Tourist routes in Batumi

Since Soviet times, many travelers who planned to visit Georgia initially chose Batumi for their stay. Therefore, the infrastructure of this city has always been well-developed to provide its guests with everything they need for a quality vacation. Batumi offers beaches with clean sea and warm sand, cafes and restaurants for every taste and budget, historical architectural monuments, modern buildings and streets, and plenty of greenery.

Everyone who arrives in Batumi immediately falls under the charm of the city from the first moments of their stay in this fertile land. The city is beautiful and hospitable. Another factor that contributes to this charm is the opportunity to visit various interesting places, of which there are countless in the capital of Adjara.

Organization of Tourist Routes

One of the peculiarities of Batumi is that almost all local attractions are located outside the city. Therefore, transportation and organizing trips are important aspects for all visitors.

For those who rely on pre-designed tourist routes, there are numerous specialized agencies. Their services can be booked either directly in the city or through specialized websites on the Internet. This way, you can arrange individual or group trips to the most interesting places in Georgia from Batumi.

Many tourists prefer to hire professional guides who provide them with maximum information about the history of Georgia, the origins of Batumi, and more. There are also travelers who prefer to independently plan their routes, rent a car, or use public transportation.

The choice of the most suitable option is up to you. Our goal in this situation is to provide you with detailed information about what to see in Batumi and its surroundings. In other words, we will try to create a kind of list of the most popular routes in Georgia starting from Batumi.

Exploring on Your Own

All the city tours and the most visited tourist attractions outside the city are offered by the agencies available in Batumi. If you want to save significantly, you can organize your trips independently using the information provided below.

Botanical Garden

This vast and beautifully organized area, covering hundreds of hectares of land, allows you to enjoy nature and see a variety of exotic plants. It is worth spending at least a day of your vacation there. Considering that there are only two places to eat, it's better to bring your own food. This way, you will have more time for walks and won't have to wait in queues for ready-made food.

Entrance ticket - 8 GEL.

Guided tour - 50 GEL, or you can take an electric car tour for 30 GEL.

Electric car ride within the park costs 5 GEL.

Overnight stay. The garden has many benches and camping spots. If you wish to spend the night, you can bring a tent and pay 15 GEL for camping services.

Special Attractions

Pay attention to the small pond in the center of the garden, where turtles and goldfish live.

Near the pond, you will find the unique "shy" flower that amuses and entertains everyone.

In the distant part of the park, there is a fallen tree from which six new trees have grown.

How to Get There

The Botanical Garden is a 15-minute drive from Batumi. You can get there by:

Taxi.

Minibus №31, which stops at Pirosmani Street, Parnavaza Street, and near the Goodwill supermarket (Chavchavadze Street). The minibus runs every 10-15 minutes, and the fare to the entrance is only 15 GEL.

Bus №15, which operates along Melikishvili Street, Rustaveli Street, and Gogebashvili Street with a 40-minute interval.

Georgian-Turkish Border and Andria the First-caller Waterfall

The monument to Andria the First-caller is located in the small town of Sopri, 12 km from Batumi. It is dedicated to Andria the First-caller's first arrival in Georgia. According to legends, it was he who laid the first stones of the temple here and ordained the first Georgian priests. At the back of the monument, there is a waterfall.

Just 800 meters away from this location is the Georgian-Turkish border. If you have a passport, you can cross it and visit the Turkish mosque on the other side.

Route Highlights

If you happen to be in Turkey, don't miss the opportunity to take a stroll through the town of Kemalpaşa and refresh your wardrobe.

Upon returning to Georgia, make sure to take a swim at Sarpi Beach, famous for its crystal-clear waters.

How to Get There

The journey to the monument takes approximately 25 minutes. Tourists usually go there by minibus that departs to Sarpi from Tbilisskaya Square every 15 minutes and costs 1 GEL.

Sighnaghi, the City of Love

This small and incredibly cozy town is located 100 km from Batumi. With its pure air, beautiful Italian-style architecture, and delicious Georgian wine, it attracts crowds of tourists every year.

The town features an ancient fortress with 28 towers, which offers an incredible view of the Alazani Valley from its observation deck. Sighnaghi is known for its many newlyweds and couples in love who come to stroll, take beautiful photos, and spend their honeymoon there. That's why the town has earned its second unofficial name - the City of Love.

Highlights of the Trip

On the main road, you have the opportunity to visit a small wine museum, where you can not only taste various wines but also buy authentic Georgian wine made using traditional techniques.

How to Get There

The only way to reach the City of Love is by minibus that departs from a small bus station near the Samgori metro station in Tbilisi. The minibusses depart every two hours starting from 9 am. It is advisable to book your tickets in advance as there are more eager visitors than available seats.

The fare is 6 GEL, and the travel time is 2-2.5 hours depending on weather conditions.

Okatse Canyon

The Okatse Canyon is located in the Khoni District near the village of Zeda-Gordi.

This attraction became accessible to tourists from March 19, 2019. The canyon is formed by the Okatse River, from which it takes its name. Currently, it is the most visited place in Georgia, attracting numerous tourists, travelers, and nature lovers.

