Things to do in Batumi: top sights and where to go
Batumi lives on its seafront boulevard: from Europe Square with the Medea column and the Piazza in the old town it is a 15–20-minute walk along the sea to the Ali and Nino statue and the Alphabetic Tower, and the Argo cable car lifts you above the city and the bay. The centre, the boulevard and the evening fountains fill one day; give a second to the Botanical Garden on Green Cape, the Gonio and Petra fortresses on either side of the city and Makhuntseti Waterfall in the hills, each 20–40 minutes away by car.
Sights
Batumi itineraries
Batumi travel guide
Before you go: the boulevard and old town, the sea and beaches, the airport and train from Tbilisi, weather by month.
Batumi on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 3–5 days: city, Botanical Garden, waterfall
- When to go
- June–September for the sea; May and October are quieter
- Visa
- Visa-free for many passports, often up to a year
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Georgian lari; cards widely accepted
- Airport
- Batumi (BUS) ≈ 5 km — 10–15 min by taxi
- From Tbilisi
- Train ≈ 5–6 h, minibus ≈ 6 h
- Beaches
- Pebbles, sea up to 26° in August
- Time zone
- UTC+4 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Batumi Botanical Garden”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Batumi Boulevard”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Ali and Nino (sculpture)”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Gonio Fortress”Things to do in Batumi
Batumi’s highlights are the seaside Boulevard with the “Ali and Nino” sculpture and dancing fountains, the old town with Europe Square and the Piazza, and the Argo cable car. Outside the city are the Botanical Garden, Makhuntseti waterfall and the Gonio and Petra fortresses. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Boulevard | Boulevard, Ali and Nino, Fountains | evening |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Europe Square, Piazza | 2 h |
| Views | Argo cable car | 1–2 h |
| Green Cape | Botanical Garden, Petra | ½ day |
| South & hills | Gonio, Makhuntseti | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order.
Batumi airport and trains from Tbilisi
Batumi Airport (BUS) is ≈ 5 km from the centre — 10–15 minutes by taxi to the Boulevard. Trains from Tbilisi take about 5–6 hours, minibuses about 6. You can also fly into Kutaisi, ≈ 2.5 hours away.
Batumi weather and sea by month
The best time to visit Batumi for the beach is late June to September, with the sea around 26 °C in August. Batumi is one of the wettest cities in the region: rain is possible in any month, especially in autumn and winter. October is about 21 °C by day with the sea around 19 °C.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 11° | 12° | 14° | 17° | 21° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 25° | 21° | 16° | 13° |
| Night | 4° | 4° | 6° | 9° | 13° | 18° | 21° | 21° | 17° | 13° | 8° | 5° |
| Sea | 10° | 9° | 10° | 12° | 16° | 22° | 25° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 15° | 12° |
| Rain | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: June–September
- day ≈ 11°
- night ≈ 4°
- sea ≈ 10°
- rain 14 days
Cool and rainy. A quiet boulevard and restaurants. Too cold to swim, water — about 10°.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 4°
- sea ≈ 9°
- rain 13 days
About 12°, frequent rain. Museums and cafés. Too cold to swim, water — about 9°.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 6°
- sea ≈ 10°
- rain 14 days
Spring, but often wet. The Botanical Garden blooms. Too cold to swim, water — about 10°.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 9°
- sea ≈ 12°
- rain 12 days
Warm, about 17°. Boulevard walks. Too cold to swim, water — about 12°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 13°
- sea ≈ 16°
- rain 11 days
About 21°, the sea still cold. Good for the waterfall and hills. Too cold to swim, water — about 16°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 18°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 11 days
The beach season starts, water about 22°. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 21°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 10 days
Warm and humid, water about 25°. Peak season. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 21°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 11 days
The warmest sea, about 26°. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 17°
- sea ≈ 23°
- rain 13 days
Velvet season: water about 23°, fewer people. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 23°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 13°
- sea ≈ 19°
- rain 13 days
About 21° by day, sea about 19°. Frequent rain. Too cold to swim, water — about 19°.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 8°
- sea ≈ 15°
- rain 13 days
Cool and rainy. The boulevard and restaurants. Too cold to swim, water — about 15°.
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 5°
- sea ≈ 12°
- rain 14 days
About 13°, rainy. A festive boulevard. Too cold to swim, water — about 12°.
Batumi’s beaches are pebbly — bring water shoes. Summer humidity makes the heat feel stronger than in Tbilisi.
Batumi ticket prices
The Boulevard, the fountains, Europe Square and the beaches are free. You pay for the Argo cable car, the Botanical Garden and Gonio Fortress.
| Argo Cable Car | 38 | 1 h | 39 GEL return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonio Fortress | 25 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 10 GEL, children ≈ 2 GEL |
| Batumi Botanical Garden | 24 | 3 h | 25 GEL for foreign visitors |
| Petra Fortress | 24 | 1 h | ≈ 8 GEL (unofficial) |
Free — 6 places: Ali and Nino statue, Europe Square, Piazza Square, Batumi Dancing Fountains, Batumi Boulevard, Makhuntseti Waterfall.
Day trips from Batumi
From Batumi people head into mountainous Adjara — to Makhuntseti waterfall and Queen Tamar’s arched bridge — to Gonio Fortress, and to Kobuleti and Ureki’s black-sand beach.
- Makhuntseti — a waterfall and Queen Tamar’s Bridge; ≈ 40 min.
- Gonio — a Roman fortress and a beach; ≈ 20 min.
- Ureki — a beach of magnetic black sand; ≈ 1 h.
- Kutaisi — Gelati and Prometheus Cave; ≈ 2.5 h.
Tips
- See the dancing fountains and “Ali and Nino” in the evening — lights and music.
- Ride the Argo cable car at sunset for views over the city and sea.
- Carry an umbrella in any season — Batumi’s weather changes fast.
FAQ
Is Batumi worth visiting?
Yes, for a lively seaside city with a long boulevard, a lush Botanical Garden, Black Sea beaches in summer and the green mountains of Adjara a short drive away.
What is the sea temperature in Batumi?
Warmest in August at about 26 °C; about 22 °C in June, 23 °C in September and 19 °C in October.
What is the weather like in Batumi in October?
About 21 °C by day and 13 °C at night, with the sea around 19 °C and frequent rain.
How do I get from Tbilisi to Batumi?
By train in about 5–6 hours, by minibus in about 6, or by plane in about 40 minutes.
What to do in Batumi when it rains?
Museums, covered restaurants on the Piazza, the dolphinarium and aquarium, or the Botanical Garden in light rain.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Batumi”; “Batumi Botanical Garden”; “Batumi Boulevard”; “Ali and Nino (sculpture)”; “Gonio Fortress”
- Batumi International Airport — official website
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — visa-free entry