What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Batumi, Georgia.
Photo: Svetlbel / Pixabay
Batumi is a coastal city in Georgia with 235,668 people. It mixes a beach holiday with city walking. You can walk the seafront Boulevard, explore the Old Town around Europe Square and Piazza, and ride the Argo Cable Car. Nature is close by. The Botanical Garden lies just north of the city, and Gonio Fortress and Makhuntseti Waterfall make easy trips. The best months to go are July, August, September and April.
Plan more than a day. The Old Town sights take 1–2 hours each and the Boulevard 2–3 hours. The Botanical Garden and Makhuntseti Waterfall need half a day each. Gonio Fortress takes 2–3 hours. Add beach time.
Seafront
A long, tree-lined promenade that runs beside the Black Sea beach, with walking and cycling paths, cafés and public art. It is the easiest way to get a feel for the city, and it is best at sunset or in the evening, when locals come out to walk.
Mtsvane Kontskhi (north of the city)
A large garden on a steep hillside above the sea, with plants from many climate zones and good views over the coast. Wear comfortable shoes because the paths go up and down a lot, and avoid it on very hot or rainy days.
Old Town
The historic centre has restored 19th-century buildings, small streets and Europe Square with its golden Medea statue. It is compact and easy to explore on foot, with many cafés and restaurants nearby.
Old Town
An enclosed square built in an Italian style, with mosaics, a clock tower and outdoor restaurants. It is newly built rather than historic, but it is a pleasant place to stop for a drink, especially in the evening.
Seafront
A large moving metal sculpture of two figures who slowly come together and move apart, based on a famous love story set in the Caucasus. It stands at the end of the boulevard and is most interesting after dark, when it is lit up.
Old Town
A cable car that climbs from near the centre to a hilltop viewpoint with a restaurant. From the top you can see the city, the port and the mountains behind; skip it on cloudy days when the view is poor.
Gonio (south of Batumi)
A large Roman and Byzantine-era fortress with strong stone walls and archaeological remains inside. It is a short trip from the city and gives some real history to balance the modern buildings of Batumi.
Near the port
A working market where you choose fresh Black Sea fish and have it cooked in the small restaurants next door. It is simple and practical rather than pretty, and a good place for an informal meal.
Makhuntseti (Adjara mountains)
A tall waterfall and a medieval stone arched bridge in the green valley inland from Batumi. It is an easy trip into the mountains, and it can be combined with a stop at local wine and food places along the road.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C / 3°C | 15 days (217 mm) | 5.3 h/day | 11°C | 2.6/10 |
| February | 12°C / 4°C | 14 days (151 mm) | 6.4 h/day | 10°C | 3.8/10 |
| March | 14°C / 5°C | 17 days (191 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 11°C | 4.6/10 |
| Best month: April | 18°C / 9°C | 12 days (104 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 13°C | 7.6/10 |
| May | 21°C / 13°C | 15 days (127 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 17°C | 7.1/10 |
| June | 24°C / 18°C | 16 days (166 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 23°C | 7.4/10 |
| Best month: July | 26°C / 20°C | 19 days (246 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: August | 27°C / 22°C | 18 days (196 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 28°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: September | 25°C / 18°C | 16 days (251 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 26°C | 7.9/10 |
| October | 21°C / 14°C | 14 days (311 mm) | 7.3 h/day | 21°C | 7.0/10 |
| November | 17°C / 9°C | 13 days (218 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 17°C | 6.6/10 |
| December | 13°C / 5°C | 13 days (215 mm) | 5.7 h/day | 14°C | 4.4/10 |
High 10.5°C, 15.3 rain days and 217 mm of rain. Score 2.6, the lowest of the year: avoid. It is cold, wet and grey, with 5.3 sun hours.
High 11.9°C and 13.9 rain days. Score 3.8, so avoid. The sea is 10.4°C, far too cold for swimming, and there is little sun.
High 13.8°C, but 16.7 rain days. Score 4.6: ok for a city visit if you pack for rain. It is not beach weather yet.
High 18.1°C and 12 rain days, the fewest of the year. Score 7.6: a best month for walking, though the sea is only 13.2°C.
High 21°C and 14.5 rain days. Score 7.1: good. Days are warm with 9.9 sun hours, but the sea is still cool at 17.1°C.
High 24.4°C, 16.4 rain days and the most sun of the year, 10.4 hours. Score 7.4: good. The sea warms to 23.3°C.