Tour Highlights

Adventurous individuals can walk across a narrow suspension bridge that spans approximately one kilometer. The bridge is suspended at a height of 140 meters above the precipice, which is equivalent to about 45 floors of a high-rise building.

How to Get There

To reach the canyon, you first need to get to Kutaisi. From there, you have several options from the bus station:

Take a minibus directly to Zeda-Gordi at 4:00 PM. The fare is 5 GEL. However, this option is not very convenient as the minibus arrives quite late.

Take a minibus from Kutaisi to Martvili, which passes through the Khoni district. The minibusses run every half hour, starting at 8 am, and the fare is 2 GEL to Khoni. From the bus station in Khoni, you can take a minibus to Zeda-Gordi at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM for 3 GEL.

Hire a taxi from Kutaisi directly to the destination, which would cost around 50-60 GEL.

Take a minibus to Martvili, and ask the driver to stop at the junction before reaching the final destination. From there, you can hitchhike.

Borjomi Nature Reserve

Borjomi is well-known for its healing and delicious water. However, few people know that it is also a small resort town in southeastern Georgia that is home to a national nature reserve. Nowadays, many people from all over the world visit this area to relax and rejuvenate.

The town is nestled in a river gorge, which means it has plenty of fresh air, sunlight, and greenery. There are hardly any high-rise buildings, and at the entrance to the central park, you can find charming houses with traditional architecture. The most remarkable of them is the building of Mirza-Riza-Khan, adorned with turquoise stones.

Trip Highlights

The most popular spot is the central park, where you can find a spring with genuine Borjomi water. You can drink it in unlimited quantities for free. The entrance fee to the park is 2 GEL.

The park also features swimming pools with healing sulfur water, each with its own temperature regime.

At the entrance to the park, you can find a cable car with a single cabin that takes you across the gorge, offering breathtaking views. The ticket price is 3 GEL.

How to Get There

To reach Borjomi from Batumi, there are several convenient options:

Take a direct minibus from Batumi, which departs once a day from the old bus station on Mayakovski Street. Departure time is at 10:00 AM, the ticket price is around 20 GEL, and the travel time is 6 hours.

Take a bus or minibus to Khahuri and then catch any transport heading to Borjomi.

Where to Stay in Borjomi

Since the trip to this town takes quite a long time, travelers often have the reasonable need to stay overnight. Near the park, there are many guesthouses and apartments available for rent. There are also several five-star hotels located a bit further away. Finding accommodation in Borjomi is relatively easy, but it is advisable to book in advance before your trip.

Rabati Fortress

Rabati Fortress is located in the town of Akhaltsikhe, which developed around the fortress over time. The first mentions of this castle date back to the 12th century. Its name translates literally from Arabic as "fortified place," and over the course of its existence, the fortress has witnessed many different events. This has influenced its development, and the walls of the castle bear traces of various religions and cultural influences.

In 2012, the fortress underwent a complete reconstruction, attracting tens of thousands of tourists. The secret to its popularity lies in the meticulous restoration of all the details of the fortress and its overall territory. It consists of two parts. The entrance to the lower, more modern part is free, where you can find cafes, souvenir shops, and an information center. There is an admission fee of 7 GEL to access the upper level. There, you can see an Orthodox church, a mosque with a gilded dome, and other interesting places.

Tour Highlights

While climbing the towers of the fortress, you can take unique photos against the backdrop of the surrounding area.

The highest point is the Djakeli Castle.

How to Get There

The site is located on a hill in the center of Akhaltsikhe, where you need to go initially.

From Batumi, there are bus services departing at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM from the old bus station on Mayakovski Street, 1. The travel time is 6 hours, and the ticket price ranges from 20 to 25 GEL.

Where to Stay

Just like when visiting Borjomi, exploring this city on your own requires finding accommodation. There are many options for renting houses and apartments in the city. There is also the "Hotel Gino Wellness Rabath" located within the fortress itself. Since it is considered the most popular and prestigious, its prices are slightly higher than in the rest of the city.

Vardzia - Cave City in Georgia

Vardzia is a unique testament to the ingenuity of humans in their man-made creations. This cave complex was built during the reign of Queen Tamar and served as a defensive and protective structure for 300,000 people. It stretches along the Kura River and consists of 600 rooms harmoniously arranged on 8 levels. It once housed residential rooms, chapels, libraries, warehouses, and more. After experiencing an earthquake in the 13th century, the city lost some of its buildings, and a portion of it became visible.

Today, Vardzia attracts millions of tourists, who love to wander through narrow stone passages and tunnels. The entrance fee to the museum city is 7 GEL. After purchasing a ticket, you need to climb up about 500 meters. For an additional fee, you can be driven to the starting point of the tour, which is very convenient, especially in hot weather. For 10 GEL, you can get an audio guide, and for 25 GEL, you can hire a professional tour guide.

Tour Highlights

A couple of kilometers before reaching the cave city, you can visit the Khertvisi Fortress, which is quite large and well-preserved.

Another monastic complex with 19 levels of buildings can be seen near Vardzia. However, the area is not prepared for guided tours.

