Batumi: description of the city and resort, map, photos and videos. Sea in Georgia Beach holidays in Batumi
Updated 04/07/2019
In this article I will tell you in as much detail as possible about the beaches of Batumi - photos, descriptions, features, and so on. To be honest, during my first acquaintance with the Batumi coast, I was not particularly impressed. The beaches are long, wide, but covered with pebbles and not particularly well equipped. Therefore, I don’t recommend going to Batumi, like other holidays, solely for the sake of lying on the beach and swimming in the sea. It is best to combine a seaside holiday with long walks, trips to nearby attractions, and, of course, exploring Batumi.
Details about the beaches of Batumi
Strictly speaking, there is only one beach in Batumi, but it is very long. The recreation area called “Batumi Beach” stretches for 5 kilometers and ranges from 30 to 55 meters in width. During the season, which lasts from May to September, there are changing cabins, umbrellas and sun loungers in many places. The beach is completely pebble, but quite clean and pleasant. The depth near the shore does not exceed two meters, so you can relax with children. Every evening there are discos and shows, there are catamarans and water skis. 
The very long beach in Batumi is divided into three parts:
- Beach in the city center.
- Beach near New Boulevard Batumi.
- Beach near the airport and Seaside Park.
At the same time, there are also some unique beaches near the port and the railway station, but we will not consider them. The fact is that reviews on the Internet about these Batumi beaches are not the most positive. The water near the port is very dirty; swimming is out of the question.
Near the station the water is better, but the shore itself is narrow, there is a lot of garbage, and besides, the highway is very close - very noisy. Another thing is that the three dedicated beach areas that I listed above are excellent for both relaxing and swimming. Let's talk about them in a little more detail.
Beach in the center of Batumi
I consider the beach in the center to be the best place within the city for swimming. The cleanest water and the most convenient entrance to the water is near the Alphabet Tower. The photo below was taken out of season, so there are no sunbeds or other infrastructure yet. 
This is what the beach in Batumi looks like in the summer. Add only 100-200 people
Another good place is right next to the Kempinski Hotel. In general, the best beach in Batumi can be found on the shore from the San Remo cafe to the Miracle Park. True, there are the most people here, so I advise you to reserve sun loungers in advance. 
Beach near New Boulevard Batumi
The beach near New Boulevard stretches from the intersection of Rustaveli and Khimshiashvili all the way to the water park. There are not as many people here as in the center, but the infrastructure is worse. There is everything for a comfortable stay: cabins, cafes, and sun loungers. You can even find sports grounds on the boulevard itself, and in the evening you should definitely look at the light and music fountain. The water is a little worse than in the center, the entrance is less shallow, but you can live - even children can swim here. 
Beach near Batumi Airport and Seaside Park
The beach near the airport and Seaside Park is the farthest and most secluded. In autumn there are no people here at all, in summer there are only a few of them. There are also no cafes, shops and other joys of a beach holiday yet, but for savages this is only for the better. You can find an inexpensive house in the private sector and meditate all day by the sea. Photos speak best about the beaches of Batumi: the empty pebble coast, planes landing over the beach, foamy waves. The cleanliness of the water here is about the same as that of the new boulevard.
Just remember that in this place several rivers flow into the Black Sea at once. Naturally, I cannot say what they carry within themselves, but I also don’t want to keep silent about this fact.
Features of Batumi beaches
- Without exception, all beaches are free.
- The width even in the narrowest part is 30 meters, no walking over heads.
- The length of 5 kilometers is no less pleasing; you can go far south from everyone.
- The beach successfully covers the city, it is close even from the outskirts.
- Not everyone likes the pebbles under their feet, but it massages the feet well.
- In the center and near the New Boulevard there are sun loungers everywhere - 2 GEL each.
- There are also many cafes there, prices do not differ from the city.
- Everyone there cleans the beach in the morning, so it’s quite clean here, but only until lunchtime.
Perhaps this is all I wanted to tell you about the beaches of Batumi. Photos of beaches may scare you off at first glance, but I recommend checking their quality yourself. If you don’t like it, don’t worry, because in the neighborhood of Batumi there are many resort villages with beautiful beaches that can be reached in 15-30 minutes. It's both, and, and. Or you can combine new beaches and sightseeing. For example, visit, where there is an excellent beach and a fortress of the same name. If you want to drive along the beaches in comfort, but don’t want to rent a car, rent a car with a driver. Below are price examples.
