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48 hours in Batumi | The perfect itinerary
If you have 48 hours in Batumi, here is what you can do. This itinerary is simple, tried and tested, and while it packs in a lot, will not leave you overwhelmed. I also have a 36-hour alternative which may be the case if you are taking the train to and from Tbilisi.
So, read on for the 48 hours Batumi itinerary. Read this for my full 9 days Georgia itinerary.
About Batumi
Batumi is the second largest city in Georgia, after Tbilisi, and has a population of 150,000 people. It is the capital of the Adjara region, with its own flag, dialect, and cuisine. About 1/3rd of its people follow the Islamic faith. Because of its strategic location by the Black Sea, the city has had various occupiers during its existence, starting with the Ottomans, the British, and the Russians. The Russians granted Batumi city status in 1878. After World War 1, Batumi became a part of Georgia. This was in 1920.
, but that’s only a small part of the city; there are plenty of other interesting things to do!
48 hours in Batumi | The perfect itinerary
—Getting in and around Batumi—
Know Before
How to Reach
Batumi has an international airport connected to several global cities. However, since we were in Tbilisi, we took the train instead. The evening train from Tbilisi to Batumi was comfortable and convenient, took about 6 hours, and cost ~26 GEL for a 2nd class ticket (~USD 9) and ~60 GEL (~USD 20) for a first-class ticket. The first class is comfortable but it can get noisy with cards-playing locals (fun to watch!) and large families. Tickets are available at the Georgian Railway website or tkt.ge. The train journey is quite comfortable, although not as much as Western European trains. Food options are limited, so it’s advisable to carry snacks. During the summer months, tickets get sold out pretty fast. Our onward train tickets were sold out, so we had to take the train to Poti (a port city like Batumi). We took a local taxi at midnight to reach Batumi. The journey cost us an additional 70 GEL (USD 24).
Where to Stay
We stayed at the delightful O.Galogre and heartily recommend it. It is a lovely central hotel with great rooms with views, service, and breakfast. We were offered room 312 (in the old building) as an upgrade to the suite (new annexe) which we gladly took because of the views. Note though there is a pub downstairs which has live music until the wee hours of the night, and the noise from the road carries up. We didn’t mind so much. The hotel is a ten-minute walk from Europe Square and right beside Piazza Square.
The other options we evaluated were Kartuli and Admiral, both good choices by the looks of them.
When to Go
The summer months are the best time to visit Batumi. The daily temperatures hover between 22-25 degrees Celsius. It’s also terribly busy then since the weather is balmy and even the locals want to enjoy the city. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment. If you like it slightly colder, winters are not too bad either, with temperatures moving in between 7 and 12 degrees. It rarely snows.
Now, here is an easy plan to spend 48 hours in Batumi.
DAY 1
A DIY Walking Tour
A typical walking tour of Batumi will commence at the Argo Cable Car, passing through the seafront promenade with its many interesting inhabitants, sculptures, and towers, and ending at the eclectic, bustling Europe Square.
The most interesting part of this walk for me was the stroll through the promenade, which flanks the Black Sea shoreline all the way from the lighthouse (which is located on land and is a replica 
) to the edge of Lech and Maria Kaczynski Park. The promenade has small shops, interesting eateries, and impromptu games and events going on all the time. It is a bustling place to see local life go past. You can also take a ferry ride on the Black Sea (average price: whole boat for 150 GEL or ~USD 50; a single passenger ride between 20-40 GEL (~USD 8-12), negotiable). The promenade is also home to the Ali and Nino Statue which can be seen any time of day, but at various times after 7 pm the revolving platform starts moving and the two monuments converge. The sight filled me with joy.
Another interesting place to spend time is 6 May Park. The Park is home to a wonderful dolphinarium, a zoo, rides, and a freshwater lake, Nurigeli. It is also one of the oldest public parks in Georgia.
You could do all this on a guided walking tour. When we visited, only a few walking tours were operating in Batumi. We took this (Message Tornike at 555423477 to confirm the time, costs 20 GEL, and lasts for 2-3 hours) and were happy with it. Another option is the Free Walking Tour listed here.
Watching the Sunset
Watching the sun go down on the Black Sea is a must-do activity, provided the sky is not cloudy. You could take a sunset cruise or watch the sun go down from the promenade. Another interesting way to see the sunset is from the Argo Cable Cars. The cable cars are open from 11 am to 11 pm. The ticket price, at the time of writing this, was 30 GEL (~USD 10) for a round trip.
Although we did not do it, we were also recommended to watch the sunset and enjoy an aerial view of the city from Batumi’s Sameba or the Batumi Holy Trinity Church. It is located 8 km from the city, on Mount Trinity. A Bolt rideshare will take you there.
DAY 2
Botanical Garden
The Batumi Botanical Park is a top-rated activity to do on Tripadvisor and well worth so. The Botanical Park is spread over 100 hectares and is located on the outskirts of Batumi. Use Bolt to reach there easily. It costs less than 15 GEL and takes about 20 min. The Botanical Gardens consist of nine primary sections representing fauna from various regions, such as Japan, New Zealand, Australia, South America, the Himalayas, and the Mediterranean. There are also some awesome picnic spots with great views of the Black Sea. If timed well, you can watch trains passing along the coastline from the top.
Tickets cost 20 GEL (~USD 7). When we went the Park was open from 10 AM to 10 PM. We took a cable car ride to the last point and walked our way back to the main gate.
Other costs as below
Entertainment Options
The Promenade at Night
It felt as if everyone in Batumi came out to the Promenade when the sun set. We had a good time just sitting there, eating corn, and cookies, drinking coffee, and watching people. A cultural show was ongoing at the stage area in support of Ukraine – a very energetic dance form called the Mtiuluri was being performed. It was mesmerizing. If you walk along a little, at 8:30 PM, the dancing fountains come alive. Nearby is also the Batumi Theatre. The promenade is also home to many sculptures and monuments (El and Nino, Alphabet Tower, Cha Cha Tower) that are worth gawking at.
Europe Square
Batumi’s central square is bustling with people, stalls, and action. There are also some really cute cafes and bars around you can visit. Coffeetopia and Blue Elephant are the ones we tried out and loved.
Casinos
If you like to try your luck at the table, there are many options in Batumi. Popular choices are Princess Casino at Wyndham and Eclipse. Passports are essential if you are a first-time entrant. The casinos are open 24/7.
A 36-Hour Alternative
If you want to shorten your time at Batumi, your Day 2 can look like this. You can take a Bolt to the Central Railway station, keep your bag at the station locker for 5 GEL and head to the Botanical Garden. After you’re done, you can head back to Tbilisi by getting on the 5:30 or 6:20 PM train. A
The costs of keeping a bag at the station’s cloakroom are as follows.
An easy, yet comprehensive 2 days Tbilisi itinerary is here.
- First, I go to TripAdvisor and check out top things to do, top places, and experiences. I use this to make a rough itinerary.
- From TripAdvisor I often go to Viator to book day tours. I love their user friendly platform and flexible cancellation policies. Compare their offers with GetYourGuide, which is great too.
- I book my accommodations in Booking because of their flexibility and that the bookings are easily cancellable. The mobile app is great and the genius discounts are on point.
- I recommend getting the Priority Pass. It gives you access to airport lounges and has helped me through many long waits. It’s definitely well worth the money.
- And I am literally always on Skyscanner. I get to see the best airfares, and the airline / third party providers offering them. Try the “From: origin city” to “To: Everywhere” option to ignite your imagination on where to travel to next.