How to Get There

There are very few direct buses from Batumi to the city, and they are inconvenient in terms of timing. Therefore, it is better to travel there via the town of Akhaltsikhe. From there, there are departures at 10:30 AM, 12:20 PM, 4:00 PM, and 5:30 PM, with a travel time of 2 hours and a ticket price of 7 GEL.

Where to Stay

For those looking for accommodation, there are services offered by the "VardziaResort" hotel, which has received very good reviews. Nearby, you can also find the Guest House Tirebi.

Dadiani Palace

The Dadiani Palace is a castle-palace built in the 1970s by the Dadiani princely family, descendants of the ancient Dadiani dynasty. The architectural plan of the palace clearly shows an orientation towards the Vorontsov Palace, which may make it familiar to many visitors.

The building is surrounded by a multitude of beautiful and exotic plants, which were once cultivated by the world's finest gardeners for the princess. Within the palace grounds, there is also a botanical garden that delights visitors with the cool shade of tree-lined avenues and the blooming of fragrant flowers.

The entrance ticket to the museum costs 5 GEL. You can explore the castle rooms on your own, examining the exhibits, or you can additionally hire a tour guide for 5 GEL, who will tell you the history of the palace and share ancient legends and spooky stories associated with it.

Tour Highlights

The museum collection contains about 40,000 exhibits of Georgian culture, including artifacts from fallen Constantinople and European weapons.

Some of the items displayed here belonged to Napoleon, one of which is the famous posthumous mask of Bonaparte.

How to Get There

The palace is located in the central part of Zugdidi, 130 km from Batumi. You can get there by minibusses that run every 2 hours, starting from 7 AM, from the old bus station on Mayakovskogo Street, 1. The journey takes about 2.5 hours.

Khulo Village

Khulo is an old Georgian village known for its very friendly people and a unique mode of transportation to a neighboring village. This transportation is facilitated by a cable car, which was primarily built for the convenience of the locals. Tourists can also ride the cable car by paying a fare of 0.8 GEL (lari) one way.

The village itself has its own church, a local museum, and even an art gallery. The road leading to Khulo is truly breathtaking, with steep serpentine turns, a rushing river, and marvelous views.

How to Get There

The village is located 80 kilometers from Batumi. There is a daily minibus service departing from the old bus station on Mayakovskogo Street, 1. Buses run every 30 minutes, and the journey takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

Kintrishi Nature Reserve

Adjara is rich in natural reserves, and one of them is located near the Kintrishi River. It is a pristine corner of untouched wilderness with enchanting arched bridges, waterfalls, lush greenery, and wild bears.

The trail begins in the village of Tskhemvani, where there is a forester's house that you should visit before starting the hike. They will provide detailed information about the trail, give you a map, and be aware of your presence in the reserve.

Prices

Entry to the nature reserve is completely free.

Camping:

If you plan to bring a tent and spend the night in the reserve, you will only need to pay 10 GEL (lari).

You can also rent a cottage for 25 GEL (lari) per day. There are several cottages located near the forester's house.

How to Get There

The nature reserve is located 60 km from Batumi.

The best way to get there is by taking a minibus to Kobuleti for just 2 GEL (lari). The minibuses depart from the old bus station.

From Kobuleti, you can take a taxi to the reserve, which will cost around 70-80 GEL (lari) for the round trip, including waiting time.

Mtirala Jungle

Mtirala Jungle is a nature reserve and one of the natural parks in Adjara known for its high precipitation. As a result, the area is often covered in dense fog, with vegetation adorned with moss and picturesque bridges crossing gorges.

There is no entrance fee to access the reserve. The journey involves choosing one of the two hiking trails, either 16 or 6 kilometers. There are signposts along the way to help you navigate.

If you wish to camp overnight in your own tent, it will cost 5 GEL (lari) per day. If you haven't brought camping gear with you, you can rent it at the tourist center.

How to Get There

The reserve is located 25 km from Batumi. The most convenient way to get there is by taking a minibus to the village of Chakvi and then continuing by taxi. The minibus departs from the old Batumi bus station on Mayakovsky Street. The taxi service will cost approximately 40-50 GEL (lari) for the round trip, including waiting time. If you prefer to avoid transfers, a taxi ride from Batumi to Mtirala Jungle and back will cost around 75 GEL (lari) including waiting time.

Adjara Wine House

To taste authentic Georgian wine and learn about the local winemaking traditions, you can visit the Adjara Wine House. There, you will see the vineyards where the grapes for Kakhetian wines are grown, explore the wine cellars, and indulge in culinary delights at the themed restaurant.

How to Get There

The wine house is located just 16 km from Batumi. There are numerous minibuses heading towards Keda, Khulo, and Shuakhevi that go to the wine house daily. The fare for the ride is 2 GEL (lari), and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.

There are plenty of interesting places to explore near Batumi. You can find large waterfalls, cold mountain rivers, canyons, high-altitude lakes, and mountain peaks. All of these natural wonders remain largely unexplored and untouched by tourists, preserving their pristine beauty. Traveling in Georgia offers a wealth of new opportunities and exciting adventures.