Batumi is Georgia’s main seaside resort and the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, on the Black Sea near the Turkish border: a palm-lined seafront, a skyline of modern towers, a 19th-century old town and, just to the north, one of the largest botanical gardens of the former USSR. What to see when you visit Batumi, when to go on one of the wettest coasts in the country, how to get there and get around: here are the essentials, based on official sources.
Batumi combines with Tbilisi and the Caucasus: see our Georgia travel guide, our calendar of when to go to Georgia and the map of Georgia.
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Batumi at a glance
- Entry US citizens visa-free for up to 365 days, UK citizens for up to one year; health and accident insurance required · travel.state.gov · GOV.UK
- Safety the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Abkhazia and South Ossetia; Batumi, in Adjara, is outside these areas (GOV.UK, updated 15 September 2026)
- Beach season June to August (calculation: more than 16 days a month at 25 °C (77 °F) or above, based on WMO normals for Kobuleti)
- Rain about 2,500 mm (98 in) a year, peaking in September-October; May is the driest month
- Time zone UTC+4, no daylight saving: 4 hours ahead of London and 9 hours ahead of New York in winter (3 and 8 hours in summer)
- Currency the Georgian lari (GEL)
Things to do in Batumi: the highlights
The Boulevard and the seafront
Batumi Boulevard runs along the pebble beach for several kilometres: palm trees, gardens, cycle lanes, cafés. It is the evening promenade, when the heat eases. The beaches are pebbly: water shoes make swimming easier.
The Alphabetic Tower and the Ali and Nino statue
At the end of the seafront, the Alphabetic Tower (130 m / 427 ft) celebrates Georgian script: two double-helix strips carry the 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet, each 4 m (13 ft) high, below a sphere at the top reached by a lift (Wikipedia). Nearby, the moving sculpture « Ali and Nino » by Tamara Kvesitadze, two metal figures that slowly approach and pass through each other, is the most photographed image of the city.
The old town, Europe Square and the Piazza
Batumi grew in the late 19th century, when it was annexed to the Russian Empire (1878) and linked to Tiflis (Tbilisi) and Baku by the Transcaucasian railway (Wikipedia). Its streets of balconied houses from that period surround Europe Square, dominated by a statue of Medea holding the Golden Fleece, and the Piazza, an Italian-style ensemble with cafés and terraces.
Batumi Botanical Garden
Nine kilometres (6 mi) north of the city, at Green Cape (Mtsvane Kontskhi), the botanical garden covers 108 hectares (267 acres) of hills facing the sea: subtropical flora from several continents, trails and viewpoints. It is one of the largest botanical gardens of the former Soviet Union and a research centre (Wikipedia). Allow half a day and good shoes: the site is on a slope.
The Argo cable car
The Argo cable car climbs from the centre to a hill with views of the bay, the port and the towers. Opening hours and prices: on site or on the operator’s website.
Around Batumi
- Mtirala National Park: relict rainforests between the sea and the mountains of Adjara, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 with the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands; one of the wettest areas in the country (Wikipedia).
- Gonio Fortress: south of the city, towards the Turkish border, the fortified remains of an ancient stronghold (Apsaros).
- The rest of Georgia: Kutaisi, Tbilisi, the Greater Caucasus; see our Georgia travel guide.
Booking excursions
Excursions to Mtirala or Gonio can be booked with local agencies or online platforms. Check what is included (transport, admission, guide), group size and cancellation in case of rain, which is frequent on the coast. The U.S. Department of State notes that the tourism industry is unevenly regulated and that safety inspections of equipment are not routine.
Itinerary: Batumi in 2 or 3 days
- Day 1: old town, Europe Square and the Piazza in the morning; beach in the afternoon; the Boulevard, the Alphabetic Tower and Ali and Nino at sunset.
- Day 2: botanical garden in the morning, Argo cable car late in the day.
- Day 3: Mtirala National Park or Gonio Fortress.
