Open left menu Batumi. Batumi beaches: photos, description and our impressions Which beach is better in Batumi

Batumi was first mentioned in the 4th century BC in the works of the Greek philosopher Aristotle as “Batus”, located on the Black Sea coast in Colchis. The Roman writer Plinius the Elder and the Greek philosopher Flavius ​​Arrian spoke about a city with the same name. Translated from Greek, “Batus” means “deep.” Indeed, Batumi has one of the deepest and most convenient Black Sea bays. The local population actively traded with other countries.

In the Middle Ages the city was called Batomi. At first it was part of a single Georgian state, but then came under the rule of the Megrelian principality (Odisha) and the Gurieli dynasty. In the middle of the 16th century, the Black Sea coast was captured by the Ottomans. They ruled the coastal lands for three centuries.

In 1878, the seaside city was liberated by the united army of Georgia and Russia. According to the agreement, he became Russian and received the name Batum. For the first nine years, Batum had the status of a free port or “porto-franco”. Thanks to this, it grew and began to resemble a modern European city.

With the outbreak of the First World War, the situation in Transcaucasia completely changed. The territory of Georgia was captured by the Ottoman Empire, and the occupation of Batumi ended only with the end of hostilities. In 1919 the city came under British control. The troubled situation in Transcaucasia lasted until Soviet power was established in the region.

Today, Batumi has the status of the capital of Adjara - a multinational territory inhabited by Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, Russians, Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis and Jews. 154.6 thousand people live in the city, and the majority of local residents are Georgians (Adjarians).

Sights of Batumi

The central part of Old Batumi is occupied by the Square of Europe, which used to be called the Square of Argonauts. It is lined with beautiful buildings and looks especially picturesque in the evening. On Europe Square there is one of the recognizable symbols of Batumi - the sculpture “Medea with the Golden Fleece”, the height of which reaches 130 m.

In the center of the city is the oldest temple of Batumi - the Church of St. Nicholas (Parnavaz Mepe St., 20). It was built on the initiative of the Greek community in the 60-70s of the 19th century. In the 1920s, the temple was closed, and church services were resumed only in 1946.

The beautiful Batumi Boulevard is considered the tourist center of the capital of Adjara. This is a landscaped embankment that stretches for several kilometers along the coast. There are small shops and cafes near the seaside promenade, and there are separate paths for cyclists. There are children's rides, a tall Ferris wheel and fountains. Especially many people appear on the embankment in the early morning and after sunset, when there is no intense heat on the coast.

There are many original sculptural compositions installed on Batumi Boulevard. One of the most memorable is the kinetic sculpture “Love”, made by the famous Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze. The figures of Ali and Nino are 8 m high. They have become a symbol of eternal love and understanding.

A narrow strip of beach separates the picturesque Argadan Lake from the sea. At night, beautiful light and music fountains are turned on in the middle of it. To admire the vibrant spectacle, many tourists come to Lake Argadan every evening. Rainbow water jets dynamically “dance” to the music. The fountains look great from all sides, but experts advise watching the show from the sea. Then the bluish contours of the Caucasus Mountains appear behind the water jets. The show starts after 21.00 and continues until midnight.

In the “Park of Wonders” there is one of the new architectural attractions of Batumi - the Alphabet Tower. The metal structure resembles a model of a DNA molecule and was designed by Spanish architect Alberto Domingo Cabo. The openwork building, which depicts the letters of the Georgian alphabet, can be seen from afar, since the height of the tower is 130 m. Inside there is a television studio, an observatory and a restaurant, and from the top of the tower there is an excellent view of the city streets, the coast and the mountains.

In the evening, many Batumi residents and tourists like to come to the picturesque Piazza. It is built in the Italian style and is somewhat similar to St. Mark's Square in Venice. There is a hotel in a tall clock tower. There are restaurants and cafes on the square. Here you can relax, have a good time in the company of friends, admire artistic paintings, unique stained glass windows and mosaics, and also listen to musicians perform.

Beaches

Batumi beaches are pebbly. The most popular and best equipped - Batumi Beach - has a length of 6 km and a width of 30 m. It is loved for its clean sea and good beach service. Parents with children choose this Batumi Beach because there is a very gentle entrance to the sea, and the water near the shore is always warm. There are many cafes open near the main beach of Batumi. Tourists can use changing cabins, showers, toilets, and also rent sun loungers and sun umbrellas. During the tourist season, Batumi Beach offers a large selection of water activities: banana and cheesecake rides, parachute flights behind a boat, rental of catamarans and jet skis.

In the southern suburbs of Batumi, on the border with Turkey, lies Sarapi Beach, which is considered the cleanest in Georgia. Its infrastructure is in no way inferior to Batumi Beach, but there are not as many people here as within the city.

In the vicinity of Batumi there are two more popular resort places - Ureki and Kvariati. People go to Ureki for the dark healing sand, and Kvariati attracts vacationers with the only diving center in Georgia.

A cult place among beach lovers is the beach near the Batumi Botanical Garden - Cape Verde. It stretches for 0.5 km and is covered with medium rounded pebbles. The beach strip starts from the entrance to the Botanical Garden, and at the northern end it abuts a steep cliff, behind which there is a small wild beach. In the summer, there are many vacationers on Cape Verde.

Dolphinarium

Dolphins are frequent guests in coastal waters, so many tourists manage to see marine animals right off the coast of Batumi. However, it is always difficult to see dolphins from afar, which is why vacationers love to visit the Batumi Dolphinarium. The entertainment facility is located on the territory of the May 6 park, on Rustaveli Street, 51. It was opened in 1975 and became the first dolphinarium in the USSR.

Dolphin shows take place every day except Monday and last 30 minutes. In summer they start at 14.00, 17.00 and 21.00, and in winter - at 17.00. The amphitheater of the dolphinarium is divided into 4 sectors and can accommodate more than 700 spectators. The auditorium is protected from the sun and bad weather by an elegant glass dome. It is convenient that the performances are commented in three languages ​​– Georgian, English and Russian.

There is a large lake in the park next to the dolphinarium building. Near it there is a zoo, an aquarium and children's attractions. At the entrance to the park you can see a huge tree that was planted by Russian Emperor Alexander III during his visit to Batumi.

Museums of Batumi

Batumi museums are one of the local attractions. There are more than ten of them in the city. To learn more about the history, culture and traditions of Adjara, it is worth visiting the Adjara Museum of Local Lore, which is located on I. Dzhincharadze Street, 4. Ancient manuscripts and books, archaeological artifacts, as well as exhibits telling about the nature of Georgia and the peoples inhabiting it are stored here. .

The bulk of the finds discovered on the territory of Adjara are housed in the Batumi Archaeological Museum. These are spears, tools, ancient jewelry and a rich collection of ceramics. The museum is located on I. Chavchavadze Street, 77.

You can get acquainted with the work of Georgian artists at the State Museum of Arts of Adjara, on Gorgiladze Street, 8. In its halls, paintings and graphics created by artists living in Georgia are exhibited.

Batumi is a multi-religious city, so it is not surprising that the Museum of Religion was created here. Its halls display more than 400 exhibits telling the history of religious denominations of the capital of Adjara.

There is a place in Batumi where the peculiarities of the life and traditions of the Adjarians are presented. This is the Borjgalo ethnographic museum. Here you can see more than 50 mannequins in national clothes, models of traditional homes and household utensils.

What is worth seeing in the vicinity of Batumi

Not far from the capital of Adjara there are several nature reserves and national parks. The Kintrishi mountain gorge is located 55 km from Batumi. The national park created here is located on the northwestern and western slopes of the Meskheti Range.

The Kintrishi River is home to trout, shemaya and carp. On the mountain spurs you can see roe deer and chamois, and in the dense forests brown bears, wild boars, squirrels, badgers, martens and hares find shelter. In addition to natural attractions, the national park is decorated with ancient monasteries carved into the rocks, ruins of medieval bridges and churches standing on the hills.

12 km south of the seaside town, at the mouth of the Chorokh River, are the ruins of the Gonio-Apsaros fortress. It was built during the Roman Empire and was used for several centuries. According to legend, on the territory of the fortress there is the grave of the Apostle Matthew. Today you can see the ruins of stone walls, the ruins of a hippodrome, barracks, baths and a Roman theater. There is also a small museum in the fortress.

Botanical Garden

The Batumi Botanical Garden extends over an area of ​​113 hectares. This is one of the largest gardens on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. It is located 8 km from the city, near the Cape Verde railway station. Today, the Batumi Botanical Garden has more than 5,000 species of plants, including about 2,000 trees and shrubs.