Beach at Cape Verde (Mtsvane Kontskhi)
Geographically, this beach does not belong to Batumi and is located in Mtsvane Kontskhi, but I consider it necessary to mention it in this article. The beach at Cape Verde was described in detail in an article about, where you can also find information about the cost of travel to it. The beach itself is free and quite well maintained, there is a restaurant and a shop, umbrellas and sun loungers (the entire infrastructure is only open during the season). Getting here is easy, just drive to the Botanical Garden and turn left at the ticket office. You will go straight out onto a 500-meter pebble coastline. 
If you want to see more exotic places, then move north to the wild beach. It is also pebble, but there are almost no people here, as well as infrastructure. Behind the wild beach, 300 meters to the north, there is also a long coastline, 3 kilometers long. It stretches all the way to the village of Chakvi.
The best Batumi hotels with a private beach
There are many hotels in Batumi that are located on the coast, but they offer guests the use of a common beach, that is, the same beach as everyone who comes to the resort. If you read about hotels in Batumi with their own beach, then know that access to the beach will most likely be open to everyone. However, hotels offer discounts on sunbeds and other nice things for their guests.
Some of the most notable hotels include:
- Radisson Blu - rating according to Booking “Very good”. The 5-star hotel features outdoor and indoor pools and is 3 minutes' walk from the beach.
- Euphoria - rated "Very Good". Another 5-star hotel opened quite recently - in August 2016. There is an outdoor pool and spa.
- Kempinski (under construction).
Batumi was first mentioned in the 4th century BC in the works of the Greek philosopher Aristotle as “Batus”, located on the Black Sea coast in Colchis. The Roman writer Plinius the Elder and the Greek philosopher Flavius Arrian spoke about a city with the same name. Translated from Greek, “Batus” means “deep.” Indeed, Batumi has one of the deepest and most convenient Black Sea bays. The local population actively traded with other countries.
In the Middle Ages the city was called Batomi. At first it was part of a single Georgian state, but then came under the rule of the Megrelian principality (Odisha) and the Gurieli dynasty. In the middle of the 16th century, the Black Sea coast was captured by the Ottomans. They ruled the coastal lands for three centuries.
In 1878, the seaside city was liberated by the united army of Georgia and Russia. According to the agreement, he became Russian and received the name Batum. For the first nine years, Batum had the status of a free port or “porto-franco”. Thanks to this, it grew and began to resemble a modern European city.
With the outbreak of the First World War, the situation in Transcaucasia completely changed. The territory of Georgia was captured by the Ottoman Empire, and the occupation of Batumi ended only with the end of hostilities. In 1919 the city came under British control. The troubled situation in Transcaucasia lasted until Soviet power was established in the region.
Today, Batumi has the status of the capital of Adjara - a multinational territory inhabited by Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, Russians, Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis and Jews. 154.6 thousand people live in the city, and the majority of local residents are Georgians (Adjarians).
Sights of Batumi
The central part of Old Batumi is occupied by the Square of Europe, which used to be called the Square of Argonauts. It is lined with beautiful buildings and looks especially picturesque in the evening. On Europe Square there is one of the recognizable symbols of Batumi - the sculpture “Medea with the Golden Fleece”, the height of which reaches 130 m.
In the center of the city is the oldest temple of Batumi - the Church of St. Nicholas (Parnavaz Mepe St., 20). It was built on the initiative of the Greek community in the 60-70s of the 19th century. In the 1920s, the temple was closed, and church services were resumed only in 1946.
The beautiful Batumi Boulevard is considered the tourist center of the capital of Adjara. This is a landscaped embankment that stretches for several kilometers along the coast. There are small shops and cafes near the seaside promenade, and there are separate paths for cyclists. There are children's rides, a tall Ferris wheel and fountains. Especially many people appear on the embankment in the early morning and after sunset, when there is no intense heat on the coast.
There are many original sculptural compositions installed on Batumi Boulevard. One of the most memorable is the kinetic sculpture “Love”, made by the famous Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze. The figures of Ali and Nino are 8 m high. They have become a symbol of eternal love and understanding.
