Living in Batumi
Batumi is one of the fastest-growing coastal cities on the Black Sea. What makes it unusual is how close the sea and the high mountains are — subtropical coast and Colchic rainforest lie half an hour apart by car.
Setting and climate
Batumi lies on the Georgian Black Sea coast, surrounded by mountains and rivers, in a subtropical climate. The Adjara region is among the wettest and greenest parts of Georgia. This combination of a beach setting with mountains immediately behind is rare by European standards.
The city draws visitors from Europe, Turkey, the Gulf and Central Asia. Georgia recently recorded over seven million international visitors a year, and Batumi itself over three million.
What the city has to offer
Batumi combines a thriving casino sector, upmarket hotels, beach life and year-round entertainment. For residents that means one thing above all: the infrastructure does not fall away outside the summer season, as it does in many coastal towns. That is also why apartments there can be let all year rather than only for a few months.
Nature and days out nearby
Mtirala National Park lies around twenty-five to thirty kilometres away, roughly one to one and a half hours by car. It is known for its dense Colchic rainforest and its misty atmosphere, and offers trails with waterfalls, rivers and viewpoints, from easy walks to more demanding routes.
The Batumi Botanical Garden was founded in 1912 and holds thousands of plant species from around the world. It sits about nine kilometres north of the city at Green Cape, fifteen to twenty minutes away. Its position between mountains and sea creates a climate of its own.
For the active
The Argo cable car carries glass cabins from the city centre up Mount Anuria, some 250 metres above the sea. The 2.5-kilometre ride takes ten to fifteen minutes; at the top there is a viewing platform, a café and an entertainment area.
Rafting takes place on rivers such as the Adjaristsqali and the Machakhela, fifteen to fifty kilometres from Batumi, suited to beginners and the experienced alike. The Makhuntseti zipline is thirty to forty minutes away and runs over five hundred metres at around a hundred metres above the river, with a view of the historic Queen Tamar bridge. Kayaks can be hired on Batumi beach and near the boulevard during the summer season.
At a glance
Days out and distances
| Destination | Distance | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Mtirala National Park | 25–30 km | Colchic rainforest, waterfalls, hiking trails |
| Botanical Garden | 9 km | Founded 1912, thousands of plant species, sea views |
| Argo cable car | City centre | A 2.5 km ride to 250 metres above sea level |
| Rafting in Adjara | 15–50 km | Adjaristsqali and Machakhela, with guides |
| Makhuntseti zipline | 30–40 min | Over 500 metres long, around 100 metres up |
| Batumi Dolphinarium | City area | Shows in Georgian and English |
In practice
Practical matters day to day
- Visa-free entry for many nationalities, inexpensive flight connections
- Pharmacies widespread nationwide, open around the clock in larger cities
- Many medicines available without prescription, antibiotics are prescription-only
- Nationwide emergency number 112 for ambulance, police and fire service
- English common in private clinics and in tourism, limited elsewhere
- Payment is in Georgian lari and US dollars
To take away
Batumi — a practical guide
Everything on this page as a PDF — to print, to forward and to have beside you when you talk to your adviser.
- Places to go, with distance and driving time from Batumi
- Practical matters: six points nobody mentions beforehand
- How the city changes over the year
Images
Batumi and the surrounding region.
Common questions
What people ask most about this.
What is the climate like in Batumi?
Subtropical, with high rainfall. The Adjara region is among the wettest and greenest parts of Georgia, which is what produces the dense vegetation of the Colchic rainforest.
Is Batumi lively outside the summer season?
Yes. The casino sector, the hotels and year-round entertainment mean the infrastructure is not confined to a few summer months. For a landlord that is the decisive difference from a purely seasonal resort.
How do you get to Batumi?
Through Batumi International Airport, visa-free for many nationalities and with inexpensive connections. From the Reverance Living project it is seven minutes to the airport.
What is there to do in the surrounding area?
Hiking in Mtirala National Park, visiting the Botanical Garden at Green Cape, riding the Argo cable car up Mount Anuria, rafting in the mountains of Adjara, the zipline at Makhuntseti or kayaking off the beach.
Read on
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Why this page exists
Apartments in Batumi, from 51,520 €.
The Reverance Living project is at 59 Adlia Street — five minutes to the New Boulevard and the beach, seven minutes to the airport.