The botanical collection was founded by geographer and botanist Andrei Nikolaevich Krasnov in 1880 on a marshy seaside hill. Thanks to Krasnov, the heaths by the sea were planted with beech, eucalyptus, chestnut, hornbeam, cherry laurel and Pontic rhododendron. The official opening of the Botanical Garden took place in 1912.

The specialists working in the Botanical Garden did a lot of work on the acclimatization of subtropical crops that are valuable from an economic point of view. Since the beginning of the last century, various varieties of tea, citrus fruits, bananas, persimmons, bamboo and camphor trees have been successfully grown near Batumi. The botanical garden is divided into several floristic zones, where you can see rich collections of plants brought from Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, East Asia, the Himalayan mountains and the Mediterranean.

Minibus No. 31 and bus No. 15 go from Batumi to the Botanical Garden. Access to the territory is paid. You can explore the garden on foot or by electric car. In addition, excursions are held here for tourists.

Cuisine of Batumi

Every resident of Georgia is proud of their national cuisine and has every right to do so, because delicious Georgian dishes are known far beyond the borders of this country. The cuisine of Adjara is in many ways similar to Georgian, but has its own characteristics. Batumi is located on the seashore, so its restaurants serve a lot of fish dishes, which are not so popular in other regions of Georgia. The city is focused on receiving tourists, so bread here is often baked not from corn flour, but from wheat flour.

Arriving in Batumi, it is worth trying the local khachapuri, which is reputed to be the best in Georgia. Local chefs bake fragrant flatbreads with cheese, fish and meat. They give them the shape of a boat, and the “sun” egg becomes an indispensable attribute of Adjarian khachapuri.

All tourists like a hearty dish - ojakhuri, the name of which translates as “family” or “homemade”. This is a roast of meat and potatoes with the addition of spicy Georgian herbs. Batumi khinkali, scrambled eggs chirbuli, corn flatbreads mchadi, Georgian chicken chkmeruli, cold appetizer pkhali and kebab mtsvadi are no less popular.

Lovers of fish dishes should check out the small market located at the entrance to Batumi. Here they sell freshly caught mullet, red mullet, flounder and mussels. At the fish market you can always choose what you like, and skilled chefs will immediately fry seafood in the best traditions of Adjarian cuisine.

“Coffee on the sand” or “Batumi-style coffee” gives the capital of Adjara a special flavor. Local coffee shops know how to maintain the required sand temperature, which gives the drink a special taste and subtle aroma. And this coffee is served with baklava or puff pastry.

It is impossible to imagine a Georgian feast or, as it is called here, “supra” without good wine. In Batumi, you should definitely try the rare wine “Usakhelauri”, pink “Chkhaveri” and white “Tsolikauri”.

Transport

Public transport in Batumi is represented by buses and minibuses. Buses stop at designated stops, and in order to slow down the minibus, you just need to wave your hand to the driver. To climb from the Batumi embankment to Mount Periya, to a height of 260 m above sea level, tourists use the Argo cable car.

Taxis in Batumi are divided into two types. A minority of cars are owned by the official taxi service. Most of the drivers involved in transportation do it unofficially. Meters in cars are rare, so the fare must be agreed upon in advance, even before the start of the trip.

For those who like to travel by bicycle, the BatumVelo rental network has been created in the city. Green two-wheelers are available for rent by the hour, day and 10 days.

Tourists who travel along the Black Sea coast by private car or rent a car should take into account that the traffic in Batumi is quite dense. There are often traffic jams in the city. There are many parking lots on the streets, and all of them are paid.

Souvenirs

It is no secret that most tourists, leaving Batumi, try to take home delicious souvenirs - braided Adjarian cheese, inexpensive Georgian tea, churchkhela, tkemali sauce, spices, local wines and chacha. Silver jewelry known far beyond the borders of Georgia - rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets - are in good demand. Smokers consider Georgian tobacco, which is quite rare in Russia, a pleasant souvenir. It is produced in several varieties - from light to very strong.

Among the traditional Georgian souvenirs in Batumi, tourists willingly buy mountain hats, wine horns and daggers. True, only copies of daggers are sold in stores, and you need to look for real ones in the markets. It is worth keeping in mind that Georgian daggers are expensive, and permits are required to export them.

Hotel deals

How to get there

Batumi can be reached by plane, train, sea and road. Batumi International Airport is located just 2 km southwest of the city. Twice a week it receives flights from Moscow. To fly to the capital of Adjara from other Russian cities, you need to make a transfer. You can fly to Tbilisi, and from there go to Batumi by domestic flight, by rail or by bus. There are taxis and regular bus No. 10 from Batumi airport to the city center. The trip lasts only 15-20 minutes.

It is convenient to come to the Black Sea coast by rail from Tbilisi. Trains from the Georgian capital to Batumi run twice a day and the journey takes about 8 hours. The new Batumi railway station - Passenger is located right in the city center, near the Queen Tamara highway.

From March to November, the “Kometa” motor ship runs from Sochi to Batumi once a week. Depending on weather conditions, the journey by sea takes from 6 to 10 hours. It should be borne in mind that during the peak tourist season, “Comets” are launched twice a week.

It is possible to get to Batumi by private vehicle. To do this, you need to drive through Vladikavkaz and cross the Russian-Georgian border in the area of ​​the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint. According to reviews from motorists, passing border control usually does not take much time. However, there are days when the line of cars stretches for 4-8 hours.

Intercity buses run from some Russian cities to Batumi. Almost all of them go through Tbilisi, but there are also those that go straight to the capital of Adjara. You can come to Batumi by bus from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Orenburg and Volgograd.

Most travelers love Batumi. Of course: a lot of sun, sea, turquoise waves and delicious food. But this city seemed to me too noisy, too oriental and somehow not very Georgian. However, it is all the more interesting to come here and form your own opinion. The country's largest seaport, blooming in summer and dying down in winter, a multi-kilometer seaside boulevard, a luxurious concert hall and a chacha fountain - all this is modern Batumi. One can argue about love for him for a long time, but one cannot help but admit: the handsome Batumi deserves at least a short date while traveling around Georgia.

How to get there

To get to Batumi, you can use almost all types of transport. The city is located on the Black Sea coast, which makes it accessible by ships and ferries. Batumi has an international airport, a new glass train station and a bustling bus station. Choose the type of travel that is closer and more convenient for you, and see you in Batumi!

By plane

The easiest way, of course, is to fly to Batumi from the largest cities of Russia.

From Moscow

It is easiest to get to Batumi from the capital: direct flights are operated by Ural Airlines and S7. Prices for a round-trip ticket in the summer season start from 250 USD/15,000 RUB (provided that you buy it four months before the trip). If you want to save 50 USD, you can fly with a transfer in Minsk (Belavia flies there).

From Saint-Petersburg

From here, getting to Batumi is cheaper (from 220 USD/13,000 RUB), but longer: direct flights from St. Petersburg to Batumi do not yet exist, and you will have to fly through the same one. There are both short connections (one and a half to two hours) and excellent options with a 17-hour daytime transfer, during which you can at the same time take a walk around the capital of Belarus. So for those who want to kill two birds with one stone, flying to Batumi through can be the start of a great adventure. In case, after visiting Georgia, you want to continue your journey further south, there are direct flights from Batumi to (one way flight costs about 130 USD/8,000 RUB).

You can search for tickets on well-known search engine sites or.

Batumi Airport(also known as Choroh) is located just a few kilometers from the city center. You can get there by bus No. 10 (the stop is located right in front of the exit from the terminal building) in 20 minutes. The cost of travel - 0.25 USD/0.4 GEL. A taxi ride to Batumi airport will cost approximately 8 USD/15 GEL.

By train

There is currently no way to get from Russia to Batumi by train. It was earlier that he knocked along the Black Sea coast, passing through Abkhazia and Georgia. Now the only option to get to Batumi is by train - is to first be in Georgia. A train from Tbilisi, for example, takes 6–8 hours (there are both day and night trains), the ticket costs from 8 USD/15 GEL. Georgian trains are quite comfortable (they are constantly being improved), the carriages have air conditioning (if you go in the summer, you will be grateful) and Wi-Fi, which is always needed. There is a train to Batumi with a morning departure at 9 o'clock. Such a trip will take 2.5 hours, you will have to spend no more than 5 USD/10 GEL.

Trains arrive at Batumi Central Station (modern, but kind of stupid: it was difficult for me to navigate). It is located at the very beginning of the city. Many forums still contain information about the Makhinjauri station, where trains supposedly arrive. Don’t believe me, friends: the station in Batumi was opened several years ago, and you don’t need any Makhinjauri (this is the station in front of Batumi). If you are light, you can even walk to the city center from the station - walk no more than 4 kilometers. You can take a taxi or jump on a minibus (they run regularly, the cost of the trip is 0.4 USD/0.5 GEL).