A narrow strip of beach separates the picturesque Argadan Lake from the sea. At night, beautiful light and music fountains are turned on in the middle of it. To admire the vibrant spectacle, many tourists come to Lake Argadan every evening. Rainbow water jets dynamically “dance” to the music. The fountains look great from all sides, but experts advise watching the show from the sea. Then the bluish contours of the Caucasus Mountains appear behind the water jets. The show starts after 21.00 and continues until midnight.
In the “Park of Wonders” there is one of the new architectural attractions of Batumi - the Alphabet Tower. The metal structure resembles a model of a DNA molecule and was designed by Spanish architect Alberto Domingo Cabo. The openwork building, which depicts the letters of the Georgian alphabet, can be seen from afar, since the height of the tower is 130 m. Inside there is a television studio, an observatory and a restaurant, and from the top of the tower there is an excellent view of the city streets, the coast and the mountains.
In the evening, many Batumi residents and tourists like to come to the picturesque Piazza. It is built in the Italian style and is somewhat similar to St. Mark's Square in Venice. There is a hotel in a tall clock tower. There are restaurants and cafes on the square. Here you can relax, have a good time in the company of friends, admire artistic paintings, unique stained glass windows and mosaics, and also listen to musicians perform.
Beaches
Batumi beaches are pebbly. The most popular and best equipped - Batumi Beach - has a length of 6 km and a width of 30 m. It is loved for its clean sea and good beach service. Parents with children choose this Batumi Beach because there is a very gentle entrance to the sea, and the water near the shore is always warm. There are many cafes open near the main beach of Batumi. Tourists can use changing cabins, showers, toilets, and also rent sun loungers and sun umbrellas. During the tourist season, Batumi Beach offers a large selection of water activities: banana and cheesecake rides, parachute flights behind a boat, rental of catamarans and jet skis.
In the southern suburbs of Batumi, on the border with Turkey, lies Sarapi Beach, which is considered the cleanest in Georgia. Its infrastructure is in no way inferior to Batumi Beach, but there are not as many people here as within the city.
In the vicinity of Batumi there are two more popular resort places - Ureki and Kvariati. People go to Ureki for the dark healing sand, and Kvariati attracts vacationers with the only diving center in Georgia.
A cult place among beach lovers is the beach near the Batumi Botanical Garden - Cape Verde. It stretches for 0.5 km and is covered with medium rounded pebbles. The beach strip starts from the entrance to the Botanical Garden, and at the northern end it abuts a steep cliff, behind which there is a small wild beach. In the summer, there are many vacationers on Cape Verde.
Dolphinarium
Dolphins are frequent guests in coastal waters, so many tourists manage to see marine animals right off the coast of Batumi. However, it is always difficult to see dolphins from afar, which is why vacationers love to visit the Batumi Dolphinarium. The entertainment facility is located on the territory of the May 6 park, on Rustaveli Street, 51. It was opened in 1975 and became the first dolphinarium in the USSR.
Dolphin shows take place every day except Monday and last 30 minutes. In summer they start at 14.00, 17.00 and 21.00, and in winter - at 17.00. The amphitheater of the dolphinarium is divided into 4 sectors and can accommodate more than 700 spectators. The auditorium is protected from the sun and bad weather by an elegant glass dome. It is convenient that the performances are commented in three languages – Georgian, English and Russian.
Next to the dolphinarium building, there is a large lake in the park. Near it there is a zoo, an aquarium and children's attractions. At the entrance to the park you can see a huge tree that was planted by Russian Emperor Alexander III during his visit to Batumi.
Museums of Batumi
Batumi museums are one of the local attractions. There are more than ten of them in the city. To learn more about the history, culture and traditions of Adjara, it is worth visiting the Adjara Museum of Local Lore, which is located on I. Dzhincharadze Street, 4. Ancient manuscripts and books, archaeological artifacts, as well as exhibits telling about the nature of Georgia and the peoples inhabiting it are stored here. .
The bulk of the finds discovered on the territory of Adjara are housed in the Batumi Archaeological Museum. These are spears, tools, ancient jewelry and a rich collection of ceramics. The museum is located on I. Chavchavadze Street, 77.
