Batumi is the main city of the Adjara region and a jewel of the Black Sea coast. The city has undergone major development in the past decade or so, resulting in a bustling seaside resort full old and new architecture, luxury hotels, dining venues, and plenty of attractions. Due to the high number of international hotel chains and casinos, many call it the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’. It’s the go-to summer destination for many locals and foreigners coming from neighboring countries. Here’s my travel guide with some of the best and free things to do in Batumi and Adjara in general.

Adjara is an autonomous republic within the country. It has a distinguished and unique combination of mountains and sea. Upper Adjara, or Zemo Adjara as we, locals, call it, is a completely different world compared to modern Batumi and the lowlands of the region. It’s a perfect place for those looking for a rural escape in nature.

How to Get to Batumi

Batumi is located 386 km away from Tbilisi, and due to the not fully finished highway, the trip takes around 4-5 hours by car. There are different means of public transport available from Tbilisi to Batumi, and I’ll briefly explain each one.

Tbilisi Batumi Train

Tbilisi Batumi train is probably one of the most comfortable and frequently used public transportation for locals and tourists. A couple of years ago, Georgia got a relatively fast, two-story Stadler Train that runs at least twice a day and takes around 5 hours to get from Tbilisi to Batumi.

The price per ticket for the second class is 25 GEL and for the first-class – 61 GEL, they also have a business class for 100 GEL. Yes, I know it’s not as fast as you could have imagined, however, do note that you’ll have a free wi-fi to keep you busy and entertained! The same goes for the Batumi Tbilisi train. You can check the timetable and prices here.

Tbilisi Batumi Bus

My second favorite means of transportation from Tbilisi to Batumi is a bus. Operated by Turkish company Metro Georgia, Tbilisi Batumi bus runs several times a day and are very comfortable. Similar to trains, they have free wi-fi and hot beverages offered a couple of times during the journey. The price for one way ticket is 25 GEL. You can see the timetable and prices here.

Tbilisi Batumi Marshrutka

This is my least favorite transport as it’s very uncomfortable and drivers drive even crazier than average Georgian. Tbilisi Batumi marshrutka leaves from Didube Bus Station near Didube Metro every hour from early in the morning till late in the evening. The price for one way is around 18-20 GEL. You don’t need to buy the ticket in advance, you can simply show up and pay to the driver.

Tbilisi Batumi Plane

There’s a small airplane operating from Tbilisi to Batumi every day except Tuesdays. The price for one way ticket of the Tbilisi Batumi plane is 125 GEL. The journey extremely shortens time, taking around 1 hour. You can see the schedule and buy the ticket here.

Best Time to Visit Batumi

If you want to avoid crowds and visit the city on the budget, the best time to visit Batumi is in spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November). This is the time when apartments and some of the best Batumi hotels might have relatively cheap prices per night. Summers here see lots of local and international tourists. The prices for the accommodation triples. The beaches and streets are extremely crowded. Additionally, it’s quite hot in summer and tends to rain pretty often. Winters are often warm, with light snow.

Top 10 Free Things to Do in Batumi

Batumi is a very charming city, full of new and old architecture, gorgeous street art, fancy hotels and restaurants, and quirky buildings. The city itself might not seem big, but exploring everything by foot will exhaust you. There are modern buses that go to the main streets of Batumi, so you can easily hop on and off to the desired spot. Though, it goes without saying that you’ll find more interesting and unique places while wandering the streets on foot.

Stroll down the Batumi Boulevard

Batumi Boulevard is one of the main attractions of the city, making it one of the top things to do in Batumi. It’s history dates back to the 1880s and what you see today is the expended boulevard. At first, there were only two strips. The boulevard used to start from today’s Seaside Park of Batumi Boulevard and ended at the corner of today’s Japaridze Street.





Now it’s a 7km long walking and cycling trail that features many interesting statues, sculptures, and modern art. Walking in the boulevard in late afternoon or evening is one of the best ways to unwind and relax in the city.