By bus

You can use the most popular form of transport in Georgia and go to Batumi by minibus. The journey from Tbilisi (from the Didube bus station next to the metro station of the same name) will take at least 6 hours and cost 9 USD/25 GEL. Not the most comfortable way to travel, because it will be hot in summer, in winter - it's too foggy for nice views and will be crowded anyway (especially if passengers have a lot of stuff). Minibuses depart every hour, starting in the morning. Generally - ok, you can go. You will see half of Georgia, chat with fellow travelers, and just relax. If possible, sit next to the driver - There's better visibility and less motion sickness.

By car

From Moscow

To get to Batumi from Moscow, you will need approximately 28 hours. The 2,200-kilometer-long route will run through southern Russia and almost all of Georgia. It is best to stay overnight in the city of Vladikavkaz to start the morning already in Georgia (Vladikavkaz is located only 30 km from the Georgian border). On your route there will be toll sections of the road, for example, on the M-4 (Don) highway. Be sure to calculate in advance how much a trip from Moscow to Batumi will cost you.

From Saint-Petersburg

If you are traveling to Batumi from our northern capital, add another 10 hours and 700 kilometers. In this case, it is best to stay overnight in Rostov-on-Don. And, perhaps, then also in Tbilisi: after the Georgian Military Road (it starts from the Georgian border and lasts almost all the way), a person who is not accustomed to driving along serpentines may need additional rest.

From Tbilisi

If you are already traveling around Georgia by car, then it would be logical to get to Batumi along the road marked on the map (in principle, this is the only normal road to Batumi from the main part of the country). The roads of Georgia are generally of good quality, all signs are duplicated in Latin, the police do not stop unnecessarily, there will be gas stations on the Batumi route. The only threat may be the driving style of local drivers. Remember the “Rule of Three Ds” and give way to those in a hurry. A journey of almost 400 kilometers can be covered in 6 hours. If time permits, stop in small towns and villages along the way. For example, near the town of Zestafoni you can turn right and get to the Katskhi pillar.

Important: you cannot travel from Russia to Georgia through Abkhazia. And you can't pass either. No way. In Georgia, this is seriously punished, including imprisonment. Please do not try to negotiate with the border guards and try your luck. You will have to go through the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint (I talked about it in Georgia).

By ferry

The Comet ferry is perhaps the most original way to get to Batumi. This is where its advantages end. The ship departs every Tuesday and Friday from the city (only during the warm season: from April to November).

In a favorable situation, the journey takes 6 hours, but it is impossible to predict the behavior of the sea, and sometimes people swim for 12. If you are not in a hurry - you can hit the road. Such a trip costs, however, a lot: a one-way trip will cost 115 USD/7,000 RUB. It is important to remember that the ferry schedule is adjusted based on weather conditions.

Clue:

Batumi - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow − 1

Kazan − 1

Samara 0

Ekaterinburg 1

Novosibirsk 3

Vladivostok 6

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Adjara, of which Batumi is the capital, has a fairly humid Mediterranean climate with subtropical elements. Therefore, rains are normal in Batumi, regardless of the season. Only in summer it will be stuffy, and in winter it will be piercingly cold. As one resident of the city of Poti told me, the best climate on the Black Sea is in Abkhazia. And he mercilessly scolded the climate of Batumi, saying that it couldn’t be worse. Therefore, it is best, as true professional travelers should do, to come to the place and check everything yourself.

Batumi in summer

Batumi is a resort in its purest form, so in summer it will be hot here and also crowded. The daytime temperature often goes beyond 35 degrees, at night it does not drop below +25 degrees, so it’s difficult in Batumi in the summer without air conditioning. Tropical rains are frequent, which can greatly ruin your vacation if you are staying in a tent on the seashore, for example. But the water during this period is really warm (+25 degrees), especially starting in July.

Batumi in autumn

Autumn - the most diverse time of year in Batumi. In September and sometimes even in the first half of October it is very warm: the velvet season. The air temperature remains at +25°C, the water is still heated after the hot summer, but the evenings are already pleasantly cool. Everything can change in November when the rains begin. On such days (and the Batumi rain can go for a day or two without stopping), you need to find normal shoes, a raincoat and an umbrella, and go to some khinkal cafe to wash down your melancholy with wine. However, even in such weather there is something to do in Batumi. I will talk about this below.

Batumi in spring

Spring - unstable time in Batumi: March is considered the rainiest month, and May - It's almost summer already. The water temperature reaches its lowest levels in March, so swimming in the Black Sea in May is unlikely to be possible.

Pleasant weather begins in April: during the day the air warms up to +25 degrees, so spring is perfect for walking around the city: it is not yet hot, the sea is cool, so you can throw all your energy into exploring the area. In addition, the flowering period begins, which is best met in the Batumi Botanical Garden, I will definitely tell you about it below.

Batumi in winter

Winter in Batumi is good, if only because there is almost no snow here: in the whole year there can be a maximum of two snowy weeks, during which, you know, the temperature does not drop much below zero.

But if it starts to rain in winter, no one will care: the high humidity in these places creates a feeling of wild frost, so taking a down jacket and a hat with you to winter Batumi will be an excellent solution. During the day the air warms up to +5–10 degrees (and on sunny days up to +18), there are frosts at night, but usually there is a slight plus. The weather in Batumi is too unpredictable, so you need to be prepared for all its surprises.

Batumi - weather by month

Clue:

Batumi - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Batumi is a geometrically correct city. The center is very compact. The outskirts are of little interest, especially if you are here for a short time. The main landmark is the boulevard, around which all life is concentrated in one way or another. Another center of life is the bus station on Tbilisi Square (relevant for those who plan to travel to the suburbs). I will tell you about three central areas where both party-goers and families with children can stay.

Old Batumi

This area - the lush core of the ancient city, where old buildings, cobblestone streets, churches, shops, cafes and banks are concentrated. From here it is a stone's throw to the coastline, and if you rent a room with a sea-view, you will enjoy the sun falling into the sea every evening.

There are many inexpensive guesthouses and hostels (for example, a place in a common room at the Batumi Surf Hostel in the summer will cost 10 USD/20 GEL) and good four-star hotels (the price of a double room at The Admiral Hotel in the summer season - 100 USD/200 GEL). You can book at , but you can check if there are better prices somewhere

Rustaveli Avenue

The noisiest and funniest street in Batumi. Expensive hotels and casinos, beach bars and discos - it's all here. The avenue is suitable for those who came to Batumi not to sleep. There are several hotels of the Radisson level here (a double room in March costs 100 USD/200 GEL, but in August there are no available rooms). A room in a small guesthouse in this area costs from 10 USD/20 GEL in March.

Sheriff Khimshiashvili street area

Where Rustaveli Avenue ends, Sherif Khimshiashvili Street begins (he was the ruler of Adjara during Ottoman rule). The sea is also close here, the parties are a little further away, but you will most likely have to live in tall new buildings: this area is distinguished by new buildings. However, some will like it: modern 20-story buildings, lots of light and glass, balconies overlooking the sea. For example, it was precisely because of the balcony and the view from the 16th floor that I rented Apartment Dumbadze during my first visit to Batumi. In the summer season, this apartment cost 50 USD/100 GEL per person per day and, probably, it was my most expensive accommodation in Georgia. If you want to experience the local flavor, then it makes sense to rent an apartment from the locals; you can find an option that suits you. There is a 24-hour supermarket on Kobaladze Street, and nearby - the most unusual McDonald's in Georgia.

What are the prices for holidays?

Prices in Batumi, as in any resort city whose residents are trying to earn money for winter life in the summer, vary depending on the season. It will be most expensive, of course, in the summer, when thousands of tourists come to the city. In winter, Batumi becomes empty, and you can negotiate with the driver or hostess of the guest house about a more favorable rate. But in the summer, be prepared to pay in full. For example, a double room in a guesthouse in the center of Batumi, which costs 8 USD/15 GEL in the winter season, will cost twice as much in the summer. There are also five-star hotels in Batumi (for example, Sheraton), prices per night in which start from 250 USD/670 GEL in the summer.