You can get acquainted with the work of Georgian artists at the State Museum of Art of Adjara, on Gorgiladze Street, 8. In its halls, paintings and graphics created by artists living in Georgia are exhibited.
Batumi is a multi-religious city, so it is not surprising that the Museum of Religion was created here. Its halls display more than 400 exhibits telling the history of religious denominations of the capital of Adjara.
There is a place in Batumi where the peculiarities of the life and traditions of the Adjarians are presented. This is the Borjgalo ethnographic museum. Here you can see more than 50 mannequins in national clothes, models of traditional homes and household utensils.
What is worth seeing in the vicinity of Batumi
Not far from the capital of Adjara there are several nature reserves and national parks. The Kintrishi mountain gorge is located 55 km from Batumi. The national park created here is located on the northwestern and western slopes of the Meskheti Range.
The Kintrishi River is home to trout, shemaya and carp. On the mountain spurs you can see roe deer and chamois, and in the dense forests brown bears, wild boars, squirrels, badgers, martens and hares find shelter. In addition to natural attractions, the national park is decorated with ancient monasteries carved into the rocks, ruins of medieval bridges and churches standing on the hills.
12 km south of the seaside town, at the mouth of the Chorokh River, are the ruins of the Gonio-Apsaros fortress. It was built during the Roman Empire and was used for several centuries. According to legend, on the territory of the fortress there is the grave of the Apostle Matthew. Today you can see the ruins of stone walls, the ruins of a hippodrome, barracks, baths and a Roman theater. There is also a small museum in the fortress.
Botanical Garden
The Batumi Botanical Garden extends over an area of 113 hectares. This is one of the largest gardens on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. It is located 8 km from the city, near the Cape Verde railway station. Today, the Batumi Botanical Garden has more than 5,000 species of plants, including about 2,000 trees and shrubs.
The botanical collection was founded by geographer and botanist Andrei Nikolaevich Krasnov in 1880 on a marshy seaside hill. Thanks to Krasnov, the heaths by the sea were planted with beech, eucalyptus, chestnut, hornbeam, cherry laurel and Pontic rhododendron. The official opening of the Botanical Garden took place in 1912.
The specialists working in the Botanical Garden did a lot of work on the acclimatization of subtropical crops that are valuable from an economic point of view. Since the beginning of the last century, various varieties of tea, citrus fruits, bananas, persimmons, bamboo and camphor trees have been successfully grown near Batumi. The botanical garden is divided into several floristic zones, where you can see rich collections of plants brought from Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, East Asia, the Himalayan mountains and the Mediterranean.
Minibus No. 31 and bus No. 15 go from Batumi to the Botanical Garden. Access to the territory is paid. You can explore the garden on foot or by electric car. In addition, excursions are held here for tourists.
Cuisine of Batumi
Every resident of Georgia is proud of their national cuisine and has every right to do so, because delicious Georgian dishes are known far beyond the borders of this country. The cuisine of Adjara is in many ways similar to Georgian, but has its own characteristics. Batumi is located on the seashore, so its restaurants serve a lot of fish dishes, which are not so popular in other regions of Georgia. The city is focused on receiving tourists, so bread here is often baked not from corn flour, but from wheat flour.
Arriving in Batumi, it is worth trying the local khachapuri, which is reputed to be the best in Georgia. Local chefs bake fragrant flatbreads with cheese, fish and meat. They give them the shape of a boat, and the “sun” egg becomes an indispensable attribute of Adjarian khachapuri.
All tourists like a hearty dish - ojakhuri, the name of which translates as “family” or “homemade”. This is a roast of meat and potatoes with the addition of spicy Georgian herbs. Batumi khinkali, scrambled eggs chirbuli, corn flatbreads mchadi, Georgian chicken chkmeruli, cold appetizer pkhali and kebab mtsvadi are no less popular.
Lovers of fish dishes should check out the small market located at the entrance to Batumi. Here they sell freshly caught mullet, red mullet, flounder and mussels. At the fish market you can always choose what you like, and skilled chefs will immediately fry seafood in the best traditions of Adjarian cuisine.
“Coffee on the sand” or “Batumi-style coffee” gives the capital of Adjara a special flavor. Local coffee shops know how to maintain the required sand temperature, which gives the drink a special taste and subtle aroma. And this coffee is served with baklava or puff pastry.