Soak up the sun at Batumi beach

Batumi beach follows the coastline and Batumi Boulevard, making it quite long. One of the main things to do in Batumi is to soak up the sun and have a dip at the Black Sea. The beach itself is a pebble one, however, there are umbrellas and sunbathing chairs for rental at every corner. The price for a whole day ranges from 3-5 GEL. Most parts of the Batumi beach has showers and changing cabins as well. There are small kiosks that sell cold drinks, snacks, and ice-cream on the side of the boulevard.

If you are looking for alternative beaches in Georgia, here’s the top five recommended by Georgia Starts Here

Watch people fish at Batumi port

Batumi is also a very important port city from the standpoint of trade among other ports of the Black Sea. The port is part of oil transportation and serves as a mediatory spot for European and Asian oil transport.

While walking aside the port, you can admire the everyday life of the locals who work at the boats or fish.

Admire quirky buildings at Miracle Park

Miracle Park is right next to the Batumi Port and features all the quirky and unusual buildings you can find in Batumi. Chacha Tower, a 25-meter tall fountain with a clock. Initially, it should have had chacha, local high alcoholic beverage, pouring from its taps like a water fountain. Unfortunately, it’s not functioning today.

Ali and Nino is another cool statue that symbolizes eternal love. Inspired by the novel of the same name by Kurban Said, it is a masterpiece of Georgian sculptor. The novel tells the story of the forbidden love of a daughter of a Georgian Christian nobleman and a Muslim Azeri boy set in Baku. The two 8-meter tall statues move towards each other, become one piece, and moves away. And then, it all starts again.

Once you get a good look at the statue, walk towards the Alphabetic Tower, a 135-meter tall structure resembles a DNA molecule encircled by all the letters of the Georgian alphabet (33 in total). There’s a lift to go up for panoramic views of Batumi and the Black Sea. The cost of the ride is 8GEL.



You can also take a ride at the Ferris Wheel for panoramic views of the town and the sea. However, do note that the ride costs 5GEL.

Stroll down the streets of Batumi Old Town and Europe Square

Other free things to do in Batumi involves wandering through its streets. Beyond the Miracle Park and the boulevard, the city offers marvelous architectural landmarks that shouldn’t be missed. One of them is the Europe Square, located in Old Town Batumi. The central piece of the square is the statue of Medea, symbolizing the tight relationship between Georgia and Europe. Medea, the daughter of Aieti, a mythical king of Colchis, helped Jason and Argonauts to steal the famous Golden Fleece.

Another significant site of this area is the Astronomical Clock located at the intersection of Gamsakhurdia and M. Abashidze streets. It looks like the one in the Old Town of Prague, but it’s much smaller and newly made. Similarly, besides the time of the day, it shows the position of the moon, the sun, the meridian, and the horizon.

Track Down the Street Art

If you are like me and love finding good street art, then you are definitely in the right place. Batumi is home to some of the most gorgeous murals I have seen in Georgia, admittedly they are much better than what we have in Tbilisi. Here’s a complete guide to Batumi street art written by my friend, Emily.







Relax at 6 May Park

If you are looking for relaxing things to do in Batumi, head to 6 May Park. It’s an ideal place to get away from crowds and unwind in nature. Located in the city center, the park lays around the lake and features benches, a small zoo, dolphinarium , and boat rentals.

Drink a cup of coffee at Piazza Square

Having a coffee or a drink at Piazza Square is one of the favorite things to do in Batumi for locals. The square features a mosaic floor and stained glass art on its surrounding buildings. Here you’ll find hotels, restaurants, and cafes serving both local and international cuisine.

The square is about 5,700 sq.meters, which during the high season is full of tables and chairs, making it a great spot to have a cup of coffee or lunch. You can easily wander around to admire the modern architecture and take pictures. No one will say anything if you don’t want to sit down and order something.

Watch laser show of Dancing Fountains

At almost the end of the Batumi Boulevard, you’ll find so-called Dancing Fountains. Every day from 8:30 p.m till 12:30 a.m, the fountain turns into a theatrical show with music and laser lighting.

Go to the Fish Market

If you are a fish and seafood lover, visiting the fish market a bit outside of Batumi is a must. You can not only buy freshly caught local fish here but also find imported seafood. There’s a restaurant next door, so you can ask the seller you’d like it to be prepared on the spot. Otherwise, you can, of course, take it home and cook it yourself. The prices are moderately cheap.