For the same price, you can rent a house with four bedrooms, a kitchen and air conditioning and move the whole family there. A full lunch or dinner for two in a decent khinkal restaurant will cost 15 USD/30 GEL. A taxi ride around the city costs 2 USD/5 GEL, and somewhere on the outskirts (to the Botanical Garden or Gonio Fortress, for example) - up to 8 USD/15 GEL one way.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub Lari, GEL

Main attractions. What to see

And even though settlements on the site of present-day Batumi arose in the 4th century BC and Aristotle mentioned Batumi, for me this city is the most modern and youngest in all of Georgia. Probably the reason for this was the large-scale renovation carried out during Saakashvili's reign. Then Batumi was restored, and it became like a set for a historical film. At the same time, in the early 2000s, strange futuristic sculptures and monuments were built that appeal to many tourists. What should travelers see in Batumi?

Top 5

In new cities, I like to wander the streets, look into courtyards, trying to spy on the life and everyday life of ordinary people, and also ride a cable car, if the city has such wealth. Batumi, fortunately, has it.

• Famous Batumi Boulevard, from which there is no escape: of course, as many as 7 kilometers, paved with tiles, decorated with bright illumination and loved by tourists. However, apart from this boulevard, there is nowhere else to walk in Batumi. And it’s much more pleasant to wander along the sea, going to coastal cafes (some have tables right on the sand) and admiring the evening city, buried in lights. In the evenings there are street shows and performances, and in the mornings the boulevard turns into the best place for jogging and cycling;

• As for me, cable car "Argo"– one of the best entertainments in Batumi. The longest in Europe (2600 meters), it passes over the city and ends its path on Mount Feria (translated from Georgian as “fairy”) at an altitude of 260 meters. In a ten-minute trip (that’s exactly how long it takes to get to the very top), you will see the whole of Batumi and remember the view of the steel Black Sea with ships for a long time. The lower station is located on the embankment near the information center (at the end of Chavchavadze Street). In the summer, at the top, on the observation deck, concerts of Georgian performers are held until midnight. At any time there is a small cafe where you can have a cup of coffee before heading back down, and a souvenir shop. The road is open from 10 am to 1 am, the price of a round trip ticket is 5 USD/10 GEL. The only negative is that during the high season you often have to wait in a 15-minute queue to go up or down.

• Sea port(Gogebashvili St., 3) has some otherworldly charm. I am not a fan of Batumi, for me it is too noisy and flashy, but I like the port with the Soviet building of the Marine Station, which preserves the atmosphere of the last century. Firstly, the color of the building: what else could a sea terminal be if not soft lilac? Secondly, its size: small and therefore defenseless, it is completely lost against the background of modern Batumi monsters. For example, my favorite thing to do is sit on concrete slabs on the seashore next to the station, admire the port, seagulls and distant mountains, and if I’m in the mood, chat with the fishermen.

• Church of the Holy Christ the Savior(K. Gamsakhurdia St., 25) - a typical Armenian temple built at the end of the 19th century. The fact is that in those days Batumi was a very Armenian city. During the Soviet years, the church managed to be an observatory. Inside there is complete minimalism and simplicity. The most beautiful thing in this place is the magnolia in the yard, which was planted by the artist Ivan Aivazovsky (did you know that his real name is Ayvazyan?).

• Batumi Art Center, or Batumi Opera(O. Dimitriadi street, Built under Saakashvili, it became another glass remake of the city. But I like it: spacious, in some Moorish style, it immediately evokes thoughts of oriental palaces, and besides, it is located on the very shore of the Black Sea. Inside there is absolutely luxury in the form of several fountains. The equipment, apparently, is of high quality: during performances there is excellent sound. I managed to attend a concert of the famous Sukhishvili ensemble (do not choose the first rows, they are located too low). After the concert you can walk along the embankment Walk to the center - the walk will take about 50 minutes.

Beaches. Which ones are better

I would not recommend swimming in Batumi at all.

There is essentially only one beach in the city: "Batumi Beach". For some reason it was named in the English manner, but still swimming at a distance of several tens of meters from the port is a dubious pleasure.

Moreover, Georgians from the central parts of the country think the same way and go abroad. On the beach in Batumi I saw mostly large families of Turks, although, admittedly, on my first visit I also ran into the water, but at that moment it started to rain (talking about the Batumi weather), and I had to leave. Next time I went to the beach in Sarpi. In general, if you decide to swim in Batumi, at least go as far as possible to the south of the city, away from the port.

If you have time to leave Batumi for a good beach, go to Cape Verde- it is not far from the Botanical Garden. The beach got its name from the color of the water - it really has a greenish tint. You can get there by minibus No. 31 (ticket price 0.25 USD/0.6 GEL) from the Boni market (Mayakovsky St., 12).

Your stop is the final one. To the left of the entrance to the Botanical Garden you will see a path to the sea, follow it, and very soon you will find yourself on a small cozy beach. There are several cafes nearby, the prices of which are comparable to those in Batumi.

I will tell you about other beaches located in the suburbs of Batumi below.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Batumi was tormented, divided and torn apart: first by ancient tribes, then by the Ottomans, then by the Russian Empire (which, however, saved it from the Turks). Finally, Adjara, with Batumi at its head, joined Georgia (albeit as an autonomous republic). Of course, all these ups and downs in the history of the city and region could not but affect the architecture, national composition and character of the place.

• Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary(Chavchavadze St., 25), from a distance reminiscent of some German castle. Initially (in 1903) the cathedral was built by Italian architects as a Catholic one, but over time it became Orthodox. Having survived the Soviet years, the temple has survived well to this day, and even inspired director Tengiz Abuladze with its history to create the film “Repentance.” Now it is a beautiful building in the neo-Gothic style with pleasant lighting at night;

• Synagogue Batumi(Vazha Pshavela St., 33). There were always many Jews living in the city, and, of course, they wanted to have their own synagogue, which they achieved in 1904. During the Soviet years, various sports organizations were located on its territory, and in the 90s, it was finally restored. The place will be of interest to architecture lovers: the building was designed by a fairly well-known master at that time, Lev Volkovich;

• Orta Ahmed Pasha Mosque(Kutaisskaya St., 33) - Batumi could not do without her. It is no secret that the city was under the rule of the Ottomans for 500 years. The mosques, however, were built here wooden and very modest. On the facade of the only mosque that has survived to this day is the year of its construction: 1866. From the outside, they are unremarkable, and the place of worship can only be recognized by the towering minaret. Now the authorities of Georgia and Turkey are discussing the issue of building a new mosque, but nothing is clear yet.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Museums are not Batumi’s strong point, although there are more of them here than in, for example. Let's see where you can spend rainy days or just get inspired by Adjarian culture and history.

• Museum of Fine Arts of Adjara(Gorgiladze St., 8) small, but cozy and somehow neat. Mostly works by contemporary Georgian artists are presented here (they clearly show the influence of the sea), although there are also such gems as a painting by Niko Pirosmani and several canvases by Lado Gudiashvili. The museum is open daily except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance ticket 1 USD/2 GEL.

• Nobel Brothers Museum of Technology(Leselidze st., 3). Sudden, right? Although there is no reason to be surprised: it is thanks to the developments of the brothers that Nobel still remains a transit point for Azerbaijani oil. The museum opened in 2007. It is located in the house where the Nobel family lived at the end of the 19th century. Among the exhibits are samples of refined oil in branded glass bottles, many old photographs (even the work of the famous Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, the first master of color photography in the Russian Empire), as well as an exhibition dedicated to Georgian tea culture. The museum is open daily, except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance ticket price - 1 USD/2 GEL.

Parks

The humid tropical climate of Batumi is ideal for vegetation, so the capital of Adjara is very green and cozy. There are not many parks in the city itself, but all the surrounding mountains are covered with evergreen cover, which looks especially beautiful if snow suddenly falls in southern Batumi.

• Botanical Garden Batumi- the largest in the country and one of the best in the former Soviet Union. A pleasant place to spend the whole day surrounded by trees, flowers, birds, goldfish swimming in ponds, and eternal Wi-Fi. Palm trees, oleanders, cypresses, magnolias, red Japanese camellias and other wonders grow here. The garden is open from 8 am to 9 pm and is open seven days a week and on holidays. An adult ticket costs 4 USD/8 GEL GEL, children under 10 years old are free. Those who want to get to know the southern flora better can pay for the services of a guide (14 USD/30 GEL). There is only one entrance to the Botanical Garden, so expect to have to go back to the beginning. The garden is located 9 kilometers from the city center. To get to it, you will need minibus No. 13. You can catch her on Chavchavadze Street or come to the final one - Tbilisi Square.

• Park 6 May(the place is named after the day of St. George, whose memory is honored on May 6) is located in the very center of Batumi, you can easily find it (if anything - Rustaveli St., 51). A cozy, clean, nice park for walking both during the day and in the evening, with a lot of benches. In the middle of the park there is Lake Nurigeli, where you can take a boat trip. There is also a rather original fountain installed here - a stream of water seems to lift a block of stone above the ground. In the evenings, holidaymakers walk here and local couples hug.