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Are coming for the beach | July-August: 26 to 29 days a month at 25 °C (77 °F) or above (WMO normals for Kobuleti) |
| Want to avoid rain | May is the driest month; avoid September to January |
| Are coming in September | The sea is still warm but there are nearly 2 days of torrential rain (≥ 50 mm / 2 in) on average: keep a plan B |
| Love nature | The botanical garden and Mtirala, in spring or early summer |
| Are touring Georgia | Batumi at the end of the trip for the beach, after Tbilisi and the Caucasus |
When to go to Batumi
Batumi has no 1991-2020 normals published in the World Meteorological Organization archive. We therefore use the nearest coastal station, Kobuleti (5 m / 16 ft above sea level, north of Batumi on the same coast), with its WMO 1991-2020 normals, supplemented by our sunrise and sunset calculations. Note: the temperatures in the WMO 1981-2010 « Batumi Airport » data sheet, reproduced by several websites, are identical to those of Tbilisi, which reveals a data-entry error; we do not use them. Its rainfall (2,519 mm / 99.2 in a year) is, however, very close to that of Kobuleti (2,521 mm / 99.3 in).
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation | Days ≥ 25 °C (77 °F) | Sunrise / sunset on the 15th | Day length | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.8 °C (51 °F) | 2.6 °C (37 °F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 0.0 | 8:38 am / 6:07 pm | 9 h 30 | ❌ Mild but very wet |
| February | 11.2 °C (52 °F) | 2.8 °C (37 °F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 0.0 | 8:09 am / 6:46 pm | 10 h 37 | ❌ Cool, wet |
| March | 13.7 °C (57 °F) | 5.1 °C (41 °F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 0.9 | 7:26 am / 7:19 pm | 11 h 53 | ⚠️ Cool |
| April | 17.1 °C (63 °F) | 7.9 °C (46 °F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 3.7 | 6:34 am / 7:53 pm | 13 h 19 | ⚠️ Spring, cold sea |
| May | 21.1 °C (70 °F) | 12.5 °C (54 °F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 5.7 | 5:54 am / 8:25 pm | 14 h 31 | ✅ Driest month, mild |
| June | 25.2 °C (77 °F) | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 16.1 | 5:38 am / 8:49 pm | 15 h 11 | ✅ Warm, start of beach season |
| July | 27.6 °C (82 °F) | 19.8 °C (68 °F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) | 26.2 | 5:51 am / 8:46 pm | 14 h 54 | ✅ Peak beach season |
| August | 28.3 °C (83 °F) | 20.3 °C (69 °F) | 241 mm (9.5 in) | 29.2 | 6:21 am / 8:13 pm | 13 h 52 | ✅ Hottest month, storms |
| September | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | 16.4 °C (62 °F) | 309 mm (12.2 in) | 18.5 | 6:53 am / 7:23 pm | 12 h 30 | ⚠️ Warm sea but heavy rain |
| October | 21.7 °C (71 °F) | 12.1 °C (54 °F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 5.8 | 7:24 am / 6:32 pm | 11 h 08 | ⚠️ Wettest month |
| November | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 6.8 °C (44 °F) | 255 mm (10.0 in) | 0.6 | 8:01 am / 5:53 pm | 9 h 52 | ❌ Wet |
| December | 12.7 °C (55 °F) | 3.9 °C (39 °F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 0.0 | 8:32 am / 5:43 pm | 9 h 11 | ❌ Wet |
How to read it: the Adjara coast is one of the wettest in the region: about 2,500 mm (98 in) a year. Unlike the Mediterranean, summer is not dry: 193 mm (7.6 in) in July, 241 mm (9.5 in) in August. The peak comes in September (309 mm / 12.2 in) and October (318 mm / 12.5 in), with on average 1.8 and 2.0 days of rain of 50 mm (2 in) or more. May is the driest month (84 mm / 3.3 in). August is the hottest (average high 28.3 °C / 83 °F); winter stays mild (about 11 °C / 52 °F in January) but very wet. Destination de Voyage calculation: June, July and August total on average 72 days at 25 °C (77 °F) or above, against 9 in April and May combined.
For Tbilisi, Kakheti or the Caucasus, see when to go to Georgia.