It is impossible to imagine a Georgian feast or, as it is called here, “supra” without good wine. In Batumi, you should definitely try the rare wine “Usakhelauri”, pink “Chkhaveri” and white “Tsolikauri”.
Transport
Public transport in Batumi is represented by buses and minibuses. Buses stop at designated stops, and in order to slow down the minibus, you just need to wave your hand to the driver. To climb from the Batumi embankment to Mount Periya, to a height of 260 m above sea level, tourists use the Argo cable car.
Taxis in Batumi are divided into two types. A minority of cars are owned by the official taxi service. Most of the drivers involved in transportation do it unofficially. Meters in cars are rare, so the fare must be agreed upon in advance, even before the start of the trip.
For those who like to travel by bicycle, the BatumVelo rental network has been created in the city. Green two-wheelers are available for rent by the hour, day and 10 days.
Tourists who travel along the Black Sea coast by private car or rent a car should take into account that the traffic in Batumi is quite dense. There are often traffic jams in the city. There are many parking lots on the streets, and all of them are paid.
Souvenirs
It is no secret that most tourists, leaving Batumi, try to take home delicious souvenirs - braided Adjarian cheese, inexpensive Georgian tea, churchkhela, tkemali sauce, spices, local wines and chacha. Silver jewelry known far beyond the borders of Georgia - rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets - are in good demand. Smokers consider Georgian tobacco, which is quite rare in Russia, a pleasant souvenir. It is produced in several varieties - from light to very strong.
Among the traditional Georgian souvenirs in Batumi, tourists willingly buy mountain hats, wine horns and daggers. True, only copies of daggers are sold in stores, and you need to look for real ones in the markets. It is worth keeping in mind that Georgian daggers are expensive, and permits are required to export them.
Hotel deals
How to get there
Batumi can be reached by plane, train, sea and road. Batumi International Airport is located just 2 km southwest of the city. Twice a week it receives flights from Moscow. To fly to the capital of Adjara from other Russian cities, you need to make a transfer. You can fly to Tbilisi, and from there go to Batumi by domestic flight, by rail or by bus. There are taxis and regular bus No. 10 from Batumi airport to the city center. The trip lasts only 15-20 minutes.
It is convenient to come to the Black Sea coast by rail from Tbilisi. Trains from the Georgian capital to Batumi run twice a day and the journey takes about 8 hours. The new Batumi railway station - Passenger is located right in the city center, near the Queen Tamara highway.
From March to November, the “Kometa” motor ship runs from Sochi to Batumi once a week. Depending on weather conditions, the journey by sea takes from 6 to 10 hours. It should be borne in mind that during the peak tourist season, “Comets” are launched twice a week.
It is possible to get to Batumi by private vehicle. To do this, you need to drive through Vladikavkaz and cross the Russian-Georgian border in the area of the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint. According to reviews from motorists, passing border control usually does not take much time. However, there are days when the line of cars stretches for 4-8 hours.
Intercity buses run from some Russian cities to Batumi. Almost all of them go through Tbilisi, but there are also those that go straight to the capital of Adjara. You can come to Batumi by bus from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Orenburg and Volgograd.
Last year, like many others, I went to Georgia, thoroughly enjoyed its hospitality and spent a couple of days relaxing at the main Georgian resort - the city of Batumi. Many Russians chose Batumi as their summer holiday destination last year, as an alternative to closed Turkey and the crowded and overpriced resorts of the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea. But is it good enough to go there on vacation?
Yes, Batumi is good, but, again, it depends on what you compare it with. Compared to our resorts, Batumi is an excellent and inexpensive alternative, but of course it is still a long way from Mediterranean resorts... So should you go to Batumi? Is it worth vacationing there, say, this summer of 2017? I cannot give a definite answer, because everyone has their own criteria. I can only voice my “FOR” and “AGAINST”, and let everyone decide for themselves!
I'll start with the good. Georgia itself is good, but Batumi as a resort was built quite recently and is made of very high quality. Saakashvili wanted to make it a European candy and spared no expense, so in some places it turned out very beautiful! Plus, this is our native “USSR”. Russians are loved here and welcomed with open arms and open wallets!