• Another tourist place in Batumi - "Wonder Park". It only has a name from the park, but in reality it is a large paved area on the seashore. There is a rental of bicycles and children's cars. Here you can appreciate the architectural scope of Saakashvili’s times. For example, the “Alphabet Tower”: a strange building in the form of a DNA spiral, decorated with ornate letters of the Georgian alphabet. Upstairs, in the dome, they promised to open a restaurant, but something went wrong, and you won’t be able to eat there. This miracle was built by the Spaniard Alberto Domingo Cabo in 2012. Pay attention to the sculptures of Ali and Nino (perhaps you have already read the book of the same name by Kurban Said or even watched a film based on this sad story). The main disappointment for me was their size: in the photographs the pair looks gigantic, while in reality it took me 10 minutes to stand next to them to realize: yes, here they are!

Another really cool thing about Wonder Park is the old Batumi lighthouse built in 1862. Unfortunately, against the background of the Ferris wheel, Ali, Nino and other characters of the square, the lighthouse is completely lost: small, nondescript, and therefore very sad. In the evening it casts a beam of red light towards the sea. The Chacha Tower was hidden here (in Batumi it is called Chacha Tower): according to the plan of the former President of Georgia, every day at a strictly defined hour, chacha was supposed to flow from the fountains near the tower. Perhaps it was for the best that the project was not implemented. From a distance, the tower looks very much like a mosque, don’t be confused.

Tourist streets

In Batumi, I would highlight several main or simply nice city streets. In general, the city is distinguished by the fact that almost all of its streets are built parallel to each other. This makes Batumi the most geometrically correct city in Georgia.

• Batumi Boulevard, which lazily stretches along the sea line for many kilometers. Citizens and tourists love it for its original sculptures and installations, dancing fountains and the opportunity to take long walks. A lovely place where the sea will not leave you: all 7 kilometers of the boulevard stretch along the coast. And if you get tired of nature, there is good free Wi-Fi here.

• Rustaveli Avenue, which in Tbilisi, for example, is the main artery of the city, and in Batumi it is simply a major street. Among the interesting things you can see here is the building of the Drama Theater named after. I. Chavchavadze in the classical style and the square in front of him - there is a magnificent fountain on it. It was copied from the fountain on the Main Square in Bologna, Italy, with the only difference that in Batumi Neptune was decorated with gold.

• King Farnavaz Street a couple of kilometers long crosses Batumi from the sea embankment to new houses that are of no historical value. It’s interesting to see the Greek Church of St. Nicholas; opposite it there will be the same Piazza, which I deliberately do not write about: this is a Venetian-style square, surrounded by plastered new buildings, which for some reason was shoved into the center of Batumi. However, if you have not been to Italy, you can visit. I avoided this place.

What to see in 1 day

If you come to Batumi for just one day, then most likely you will want to try fish, swim, and appreciate the architecture of the city. In that case, I suggest you the following plan.

• 10:00 - regardless of how you came to Batumi (minibus, train or hitchhiker), let's start with the fish market to immediately feel the atmosphere of the seaside city, especially since there is only one entrance road to Batumi, and you will definitely pass the market. If you are on a minibus or hitchhiking, just tell the driver about your intention. If you arrive at Batumi station, you need to go left along the sea for about 1 kilometer, and then on the left side, a little further in, there will be a market. You won't see him: you'll have to start a conversation with the locals again. At this rather early hour, you have the opportunity to choose the freshest fish in all of Batumi and have breakfast with it: they cut it and cook it in no more than half an hour right at the market.
• 11:00 - Now, having refreshed yourself, go on foot to the city center. The road is not the most picturesque, but the proximity of the sea and white-bellied seagulls overhead brighten up the views of the port.
• 12:00 - you came to the city and immediately came across the lower cable car station on the street. Gogebashvili. Jump into the cabin and go upstairs. Yes, it’s more beautiful in the evening, and you can come back if you have time, but in the morning, believe me, it’s also very cool to look at the city waking up.
• 12:40 - inspired by the panorama of Batumi, you go down and continue along the street. Gogebashvili. On the right there will be a port and a marine terminal building, and soon you will find yourself on Batumi Boulevard. Here you will see the lion's share of the places I described. If luxury hotels don't excite you, you can go down to the beach and walk on the pebbles for as long as you can. By the way, at this stage you can rent a bicycle. In this case, you can drive to the very end of the boulevard, and if you still walk, then walk a couple of kilometers and turn left into the city.
• 14:00 - you must go to the Park on May 6. You can relax there and eat ice cream. Afterwards, head into the very heart of the historical center.

• 15:30 - an hour and a half is enough for you to get tired. Now, if the weather permits, you can either go to the city beach or drive to Sarpi (I’ll tell you how to get there below). Three hours is enough for this short trip.
• 19:00 - in the evening you can return to Batumi Boulevard: by this time it will shine with new colors. You can sit in one of the bars on the beach, or find a place you like in the Old Town and continue your walk around Batumi. It depends on your further route.

What to see in the area

Makhuntseti (29 km from Batumi)

The Makhuntseti waterfall along with the Queen Tamara Bridge are an Adjarian must-see, especially in summer. Makhuntseti is a mass of pure water falling from a height of 20 meters (that’s about 9 floors). The water has carved a stone bowl into the rock, which is great to take a bath in (so come early in the morning). The Queen Tamara Bridge is 20 meters long and is a beautiful curved arch over the river. It was built in the 11th century from stones and lime mortar.

From the outside it seems unreliable, but you still have to cross to the other side: the cafe there offers freshly caught grilled fish. And in general, Tamara’s name must be treated with respect. A bad Georgian is one who does not adore Queen Tamara: during her reign in the 12th century, the country reached its greatest prosperity. To get to Makhuntseti, you need to find minibus No. 77 at the Batumi bus station to the village of Keda (one-way price is 0.8 USD/1.5 GEL). Warn the driver in advance that you are going to see Makhuntseti, and he will stop at the right place. Travel time is about 40 minutes.

Sarpi (18 km)

The cleanest beach in Adjara, Sarpi, is located just half an hour from Batumi. The water here is so clear that at a depth of 2–3 meters you can clearly see the bottom. Nearby are rocks from which the bravest dive into the sea. There are several cafes, showers, sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. A good place to spend the whole day away from the city. However, you shouldn’t stay here overnight: the beach is located under the road connecting Georgia with Turkey, just 500 meters from the Turkish border, so there are always a lot of trucks and cars here. If you take your international passport with you, you can go to Turkey: the beaches there are better, and you can cross the border on foot. Getting from Batumi to Sarpi is as easy as shelling pears: you can take bus No. 16 for USD/1.6 GEL in both directions, a minibus for the same price, or a taxi for 10 USD/20 GEL. Look for a minibus with a “Sarpi” sign on the windshield on Tbilisi Square, in the center of Batumi at the intersection of Chavchavadze and Tsereteli streets.

Ureki (52 km)

Everyone knows that the Georgian Black Sea coast is pebbly. But there are also excellent exceptions: for example, the beaches in the town of Ureki (emphasis on the second syllable) fifty kilometers from Batumi. The local coast is famous for its pitch-black magnetic sands. What does "magnetic" mean? This means that you will be washing your feet from it for a very long time, and also that even in a couple of days here you will become healthier and stronger: Ureki is a balneological resort, and magnetic therapy is common here. The first line of the beach is occupied by romantically abandoned buildings of Soviet sanatoriums, hotels and cafes. Then there are alleys of pine and eucalyptus trees (breathe deeply!). You can get from Batumi by any minibus that goes to Tbilisi, Zugdidi. The cost of the trip is approximately 2 USD/5 GEL.

Mtirala (28 km)

Mtirala National Park is located near the village of Chakvi at an altitude of 1,390 meters above sea level. “Mtirala” translated into Georgian means “crying”, and this is not without reason: this place is considered one of the wettest in the region. The park, full of red-listed plants (Pontic oak, Colchian boxwood, dzhonjoli), is considered one of the most important nature reserves in Europe. Here is a colossal supply of fresh water for Georgia, a village with 200-year-old houses, and also a Colchis forest (read the legend of the Argonauts). The best way to get from Batumi is by car: first along the seashore to the village of Chakvi, then follow the sign to the right, to the village of Chakvistavi. Take a look inside: interesting architectural buildings like water mills have been preserved there.

Food. What to try

To visit Batumi and not try Adjarian-style khachapuri is a crime against Georgia and yourself. Be sure to find a cozy place and order this khachapuri with soft plump sides and a bright yellow heart, like the Adjarian sun itself. Tested: the dish replaces breakfast, lunch or dinner equally well.