Top 7 Day Trips From Batumi

The geographical location of the city makes it a perfect spot to take day trips from Batumi to explore the Adjara region and its neighboring Guria. There is a good public transportation system taking you from Batumi to its surrounding areas, with the ticket price ranging from 1-3 GEL, depending on where you are going.

Batumi Botanical Garden

One of the top day trips from Batumi is to Batumi Botanical Garden, located in Mtsvane Kontskhi, or Green Cape in English at around 9km from the city. The botanical garden covers around 108 hectares of land. Build in 1912, it features a great collection of more than 5,000 species. The garden has 9 floristic zones, therefore, if you want to see it all, you’ll need to spend at least one whole day here.



On our visit, we managed to see one-third of the garden. We followed the map given at the box office and chose the areas we thought would be interesting. The botanical garden is well marked with informational desks and maps. Moreover, I liked that each plant had its own plate.

Opening Hours: Every day 9 a.m – 9 p.m

Entrance Fee: 8 GEL for Georgian citizens, 15 GEL for foreigners, 1 GEL for pupils up to 16 years old.

Electric car ride: 5 GEL per person, which is not included in the entrance ticket

How to get to Batumi Botanical Garden

There are several options to get to the botanical garden. You can take direct marshrutka number 31 from the center, just stand anywhere on Parnavaz Mepe Street and it will come by. There is also a minibus standing at Argo Cable car, a bus number 15 from Rustaveli Street, and a minibus number 40 that drives through Chavchavadze Street.

Day trips from Batumi: Explore the historic fortresses

Gonio Fortress is one of the main historical landmarks of Adjara. The fortress dates back to ancient times. Back in the day, it was a home of five Roman military cohosts, which was a well-consolidated town. Later, it was one of the strongholds of the Ottomans and Byzantine.

Opening hours: every day, except Mondays from 10 a.m to 6 p.m

Entrance fee: 3 GEL

How to get to Gonio Fortress

Similar to the botanical garden, there’s a good connection of public transport from Batumi to the fortress. You can take bus number 16, any minibus that goes to Sarpi or Gonio from Chavchavadze or Abuseridze streets.

Petra Fortress is another great choice for day trips from Batumi. It’s an important archeological and historical complex in Adjara located in Tsikhisdziri. Build in the 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, the fortress was an important strategic spot of the route which linked Georgia to Iran and Armenia.

Wander the ruins of the fortress and admire the beautiful view of the Black Sea from here. Half of its ruins are covered in green, making it more charming and spectacular from both inside and outside.

Opening Hours: Always

Entrance Fee: Free

How to Get to Petra Fort

You need to take marshrutka towards Kobuleti which leaves from the Batumi Catholic Church of Holy Spirit. The ride costs 1,50-2 GEL and ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance. In order to go back to Batumi, stand at the highway and wait for the transport towards Batumi.

Day trips from Batumi: Explore Guria region

Shekvetili is a small village and a sea resort of the Guria region, located 47km from Batumi. You can come here for the magnetic sand beach and visit the Musicians Park next to the Black Sea Arena.



The park features statues of local and international artists scattered along the area. Here, you’ll see 23 statues of such international artists like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, Elton Jone, and Whitney Huston to name just a few. Once you go closer, you’ll hear their most famous and all-time favorite hits. It should be noted, that some of those statues look nothing like the original person, however, we had fun trying to identify an artist without looking at the plate or listening to their music.

Opening Hours: Always

Entrance Fee: Free

And once you are here, there’s another attraction you might want to explore. A theme-park Tsitsinatela, or Fire-fly in English, features around 40 different attractions to keep you and those traveling with kids entertained for a day.

Opening Hours: Every day from 6 p.m till 12 a.m

Entrance Fee: Free unless you want to ride any attractions. You’ll need to buy the card for 1 GEL and top it up with additional money to use on attractions.