10 - FOR:
1. Batumi is close. The flight is short, there are many flights, prices are reasonable.
2. Prices. Batumi is quite affordable. Yes, the center here is of course very expensive, but a little further away you can find budget accommodation and inexpensive restaurants. At least it’s several times cheaper here than in Sochi) And at the same time, it’s no less civilized and beautiful.
3. Everything is original. 99% of people from the countries of the former USSR vacation here. Almost everyone speaks Russian. In general, it’s like being at home!
4. No visa needed!
5. Nature. Adjara is beautifully located - mountains on one side, sea on the other. Lots of greenery, beautiful places. Overall great!
6. Safety! Georgia is now one of the safest countries in terms of crime! Misha at one time brought order here, for which he must be given credit. Here you can safely walk day and night, no one will attack you, rob you or rape you. Of course, no one has canceled petty scammers, but in terms of global security, everything is great here!
7. Georgian hospitality! You will especially feel this if you stay in someone’s house or in a private mini-hotel!
8. Batumi is a beautiful city. It's still a little unfinished, of course, but the center looks great. It is pleasant to walk here both during the day and in the evening.
9. Embankment. Very cool embankment in Batumi. One of the best! Here you can just walk, run or ride a bike, there are plenty of cafes and all sorts of entertainment. In the evening, the whole party happens on the embankment. Overall, a great place!
10. This is Georgia! Batumi is a great way to relax by the sea and see the country!!! Georgia is a small country, and the distances here are quite short. There is nothing stopping you from going to Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Borjomi or to the mountains in my beloved Svaneti for a week, and then returning and relaxing at sea. Georgia is cool, there is a lot to see, but... in Batumi itself, all the sights can be seen in 1-2 days)
Now I’ll add a little tar to the Georgian jug of honey. The saddest thing about Batumi for me is the beach and the sea. And since this is a beach resort, this minus is quite significant. Plus, Batumi seemed a little boring to me, although... maybe I was just tired after a two-week trip around Georgia.
10 - AGAINST:
1. Dirty sea. After all, the Black Sea... Plus there is a port nearby. There may be garbage, oil products, and stinking foam... But then, depending on your luck, the right wind and current will blow - and everything will be clean)
2. Jellyfish!!! That's why I haven't loved the Black Sea since childhood - it's because of the jellyfish!!! They are always here in huge quantities. Yes, they are safe and not as biting and dangerous as the jellyfish of the Indian Ocean, but it’s still somehow unpleasant for me to swim, raking up these slippery waterfowl.
3. Beach. More precisely, pebbles. The entire coast of Batumi is a continuous pebble beach. Small and very painful pebbles. It is impossible to walk without shoes. Getting in and out of the sea is very painful! And there are practically no piers for comfortable entry anywhere. And this is annoying...
4. Deep. Quickly and immediately. This is great, of course, because it’s painful to walk on the prickly pebbles, but it still greatly narrows the circle of vacationers.
5. Not for children! Alas. Firstly, it’s deep, secondly, it’s pebbles, and thirdly... somehow the children’s infrastructure is not developed here. The casino is full, but there are almost no playgrounds anywhere. So the children have to play in the central square near the fountain.
6. Few hotels. In the center there are good and expensive ones, but small and inexpensive ones are a problem) Misha was counting on millionaires who come here to play in the casino, and not on ordinary people who need the sea and the beach... He has to rent housing, and this is not always convenient . Hotels seem to be starting to be built, but there are still very, very few of them.
7. Infrastructure recreation and entertainment is frankly rather weak. Especially when compared with the “Turkey” to which we are so accustomed))) But I think it’s a matter of time. Although, Georgians are so lazy... But there are a lot of Turks in Batumi, they will definitely do everything here if there is demand.
8. Short season. In May it is still cool here, in June the sea is invigorating, and by the end of September it’s all over... July-August - 2 months of the high swimming season. In principle, it’s normal, but I like to relax in spring and autumn, so Batumi “flies by” for me.
9. A bit boring. There are few excursions, there is not much to see around, at least within 1 day for a round trip. Active recreation is also rather weak, although the places are beautiful and everything can be done... I can’t imagine how bored I would be here if, say, I came for 2 weeks. Hotel-beach-sea-embankment-hotel is not my option, I need to go somewhere all the time and see something!