Batumi is full of both inexpensive cafes and luxurious restaurants. Almost everywhere the food is decent, and often lunch at a cheap eatery turns out to be many times tastier than food from an expensive establishment. But cool restaurants, as a rule, have a beautiful view of the sea and the surrounding area, because they are located on the top floors of high-rise hotels in Batumi.

Vegetables and herbs are sold on every corner in the summer, so if you live in an apartment, you can easily buy everything you need close to home. There are also large chain supermarkets in Batumi: for example, the giant Goodwill (Chavchavadze St., 5 or Gorgiladze St., 88)

Cafe "Laguna"(Gorgiladze St., 13) with the best Adjarian khachapuri in the city. This is a small semi-basement dukhan with excellent Georgian cuisine. The main character is the already mentioned khachapuri. One large one is enough for four people (the price of a masterpiece is 5 USD/11 GEL). Dukhan is so popular that sometimes you have to wait in line. The cafe is open from 9 am to midnight, the kitchen closes a little earlier.

Institution BQ Wine Bar(Gorgiladze St., 18) is suitable for wine lovers or those who don’t know anything about it, but really want to understand it. The owner Beka, the most hospitable of Adjarians, conducts excellent tastings of unique Georgian wines (price 16 USD/25 GEL per person). You will listen to his stories about the wine regions of Georgia, unusual gastronomic combinations, and try cheeses and dairy veal. Although there is almost no food here, this place, like a good wooden barrel, is imbued with the spirit of wine. Will become your beacon in inclement weather. Open from 12 noon to 1 am.

Budget

• At the restaurant Tavaduri(Lermontov St., 36/38) serves, perhaps, the best khinkali in Batumi. The average bill for a group of four is 35 USD/70 GEL. Vegetable salad from real Georgian tomatoes - aromatic and sweet, grilled trout (near the sea), good wine. The place is full of locals, which speaks volumes about the quality of the food and promises that the restaurant will be very smoky. Open from 10 am until late evening.

• Khinklis Gemo(Pushkin St., 99) - a quiet place away from tourist routes. There are separate cabins (with air conditioning, which is very important in summer Batumi!). Georgian cuisine in good execution. Try local lemonades. Lunch for two costs approximately 14 USD/25 GEL. The restaurant is open from 9 to 23 hours.

Mid-level

• Restaurant from the chain "Machakhela"(there are the same ones in) is located near the lower cable car station, on the very seashore (Gogebashvili street). The menu includes good Georgian cuisine with all its joys: khachapuri, kebabs, vegetables, spinach pkhali and eggplant with nuts. Prices for khinkali start from 0.25 USD/0.45 GEL; lunch for two will cost about 15 USD/30 GEL. An undeniable advantage of the establishment is that it is open 24 hours a day. And in the summer season you can attend a concert of live national music here.
• BatuMarani(Gorgasali St., 111) - a restaurant with typical Georgian cuisine. Some people praise khinkali, others praise trout in pomegranate sauce. The menu includes wine and chacha. Lunch for two - from 15 USD/30 GEL. The establishment is open from 9 am to midnight.

Expensive

Hotels- don’t forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

And where every day of vacation turns into a bright holiday.

The infrastructure of these beaches is quite well developed, which allows young couples, families with children, and more mature people to fully enjoy their holiday. Despite the fact that the beaches of the resort villages neighboring Batumi are quieter, and sometimes the water next to them is cleaner, we recommend choosing the city ones. This is explained by three points: convenient location (there is no road nearby), neatness (every day early in the morning they are cleaned, unlike some villages) and accessible beach amenities (you can rent an umbrella and a sun lounger, there are changing cabins, toilets, fresh water) shower).

Batumi beaches and sea

Judging by Google maps, there are 9 beaches in Batumi: Hookah, Children's, Iveria, Mandarin, the beach to the right of the pier, My Black Sea, Cocoa, Water Park and Boom Boom Beach. All of them pebble, as in general, throughout (sandy beaches can be found only in the villages of Ureki, Grigoleti and partly in Kobuleti). In fact, the city coastline is best divided into four groups, which really differ from each other: suburban, central, in the area of ​​​​the new part of Batumi and wild. The listed beaches are popular among tourists to varying degrees due to their characteristics.

IN suburban part, located next to the Center for Music and Art (Opera House), the beach, although long, is quite narrow (the width does not exceed 20 meters); There is a highway nearby. Mostly locals and tourists who live in this part of Batumi swim here. There is no infrastructure as such on the beach, and if you get hungry, you can only eat in a local restaurant. You can get here by public transport or bicycle. Suitable minibus numbers: 21, 28, 29, 31 and buses: 2, 10, 13 and 17.

central part is the purest and most popular. It includes the beaches: Iveria, Mandarin, the beach to the right of the pier and My Black Sea. The seaside park, located nearby, harmoniously fits into the surrounding landscape. The beaches of the central part are well equipped - here you can rent a sun lounger and an umbrella from 2 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
2 lari = 0.66 euro;
2 lari = 0.76 dollars;
2 lari = 50.44 rubles;
2 lari = 21.28 hryvnia;
2 lari = 1.7 Belarusian rubles.
before 4 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
4 lari = 1.32 euros;
4 lari = 1.52 dollars;
4 lari = 100.88 rubles;
4 lari = 42.56 hryvnia;
4 lari = 3.4 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. each or bring your own beach accessories. And the width of the coast (about 40 meters), as well as its length, allow vacationers to easily find a comfortable place that is not close to a neighbor.

For those who rent housing near the beach, a fresh shower after a not too salty sea is not needed at all.

Along the entire length of the beach there are toilets, changing cabins, 50 tetri GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
0.5 lari = 0.17 euros;
0.5 lari = 0.19 dollars;
0.5 lari = 12.61 rubles;
0.5 lari = 5.32 hryvnia;
0.5 lari = 0.43 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate., shower costing 1 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
1 lari = 0.33 euros;
1 lari = 0.38 dollars;
1 lari = 25.22 rubles;
1 lari = 10.64 hryvnia;
1 lari = 0.85 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate..

Along the shore there are good cafes, restaurants, small kiosks, nightclubs, shops, and an amusement park with attractions. It is in this part that you will be offered a lot: from parachute flights to “riding” on a flyboard.

In the first half of the day, before the mass arrival of tourists, the embankment looks clean and well-groomed. It is thoroughly cleaned every morning. Later you can see a different picture - pieces of paper and cigarette butts lying between the stones. And even despite this, Batumi beaches look much better than the beaches of Ureki or Chakvi.

A little about the sea

The Black Sea, which washes the coastal part, including the resort of Batumi, is quite clean and relatively warm. At least during the time that we were vacationing in Georgia, it did not seem to us as warm as, for example, the Adriatic Sea in Montenegro or the Black Sea in Bulgaria. The water was quite comfortable, but nothing more.

There is a fairly clean and uncrowded beach under the Batumi Botanical Garden.

The sea, especially pleasant in temperature and cleanliness, splashes off the coast of Batumi, where you can combine a visit to the kingdom of flora with pleasant water treatments on the shore a little lower than the park. Then returning to it will not be a problem, the main thing is to keep the ticket until you leave the garden.

The seabed off the coast of the resort is rocky. Like beaches, it consists of pebbles of different sizes and shapes. Depending on the selected section of the coast, the descent to the sea can be either smooth or abrupt, with a rapid increase in depth.

Reviews about beach holidays in Batumi

To be honest, we don’t like to relax on the beach during our entire vacation, so we try to visit many interesting places during this time. However, we remember splashing in the sea off the coast of Georgia for its unusual features:

1. Not all people like to walk into the water over pebbles. Sometimes it is not only unpleasant, but also painful. Many locals noticed this minor tourist problem and found a solution: often along the shore you can find merchants selling special silicone slippers (similar to moccasins). They are especially relevant for children.
2. The beaches of Batumi, as already mentioned in the article more than once, are pebbly. Therefore, lying on a thin sheet on them is not always a pleasure. Although, many people like this free relaxing massage. By the way, the sea pebbles on the shore quickly cool down, which means that on cloudy days lying on them is completely uncomfortable.
3. Due to the pebble beaches, people rarely travel to Georgia with their own umbrellas. It is much easier to rent one on the spot, rather than bother with “burying” the umbrella in the stones yourself.
4. The sea water off the coast is clean. Very rarely (most often during a storm) debris in the form of twigs and leaves is deposited into it. But no algae or any large waste (papers, plastic bags) are observed in the water.
5. Even during the peak season, in August, Batumi beaches are more or less free. You can find a place on them and sit comfortably on the shore not next to a noisy neighbor.
6. Prices for products that sellers carry along the shore are often the same as in shops, bakeries or kiosks in the city.