Next to Tsitsinatela, there’s a park called Georgia in Miniatures, where you can explore the main landmarks of the country. It’s a great way to see the iconic sights if you don’t have time to explore the whole country, or even get inspired to travel and see them in real life. Anything from Tbilisi to Svaneti’s medieval defense towers can be found here. Honestly, I found one or two sights that I didn’t know about and triggered my interest to see them in person.

Opening Hours: Every day from 10 a.m till 12 a.m, on Sundays from 12 p.m till 12 a.m

Entrance Fee: 3 GEL + 1 if you don’t have a Tsitsinatela card.

How to Get to Musicians Park

You’ll need to take marshrutka towards Shekvetili from the Old Bus Station at Mayakovsky st and ask the driver to drop you off near the Black Sea Arena. From here, you’ll need to walk on the highway and either walk 4.7km towards Tsitsinatela, hitchhike or stop any marshrutka going to Kobuleti or Batumi and ask the driver to drop you off near Tsitsinatela.

Day trips from Batumi: Kobuleti Nature Reserve

This is the most underrated attraction of Adjara, which should be on everyone’s radar. Located in Kobuleti, this Nature Reserve is the most unique one not only in Georgia but in the whole world as well. What makes this place so unique? Maiden sphagnum moss peat bog! Its the rarest and only filtering sphagnum bog in the world and the most sensitive to the pollution of the environment. I was entirely blown away by this nature reserve that basically no one knows about. Even I had no clue until I accidentally came across it in one of the books.



Why is it so special?

The peat bog is never covered with water, while sphagnum acts like a cloud. When it rains in Kobuleti, the sphagnum absorbs water and exceeds its weight 25 times, i.e it’s like a sponge. If you rip it off and squeeze, the cleanest water will drip. And don’t worry about destroying the ecosystem, it regenerates when you put it back in. Thanks to such an environment, Kobuleti never gets flooded during heavy rains. The territory covers around 770 hectares.

Rare peat bog of Ispani I and Ipsani II can be explored on foot and accompanied by a ranger. However, be prepared, you won’t walk in a well-laid-out trail, you’ll be walking in wild nature through bushes. Moreover, note that you’ll need to wear waterproof or rubber boots. This is something that I couldn’t find any information about and showed up wearing sneakers.



You can rent special equipment called ‘mountain skis’ made from branch and thread, which was used in Upper Adjara back in the day in winter. These ‘skis’ are tied to your boots and helps you balance and not sink in the swamp. The price of the skis is only 2GEL.

Depending on the time you visit, you can see various birds, turtles, swamp flowers, and another type of sphagnum moss.

Opening Hours of Kobuleti Nature Reserve: Always

Opening Hours of Administration: Working days from 10 a.m to 6 p.m

Entrance Fee of Kobuleti Nature Reserve: Free

How to Get to the Kobuleti Nature Reserve

Similarly to going to Petra Fortress, you’ll need to take a marshrutka to Kobuleti and ask the driver to drop you off at Kobuleti Nature Reserve Administration, located on the main highway of the town. It’s better to get in touch with the administration in advance and notify them about your arrival. Check out this page for more details. Afterword, you’ll need to either take a taxi or walk 3km from administration to the entrance of the reserve.

Day trips from Batumi: a short trip to Upper Adjara

Last but not least, this day trip from Batumi takes you to Upper Adjara to the village of Makhuntseti. Located only 40 minutes’ drive from Batumi, it’s one of the most popular destinations among many tourists visiting the city, therefore, it can get quite crowded during summer months.

The waterfall is hidden away from the main road and you’ll need to follow the directions. It truly is a beautiful sight to see water falling down from a 36-meter tall rock. Another attraction here is the stone arched bridge, right near the highway. It is believed to be built in the 12th century to connect the banks of the river and is distinguished by its construction.



How to Get to Makhuntseti Waterfall

Take a marshrutka from Old Bus Station at Mayakovsky st. 1 towards Makhuntseti, Shuakhevi or Khulo. The price of the ticket costs 2 GEL and the buses depart every hour. As always, ask the driver to drop you off at the waterfall. To go back to Batumi, stand on the main road and wait for the next marshrutka going to Batumi.

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