10. Feeling of completion.“We built, but... somehow we didn’t finish it.” Saakashvishili left, funding ran out, construction was frozen. Many objects are unfinished, houses in the city also require renovation and repair, the streets a little further from the center are in terrible condition. In general, we still need to work and work here... Will today's Georgians do this? I don’t know, but if they want to develop Batumi as a resort city, then they should!
In general, for me Batumi is a great place to end my trip to Georgia and relax on the coast for 2-3 days before flying home. I wouldn’t go here to purposefully relax here for 1-2 weeks, especially with a child. But who said that if I don’t like something, others shouldn’t like it either? Therefore, decide for yourself - to go or not to go, to relax or not to vacation in Batumi!!!
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 summer cafes are open 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 smaller 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 not nearby either.
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 for 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, 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
Batumi is the fourth largest city in Georgia, a major port, and the cultural and economic center of Georgia. Doesn't look like much of a family vacation spot yet? This is because you need to get to know the Batumi resort in person. Then it turns out that this is a beautiful town with narrow streets of old quarters, modern elegant squares and shady parks. That there is a very good, and most importantly, very long beach (and there are even better beaches in the surrounding area). That along the sea there are hotels for every taste and budget. That the city has many museums and family entertainment. And that in every cafe you will be served the famous Adjarian-style khachapuri.
Isn’t it true that holidays with children in Batumi now seem very attractive? Kidpassage has collected information about all the advantages and disadvantages of this resort - now you can thoroughly prepare for your trip.
Where is Batumi
The city of Batumi is located in southwest Georgia, on the Black Sea coast. The capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, a major port, the main tourist center of the country. The distance from Batumi to Tbilisi is 374 km, to Kobuleti - 30 km, to Borjomi - 274 km.
Batumi was first mentioned by Aristotle - then the settlement was called Batus. If you look for where Batumi is located on medieval maps, you will see the name “Batomi”. In the 19th century, the city was called Batum and only in 1936 it acquired its current name.
Vacation with children
Batumi is a convenient city for tourists. This is evident in everything: direct flights, a good selection of hotels, and a variety of leisure options. But at the same time, we recommend coming to Batumi with children for a few days for the excursion program, and then going to a quiet seaside resort to sunbathe and swim.
Beach holidays in Batumi are by no means in first place. Here you can really relax by the sea, fortunately, the climate of Georgia allows you to sunbathe and swim all summer and most of the autumn. But the best beaches are not in the city itself, but in suburban villages.
A trip to Batumi will be appreciated by teenagers who are interested in excursions and active recreation. With them you can wander around museums or go to the mountains for a day or two - there are many natural attractions near the city.
At the same time, in Batumi there is also something interesting for younger children: a dolphinarium, a zoo, a water park, and attractions. But in order to relax with your child calmly, without noise and fuss, it is better to choose another seaside resort, for example, Kobuleti, Ureki, Gonio or Kvariati.
Please note that in summer and autumn there can be mosquitoes in Batumi. Therefore, we recommend taking repellent with you, and if you are traveling with an infant, take care of a protective net for the stroller.
When is the best time to go?
The tourist season in Batumi lasts all year round. Of course, the main flow of tourists occurs in the summer, but even in winter the local hotels and restaurants are not empty - at this time you can enjoy Georgian hospitality without fuss.
And yet, summer is the best time to get to know Batumi. And since summer here is considered to be the period from May to October, you don’t have to plan a vacation during the peak season and relax quietly in those months when there are few people at the resort.
The season opens in Batumi in May. Warm days at the end of spring are great for excursions, but swimming in the sea will have to be postponed until June - the water does not have time to warm up. In June there are all conditions for sunbathing and swimming, and the number of tourists is not very large yet. But in July-August Batumi is crowded with vacationers.
When is the best time to go to Batumi with a child? The optimal time is September and the first half of October. With the onset of autumn, most vacationers leave, but the weather is favorable for beach holidays and excursions.
By the way, all summer (and let us remember, it lasts six months in Batumi) at the resort you can buy fruits and berries grown in Georgia. In May-June, strawberries, cherries, cherries, and medlars are sold here. In July, the shelves are filled with peaches, nectarines and plums. In August it’s time for apples, pears, and figs. In autumn, grapes and pomegranates appear on the markets.