And frankly, it’s great to relax in Batumi. We really enjoyed the relaxed beach holiday on the city coast with moderate traffic of vendors between tourists. Although, in addition to the beaches, we recommend taking a closer look at Batumi. Believe me, among them there are many worthy of your attention and visit.

Photos from the beaches and embankment of Batumi

Although Batumi beaches cannot be called perfectly clean, they are often much nicer and more comfortable than many village beaches scattered nearby. To confirm what has been said, we are posting some photos from our beach holiday:

Children's Beach in Batumi is usually crowded. This is explained by its close location to many hotels and attractions of the city, including its proximity to the moving statue of love between Ali and Nino.

In the central part of the city embankment, vacationers are evenly “smeared” along the beach. Therefore, choosing a comfortable place for yourself will not be difficult.

The name suggests Svan. baht "stone" (who? when?). A settlement on the site of the city apparently existed for a very long time: author Pliny, I AD. e., mentions the port from Greek. the name Batis (Greek Βαθύ - “deep”), which is a rethinking of the local name (?? until now, historians have argued that this is its original name. Who and when rethought history??). In the Middle Ages the city was called Batomi, from 1878 Batum, from 1939 Batumi.

During the early Middle Ages it was part of Lazika, later a unified Georgian state, then ruled by the princes of the Mingrelian principality of Odisha. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the city was ruled by the princes of Guria. In 1547, Batomi was conquered by the Ottomans, who controlled the city for almost 300 years. In 1878, the city was liberated by a united Russian-Georgian army, became part of Russia under the Berlin Peace Treaty between the Russian and Ottoman Empires and became known as Batum. In 1878-1886 it was a free port, which played an important role in the formation of the city. In 1936 it was renamed Batumi.

Today Batumi is the most important cultural, economic and tourist center of Georgia. Most of the buildings in the city date from the 19th century. The city is home to the ancient Tamara fortress and the Orthodox Church (formerly a Catholic cathedral). Batumi has a population of 140 thousand people, the population density is 7293.8 per km², the majority of the population are Georgians, parishioners of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Location

The city of Batumi is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, on the Black Sea coast. The city is located in the Kakhaber lowland, 2-3 meters from sea level. The shape of the lowland resembles a crescent, which stretches 7 km from north to west. The main part of Batumi is adjacent to the Batumi Bay, in the northern part of the Kakhabra Lowland, along the Bartskhan and Korolistskali rivers. The total area of ​​the city is 19 km2.

The annual precipitation level in Batumi is 2,131 mm. October is the wettest month (272 mm), May is the driest (77 mm). Batumi, like the whole of coastal Adjara, is characterized by a humid subtropical climate and high thermal conditions. Usually there is almost no snow in Batumi (it snows no more than 12 days a year). The average relative humidity level is 70-80%.

First information

The first information about Batumi is found in the 4th century Greek philosopher Aristotle, where it is mentioned as the Colchian city of Batus. The city was known under the same name to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder and the Greek geographer Flavius ​​Arrian. The word batus translated from Greek means depth. Among the cities of Georgia and the Black Sea region, Batumi port is the deepest after Sukhumi.

Archaeological excavations carried out in the suburbs of Batumi established that the population lived in Batumi already in the 1st-2nd millennium BC. e. and had developed trade relations with its neighbors. The heart of ancient Batumi was the pillar located in the Tamara fortress, which was the cultural and economic center of the Korolistskali River valley.

In the 2nd century AD e. There was a Roman garrison in Batumi, but already in the 5th century, the holy king Vakhtang I Gorgasali returned the city under his rule.

In the VI, VII and VIII centuries, Batumi and the surrounding territory belonged to the rulers of Egrisi. It is known that during the feudal period there was a settlement around the Batumi fortress.

Ottoman Batumi

During the existence of the Tao-Klarjeti kingdom, the city, like the whole of Adjara, was part of Tao-Klarjeti and was ruled by the Eristavis.

Subsequently, the lands of Batumi were ruled by the Gurieli dynasty. In the 15th century, during the reign of Kakhaber Girieli, the Ottomans conquered Batumi, but Rostom Gurieli soon expelled the Ottomans from his land. After the death of Rostom Gurieli in 1564, Ottoman troops again entered the territory of Batumi. Soon the city became the center of the administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire - the sanjak. The Batumi sanjak occupied the territory from the Korolistskali River to the Chorokhi and Adzharistskali Rivers. During this period, Islam appeared in Adjara.

In 1873, Batumi was the seat of the Laz governorate, which was ruled by the ruler of the sanjak, the mutesarif. Mutesarif was subordinate to the Vali of Trabzon.

Return to the borders of Georgia
In the 19th century, Georgia began to join the Russian Empire. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. The creation of armed detachments began actively in Imereti, Kartli, Samegrelo, Kakheti and Guria. During the war, about 30,000 Georgians fought for the return of Batumi. On March 3, 1878, a peace treaty was signed in San Stefano. The Ottoman Empire, instead of part of the monetary indemnity, paid with ancestral Georgian lands, among which was Adjara. During the Berlin Congress, which provided for the revision of the San Stefano Peace Treaty, Prince Gorchakov managed to defend Batumi and Adjara.

On August 25, 1878, General Dmitry Svyatopolk-Mirsky entered Batumi, to whom Devrish Pasha handed over the keys to the city on Freedom Square. It was decided to create the Batumi district, which included the Batumi, Artvin and Adzhar districts. The status of the city of Batumi was largely determined by the British, who introduced the idea of ​​giving Batumi the status of a free port.

Thanks to the status of a free port, the city of Batumi grew and began to take on the appearance of a modern European city. However, the same period was marked by a deterioration in the social situation of the local population in Batumi, and the emergence of smuggling. Porto Franco was liquidated in 1886. On June 12, 1883, Batumi district was annexed to the Kutaisi province. The city did not have its own self-government, which hindered its normal development. Because of this, in 1885, 90 residents of Batumi submitted a petition to give Batumi city status, which was approved on April 28, 1888. In 1903, the Batumi district was separated from the Kutaisi province.

Batumi at the beginning of the 20th century

In February 1902, under the leadership of the Batumi Social Democratic Committee of the Leninist-Iskra direction, a strike of Batumi workers began, the reason for which was the dismissal on February 27 from the Rothschild oil refinery of about 400 workers suspected of participating in the revolutionary movement. The strike committee demanded an increase in wages, a reduction in working hours, reinstatement of those fired, compensation for downtime, polite treatment of workers, etc.

On the night of March 8, 32 people were arrested, after which the Batumi Social Democratic Committee organized a demonstration of strikers, 348 participants of which were arrested by the police. In protest, on March 9, workers organized a new 6,000-strong political demonstration. During the clash with the police, 15 people were killed, 54 were injured and another 500 were arrested.

Fight for Batumi
The outbreak of the First World War completely changed the situation in Transcaucasia. Due to the anarchy that followed the October Revolution, the Caucasian front completely collapsed, which is why the Ottoman Empire reoccupied the territory of Georgia.

On March 3, 1918, the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty was signed between the Bolsheviks and the Ottomans, a separate peace treaty that gave away the Batumi, Kars and Ardaan districts. In fact, this was the restoration of the borders between Russia and the Ottoman Empire from 1877. From March 14 to April 5, 1918, the Trabzon Peace Conference began. The goal of the Transcaucasian delegation was to preserve the borders of 1914, and the Turkish delegation was to recognize the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty by the Transcaucasian delegation. On April 14, 1918, Turkish troops annexed Batumi.

Georgiy Ivanovich Mazniashvili, an outstanding military leader of the Georgian Democratic Republic, who recaptured Batumi from Turkish troops in 1921.

The actual continuation of the Trabzon Conference was the Batumi negotiations, which took place in 2 stages - from May 11 to May 26 and from May 31 to June 4, 1918. The first stage of negotiations took place between the Ottoman Empire and the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, and the second between the Ottoman Empire and the already independent Caucasian states. After the Turkish occupation of Batumi, the Caucasian delegation under the leadership of A. Chkhenkeli already tried to rely on the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, but the Ottomans put forward new demands, which, due to their grandeur, aroused protest even from Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The end of the occupation of Batumi was the defeat of Germany and its allies in the First World War. In 1919, the city of Batumi and the Batumi district became a zone of British occupation. General Cook Colisse was appointed governor. On August 31, 1919, a congress of Georgian Muslims took place in Batumi, which put forward a demand for the reunification of Adjara with its homeland Georgia.