Getting to Batumi and getting around
Airport: transfers and car hire
Batumi Alexander Kartveli International Airport (BUS) is south of the city; it is one of Georgia’s three international airports, alongside Tbilisi and Kutaisi (Wikipedia). Flights reach Batumi directly or via Kutaisi and Tbilisi depending on the season: check the airlines’ schedules. From the airport to the centre: taxi, ride-hailing app, hotel shuttle or a booked transfer; the UK FCDO advises not flagging taxis in the street and pre-booking through an app where possible. To explore mountainous Adjara, a hire car gives flexibility: check the excess, permission to cross into Turkey if you plan to, and the condition of mountain roads. According to GOV.UK, you can drive in Georgia with a UK licence for up to one year, but check with the hire company whether a 1968 international driving permit is needed.
From Tbilisi and in town
Batumi has been linked to Tbilisi by rail since the 19th century (Wikipedia); timetables and bookings on the Georgian Railway website. In town, the centre and the Boulevard can be explored on foot or by bike; buses and taxis fill the gaps.
Where to stay in Batumi
The old town and the area around the Boulevard let you do everything on foot. The seafront towers offer apartments with views; further south, the area of new towers is further from the historic centre. In July and August, book early.
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: you need a valid passport; U.S. citizens may enter, reside, work or study in Georgia without a visa for up to 365 days, and overstaying is fined. Border officials may ask about the purpose of your trip, funds, insurance, hotel bookings and return tickets (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated September 17, 2026).
- UK citizens: you can visit Georgia without a visa for up to one year; your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. All visitors must have health and accident insurance covering the whole stay (arrival and departure dates included), with cover of at least 30,000 Georgian lari, and may be asked for proof by the airline or at immigration (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 15 September 2026).
- Areas to avoid: the UK FCDO advises against all travel to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and against all but essential travel to the areas next to their administrative boundary lines; the U.S. Department of State reports attacks, criminal incidents and kidnappings in and around these areas. Entering Georgia from Russia through these regions is illegal under Georgian law (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov).
- Health and emergencies: the UK has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with Georgia, and most providers only accept cash payments (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov). Rabies is a risk: seek medical attention immediately after any dog bite or scratch. Emergency number: 112 (ambulance, fire, police).
- Demonstrations: protests take place regularly in Tbilisi and sometimes in other cities; avoid large gatherings (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov).
Practical tips for Batumi
- Money: prices may be quoted in US dollars or euros, but goods and services must be paid for in lari; outside major towns, ATMs and card payments may not be available (GOV.UK). See our currency converter.
- Internet: check your home carrier’s roaming charges; an eSIM can be cheaper, see our travel eSIM guide.
- Beach: pebbles; water shoes recommended.
- Rain: carry an umbrella or a raincoat all year round, even in summer.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to visit Batumi?
Two to three days: one day for the city and the seafront, one for the botanical garden, one for Mtirala or Gonio.
What is the best time to visit Batumi?
June to August for the beach, May for the driest weather. September and October are the wettest months (more than 300 mm / 12 in, WMO normals for Kobuleti).
Do you need a visa for Georgia?
No for US and UK citizens: the U.S. Department of State allows stays of up to 365 days without a visa, and GOV.UK up to one year. All visitors must have health and accident insurance covering their stay.
Is Batumi safe?
The UK FCDO advises against all travel only to Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the areas next to their boundary lines; Batumi, in Adjara, is outside these areas. GOV.UK describes crime levels as low.
Is Batumi beach sandy?
No, it is pebbly: bring water shoes.
What is the air temperature in summer?
An average high of 27.6 °C (82 °F) in July and 28.3 °C (83 °F) in August at Kobuleti, the nearest reference station (WMO 1991-2020).
Our sources
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Georgia country information (last updated September 17, 2026) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Georgia (updated 15 September 2026).
- World Meteorological Organization: 1991-2020 normals, Kobuleti station (NOAA NCEI archive); 1981-2010 normals, Batumi Airport station (precipitation only)
- Wikipedia (English): Batumi, Batumi Botanical Garden, Alphabetic Tower, Batumi International Airport, Mtirala National Park
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm applied by Destination de Voyage (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
Opening hours and conditions may change: check the official websites before you go. To extend your trip, see our Georgia travel guide and our destinations in Asia.