On the first weekend of September, Batumi celebrates City Day, or Batumoba. These days, many interesting events take place on the streets of the city, which help to better understand the traditions of Georgia.
Weather and climate
The subtropical climate of Batumi - with hot summers and high humidity - requires care in choosing a time to relax with your child. It is better to choose May-June and September-October for your trip, when there is no excessive heat and stuffiness.
If you believe the archives of meteorological observations, the average temperature of the summer months in Batumi is low: about +25-26° C. But sometimes real heat hits the city. It happens that in July the air temperature reaches +40° C.
The peculiarity of Batumi's climate is frequent rains. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in winter, but rainy weather is not uncommon in summer.
It rains the least in May. Considering that this month the air warms up to +19° C, the end of spring can be considered a good time for excursions.
In June, the resort experiences truly summer weather. Daytime temperatures rise to +23-24° C, the water in the sea becomes warm enough for swimming. Perhaps the best holiday in Batumi with children is in June, before the heat sets in.
The heat usually comes in July-August. The average temperature of these months is only about +26°C, but in the sun thermometers show +30°C and above. Frequent short-term rains do not interfere with beach holidays, but increase air humidity.
Summer nights in Batumi are quite cold. With the onset of dusk, the temperature can drop to +17-20° C.
In order not to adapt to the “steam room”, it is better to come to the resort in September. The air temperature at this time drops to +24° C, and the sea remains warm like summer. If you are planning to come to Batumi with a baby, we recommend choosing September.
The velvet season sometimes stretches throughout October. The air in mid-autumn maintains a temperature of about +20° C, so an October vacation in Batumi should be devoted to travel rather than a beach holiday.
From November to March, Batumi comes under the wing of a rainy and warm winter. But already in April the air warms up to +16° C, which indicates the approach of a new tourist season.
Sea water temperature
In May there are many sunbathers on the beaches of Batumi. But almost no one is in a hurry to swim: the sea temperature is only +15-17°C at the beginning of the month and +18-19°C at the end. From the first days of summer, the water temperature in Batumi will rise rapidly. By mid-June the sea will warm up to +22-23° C, and by the beginning of July - to +24-25° C. In the second half of summer the sea becomes almost hot. Often the water temperature reaches +27-28° C.
The sea remains just as luxuriously warm in September. Although the water temperature is gradually decreasing, by the end of September the water is still very warm - about +22-25° C.
If autumn is dry and sunny, you can swim in the sea at least until mid-October. But then the water becomes increasingly colder, and by the beginning of November the sea temperature is only +18-19° C.
Nutrition
There is also something suitable for children in Georgian cuisine. This is, first of all, Adjarian-style khachapuri - a hearty boat-shaped pie with suluguni cheese and egg. A delicious achma made from puff pastry and Imeretian cheese is also suitable for a snack. Well, in the “House of Baklava” you need to try all the baklava. In addition, Batumi has many restaurants offering European cuisine.
If during your independent holiday in Batumi with children you plan to cook the usual food, then you can buy everything you need in supermarkets - they are mainly located in the city center. A huge food market is located next to the port. Batumi supermarkets have a fairly good selection of baby food. Mixtures, cereals and purees can also be purchased at pharmacies.
Transport
The main type of public transport in Batumi is buses. They can be used to get to any point in the city and even to the nearest villages. There is a timetable and route map at every stop; usually the information is given in Georgian and English.
The most useful routes are No. 1 and 1a (water park, bus station), No. 8 (train station), No. 10 (connects the airport, resort area and tourist center).
A bus ride costs 0.40 GEL, while a ticket is valid for 2 trips or 2 people and costs 0.80 GEL. A trip to the suburbs will cost 0.80 GEL. Children under 6 years old travel free of charge. In addition to buses, minibuses run around Batumi. The fare for them is the same as for buses, but there is no route map - you will have to find out on the spot where this or that minibus goes.
You can also use a taxi. This is a relatively inexpensive form of transport in Batumi, however, the cars are not equipped with a meter, so we recommend agreeing on the price with the driver in advance. The most unusual transport is the cable car. A full one-way ticket costs 5 GEL, tickets for children - 2 GEL.
To get around Batumi you can rent a bicycle. We recommend not to drive onto the roadway, since traffic discipline in the city is lame.