On May 7, 1920, Soviet Russia recognized the independence of the Georgian Democratic Republic, but in February of the following year the Red Army invaded Georgian territory, where hostilities soon began. The Menshevik government of Jordania evacuated to Kutaisi, and after its fall retreated to Batumi.

Taking advantage of the situation, Ottoman troops seized Artaan and Artvin, and on March 10 entered Khulo and Keda. On March 11, the Turkish troops of Karabekir Pasha entered Batumi. At the same time, 18kd D.Zhloba 11A A.Gekker set out from Akhaltsikhe on a campaign against the city. During 15 and 16 March, additional Ottoman troops entered the city. According to the official position of Turkey, its goal was to protect Georgia from Russian invasion, but subsequent actions refuted this version and proved that the goal of the Ottoman army was precisely the annexation of the region. On March 16, the Soviet-Turkish Treaty of Friendship and Fraternity was signed in Moscow, according to which Turkey agreed to “cede suzerainty over the port and city of Batumi and the territory north of the border to Georgia,” subject to Turkey’s right to use the port and carry out free transit duty free via Batumi.

Soviet Batumi

On March 17 of the same year, an uprising organized by the Bolsheviks against the Menshevik government of Georgia began in Batumi. By decision of the Constituent Assembly, members of the government of the Georgian Democratic Republic left the city and left the country. Georgian troops retreating from eastern Georgia to western Georgia faced the threat of imminent surrender. Realizing the impossibility of continuing military operations in eastern Georgia, the military decided to at least lift the Turkish occupation from southern Georgia. While Soviet-Turkish consultations were taking place in Moscow, several thousand soldiers of the Georgian army and people's guard were stationed on the outskirts of Batumi. On March 18, Georgians under the command of General Giorgi Mazniashvili entered into street fighting with the Turkish garrison and by the next day established control over most of the city. The fallen soldiers were buried there, on Freedom Square in Batumi. On the same day, units of 18 cd D.Zhloba 11A A.Gekker entered the city, and on March 20 a permanent Batumi regional revolutionary committee was created in Batumi, headed by S.I. Kavtaradze.

In 1936, the city was renamed Batumi.

One of the most painful pages in the history of Batumi are the events that followed the 1924 uprising. All members of the national liberation movement in Batumi were arrested and shot without trial. Among them was Major General Georgy Purtseladze, one of the main figures in the liberation of Batumi from the Ottoman Empire. Just like other cities of the USSR, Batumi suffered from the repressions of 1937-1938. Many residents of Batumi were drafted into the army and fought on many fronts of World War II. Of the 12,258 soldiers, 4,728 did not return to their homeland.

Recent history

After the restoration of Georgian independence in 1989-1991, the power of Aslan Abashidze was established in Adjara.

In November 2003, opposition rallies began in Georgia, accusing the country's authorities of rigging the results of parliamentary elections, which then escalated into the Rose Revolution. After the Adjara crisis, on the night of May 5-6, Aslan Abashidze and his son Giorgi left Adjara.
Religion

Many faiths are represented in Batumi. The majority of the city's population professes Orthodoxy. Major denominations: Islam, Catholicism, Armenian Apostolic Church, Yazidism and Judaism. There are temples in the city:
Orthodox: Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1903), Church of St. Barbara (1888) and Greek Church of St. Nicholas (1865). Until 1936, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral operated in the city.
Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit
Batumi Mosque "Orta-Jame" (1866)
Armenian Church “Surb Prkich” (1885)
Batumi Synagogue (1904)
Culture and education

The city is home to Batumi State University. Shota Rustaveli, Batumi State Maritime Academy and other educational institutions. Currently, the city has a Museum of Adjara Arts, a theater named after Ilya Chavchavadze, a circus and other cultural institutions.

Architecture
Old Batumi is especially beautiful. Most of the buildings date from the 19th century.

In the city there is a fortress “Tamara” and a Catholic church. Among the buildings of the Soviet era: the drama theater (1952), the Tbilisi cinema (1964).

After Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in Georgia, the city began to actively build up and develop, skyscrapers began to appear. In 2010, construction of the Sheraton Hotel was completed, and the Radisson Hotel opened on July 15, 2011. Hilton, Hyatt, Kempinsky, Mandarin oriental and others hotels are under construction.

Medea with the Golden Fleece. Monument in Batumi

Monuments to A.S. Pushkin, Vazha Pshavela, Shota Rustaveli. Numerous fountains. A unique musical fountain with a three-dimensional holographic installation. Obelisk of Glory to the soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War, with the Eternal Flame. The decoration of the city is the Seaside Park - a boulevard stretching for 8 km along the beach, Ninoshvili and Rustaveli streets.

Swimming season is from May to October.

Near Batumi, on Cape Verde, there is a famous botanical garden.

The city of Batumi is a southern paradise for fans of the subtropical Mediterranean climate. Many tourists often confuse whether Batumi is in Georgia or Abkhazia. The confusion is caused by the ambiguity in Georgian-Abkhaz relations.

Conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia

Back in 1931, Abkhazia was an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR. In the 90s, conflicts repeatedly broke out between the Georgian and Abkhaz leadership. Ultimately, this confrontation led to the Abkhaz War, which lasted from 1992 to 1993. At this time, the final separation of the territory took place, after which the partially recognized Republic of Abkhazia was formed. The Abkhazians did not dispute that Batumi belonged to Georgia or Abkhazia. This would be impossible, because the southern Georgian resort is located two regions away from the republic.

During the armed conflict in Abkhazia, Batumi and the surrounding region were not damaged in any way. Georgians from Abkhazia and the border zone were evacuated to Adjara. The Georgian government considered this place to be quite safe for housing people. While the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi was perishing under bombing, Batumi turned out to be a more or less calm refuge, even despite the civil war that was taking place in 1993.

Geographical location

The border between Abkhaz territory and Georgia runs along the Ingur River, dividing Abkhazia and the Georgian region of Samegrelo with the administrative center of Zugdidi, Imereti region. Batumi is located on the other side of Georgia - in Adjara, on the shores of the Black Sea.

When answering the question of whether Batumi is located in Georgia or Abkhazia, where the sovereignty of the territory is in question, the factor that geographically, the Abkhaz lands do not have a relevant connection with Adjara is also taken into account.

Adjara has a separate history. In the USSR, it became the only autonomous region founded on religious principles, and was always considered a Muslim region. According to its natural features, it is divided into coastal and mountainous parts. In mountainous areas, due to the protection of the presence of barriers (ridges), the sea influence is weakened and the air is drier.

Batumi

Abkhazia pleases with its warm and pleasant climate, but the increased number of crimes upsets numerous tourists. In Batumi, Georgia, it is either always a wonderful vacation without incident, or unforgettable adventures on excellent sightseeing tours, but not a criminal situation.

The most beautiful Black Sea resort is the administrative center of Adjara. The third largest city in Georgia, for tourists, it is primarily famous for its boulevard along the embankment. Its length is about 8 kilometers. Walking along it, you can see many amazing city attractions and enjoy breathtakingly beautiful views. Near the embankment, first of all, buildings and museums are being restored, attracting foreign tourists and Georgian vacationers.

The history of the city goes back 2500 years. Visiting Adjara, tourists will get acquainted with the historical and cultural values ​​of the region, will be able to taste delicious Adjarian cuisine with the famous Georgian wine, and relax on the warm pebble beaches.

Adjarians are very proud of their national cuisine. For religious reasons, poultry consumption predominates in the region, and pork is almost never cooked. Sturgeon dishes are popular, and Adjarian cheese is famous. Milk from Adjara is considered the healthiest in all of Georgia. Residents of the country prefer to buy it. Adjarian khachapuri differs from other types in its unusual design: it is made in the shape of a boat, and a yolk is driven into the depression in the middle, symbolizing the sun, while ordinary Imeretian khachapuri has a round shape.

Finally

Having a poor understanding of geography, many people argue where Batumi is located - in Georgia or Abkhazia. But as we found out, the city is located on the territory of Adjara, and this region is part of Georgia.

Batumi is an ideal holiday destination. There is amazing nature and a calm environment here. During a holiday in Batumi, a tourist has nothing to worry about, except perhaps how to best spend time in this piece of paradise.

Abkhazia is a separate state, although only partially recognized. The Georgian side views it as the territory of an autonomous republic captured by Russian troops. Batumi belongs entirely to the Georgian side. This city is the capital of the Adjara region and in a peaceful environment, all year round, it welcomes tourists who want to get acquainted with ancient buildings dating back thousands of years and to learn about the cultural peoples.

We hope that you have received a comprehensive answer to the question “Is Batumi Georgia or Abkhazia?”