High 25.6°C and a warm 26.4°C sea. Score 8: best for the beach. Expect showers, though: 18.9 rain days, the most of the year.
High 26.6°C, the warmest month, and the sea peaks at 28.1°C. Score 8: best for swimming, but there are still 18.1 rain days.
High 24.6°C and 15.7 rain days. Score 7.9: best. The sea stays at 26°C, so beach days continue after the summer peak.
High 20.8°C and 14.1 rain days. Score 7: good, but it is the wettest month, with 311 mm. The sea is still 21.4°C.
High 16.9°C and 12.8 rain days. Score 6.6: good for the city on mild days, but expect 218 mm of rain and a 16.9°C sea.
High 13.1°C and 12.8 rain days. Score 4.4: ok. Short, grey days with 5.7 sun hours; come for the city, not the beach.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Georgia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, food, walking
The historic centre around Europe Square and Piazza has restored buildings, cafes and most of the city's sights within walking distance, and the seafront boulevard is close by. It is the easiest base if you want to explore on foot without taxis. Drawback: bars and restaurants make some streets noisy late at night in summer.
Good for first-timers, beach, couples
The strip along Batumi Boulevard gives you direct access to the pebble beach, the promenade and its cycle path, with the Old Town a short walk inland. It is a good choice if the sea is your main reason for coming. Drawback: it gets crowded and loud in peak summer, and sea-view rooms are in high demand.
Good for beach, families, modern apartments
This newer district south of the centre is mostly high-rise apartment towers along a long, wide seafront promenade. You get more space and a calmer beach than in the centre. Drawback: many blocks are still under construction, and the Old Town is a long walk or a taxi ride away.
Good for nature lovers, quiet, return visitors
North of the city, this greener, quieter area sits near the Batumi Botanical Garden, with hills running down to the sea. It suits people who want calm evenings and walks rather than nightlife. Drawback: the terrain is hilly, and you will need a bus or taxi to reach central Batumi.
Good for beach, families, slow travel
These seaside villages south of Batumi, towards the Turkish border, are known for clearer water and a more relaxed pace, and Gonio has its Roman-era fortress. They are good for a beach-focused stay away from city noise. Drawback: they are far from the city centre, and evening options are limited outside summer.
The boat-shaped cheese bread of Adjara, the region around Batumi. It comes topped with an egg yolk and butter. You stir them into the hot cheese and tear off the crust to dip.
An Adjarian home dish of cheese melted in butter. It is served hot, often with mchadi (cornbread) for dipping. Look for it in restaurants that serve traditional regional food.
An Adjarian speciality of thin dough rolled up and baked with butter and soft fresh cheese. It is rich and filling, so it's best shared as part of a larger Georgian meal.
Layers of boiled dough with cheese and butter, baked a bit like lasagne. Locals buy it by the slice from bakeries, often for breakfast or as a quick snack.
Batumi is on the coast, so small fried fish such as red mullet and anchovy are common. At the city's fish market you can choose fresh fish and have it cooked nearby.
Yes, August is one of the best months to visit Batumi, with a score of 8. Days reach about 27°C and nights stay near 22°C. The sea is at its warmest, around 28°C, which is ideal for swimming. Expect rain, though. August averages 18.1 rain days and 196 mm, so plan some indoor time.
The best months are July, August, September and April. For beach holidays, choose July to September, when the sea is 26°C to 28°C. April is good for sightseeing, with highs around 18°C, 9.1 sun hours a day and the lowest rainfall of the year at 104 mm. The sea is only about 13°C then, which is too cold for most swimmers.
Yes, Batumi is wet all year. Every month has at least 12 rain days. October gets the most rain, around 311 mm. July has the most rain days, about 19. April is the driest month, with 104 mm. Pack a rain jacket in any season, even in summer.
Winter is not a good time for Batumi, and January and February are rated 'avoid'. In January, highs are only about 11°C, with 15.3 rain days, 217 mm of rain and about 5 sun hours a day. The sea drops to around 10°C to 11°C. December and March are a little better and are rated 'ok'.
Plan several days rather than a quick stop. The Botanical Garden takes half a day. The Makhuntseti Waterfall and Queen Tamar Bridge take half a day including travel. Gonio Fortress needs 2–3 hours including travel. In the city, allow 2–3 hours for Batumi Boulevard and 1–2 hours each for the Old Town, the Argo Cable Car and the Fish Market.
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