Batumi
Black Sea glitz meets subtropical charm
You stroll a palm-lined boulevard where the Black Sea laps one side and a skyline of wild, futuristic towers rises on the other. Batumi is Georgia's seaside playground: part casino-bright resort, part botanical paradise, all wrapped in mountain greenery and easy hospitality.
How long to stay?
One or two days is enough for the seafront: cycle the long Batumi Boulevard, watch the kinetic Ali & Nino statue slide together at sunset, ride the Argo Cable Car for city views, and wander the Italianate Piazza Square.
Three or four days lets you escape the shore: the magnificent Batumi Botanical Garden on its clifftop, day trips to the Roman-era Gonio Fortress, the tumbling Makhuntseti Waterfall and its arched bridge, and the rainforest trails of Mtirala National Park.
Breezy, slightly surreal and fun-loving. Neon casinos and Las Vegas-style towers sit beside crumbling old houses and palm trees. In summer it buzzes with beachgoers; off-season it is sleepy and atmospheric.
The New Boulevard area and Old Boulevard put you steps from the sea and nightlife. The Old Town around Europe Square is prettier and walkable. Gonio, just south, is quieter with pebble beaches.
Batumi's beaches are pebbles, not sand, so pack water shoes. For the best photo, time the Ali & Nino statue at sunset, when the two figures slowly pass through each other against the sea.
June to September is warm beach season, lively but humid with occasional rain (Batumi is one of the wettest spots on the Black Sea). May and October are mild and quieter. Winters are damp and low-key.
Batumi International Airport (BUS) is small but linked to several European and regional cities, just 6km from the center. Marshrutka minibuses and trains connect to Tbilisi in five to six hours.
Currency is the Georgian lari; cash is handy though cards work in town. Georgian uses its own alphabet. Locals are warm and generous, and a homemade glass of wine or chacha is often offered.
