Things to do in Batumi with a private guide
The best things to do in Batumi itself are the seafront Boulevard, the Botanical Garden, the Argo cable car and the old town, and a private guide can fit all of them around your group's pace. Batumi is Georgia's city on the Black Sea, the capital of Adjara and the country's main summer resort, so it is a very different side of Georgia, in the Caucasus, from Tbilisi or the mountains.
- Batumi Boulevard runs for kilometres along the shore, past the Ali and Nino moving sculpture, the Alphabet Tower and the lighthouse.
- The Botanical Garden sits on the Green Cape just north of the city, with plants from across the world laid out on terraces above the sea.
- The Argo cable car climbs from the city to a hilltop viewpoint over the port and the coast.
- The old town around Europe Square and Piazza is where you will find cafés, Adjaran khachapuri and the city's older architecture.
A guide brings the history together: the port, the Soviet years, the modern towers and the mix of cultures that makes Batumi what it is. Our guides work in English, Russian and Georgian, and we set the pace for your group, so families and older travellers can take the city slowly. For more ideas across the country, browse all our tours.
Day trips from Batumi
The most popular day trips from Batumi head south to Gonio Fortress, inland to Makhuntseti waterfall and Mtirala National Park, or north into the hills of Guria.
Gonio and Makhuntseti waterfall
Gonio Fortress, just south of Batumi near the Turkish border, is a Roman and Byzantine fort whose walls still stand almost complete. Tradition holds that the Apostle Matthias is buried there. Inland, the road into the Adjara mountains reaches Makhuntseti waterfall and the medieval stone arch known as Queen Tamar's Bridge. It is an easy day that suits families.
Mtirala National Park
Mtirala, whose name roughly means "the crying mountain", is one of the wettest places in Georgia, which keeps its forests thick and green all year. Walking trails lead through the woods to waterfalls and a lake. It suits walkers and nature lovers, and the pace is easy to adjust.
Guria
North of Batumi, Guria is a quiet region of tea plantations and green hills. Higher up, Gomismta is an alpine meadow on a mountain ridge, famous for views over a sea of clouds. The road up is rough, so we plan it with a suitable vehicle. It suits travellers who want to get away from the coast entirely.
Batumi shore excursions for cruise passengers
If you are arriving at Batumi port on a cruise ship, a private shore excursion lets you see the city and the surrounding area at your own pace, with a guide and vehicle for your group alone.
Because the tour is private, we plan it around your ship rather than a fixed schedule. Send us your ship's name, your date in port and its arrival and departure times, and we will suggest a route that fits comfortably within your time ashore. Popular choices are a Batumi city tour with the Botanical Garden, or Gonio Fortress and Makhuntseti waterfall for something beyond the city.
A few things to bear in mind:
- Your ship sets the timetable. Allow plenty of margin and always follow your cruise line's all-aboard time. We plan conservatively and adjust on the day, but we cannot change the ship's schedule.
- Shorter is often better. On a short call, the city and the Botanical Garden alone make a good day.
- Tell us early. Cruise days in Batumi can be busy, so getting in touch before you sail gives us the most room to plan.
Our guides speak English, Russian and Georgian.
Arriving in Batumi and moving on
Batumi works well as either the start or the end of a trip around Georgia. We can collect you from Batumi airport at any hour (see our airport transfers) and drive you on to Kutaisi or Tbilisi when you are ready to leave.
Kutaisi is the natural next stop, with Prometheus Cave, Martvili Canyon and Gelati Monastery all close by. Our tours from Kutaisi page covers them. If you would like a car for several days along the coast and into the mountains, see our private driver service.
We can also arrange accommodation in Batumi or along the way (hotels, guesthouses or apartments), entrance fees and meals, or leave them to you.
When to visit Batumi
Batumi is busiest in summer, when the beaches and the Boulevard are at their liveliest, but late spring and early autumn are often more pleasant for sightseeing and day trips. The coast is subtropical and green because it rains a lot, so it is worth packing a light waterproof whatever the month. Waterfalls such as Makhuntseti are at their fullest after rain.
Mountain trips such as Gomismta depend more on the season, and the road is best in the warmer months. Our month-by-month guide has more detail on what to expect across the year. Whatever the weather, if a trail or road is not safe, your guide will reroute you to something worth seeing.
