden and a golden lamb hanging lifelessly in her hand.
If the charm of evening Batumi puts you in a romantic mood, do not forget that there is a fine for kissing in public places.
Among the architectural monuments, it is worth paying attention to the oldest (and the only one to date) Orta Jame mosque of the 19th century, decorated with beautiful examples of Arabic calligraphy. Also interesting are the numerous Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian churches of the city, the most famous of which are the Church of St. Nicholas, the Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Armenian church with the name Surb Prkch, which is unusual for the Russian ear.
A must-see is the ruins of the Gonio fortress (12 km south of Batumi), which was once a citadel of the Roman Empire and then Byzantium. Today here you can see 900 m of fortress walls and 18 towers along their length. Among other things, according to legend, this is where the grave of the Apostle Matthew is located.
You can escape the summer heat to the benefit of your mind and soul in the museums of Batumi. The Adjarian Art Museum has a collection of works by European and Russian masters of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as an impressive collection of paintings by Pirosmani and Akhvlediani. At the Nobel Museum you can immerse yourself in the glorious history of Batumi in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the city was the object of close attention (and generous donations) by Nobel and Rothschild. The Stalin Museum offers a look at the leader's personal belongings, including a towel and a bed. The Batumi Archaeological Museum presents an extensive collection of artifacts, household items and jewelry from different eras found in southwestern Georgia.
Outdoor attractions include Lake Nurigel and 6th May Park. On the shores of the lake there are boat stations and water attractions, as well as a dolphinarium and an aquarium.
The huge tree that greets visitors at the entrance to the park was planted by Alexander III during his visit to Batumi.
Another picturesque lake - Ardagan - is separated from the sea only by a narrow strip of beach. There are light and music fountains on the lake, and restaurants serving Adjarian and Chinese cuisine.
You should definitely visit the Batumi Botanical Garden, whose green spaces are home to a lot of plants from all over the globe.
Batumi for children
Although Batumi is a typical resort city with a vibrant and noisy nightlife, spending time with children here is also fun and comfortable. Many hotels and restaurants are family-oriented - they have all the amenities and entertainment for children. Some hotels employ animators who will amuse and entertain young tourists while their parents laze on the beach.
For bright emotions and new impressions, you should go to the Park on May 6th, where you can spend a fun and interesting whole day. Kids will truly enjoy interacting with our little brothers - dolphins (swimming from 100 GEL for children), various tropical fish, as well as kangaroos, baboons, lemurs, macaques and other exotic animals. The park also has attractions - “Pirates”, “Cups”, “Sky Glider” (prices from 0.5 to 1 GEL).
Be sure to visit the Batumi Water Park. Adults and older children will get a dose of adrenaline by riding extreme rides, and for kids there is a special pool and small slides. The ticket price (40 GEL) includes rides, sun loungers, umbrellas and mattresses.
Weather
The climate of Batumi is soft, warm and humid, close to subtropical. In winter there is practically no snow here (it is replaced by frequent heavy showers), negative temperatures are also very rare for these places.
Autumn is quite warm, but rainy. In spring, the city, on the contrary, is dry and cool. The off-season lasts only a couple of months, then it is replaced by a long and hot summer. The holiday season is from April to October. For a holiday, it is better to choose the end of May - the beginning of June or September, since during this period there is no intense heat, and the sea is already quite warm. Arriving in Batumi in the middle of summer, you risk spending your entire vacation under the scorching sun, which can significantly spoil the impression.